<p>Look at the Harvard threads for how many students H is their dreams school to the level of hysteria. How many students would be willing to take a forced gap year to attend Duke, instead of just going to another school? Harvard does it year after year and it is amazing that people accept it without any hesitation. As if it is an invisible line, other schools may narrow the prestige gap but there is always a certain aura surrounding the HYPSM.</p>