@GOAT12 Our kids have been very top students at their very avg universities attending on either mostly or full-scholarship. They have had great professors who have in turn been excellent mentors. They have been able to be involved in UG research on their respective campuses. They have been able to participate in presenting that research at national/international conferences. They have been able to take grad level courses as UGs. And, yes, they have been very competitive for their post-UG objectives.
They have gone on to have excellent careers working right alongside top grads of top programs or attend top grad school programs with top grads of top UG Us.
If you read the link posted in #5, that has been our family’s experience.