<p>college2008 - I would suggest the same to you - don’t mislead kids into thinking that everyone who studies hard , takes AP/Honors, gets the prize. If your S or D is taking AP and Honors classes, working very hard, participating in multiple activites, etc., but NOT in the top 1 to 2% and/or not holding some type of trump card, then your S or D can most certainly end up at the same school as my son’s friend who had As, but only in CP level 2 classes. Did he study as hard as my son? No way. At bigger schools (especially 2nd and 3rd teir) they are not looking at rigor. I have seen it twice now with S1 and S2’s classmates. I am not suggesting that kids give it all up - just that they should understand the system at all levels - not just the Ivies and tier one schools. Many kids on this list did not get into their match schools this year. Also, I would not agree with you that what differentiates kids for acceptance at the top are those who are ranked in the top 1 - 5% and test in the top 1% as we have seen this year. Admissions may favor those students but we have gone to “holistic” admissions…there’s so much more. I wish I could say this isn’t a true story but it is.</p>