<p>This interpretation would suggest that far fewer students from Harvard are interested in academic study, and are instead essentially interested in some form of professional career. Yale and Princeton appear on the lists, which suggests there is somewhat more interest in academe at those schools. </p>
<p>For grad school, it is much more important to have good faculty recommendations and research experience than it is to be from a particular undergrad school. It carries much less weight than many of the so-called top tier undergrad schools care to admit. I have a very academically respected friend who, for quality of life reasons, chose to teach and do research at a third tier college. All of the many students he has recommended to top Ph.D. programs in his field have been eagerly accepted and have done well. Going to Harvard or Chicago would have conferred no advantage to his students in terms of top Ph.D. program placement.</p>