Asian-American 7th Grader Girl

A1Janitor said:
I understand the point.

My only observation is it is all too easy to blame someone from not getting an appointment on “diversity.” It minimizes the process and it assumes the minority isn’t the better candidate.

There is a difference between outreach to find the best candidates with diverse backgrounds and assuming diverse candidates didn’t earn their spot.

This young lady sounds tremendous imo. And with excellent academics, she will be highly competitive. She will get in based on her record vs the competition on her slate, which will likely include other qualified minority candidates.
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I'm all for outreach. This young lady sounds great so I hope she doesn't muddy the water by promoting herself as a "diversity" candidate. It does no favors to anyone, only harm.
 
Sailors care about diversity. It has an impact when they look around and all the officers in the wardroom are white and male. It has an impact when they start to believe that the only way to be successful in this organization is to be white and male. It becomes a problem when they believe that there is some insurmountable social, racial, or economic divide between being an officer and being enlisted.

If they care, we care.

Definitely on the list of things that do not matter as an officer is your GPA and what sport you were varsity captain in. So all these metrics for academic and athletic merit are hazy at best and definitely flexible.

Don't worry about the chances and numbers. Don't rack up a stupid amount of clubs, activities, and volunteering that you only care about because of your application. Think deep on the why you want to be an officer, and do your research on how you're going to get there. Put those reasons and honest motivations in your essays and interviews.
 
Thank you all for sharing your thoughts. My daughter does have a ways to go, but as we all know with our kids... time passes so quickly. My DD hasn't ever promoted herself as a diversity candidate; in fact, the area in which we reside - in southern California - she's anything but diverse which I don't believe is ideal. Nevertheless, she will work towards earning her commission based on merit and however the SA's value her, we'll accept. Again, appreciate the guidance.
 
So any idea how good she is or will be as a runner?

The SAs are very serious as far as their sports. The key is not playing a lot of sports it’s being really good in one that gives someone the big advantage.

A sports type who is D-1 level college sports type jumps way ahead of others as far as admissions.
 
She’s a smaller frame and is stronger with mid-long distance. Without any formal training - just running with her older brothers - she’s just over a 7:00 mile, which isn’t bad for a 12 yo.

I’ve been unsuccessful in finding a local youth running club, so will have to wait until she’s in high school, I guess, to know her true potential.

Based on the CFA, I would hope she could meet/beat the 6:00 mile maximum. And based on feedback from MidCakePA, we will look to strengthen her upper body which runners tend to lack.
 
I don’t remember my son’s time in junior high - I can’t imagine it was better than a 7 minute mile. He was a chubby little guy.

After four years of cross country he was better than 5:30. So she will be fine.

For strength he did cross fit at 5:30 in the morning outside of basketball season.
 
I hadn’t thought about CrossFit, that’s an intriguing alternative. She recently watched a video on one of the SA’s websites - I think it was USAFA a day in the life - and saw hand-to-hand combat training. She asked me about signing up for jiu-jitsu. I don’t know much about that but I suspect there’s upper body training with that.
 
cochbr said:
I hadn’t thought about CrossFit, that’s an intriguing alternative. She recently watched a video on one of the SA’s websites - I think it was USAFA a day in the life - and saw hand-to-hand combat training. She asked me about signing up for jiu-jitsu. I don’t know much about that but I suspect there’s upper body training with that.
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What about women’s wrestling? It’s really taken off in our area. Opportunities to make it to state. And win! And it’s size/weight class specific. Also an opportunity to letter and gain a captaincy as a varsity sport.

And if her upcoming high school doesn’t offer, she could even start that up. In our area, schools have combined for a team. But is still recognized as the individual school varsity sport.
 
Great thought, unfortunately my daughter’s future high school doesn’t offer this sport. The student body is around 400.
 
BJJ is an awesome endeavor. Not sure for strength, but certainly flexibility and self defense.
 
JohnMcLane said:
I am not on an appointment committee but if i was...
No worse way to seek an appointment than referencing "diversity goals". Horrible in absolutely every conceivable way. No American wants the fate of their loved one in combat to be decided by someone who was a "diversity hire".

And if you got an appointment and my kid didn't, I'd file a lawsuit against both you and the agency you applied to.
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Diversity and inclusion initiatives are NOT a "diversity hire." They are to reflect the population in the military. In fact, DEI initiatives are CRITICAL to mission readiness in the Navy or any service for that matter. Dignity and respect is the foundation of a healthy culture.

This attitude is why SA's and the Fleet struggle with these tough conversations sometimes. DEI is for the future fleet and the 21st century sailor.
 
Start a fitness club for students that aren’t in traditional sports. Be the president. Motivate them for results. Work hard for your improvement. Doing exceptional on CRT, pick up leadership points, and you have another essay about a challenge you overcame.
 
I can safely say that @JohnMcLane and I do not agree on many things. I also say that there is no one on this forum or anywhere else who appreciates and celebrates the uniqueness of the diversity of this country more than I. It is truly our strength.

However, prefacing an introduction of one's child as anything other than a female 7th grader, rubs me the wrong way and I assume it does a few people, including Asians, as well. I understand the times in which we live, but...

The OP's daughter appears to be on great path I wish the OP's daughter the best!
 
cb7893 said:
I can safely say that @JohnMcLane and I do not agree on many things. I also say that there is no one on this forum or anywhere else who appreciates and celebrates the uniqueness of the diversity of this country more than I. It is truly our strength.

However, prefacing an introduction of one's child as anything other than a female 7th grader, rubs me the wrong way and I assume it does a few people, including Asians, as well. I understand the times in which we live, but...

The OP's daughter appears to be on great path I wish the OP's daughter the best!
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Point taken. Whether I included that bit of detail in the subject or in the body, I was offering additional detail as the other posts had. Being new to this forum, I was unaware of the posting etiquette.

I don’t have an issue excluding any “diverse” attributes (e.g. gender, race) going forward. The goal here for my child is to earn a commission based on merit.
 
Please don't take this thread as representative of an uninviting or hostile environment. This is an internet forum and nearly everything here is the personal opinion of individuals.

Folks are reading way too much into something you didn't actually put that much thought or intent into.
 
nuensis said:
Please don't take this thread as representative of an uninviting or hostile environment. This is an internet forum and nearly everything here is the personal opinion of individuals.

Folks are reading way too much into something you didn't actually put that much thought or intent into.
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I would have thought some of the comments hostile if I was in their shoes, Much of this more personal opinion and social commentary and world view than anything dealing with admissions .
 
cochbr said:
Being new to this forum, I was unaware of the posting etiquette.
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Nothing in your original post was an etiquette issue. There are plenty of regulars - myself included - who sometimes could use an etiquette lesson.

Looking at your original post, it struck me that your DD is in the right place for the time being. Fitness and athletics is an important factor for admissions. So, perhaps think about how to help her add to the cross country resume with a second sport. The rest looked great.

Good luck. 7th grade - so lots of time to figure it all out!
 
www.ncsasports.org

Women’s College Track and Field Scholarship Standards | Recruiting Times

The women’s track and field scholarship standards give athletes an idea of what coaches look for and expect of perspective recruits
www.ncsasports.org www.ncsasports.org

A 7 min mile for a female 7th grader who has never run xc or track seems fast to me.

I am not suggesting this site to use but the times they post give you some idea of recruitable times.. If your daughter has good grades etc and D-1 times by the time she is a junior in HS she has a really good chance at SA admittance.

Being open to more than one SA increases her chances significantly.
 
Small Team Bacsi said:
A 7 min mile for a female 7th grader who has never run xc or track seems fast to me.
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At our HS, the 7th and 8th graders (No Middle school XC, so they run as HS) are consistently in the varsity 7 for girls, and then regress as they mature. Most of the scoring MS track runners are in the low to mid 6s. 7 is better than average student, but not really "fast" for runners. It shouldn't matter at this point. The idea is to get her to love running and to SAFELY build up a base way before XC starts.

My academic advice would be to grab your HS' course catalog (or whatever they call them), and start looking over the various pathways to taking the most STEMmy APish courses by 12th grade. For many, that pathway starts in MS.
 
justme said:
At our HS, the 7th and 8th graders (No Middle school XC, so they run as HS) are consistently in the varsity 7 for girls, and then regress as they mature. Most of the scoring MS track runners are in the low to mid 6s. 7 is better than average student, but not really "fast" for runners. It shouldn't matter at this point. The idea is to get her to love running and to SAFELY build up a base way before XC starts.

My academic advice would be to grab your HS' course catalog (or whatever they call them), and start looking over the various pathways to taking the most STEMmy APish courses by 12th grade. For many, that pathway starts in MS.
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Makes sense. My daughter was 5’9” in eight grade and already went through puberty. She graduated at 5’10”. My son didn’t go through puberty and grew like 8 to 10” before he graduated.
 
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