In terms of “different life experiences”, those who did not grow up in the top 2-3% SES may find it interesting to encounter such a large concentration of the scions of the top 2-3% SES families (i.e. the half who do not get financial aid).
In terms of “people who started fast and people who are starting slowly”, the elite colleges are mostly filled with those who started fast enough to get straight A or close to that starting in 9th grade. A later bloomer is unlikely to have the academic record to be competitive.