<p>Yes, it IS analogous to the high school situation. Yeah yeah yeah, there is that whole meritocracy issue where as long as you work hard and do well, you will succeed. There are a good handful of people who go to state schools and do well; however, it’s not accurate to look at it that way in such averages. </p>
<p>It’s all about initial opportunity. If you put a through Harvard and watch their career advancement over X years and then put that same person through some state university, i.e. Oklahoma State University, there WILL be a difference. Ivy League schools have internationally renowned and popular professors and celebrities, politicians, and notable figures often drop in on lectures from Al Gore to Bill Clinton to Bill Gates to President Obama. These kids are already smart, as shown by their stats from high school - GPA, SAT/ACT, AP/IB scores - and what more is that they are now presented with connections. These connections don’t just stop at those professors or celebrities - it also includes employers which is perhaps the most significant opportunity that Ivy league students can get. Employers and recruiters from high-profile companies like Goldman and Sachs and Siemens - or perhaps hospitals like Brigham Young for those getting into the medical field - are always dropping by in these schools - Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, etc. </p>
<p>Does this happen at local state and public institutions? Exactly.
I don’t think you would see Goldman and Sachs going anywhere near the University of Texas A&M, would you?</p>
<p>These kids get early exposure to their professions far earlier than what those at state flagships would get which leads to more experience in their profession and thus being able to perform better in it. This is exactly like the situation regarding K-12 schools. The kid in LAUSD school will be presented with less opportunities. Do you see any of those schools ranking or let alone even participating in FIRST Robotics, VEX Robotics, Academic Decathlon, Intel ISEF/STS, Science Olympiad, Siemens, AMC, or any similar contests? Once again - exactly. The one at Palo Alto - well you should know. Just check out the rankings. They are always in the top 10. The kids at Palo Alto have been presented with connections at an early age that have allowed them to gain experience - most of their parents are working in those top notch bio labs or in technology firms, and these kids are exposed to this and are able to grasp onto the knowledge much earlier. These kids have the tools which have allowed them to succeed in such aforementioned academic competitions and events. How am I so far? </p>
<p>Going to an Ivy League school means a clear advantage. By starting out higher than most others on the employment ladder, you are able to advance to higher positions more quickly. What is more important though, is the experience you gain. You start gaining the experience earlier and are able to hone your skills in that profession, just like that kid in Palo Alto whose parents are mathematicians and were able to teach him math at an early age and allow him to succeed in college math by high school and in competitions like the AMC.</p>