If you're from, say, Kansas or Ohio you are less likely to attend one of them than if you're from California or Massachusetts. While that might be true, there'

If you're from, say, Kansas or Ohio you are less likely to attend one of them than if you're from California or Massachusetts. While that might be true, there's also a population density issue. CA, NY, and MA have large urban populations, so more students are likely to attend those elite colleges. That said, I know for a fact that admissions officers and student volunteers from these schools literally spend months driving around the country to recruit prospective students from traditionally underrepresented states. They are well aware of this perception of elitism and want to combat it. One of my good friends from MIT was from Montana. (Yeah, anecdotes != data, but this issue you mentioned is very legitimate and something that Top 10 universities are actively trying to address.)