As a result of this, they have to keep a consistent ratio of high class students (with some baseline/distribution of ability) to talented students to miscellaneous students. Too many high class students, and they lose their academic prestige only to be an expensive private school. Too many talented students, then very few high class students can attend and the higher class will focus on other schools. If it's mainly other students, then it won't be a notable school.
Viewing elite college admissions from this level makes a lot of their actions more sensible. People are now able to game their old system so they have to adjust things to keep the ratio intact. I imagine at the graduate level, things are lot more performance/talent based and less political (excluding maybe MBAs or Law School).
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4CM4Q8lOoGrEOSnXmqp1D1?si=6...