talmud: I think you are comparing what the goyim call IV League colleges with our yeshivos. I think that is unwise. A high level of learning in yeshiva is learning Torah lishma- sincerity of heart is the ikar. For Limud chol- a high level of learning is how smart you are. I think you are confusing “cream of the crop” with exclusivity and natural intelligence. Secular colleges have no concept of l’fum tzara agra. In yeshiva, the cream of the crop are those that try hardest. Are there different levels? Yes of course but that is not the ikar. Yes, there is a yeshiva near me that accepts only those that can learn on a certain level. But everyone knows that many of the kids there are only book smart and they go to college parties at night. That’s why you can’t compare yeshiva to college.
Are you in an exclusive yeshiva “Talmud”? Are you the cream of the crop?
PS: Everyone knows that the exclusive yeshiva I am referring to gives preferential treatment to people if they are rich or if their father has status in the community. I know this because I see this happen in my yeshiva at least several times a year. A yeshiva like Shor Yoshuv on the other hand is well known and respected for accepting most people while maintaining their standards. It is not one or the other.