[csa]

> I don't want to dismiss your assertion out of hand, but I think the truth is a little murky here.

Agreed. It’s not as clean as that, but I think that it’s directionally correct (at least for this particular thread).

I agree with all of your other points as well.

I would be really curious about why the driven and talented students at the state school didn’t even get a look. I imagine there’s a good reason. Probably something like lack of research, studying under a dud professor (this can sort of be a kiss of death in some fields), studying under a prof with Ivy envy (basically crabs pulling their own back down — strange, but it happens), etc.

Any ideas?