Patrick O'Connor is the Associate Dean of College Counseling at Cranbrook-Kingswood School. Here’s a snippet from his article, Why Harvard Doesn’t Take Every Straight A Student:
As prices continue to soar for tutoring, K-12 private schools, and even kilts, more and more parents are measuring the outcome of these experiences by their impact on college admissions. Figueroa's comments about college selectivity support what counselors have advised for years, something parents seem more unwilling to accept as they look for what they see as a 'guarantee' on their 'investment:' support your student's education and interests in ways that will expand their understanding of themselves and the world around them. This will not guarantee admission to a highly selective college, but it will ensure your student will be best positioned to apply to any college, and be happy and successful there to boot."