[ZNPaaneah]

The idea of "elite" universities is a concept of a bygone era. First, all universities have access to the same textbooks. Second, with the internet the advantage in libraries is not nearly as great as it might have been in the past. Even state universities can afford excellent databases, online journals and search engines. Third, with youtube and the great courses anyone can have access to professors from elite universities and their lectures. The fact that people still buy into this idea simply indicates that they have been the first ones deceived by their deception that they are someone special.

Rather than "elite" undergraduate degrees, the importance of graduate school is far bigger now than it was 50 years ago. If you complete an undergraduate degree at a decent university with a good GPA you will be able to go to a very effective graduate school. The real issue for people should be cost, will you be maxed out in debt after undergraduate school? Because a degree from Harvard without going to graduate school is almost useless. On the other hand a degree from a State school followed by a graduate degree from a reputable university will be far more valuable in the job market.

If we can make state colleges free, just like a HS education, this relative insignificance of "elite universities" will be even more pronounced.

That said, the college entrance process is a tremendous grind, lots of pressure, a lot of work, and a lot of cost. Whenever you have something that is high stakes like that you encourage fraud.