<p>Taken in context, the point Laskaris is illustrating in the quote above is that, regardless of the economy, students are choosing top private schools over state schools.</p>
<p>“Laskaris said it does not appear that the economy made students less likely to choose Dartmouth, since the number of students who declined Dartmouth’s offer in favor of attending state schools or other institutions where they would receive merit scholarships did not increase over last year.”</p>