[RandomThrow321]

> You don't go to MIT for the education. There is absolutely nothing you will learn at MIT that you can't learn on your own or at any other college.

This is true if you limit it to the typical (non-research) undergraduate experience. But there are experts from top universities whose work is not accessible outside of academia. More practically, the university atmosphere also acts as a forcing function due to the requirements and competition. Add to that the fast feedback loop provided by some of the top minds (both teachers and peers). The chance that a self-taught engineer is as effective in their chosen field as an MIT graduate with even average grades is exceedingly low.

> You go to MIT because MIT is a social filter

Many go to MIT because it is (or at least they believe it is) the place to further their learning beyond everything else available. You're implying the social filter and network is the only benefit, which is simply not true. Even controlling for what it takes to be accepted in the first place, do you honestly think that MIT graduates do not gain anything from their time attending the institution other than the bona fides?