Exactly this. As I was saying as well, we are social animals and we know who we know, so while I understand how the alumni network works, it creates huge blinds

Exactly this. As I was saying as well, we are social animals and we know who we know, so while I understand how the alumni network works, it creates huge blindspots. Some of the most clueless but smart-on-paper students I ever encountered were CS students from a certain top ranked East Coast private university. The alumni network ensured jobs for them all.