Because it can't be elite its filled with people who are mediocre. It's in the name... elite. Everytime you just let someone in on some flimsy diversity grounds you debase degree.
It’s not in the name. The presumption is that elite means other good students, and not the school itself.
When I buy elite golf clubs, it means the clubs are elite not other people who buy it are.
Now you can argue part of the reason to attend college is because of your classmates. And then I’d ask is the best experience a bunch of kids who are simply good at school?
Why don’t we prefer hard working students or students that played the most sports? There’s nothing inherently special about being a good student.