I had a similar experience in mediocre exurb HS. Was top 5% or whatever of my class without really studying or even handing in completed homework. Good friend

I had a similar experience in mediocre exurb HS. Was top 5% or whatever of my class without really studying or even handing in completed homework. Good friend in most of the same classes as me would often ask me for help on questions, but he just worked so much harder. He has a very intense father who obviously was on top of him about stuff. But putting in the effort to be top 1% instead of top 5% while also being a varsity football player got him into an Ivy, which was great for him. In some sense the system worked.