What are your thoughts on the "extras" at the elites versus state flagship. Do you feel these "extra" opportunities are things that give applicants advantages?
There is no question that elites give advantages. In addition to the more tangible ones you suggest, there is simply the fact of being surrounded by people who got into elite schools. Being with "my people" at MIT probably made more difference to me than my research projects, for example.
Whether those advantages are worth the cost is a different question. I didn't have much trouble paying off my student loans, but they spent a
long time in deferment, between grad school and law school. I was lucky to have gotten them at a time when they didn't accrue interest while I was in school. I think fewer loans have that feature now.
