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<p>The parents’ definition of “top 20” may not necessarily be the 20 best schools for the student, particularly considering the student’s choice of major (it appears that computer science is the student’s primary interest).</p>
<p>Also, if the parentally approved list includes no safeties (for both admissions and cost), then the student may get “shut out” next April. (And parents like what the OP described may not like the idea of the default safety which is community college.)</p>