Thanks @alexroark5 ! I have a follow-up question. GENERALLY, why is that? I’m not saying that to be difficult, honest. I know it just seems like conventional wisdom, but what does one actually gain by completing them in sequential order?
Quite the understatement. Harvard/Yale/Stanford don't do merit-aid scholarships so you would have to be super poor to get some financial aid and even then isn't likely to be a full-ride.
And frankly, given my undergrad, I've had quite enough with "prestige" and its supposed make-or-break net effect. Good branding, poor reflection of reality.