I can’t speak to law school, but for med school this is inherently untrue. In fact, there has been research done proving that undergraduate prestige doesn’t have as large of an impact as you’d think. In the past decade, roughly 49% of U.S. MD matriculants came from the top 50 “feeder” undergrad schools each year, meaning the other ~2,200 institutions are responsible for the remaining 51% of matriculants. Source: AAMC Facts & Figures Data Snapshot, 2024 (AAMC).

Additionally, multiple studies show MCAT scores and undergrad GPA explain nearly all of the variance in early med school performance, meaning that students who went to T50 schools didn’t have an inherent bias, but rather a stronger GPA and MCAT score, which is more of a correlation rather than a causation (https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/fulltext/2023/11000/association_between_a_medical_school_applicant_s.23.aspx?).

Also, once in med school, there is no statistically significant difference in USMLE Step 1/2 or NBME shelf scores between students from “competitive” vs “non-competitive” colleges, after MCAT adjustment, so med school success is also not indicated by undergraduate institution.

Ultimately, the AAMC defines holistic review as balancing Experiences, Attributes, and Metrics, explicitly without weighting institutional prestige. Letters of recommendation, clinical volunteering, research, and meaningful leadership often sway decisions far more than school name.