The idea is: this isn’t about our view of our own high schools or even individual kids we know who met with success. Or not. Adcoms at top schools are dealing with a national pool, how kids learn, stretch, pursue goals, and think, across the nation. Yes, there are variations and allowances for that. Of course.
So the chance-me responders who can only compare to what they know in their own high school, district, from meeting others at some competition or online, aren’t doing the asker a service. Imo, when we talk about top and tippy top colleges, the OP would benefit if he/she is open to the right suggestions, able to evaluate what is legit. We get a funny issue where kids believe the advice that they need to win a national competition or take that 1520 higher and miss the rest. Or they’re lopsided, but a couple of posters rave and the OP misses a chance to fine tune.
Again, not sure it’s unethical, but it is sloppy.