Geo diversity is about more than living in WY or the Dakotas. It impacts kids from areas where hoardes apply and is a big issue in certain parts of the country. Yes, even some hs where many apply. They may be equally attracted to a kid from another part of the area or sub area. Or they simply can’t take every bright top kid from the Bay Area and neglect others in N.CA. Or CA as a whole.
It’s one of the hidden risks to expecting to get into a tippy top. It doesn’t mean the kid from a remote area is a shoo-in.
How’d this thread get so much on NCSSM?
Yes, it’s “possible” more than one can get in from an indivudal hs. But yes, it depends on whether there are other strong local kids. Sometimes, that hs across town presents a better candidate than your hs. Or sometimes, that other hs shows significant improvement and the college wants to show them some love.
Laziness doesn’t play a large part, if any. Every kid submits a full application. It either does the trick or not. Even top performing kids don’t necessarily put forth a good app. Your app is under your control. The quality of others’ apps (or institutional needs) is beyond your control.
Certain high schools do prepare kids better, overall, have GCs and teachers who know how to write LoRs, and can exert some influence over the student. That’s not to say lower performing hs can’t do the same.