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<p>That makes a good deal of sense, considering there have been generations of peoples of Asian descent living and thriving in California, and Berkeley is California’s state flagship–it would have been the best option for Asian persons bound by their financial circumstances but driven by personal motives.</p>
<p>But, you have to realize that Princeton would not have been a realistic choice for Asians way back when. It was not accessible to them given the virtual non-existence of financial aid programs, its discriminatory admissions practices, and, simply, its East Coast location.</p>
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<p>Yes, in the United States the public education system is a mess, and a majority of primary and secondary public schools are a mess. That is not to say that there are crippling faults with public higher education in the States, but there are critical foundational issues. Most adult Americans had no choice but to attend public schools, but if you were to ask them to reflect honestly about whether they would send their own kids to a good public school or a good private school, there’s not much question about it.</p>