[bumby]

I believe there’s research that shows elite schools do not improve ones life prospects, with the exception of those from lower income households. They looked at those who were accepted to elite schools and went to “lesser” schools. Those people did not have worse outcomes, indicating the elite schools are selecting those who would have done well regardless. I do think this makes an interesting case for admitting more lower income students for the networking effect.

(I’ll see if I can dig up the research later when I have more time and link to it).

Edit:

"we find that students who attended more selective colleges earned about the same as students of seemingly comparable ability who attended less selective schools. Children from low-income families, however, earned more if they attended selective colleges."

https://academic.oup.com/qje/article-abstract/117/4/1491/187...

[bko]

It appears the opposite may be true

> But it turns out that the proportional increase for those who grew up poor is much less than for those who did not. College graduates from families with an income below 185 percent of the federal poverty level (the eligibility threshold for the federal assisted lunch program) earn 91 percent more over their careers than high school graduates from the same income group. By comparison, college graduates from families with incomes above 185 percent of the FPL earned 162 percent more over their careers (between the ages of 25 and 62) than those with just a high school diploma:

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/social-mobility-memos/2016/02...

[candybar]

This isn't measuring the same thing though - a college degree vs a high-school degree is a very different question than a college degree from an elite school vs a college degree from a slightly less elite, but still very good school.

This also appears to lack any kind of control, whereas the other study tried to control for the student's abilities.

[andy9775]

Are you accounting for family connections? High income families tend to have connections which can help. If your parents are good friends with a lawyer at a top law firm you no longer have to apply on your own merit. Poor families lack these connections and students have to apply on their own. Something to consider.

[dmarchand90]

It's behind a soft paywall but this article describes what you're saying very nicely. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/12/does-it-ma...

Apparently college is almost useless for rich white guys but it's progressively more useful if you're not rich, white, or a guy.