There are probably about 20 schools of near equivalent quality at the very top. There are probably 40 that anyone should feel proud and fortunate to gain acceptance too. Probably more than that if we include day schools etc. The word elite is dangerous and misleading: I think a more accurate word would be competitive. Is Chicago = to Harvard? It doesn’t have its storied history and bragging rights but they both take some of the very best qualified students. Just a word of advice from an adult–these schools are not the be-all end-all. If you don’t get into the one you want or any of them, you can still go to a great college and be successful. There are many paths.