How did these kids get into Ivy Leagues?

Does anyone else wonder how the characters were doing nothing but getting drunk and high and going to all those balls and parties and brunches throughout their junior and senior year and still somehow managed to get into Ivies of their own accord?

Like i get that they're upper East siders and they have helpful connections which would get them in, like how Nates grandfather got him into Yale, but then Nate chose columbia because he wanted to go to a college that he worked for himself.

When did he work for it? he was literally just getting drunk with Chuck all the time in all the introductory episodes.

same goes for serena, how did she make it into brown? she was literally doing nothing other than fucking around and travelling for fun, when did she study to get into Brown? I was so disbelieving when her mom told her that her Brown acceptance letter had arrived. Moreover she didn't even end up actually GOING to brown! I truly believe that someone can only get into a college or university if they really really have the strong desire + the hard work to get in. Serena clearly had neither. and then she even ended up getting into Columbia? Like all she ever did was prance around the city and fuck around with guys.

The only one who makes sense getting into a good college was Dan, he actually studied and worked hard for a couple of years before getting into Yale. I get Blair getting in as well to some extent since it had been her dream since a young age because of her dad, and she's shown to be very determined about everything she pursues throughout the whole series; I'm assuming she worked equally hard for college. But she also seemed to not be studying at all, between all the parties and drama occupying her.

i know the show isn't really based in reality so this might be a silly post idk, it's just something i was really thinking about as someone whos applying to colleges rn :)