Comment Medicine isn't an 'elite', it's a numerus fixus (Score 1) 391
Several courses on dutch universities have 'numerus fixus', which means only a limited number of students are accepted, as the universities can't accept more due to the facilities and the nature of the courses. This doesn't make them 'elite', as the selection isn't really a selection, but a lottery. In other words, it's not 'hard' to get into, you just have to have luck. It's sad it's this way, really, but on the other hand, it's fair.
We have 1 elite university in the netherlands: Nijenrode University, but compared to Harvard and Princeton, it's very small scale and relatively less expensive.
You as a law student in Amsterdam should know there IS small elitism among law graduates in the netherlands: Leiden University and Utrecht University law students are considered 'higher educated', by many people, which is of course prejudice bullsh*t, but you know how people are. It's however not the same as with the USA system, as you could have applied to study law in Leiden as well, without any extra effort.