--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Elite colleges like Stanford are…" description: "\"Elite colleges like Stanford are extremely inaccessible. They're failing in their mission to provide access.\" — Sebastian Thrun" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/sebastian-thrun-3182_access_elite-colleges-like-stanford-are-extreme_981233.png" --- # Elite colleges like Stanford are extremely inaccessible… ![“Elite colleges like Stanford are extremely inaccessible. They're failing in their mission to provide access.” quote by Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/sebastian-thrun-3182_access_elite-colleges-like-stanford-are-extreme_981233.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/sebastian-thrun-3182_access_elite-colleges-like-stanford-are-extreme_981233.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7f/sebastian-thrun-3182_access_elite-colleges-like-stanford-are-extreme_981233.png) > “Elite colleges like Stanford are extremely inaccessible. They're failing in their mission to provide access.” [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Elite institutions claim openness but remain out of reach for many, undermining their stated mission of accessibility. **In simple terms:** Top schools are hard to get into, limiting access. Key Takeaway Advocate for broader access and equity. Themes education equity access elitism Mood critical reflective Type analytical commentary When to use this quote - College admissions - scholarship programs - policy reform - community outreach Key Concepts Social stratification institutional bias Questions to Reflect On - How can elite schools truly broaden access? - What systemic changes are needed? A Different Perspective Changing admissions criteria is politically challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Access](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Elite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite/) [Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission/) ## Related quotes > [“MIS)SHAPING THE WAY THEY DREAM In April 2014 former Yale English professor William (“Bill”) Deresiewicz spoke to a crowd at Stanford about whether students…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-lythcott-haims/mis-shaping-the-way-they-dream-in-april-2014-former-yale-english/) [Julie Lythcott-Haims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-lythcott-haims/) > [Let's face it, I like Stanford grads. I'd always hear about this campus, and everybody is riding bikes, and people hopping into fountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/let-s-face-it-i-like-stanford-grads-i-d-always-hear-about-this-campus/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I used to tell my graduate students at Stanford, 'Don't worry about what job you have to pick because your job picks you. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-used-to-tell-my-graduate-students-at-stanford-don-t-worry-about/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Even as a college professor at Carnegie Mellon and Stanford, I saw myself as an entrepreneur, and I went out, took risks, and tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/even-as-a-college-professor-at-carnegie-mellon-and-stanford-i-saw/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [In my son's kindergarten, they're telling us how to get him into Stanford. By their advice, I'm doing everything wrong, because I'm trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/in-my-son-s-kindergarten-they-re-telling-us-how-to-get-him-into/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I care about education for everyone, not just the elite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-care-about-education-for-everyone-not-just-the-elite/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Only in high school when I began programming computers, did I become interested in tech and start-ups, which led me to attend Stanford and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-shih/only-in-high-school-when-i-began-programming-computers-did-i-become/) [Clara Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-shih/) > [The war project at Stanford was essentially completed, and I accepted an offer of an Assistant Professorship at the University of Minnesota, which had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/the-war-project-at-stanford-was-essentially-completed-and-i-accepted/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [I went to Stanford.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-ertz/i-went-to-stanford/) [Zach Ertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-ertz/) > [When I was nine, we moved to Stanford University in San Francisco so that my father could do a Ph.D. I went to Terman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-lawrence/when-i-was-nine-we-moved-to-stanford-university-in-san-francisco-so/) [Caroline Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-lawrence/) > [In marked contrast to the University of Wisconsin, Biochemistry was hardly visible at Stanford in 1945, consisting of only two professors in the chemistry department.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-d-boyer/in-marked-contrast-to-the-university-of-wisconsin-biochemistry-was/) [Paul D. Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-d-boyer/) > [“THE ORIGINS of this book go back to a casual lunch on the Stanford campus–Thai food eaten outdoors, a sunny and pleasant afternoon–in February…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-origins-of-this-book-go-back-to-a-casual-lunch-on-the-stanford/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You're already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/you-re-already-naked-there-is-no-reason-not-to-follow-your-heart/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [My high school, the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, showed me that anything is possible and that you're never too young to think big.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-shih/my-high-school-the-illinois-mathematics-and-science-academy-showed-me/) [Clara Shih](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-shih/) > [Madaming is the sort of thing that happens to you - like getting a battlefield commission or becoming the dean of women at Stanford…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-stanford/madaming-is-the-sort-of-thing-that-happens-to-you-like-getting-a/) [Sally Stanford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-stanford/) ## More by Sebastian Thrun > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I'm really looking forward to a time when generations after us look back and say how ridiculous it was that humans were driving cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-m-really-looking-forward-to-a-time-when-generations-after-us-look/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [There will be no more one-size-fits-all. Education will respond to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/there-will-be-no-more-one-size-fits-all-education-will-respond-to-you/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I take all day to climb mountains and then spend about 10 minutes at the top admiring the view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-take-all-day-to-climb-mountains-and-then-spend-about-10-minutes-at/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Its a no-brainer for me that at some point our cars will have the ability to drive themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/its-a-no-brainer-for-me-that-at-some-point-our-cars-will-have-the/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I am particularly surprised that certain outlets look at pass rates irrespective of student population. As if inner city high school kids are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-am-particularly-surprised-that-certain-outlets-look-at-pass-rates/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [At the end of the day, the true value proposition of education is employment,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/at-the-end-of-the-day-the-true-value-proposition-of-education-is/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [When you raise a child, you don't sit down and take all the rules of life, write them into a big catalog, and start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/when-you-raise-a-child-you-don-t-sit-down-and-take-all-the-rules-of/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Perhaps we can get to the point where we can outsource our own personal experiences entirely into a computer - and possibly our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/perhaps-we-can-get-to-the-point-where-we-can-outsource-our-own/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I wanted to participate in the political responsibilities of an American citizen. I wanted to vote. I wanted to be a full member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-wanted-to-participate-in-the-political-responsibilities-of-an/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It's my dream to make learning as addictive as a video game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/it-s-my-dream-to-make-learning-as-addictive-as-a-video-game/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I care about education for everyone, not just the elite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-care-about-education-for-everyone-not-just-the-elite/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Most rules that you think are written in stone are just societal. You can change the game and really reach for the stars and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/most-rules-that-you-think-are-written-in-stone-are-just-societal-you/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [I find it amazingly easy to take something, if you really believe in it, and turn it to reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/i-find-it-amazingly-easy-to-take-something-if-you-really-believe-in/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [Education should learn from the positive side of gaming - reward, accomplishment, and fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/education-should-learn-from-the-positive-side-of-gaming-reward/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) [Explore all 137 Sebastian Thrun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) ## More Access quotes > [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [You can disseminate your art, and it's all such easy access now. The upside to it is that more people are creating than ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-clarke/you-can-disseminate-your-art-and-it-s-all-such-easy-access-now-the/) [Stanley Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-clarke/) > [It's the same with this idea of a literate public, and also of a democracy in which people have access to and really read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/it-s-the-same-with-this-idea-of-a-literate-public-and-also-of-a/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Leslie Stein's comics give readers privileged access to a complete and wholly original world of gently skewed wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/leslie-stein-s-comics-give-readers-privileged-access-to-a-complete/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [The best way to fight poverty is to empower people through access to quality education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/the-best-way-to-fight-poverty-is-to-empower-people-through-access-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Because the Internet's there, I have access to a lot of the legends, like Fela Kuti. I used to watch a lot of Fela…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-krule/because-the-internet-s-there-i-have-access-to-a-lot-of-the-legends/) [King Krule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-krule/) > [There needs to be some regime that is overseeing access to broadband to make sure we have openess; otherwise, there is a risk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vint-cerf/there-needs-to-be-some-regime-that-is-overseeing-access-to-broadband/) [Vint Cerf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vint-cerf/) > [While it's wonderful that investors have access to all the data now available to them, it has become a full-time job to sift through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/while-it-s-wonderful-that-investors-have-access-to-all-the-data-now/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [It is truly vital for the United States to assure that it is not attacked with weapons of mass destruction; to prevent wars in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/it-is-truly-vital-for-the-united-states-to-assure-that-it-is-not/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Now that I'm more middle class, I have access to consumer goods. I do enjoy feminine frippery, feminine doo-da, stuff like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/now-that-i-m-more-middle-class-i-have-access-to-consumer-goods-i-do/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [To pray is to open the door unto Jesus and admit Him into your distress. Your helplessness is the very thing which opens wide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/to-pray-is-to-open-the-door-unto-jesus-and-admit-him-into-your/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [Broadband Internet access shouldn't depend on who you are or where you're from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajit-pai/broadband-internet-access-shouldn-t-depend-on-who-you-are-or-where/) [Ajit Pai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajit-pai/) [Browse all 2,178 Access quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/access/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Elite colleges like Stanford are extremely inaccessible. 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