I think guidance counselors need to do a better job at pointing kids in the right direction. We used a private admissions coach because their “sales pitch” spoke to us about how guidance counselors don’t give the personalized direction kids and families need. We saw that in our HS with all kids applying to the same schools: Ivy+/big names/in state publics, no conversation about budget or financing and with graduates attending the same 10 colleges. In general, it is the same situation we see on here with students applying to several high reach schools and bemoaning going to their safety.
What can colleges do? I think the “prestigious” schools like the revenue from tons of apps and the exclusivity that a low acceptance rate brings. Maybe other colleges should incentivize guidance departments who guide students to the “right” places. The guidance departments need to be like helpful posters here and tell a student they are wasting their app at school X but school Y offers merit to students like them (or offers better internships/study abroad/etc).