1. Opening Frame: The Myth of Merit

Elite schools present themselves as meritocratic gateways, but their admissions patterns overwhelmingly reflect wealth. Zip code predicts opportunity more reliably than any genetic marker, making “genetic testing for merit” redundant.

2. The Three Populations Inside Elite Schools

- Legacy/Wealth Admits: Children of donors, alumni, and the affluent; admitted through inherited cultural capital, institutional preference, and social networks.

- DEI Admits: A smaller group selected to satisfy diversity optics; often mischaracterized as the primary beneficiaries of non‑merit admissions despite being far outnumbered by legacy admits.

- High‑Aptitude Minority: The genuinely exceptional students whose later achievements (Nobels, startups, public leadership) sustain the institutio ...