[markus_zhang]

Education is less about knowledge but more about connections and interactions nowadays. Some lucrative positions only hire from small groups. So yeah I'd aim for the best university.

About knowledge itself, find something you are interested in and drill deep. I know it's cliche but unfortunately that's the only way to have a meaningful life without relying on someone else (I'm trying to say you can have a meaningful life by doing something different but that usually relies on someone else e.g. getting a kid).

Other than that get healthy and exercise often.

Of course if you have well connected parents then it's a different story.