I think it's useful to present a different software engineering analogy. Getting into Stuyvesant is a lot like getting a job at a FANG company. Much like Stuyve

I think it's useful to present a different software engineering analogy. Getting into Stuyvesant is a lot like getting a job at a FANG company. Much like Stuyvesant, these companies tell you up front that you should practice for the test and provide links to study materials. They tell you that your normal experience of doing well at work/school is not necessarily enough, even if you are very good. The purpose of this entrance filter is not actually to select the smartest people or the most deserving people, but to select the best people - where "best" is on a scale of merit that is combination of being smart, knowing how to play the game, and being willing to dedicate yourself to passing the filter. When you think about this, it's important to note that it is not the case that students who don't get into a top school are all academically worthless, the same way that is true that many good engineers cannot/will not work at FANG.