<p>Obviously your last part is true because ivy league kids tend to be more motivated than community college kids and obviously community college can only go so far. But let’s compare a more relative example… say a top public state school (University of Virginia) to Cornell/Yale/ whatever. Does it really matter where you attend school if you are very motivated and will use the most of the resources available to you at either school? No, but will it help you to have name recognition and alumni connections at the ivy league school? Yes.</p>