Don’t talk about the schools you’re applying to with your classmates as much as you’d like, seriously. I know nothing about you, but chances are there’s going to be someone in your grade who will apply to HYP and meanwhile you may find that Flagship U or 70% acceptance rate LAC is the perfect school for YOU. There might be some shame in that—for me that was the most stressful part of the process because everyone seemed less unsure/on top of it/applying to better schools. Comparison will kill you especially in the age of social media.
I think that’s the only thing I’d change about my high school college application process.