<p>This is really no different than other hypecompetitive places where competition to get into the best universities is fierce since it pretty much dictates your future.</p>
<p>Same thing happens in Nigeria, Russia, etc.</p>
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<p>Granted, it’s a crappy situation for the late bloomers - but then again, the system in France (for example) pretty much shunts less academically inclined students into the trade schools as opposed to the universities.</p>
<p>Now, I’m not saying that these overly rigorous systems shouldn’t be reformed/changed - but it’s a difficult thing to accomplish when you have a scarcity in resources and an overabundant pool of students.</p>