[evmaki]

Some of that is probably because students at elite universities come from families who understand exactly how to navigate meritocratic systems. Parents who know you need a tutor to ace the ACT and an essay editor to polish your application essays likely also understand that, in some situations, you should get a psychiatric evaluation and disclose any diagnoses so you can receive accommodations.

I'm fairly convinced a big part of clearing the barrier to entry of these elite institutions is having a deep understanding of exactly the things you need to do to succeed given the structure of the system and the nature of the competition. Students at "non-elite" institutions are more likely to come from backgrounds where even if you DO have a disability, maybe nobody ever tells you that you can go to the doctor for it, or that something like "accommodations" exist to help you.

[wakawaka28]

While getting help for a legitimate disability is worthwhile and also something more likely to happen in a wealthy family, that is most certainly not what is happening here. These people game the system, get prescriptions for Adderall whether they need it or not, and get extra time on everything. I saw it a little bit when I was at a "non-elite" university. Dealing with "elite" alumni confirms this outlook too.

[ElevenLathe]

It costs money to have a disability: doctors, special schools maybe, time off work. If one can downplay or avoid dealing with one, poorer families will, even if not fully openly or consciously. Even in college, if you have a part time job and a full course load, how much time do you have to sniff around the ombudsman's office filling out forms?

[delichon]

An institution that can be navigated successfully with something other than merit isn't meritocratic.

[tjwebbnorfolk]

Yea, everybody has some defects or other. But there's definitely money/opportunities in getting the paperwork to prove the "right kind" of defects.