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Comment by gautamdivgi | Hacker News Reader

I would differ on this. It’s access to capital and connections. For the longest time access to capital in India has been limited and children are expected to support parents in their old age. Hence, the heavy move towards the cushy job at google. To be fair a large cohort of IIT & IISc grads come to top American universities.

I actually think standardized tests create more equality than other methods. The whole recommendation letter/essay/interview is an eyewash.

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> I actually think standardized tests create more equality than other methods

If that was actually the case then India wouldn't have a quota system where >50% of seats are reserved for certain castes and religions.

Those are mostly political freebies. If you have someone using the reservation to gain admission there is no way they will be able to go through with recommendation letters/writing essays/interviews, etc.

Edit: In a way, the standardized testing made that inequality apparent and harder to wave your with a very ambiguous policy on inclusion.

To uphold equality I need to be punished for the sins of my fathers at least 2 generations before me. I have stopped complaining and my children and grandchildren will learn as well.

Which religions?

Connections is key and related to EQ. You can memorize all the works of physics and be horrible at making connections to get stuff done in the real world.

> To be fair a large cohort of IIT & IISc grads come to top American universities.

Why are they coming to American universities when IITs and IISC have GATE exam for post graduate courses and none of the ridiculous process for admission?

Must be because they love ridiculous admission processes, not because American income is higher.

Connections and access to capital. Isn’t that why people move or get a job, etc.? And the fact that they can tolerate the ridiculously low PHD stipends.

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