I'd just make two of my own opinions pertinent to this thread, based on my own experience and what seems to be the reality based on what i've observed:
- As for CAE - the selection process IS difficult, and you will not get past it unless you can show you have the sufficient knowledge and attitude required. I was slightly cynical, but went through the process feeling that they DID want me to prove myself and were not simply after money. I can't speak for L3 as much, as I never went through a full selection process, but every interaction did feel more customer/client like - but this is not to say they don't have sufficient selection criteria, I'm sure they do.
- What seems to bear itself out thread after thread is that whether you are Whitetail, Mentored, or even MPL, this is all secondary to your performance and attitude during your time with your school