Yep, and I also see few of their on-line filmed lectures and form my present opinion... I'm European so I came from a really different (older/less reformed) sc

Yep, and I also see few of their on-line filmed lectures and form my present opinion... I'm European so I came from a really different (older/less reformed) school system and I'm old enough to see how it's change. I also casually interact with USA people and my conclusion is simple: having really poor schools "because there is college after" it can't really work. I see in EU, reform after reform, how unprepared become high-school students and how hard, if not impossible, universities try to "recover" them changing their programs. In the USA this phenomenon it's extreme so even with a super-low acceptance rate results have to be also extreme. You simply can't get smart but ignorant people and in few years transform them in high-skilled and acculturated guys. Being smart help of course, but learn require time. The better you start, early, the better you'll end up after.