@thumper1 - Thanks for all the informative points. Currently, I am viewing none as a slam dunk - but I find there there is an urgency lacking in the EC’s - none of the EC’s are at the national/state level - so very hesitant there as to chances at the Ivy’s. The SAT (first attempt) was 2160 - grades are A’s for all of middle and high school - but Grades alone are never enough - because there are a huge number of applicants with similar basic qualifications. So as time progresses, I hope the urgency as viewing his application through the eyes of admission officers becomes more and more relevant and important.
Ah, didn’t know he had already taken the SAT. What was the breakdown of that 2160?
OP, most of us have found that one family member obsessing on cc is plenty. 
Show them some stats as listed above – the CDS for schools in which he is interested – and you don’t have to be David Downer. The numbers don’t lie.
Intparent’s comment: “great grades, very strong test scores, and exceptional ECs.” Plus the ability on the app/supps to show the attributes these top colleges look for. That can vary a bit, so really dig into what the colleges themselves say. You really don’t just pick an elite college and then throw your hat in. Also get a sample Common App and see if you can find some of the current supps, for a look-see.
He does not need ECs at a state/natl level. A good depth and breadth helps, reaching out beyond some minimum or the usual hs clubs. Some also depends on his potential major. Eg, STEM kids should be in math-sci activities. Beyond his high school, he needs to take on responsibilities and have some impact. The community work you note may do it, but we don’t know more about it.
Yes, get Fiske. And run NPCs. The comment that a 25k EFC (in general) means no additional aid (beyond loans) is off. Many of us got great aid from privates. It depends very much on what the school has and is able to give, in the first place.
Also, his competition for the hardest colleges to get into can depend on where in TX you are. And remember to work on those relationships with the potential writers of recommendations, those teachers.
What was the CR and math breakdown on that 2160 SAT score. Your previous posts made it sound like this student had not yet taken the SAT.
Your kiddo should be doing ECs that he loves, not ECs to pad a resume for the eyes of college adcoms. If he does something he cares about, that will resonate loud and clear.
Not all Ivy students are national award winners. But many have a passion for something outside of their academic credentials.
But back to your original,question…which has nothing to do with your kid’s credential.
There is no reason why you can’t complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile yourself.
@intparent @thumper1 - finally managed to get the scores for the first SAT attempt from Nov;
The breakdown is
Critical Reading - 660
Math - 740
Writing - 760
He should maybe try the new SAT if he did better on the Reading part of the PSAT. Math is great! And writing as well.
So,the CR/Math is 1400. That would,get him some good merit,awards at some schools. But really for Ivy/Stanford, he needs to get that CR score above 700. Most colleges do not really take,the writing score into consideration for admissions or merit aid.
But he is a junior…and has time to prep for a retake of this test.
@thumper1 - he’s taking the next offering of the SAT - Dec 5 - in the hopes that he will (and can) move away to some serious ACT prep. Hopefully a better score will enable him to skip the Jan 23rd offering.
PSAT results will come out soon. You can see how he did on the revised Reading part of it. Then he could also take the March SAT which will be more like the PSAT instead of the Jan one. I would expect him to do well on ACT, but it’s fast paced.
@mommdc - my recollection is that he mentioned doing really badly on the PSAT - his reasoning was that his prep for the Nov SAT did not help with the PSAT because of the different format.
Btw, there’s a lot of room between activities he “loves” and “padding.”
@intparent @thumper1 and for all those who responded to my initial post…the latest SAT scores came out this morning - and my kiddo - well got a 2150 (the previous score was 2160) - the Math score shot up to a near perfect (780) score, while the CR dropped to 640 and writing to 730.
So he’s decided on skipping out on the Jan edition of the test and has started prepping for the new version, taking it during the offering in his school, in March 2016.
Still waiting for that ever elusive PSAT score 
To all who responded to my initial post about delegating the FAFSA and CSS profile work to a third party…Well…WE completed both last Saturday - and it was a breeze. Our finances are pretty uncomplicated - so there was nothing mindbogglingly difficult that we encountered during the filling in of the forms.
Thanks again everyone.
Good to hear.
Was he able to increase his score on the new SAT?
@mommdc He got a 1500/1600 - the CR scores were still at approx the same level. Also got a 35 on the ACT.
Not sure if that equates to an increase or around the same - when the max was 2400
That ACT score is what you should,send to the colleges. Glad you were able to complete those forms yourself!
@thumper1 - are you saying that it is preferable to omit sending the SAT scores out? Rice has a requirement of two subject tests if the SAT is taken and both those subject tests have also been taken.
I’m no expert…but that 35 looks better to me by a tad than his SAT score.
Others need to chime in…there is sort of a conversion to compare the ACT and SAT scores but I don’t know it.
@thumper1 - I agree. I’ll wait for more folks to chime in here. And there’s still time before the common app is submitted - he’s in the process of finishing essays and lining up his recommendations!