Anonymous
02/10/2026 14:21
Subject: Deferral to top 5 LACs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The Military Academies are typically "ranked" in the top 5 - I have seen this happen although I know someone who was denied and later admitted to Army Prep
The military academies are not remotely top 5 based on the academic accomplishments of their admits. They are very good but not top 5. But, the qualities that they develop result in graduates who tend to significantly out perform.
So we can all discuss the value of US News rankings - but what top 5 LAC ranking are you referencing? So we can all chime in appropriately
It’s WASPB.
B for Bucknell if you're referring to top career outcomes.
Anonymous
02/10/2026 13:50
Subject: Deferral to top 5 LACs
Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but I saw a lot of kids last year and this year who were deferred at WASP and did ED 2 to Vassar or Wes (etc) and get in.
I think this is a big mistake. These kids would have gotten into Vassar or Wes RD. And may have gotten into WASP RD. There are some "panic" ED2 scenarios I see - usually in this WASP to step-down LAC move. Come April, these are the kids who are second guessing IME.
Unless Vassar is truly your second choice, dont do it.
Well, we’ll never know with these counterfactuals. Vassar and Wes are great schools. Some would not have gotten in RD. Some may have gotten into WASP. It’s a floor-ceiling issue. Not a mistake.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 21:22
Subject: Deferral to top 5 LACs
Anonymous wrote:I don't know, but I saw a lot of kids last year and this year who were deferred at WASP and did ED 2 to Vassar or Wes (etc) and get in.
I think this is a big mistake. These kids would have gotten into Vassar or Wes RD. And may have gotten into WASP RD. There are some "panic" ED2 scenarios I see - usually in this WASP to step-down LAC move. Come April, these are the kids who are second guessing IME.
Unless Vassar is truly your second choice, dont do it.
agree. only ED 2 if rejected from ED 1 and you absolutely have a second choice. this is very very rare
Anonymous
02/09/2026 19:37
Subject: Deferral to top 5 LACs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The Military Academies are typically "ranked" in the top 5 - I have seen this happen although I know someone who was denied and later admitted to Army Prep
The military academies are not remotely top 5 based on the academic accomplishments of their admits. They are very good but not top 5. But, the qualities that they develop result in graduates who tend to significantly out perform.
So we can all discuss the value of US News rankings - but what top 5 LAC ranking are you referencing? So we can all chime in appropriately
It’s WASPB.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 19:37
Subject: Deferral to top 5 LACs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The Military Academies are typically "ranked" in the top 5 - I have seen this happen although I know someone who was denied and later admitted to Army Prep
The military academies are not remotely top 5 based on the academic accomplishments of their admits. They are very good but not top 5. But, the qualities that they develop result in graduates who tend to significantly out perform.
So we can all discuss the value of US News rankings - but what top 5 LAC ranking are you referencing? So we can all chime in appropriately
I believe that they meant the USNWR rankings. I have never seen any ranking where any of the academies were top 5.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 16:42
Subject: Deferral to top 5 LACs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The Military Academies are typically "ranked" in the top 5 - I have seen this happen although I know someone who was denied and later admitted to Army Prep
The military academies are not remotely top 5 based on the academic accomplishments of their admits. They are very good but not top 5. But, the qualities that they develop result in graduates who tend to significantly out perform.
So we can all discuss the value of US News rankings - but what top 5 LAC ranking are you referencing? So we can all chime in appropriately