I don't know why the topic of Soviet universities specifically is so touchy, out of everything else. Notice a detail I mentioned earlier - "Jewish person of ordinary means". As with most things in the Soviet Union, bribes, or even just who you know, can make problems go away. But not every family had the sort of means or connections.

Before you compare to American tuition - I'm not talking about the top universities. I'm talking about effectively being completely barred from an entire career path, despite having the talent for it.