@JHS,
" part of the skill set of a prep school GC is convincing students and families that they would really rather go to Williams or Amherst than Harvard. That allows the GCs to go to bat whole-heartedly for every kid,"
My favorite line about a GC’s skill set!
When the GCs come up with the first round of “suggestions” for reach, target, safeties for a kid and parents to research, there is the initial upset roar of about 50% of the parents. “We have never even heard of these colleges!!” Eventually, the private HS GC convinces most that this is really the best “fit”.
And as for less affluent kids, I do think that the GCs look out for them. When the GCs biological children apply for college, they, too, have to stress out about financial aid in a similar fashion as the less affluent kids.