This thread reminds me of the general discussion about education options. Having a gifted kid and whether they need specialized education. Will they do well in a general education environment? Some will. Will they do better in an environment that challenges them? Makes them think better, try harder? As a group, we always say yes to the before college part, why does it change in college? In my experience, the Harvard/Yale crowd is smarter as a group, way smarter. DH said when he went to Harvard as a freshman, he finally found his people. His housing group were highly successful, the whole group except for one. And I find them brilliant. I did not find that in general when I went to school. There were some brilliant, but not most. His classmates were most. That is the kind of environment I want for DD now and later.