[intended]

Iirc the head of one of those schools has already said that they can fill their class up with valedictorians if they do choose.

If they followed the pure merit route it would be exactly like it is today in other countries - people would over prepare for the exams and entrance will depend on who got 0.05% more than another person.

That’s the main draw of the American system- these schools long ago saw that there would be a problem because of baked in bias and took steps to equalize it while keeping their own interests constant.

And let’s not ignore the raw ability of the people who are aiming for Harvard - if a candidate for Harvard doesn’t get in, their safety school is still the first choice of a massive chunk of college applicants.m

Ps: in this sub thread I was not specifically talking about diversity; but it is an argument I do make and it is also a short throw from where my previous comment in this thread.