I’ve been thinking about this thread and others that have been similar and will make a bit of a confession. While I am genuinely saddened when very good students have high visions and aspirations then suddenly have little to show for their efforts … I also feel a bit of schadenfreude. To not look pragmatically at the search process shows a degree of hubris (not just on the part of the student) and not just confidence. Most of the disappointments could be alleviated by looking harder at the search process and being more thoughtful and realistic about chances, opportunities and goals. Students like the one the OP mentions put themselves in the position of feeling like a failure even when they are successful getting into a college. They run the risk of being rejected by the schools they identify with and accepted by only the schools they will “settle” for. Just because a university may be a “top” school doesn’t mean it is necessarily the best school for any individual student. I think the latter is what should be sought.