I have no idea of her beliefs and ideology, but I have no doubt your granddaughter is highly intelligent. The Ivy's and America's top 20 universities attract, and search out, highly intelligent people. That simply can not be debated.
This article focuses on the wrong issue. Yes, students should train for competence, and indeed, many people who go to lesser-known universities are very smart, hard-working, and they do great things in life, particularly in private enterprise
But the simple fact is - America's deep state, government in DC, media, entertainment and finance rule America. You can be successful outside of those circles, but you will not rule. And those deep-state governing circles are chock fully of people from these top universities. The Roman Empire had many wealthy people in the Provinces, but to be at the heart of the Empire, you had to be in Rome. America now is not so different.
As noted on another thread, every single member of the Supreme Court went to either Harvard or Yale. Whether they are liberal or conservatives justices, every single one came from only two elitist law schools.
I know I am rather cynical here, but one of the major things I have learned during my time on this planet is that you will NEVER go broke underestimating how shallow people can be.
If you can somehow bluff your way to a piece of paper from Yale or Harvard you are going to do infinitely better than a harder working fellow with more native intelligence who slogged his way through community college.
Not that he doesn’t deserve it more, but all of the decision makers higher up the food chain have consumed the Kool-Aid which says the fancy credential creates value in and of itself.
Corruption corrupts absolutely. Top universities are only top in corruption, not in actual mental power.
This means the status enjoyed by top universities is only real in the minds of the brainwashed.
They lost actual status in failing to have the knowledge, the understanding and the wisdom to refuse political correctness. In failing to uphold freedom of speech they have lowered themselves several levels from their previous status as thought leaders.
So the top universities are not only foolish, they’re also corrupt.
America is very different.
Rome was unable to access its greatest mental resource—the wisdom of the common man—in order to continue its greatness.
Our political system allows such access.