One more criteria for potential parents to look at is the trustees at any given institution. Does the school have a broad based age range, is everyone male? Are there young and old trustees? Do they have a real connection to the school? Are they in only a handful of fields ( finance) or do they represent a broad spectrum of careers( like teaching and the arts).
Many parents at many schools. including Thacher and others-- use high level consultants. Even though BS kids have more access to excellent guidance counselors, many want one-on-one consulting. And many parents do things on the side ( using the consultant to gather ideas and then going back to the guidance counselor with these ideas). It’s no surprise that so many got caught up in that scandal.
As I’ve said before, there is no school where everyone is doing the right thing. And parents need to look closely at the BS their children will attend. It’s sad when parents believe a school and the school breaks their trust. It happens, at many schools. The thing is, does the school fix it with honesty and courage or do they sweep it under the rug?