[psyklic]

I went to a state school and Caltech, which is not an Ivy League school but it is well regarded. The math courses were definitely much more difficult at Caltech. The incoming student caliber is much higher than at the state school, so even the introductory courses are very challenging in comparison. This sets a high bar immediately, which allows every succeeding course to maintain that high bar.

College-aged students are highly motivated, but they are often highly motivated simply to do well at school. Only a minority know what they are passionate about otherwise, which is evidenced by students switching their majors all the time.

I strongly believe that who you surround yourself with determines what you strive to become. Ivy League schools constantly tell you that you can become a superstar, so students believe it and your friends all strive to become superstars.

If your friends are all starting tech startups and you know people who have sold companies, suddenly it becomes something you strive to do. If you hang out with drug dealers then you will strive to get respect in a different way. This social factor transforms people just as much as the classes.