<p>Having passed the Concours to Polytechnique in 1977, I can attest to the fact that few of my “X” classmates came from particularly privileged backgrounds. Far more had parents who were teachers, priests or generally middle class than executives, lawyers or doctors. The number of legacy students was virtually nil. Tuition was free and students even received a stipend. There was simply no way for the wealthy to provide some short cut access for their children: if anything the very regimented and archaic admissions system provides a strong disincentive for all but the most motivated. My two years in the “Ecole Preparatoires” was pure hell and I would never wish my children to experience such a purgatory. Many of my classmates who could afford it have sent their children to college in the US or Britain. </p>
<p>On the other hand, absence of preferences does not make the system meritocratic. Many deserving students failed admission for reasons other than intellectual ability. The Concours system admits students on very narrow grounds: largely mathematics. This is even true for many of the non-engineering Grandes Ecoles. You can trace the likely successful candidates to a small pool who were often identified and groomed by the system since early childhood. If you were not at the top of the class by third grade, no amount of tutoring would ever make a difference. Because of its narrow selection criteria, the system is also inherently biased against women and other individuals who may not have an early love for pure mathematics. It is virtually impossible for foreigners to be admitted because of the very specific training required to pass the various Concours. </p>
<p>It is somewhat ironic that many of the leaders in industry and government in France are actually selected on the basis of how rapidly they could compute a triple integral at the age of 20. At the same time, the country loses most of its most talented scientists who abandon the field of research as soon as they graduate for far more lucrative careers.</p>
<p>Most developed countries have abandoned strict single examinations systems for admission to their most selective institutions and often for good reason. It is simply not a very good way to select the most talented individuals. Einstein actually failed the Swiss equivalent to the French Concours to ETH Zurich and was only admitted the following year because by then he was full resident and the examination was waived. The French system tends to select students with a very narrow range of skills and perspectives and then strips them of any motivation after admission by largely guaranteeing their success. Most others are left to linger in a system where competency has become irrelevant. You can’t board the train after it has left the station.</p>