<p>You must interpret the passage in context. Alexandre was commenting about the campus atmostphere. It’s not the same as saying Chicago and Columbia are “academically superior” than Michigan.</p>
<p>Alexandre used the term “the only schools” … that excludes all the other schools including HYPSM. Surely you wouldn’t conclude that Alexandre believes that Chicago and Columbia are “academically superior” than HYPSM now, would you?</p>