Straight-up advice about getting into top colleges, for the "average" excellent student

@Proudpatriot , you might have been spot on with one of those counties as to where I live:-)

Excellent points, @gardenstategal . I do not begrudge the kids at prep schools. Wealthy kids, by and large, whose wealthy families are possibly alumni and possibly generous donors, likely do very well in terms of achievement at their schools. Why wouldn’t Princeton want Mr. Jones’ son, when Mr. Jones is an alumnus, as was Mr. Jones’ father, and bothe were generous donors? I get that.