[estevez]

College education was intended for the elite. The proportion of the population that possessed a high school diploma, much less a college degree was infinitesimal. Indeed, as late as the 1950s, only ~8% of the population were college graduates.

In practice, the requirement for the classics was no impediment to elites; one could be admitted on the condition that shortcomings would be remediated. Once admitted, you could easily purchase the services of a tutor or cheat your way through.