Over the last century, a certain set of schools have risen to the highest status. Propelled by a tradition of great resources and talent, these Elite schools attract a large pool of hopeful applicants each year. The most excellent students are, then, hand-selected to attend the university, thereby inspiring the tradition to continue.

百年来，有那么一拨学校得到了极为崇高的地位。这些精英大学历来积累着极好的资源和人才，每年吸引大批生气勃勃的申请人。最优秀的学生被挑来拣去，看谁有幸能进入这些大学，让精英传统得以延续。

But in the age of online and other alternative means education, it would make sense that that top students would gravitate toward the individualization and cost-effectiveness of these alternatives. However, despite the rapidly inflating cost of tuition, the number of applicants to these top universities also continues to rise. Students know that there are advantages to attending an Elite school. But the real benefits are sometimes hidden.

不过在网络时代，受教育还可以通过其他方式。优等生们为个性和学费所吸引而做出其他选择也是可以理解的。但是，尽管学费疯长，申请这些一流大学的学生仍然在增长。学生们非常清楚进入精英大学给他们带来的好处。不过，真正的好处往往没有被发现。

There are obvious benefits to attending a top-notch school. Commonly misconceived, many people believe that the greatest benefit is being able to write the school’s name on a resume. However, these are the same people who forget what “the name” has meant to generations of people. Top schools have a reputation for taking in highly intelligent young people, cultivating their minds for four years, and then turning out productive members of society. This is how their reputations were formed, and this the true reason why “the name” catches people’s interest.

能进入一流大学肯定是有好处的。很多人误以为进入一流大学最大的好处是可以再简历上写上大学的名字。不过，正是这拨人忘记了学校的名字对一代代学生来说意味着什么。一流大学以它们名望吸收聪慧的年轻人，在本科四年中浇灌他们的思想，向社会输出人才。这就是它们的声望形成的所在，这也是它们的名字可以吸引大家注意的理由所在。

Other reasons for applying could include: a need for the university’s resources, a desire collaborate with other bright young people, or an interest in the faculty and their work.

其他的申请理由可以使需要大修的资源，渴望和其他充满智慧的年轻人一起合作，对教研人员和教研活动感兴趣。

These are all reasons a young student might want to attend one of these Elite schools, but not until after the admissions officers pick their ideal class and September rolls around do the real reasons for attendance become apparent.

这些基本上涵盖了年轻学生们希望进入这些精英大学可能的理由，不过，等到录取官员们将他们分门别类录取，等到九月的来临，进入精英大学的真正理由就很显而易见了。

Intended Benefit: Access to the University’s Resources

期望利益：获取大学资源

Real Benefit: Access to All of Academia’s Resources

实际利益：获取一切学术界资源

Most schools have impressively extensive resources. From books, to artifacts, to research materials, to the physical architecture of the school itself, universities are known for supplying their students with extensive materials to facilitate their studies. At Elite universities, the students have access to not just their own university’s resources but to the entire world. Need a manuscript of a pre-Shakespearean play to compare it to later literature? The Elite student can have it by the end of the week. Whether it is just coming down from New Haven or taking a hop across the Pond, materials are made readily available to students of top schools.

大多数学校拥有可观资源，从书籍到手工制品，研究材料，学校建筑本身，大学为学生们的学习研究提供了极为丰富的素材。在精英大学，学生们能获取的不仅仅是大学资源，还包括了整个世界的资源。需要前莎士比亚时期的戏剧手稿？这些精英大学的学生周末就可以拿到。无论是来自纽海文还是去瓦尔登湖，一流大学总是为学生准备好一切资源，等待他们的光临。

The Elite community of resources is made possible through archaic academic alliances as well as new efforts towards shared knowledge. As students of this community, the world is at their fingertips.

这些精英资源圈大概源自于传统的学术联盟和最新的在知识共享方面的努力。学生们在这个圈子里，世界触手可及。

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