Living as I do in one of the afore-mentioned communities, I can see exactly what is going on here – both good and bad. Unfortunately, the acceptance committees are abusing their rights based on crazy things. If a person has a Sephardi-sounding family name (even if they happen to be Ashkenazi), forget it! Refused! (Unless you have a LOT of protekzia). If you are converts/Baalei Tshuva/working – forget it! (ditto about protekzia).
Unfortunately, these communities are becoming to signify all that is bad with the Chareidi world. I am one of the first to accept that we do need some type of screening, but for goodness sake, let’s look at the family and where they are holding now, and not refuse them for shtuyot. What is happening that so many young people, especially Sephardim are getting turned off by all this craziness, as they just give up, knowing that they will never “fit the mold”.
Is this what HaShem wants from klal Yisrael? I believe that some people are going to have to answer some mighty difficult questions after 120.