somehow people are just reluctant to accept it. Unless

the kid is top of the top, it is not a great idea to put him/her to a super top school where he/she may not be on top 10% or at least top 25%. A top 20-30% harvard college student probably can get top 1-5% in a much less competetitive state Univ. The high gpa will then open many doors for him/her.