n the U.S. it is easy to be shortsighted and be brainwashed by the media (e.g. USNWR), who tend to pander to the rich and powerful. Thus the private schools are favored. Coupled that with the general indifference of math and science by the masses, and the country has a skewed view of what prestige is. Unfortunately, the U.S. population tend to admire the wealthy, the powerful, the beautiful and charismatic, not academic or scientific achievements per se.