Those now farther out of school, how much did chasing prestige actually get you?

Now that you've graduated from a top university, landed at a top firm, exited to a top fund, went to a top MBA, etc. etc., what did you gain out of it all? Was prestige worth all of the grueling effort you put in? 

How much farther do you think you are compared to someone who went to state school, took a middle market PE offer, etc.? 

And in the end, are you happy with the sacrifices you made and what you got out of it? 

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