"the exclusivity of Harvard isn't "an excuse to do something mean", but rather an effort to create conditions where our smartest youngsters can get together and

"the exclusivity of Harvard isn't "an excuse to do something mean", but rather an effort to create conditions where our smartest youngsters can get together and really change the world." Where by "change the world" you mean "continue to see that the Haves remain the Haves." You are correct to identity gathering a critical mass of best and brightest as a key part of the Harvard/Stanford "best of the best" puzzle, but the goal isn't to improve what they do, it's to introduce them to each other so that in 20 years they can sit on each others boards and amicably divide up the spoils of the markets they control. Quite a few students think the way you do, but the parents and especially the board members don't.