Agree with these comments. The entire process is much different and more complicated than it was when most of us parents applied 25-30 years ago. If the parents don’t get involved, learn what is necessary and stay on top of their kids, something may be overlooked. Somewhat depends on the kid, some are all over it and some need more guidance. Cannot depend on the counselor to babysit several hundred kids either.
I just heard about a girl that didn’t get her SSAR in on time to both UF and FSU. She apparently thought that the counselor was going to send a transcript to them like what was done for the other OOS and private schools she applied to. She didn’t get into the EA school she applied to and may have to apply somewhere that has rolling admissions just to get accepted somewhere.