Perception:
-Smartest people in the country are studying at university
-Ivy Leagues mostly white, male
-Elite individuals are "recruited" by secretive U.S. Government programs

Reality:
-Smartest people in the country are found in equal proportion throughout different sectors, including non-academic settings
-Ivy Leagues mostly Asian, increasingly female with just as many Indian and Russian as White in American physics programs
-U.S. Government can't recruit people they don't know exist. They mostly lack the insight and financial resources to pull the right talent away from private industry. An increasing number of freelancers have every bit as much if not more acumen than grad students, creating a nightmare for those wishing to control the flow of new ideas.

Sound about right?

Discuss:
How can we improve things to retain talent in the United States?