If that's the case, it's a privilege afforded to about 50% of each year's students (Germany, presumably it's not much different for our neighbours). For people who don't qualify due to their high school education, there are opportunities to gain access later in life, and people who did that make up about 30% of each year's university students.

Obviously, nothing is perfect.

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abiturientenquote_und_Studiena...