@preppedparent: My kid also heard this from a prep school AO during an interview. MY D’s first impressions of the school were not great, but she was still a bit offended when she was told that it likely was not the right fit for her. The AO was correct-- and she asked whether D had considered another school, which she said might be a terrific choice for her. The school she suggested (which was not on our radar at all) was added to our list at the very end, and when we visited, D fell in love with the place. She is about to be a senior and it really has been the perfect fit. I think AOs know what they’re talking about… most of the time! Having said that, isn’t it usually true that colleges want as many applicants as possible, because that lowers their admit rate? At least that’s what I keep hearing…