<p>On an absolute scale, probably not that much. After all, the coursework is the coursework for a particular degree. But when everyone is brilliant, that allows the course to be taught at a higher level and at a faster pace. There are no remedial courses at the elite schools, and they take the training wheels off, they expect you to do the work and keep up. So in the sense that there will no slack and really tough competition from your classmates, it’s definitely harder. But at it’s most basic level, a BA in History is a BA in History.</p>
<p>For example, anyone who scores a 28 on the ACT could probably succeed at Harvard, though they would probably not be at the top of the class. There are just too many brilliant kids at Harvard, though there are also going to be kids who skate by, and like the saying goes, “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.” Harvard doesn’t admit very many 28s, but those it chooses to admit can probably do fine with some discipline and judicious course selection.</p>
<p>Another factor to consider is the major selection. No one who’s not brilliant will succeed at CalTech simply because there are no easy majors, and the ones that are there are taught at a high level and rapid pace. Realize that there are plenty of smart people who do get Ph.Ds in certain subjects, but despite the fact that they’re smart enough to get a Ph.D., they’re probably still not smart enough to get a BS in Physics, it’s just a difficult major, and when all the college offers is the equivalent of Physics, it’s just an overall harder school.</p>
<p>One last thing to think about is that no college wants to see you fail. As a general rule, no elite level college is going to let you in if they don’t think you can do the work. They have too many kids wanting to get in who can do the work and too few spaces to bother wasting one on someone who will likely fail.</p>