My spouse works for a company out of Boston relatively high in the corporate ladder. He went to a well regarded state flagship. He has all sorts of subordinates that went to fancier schools than him. I assume they’re all living their best lives. The only way I find this tragic is if there was life altering debt involved that is following someone for many years and affecting quality of life.
It’s no coincdence that in general the students at high end privates come from wealthier families. High end schools also spend a fortune on marketing - creating world leaders, affordable for all, magical faculty, blah blah blah. As always, take marketing materials with a grain of salt and a discerning eye.
I was coincdentally in Boston last week. I was on campus at a number of schools. I was struck how I saw a bunch of very average and typical young adult behavoir. I also chatted with a young man about to graduate who was quite ho hum on his undergrad experience at one of these schools.
Honestly, this OP reads like it was posted by a young teen. My high school senior has more nuanced thoughts than this. So odd. Life is what you do, not where you go to college. As life goes on you find your own career and life balances. Every choice has ramifications and things are rarely black and white.