When my dad was growing up, getting into Harvard was considered a nice thing, but it wasn't expected that everyone halfway smart would vie for the Ivy League. Most people applied to two or three schools-- usually good colleges close by, such as the state flagships.

Now there's an obsession with elite schools, and it has trickled down even to the pre-school level, at ridiculous costs in both time and money. It's not about education; it's about social climbing.

I believe this is because society is beginning to unravel, even as technology and the economy improve. When society contracts, social connections become important because of the dwindling resources and hoarding.