The Elitist’s Guide to Getting into Harvard: A Recipe for Disaster
Malcolm Gladwell, the self-proclaimed guru of social commentary, is at it again. His latest book promises to reveal the secrets of getting into Harvard, even if you’re not exactly a genius. But let’s be real, it’s probably just a thinly veiled attempt to belittle the accomplishments of Harvard students who actually worked hard to get there.
A Formula for Success?
Gladwell’s research will likely focus on finding tenuous correlations between family income and academic performance. He’ll cherry-pick data to support his claims, ignoring the countless exceptions that disprove his theories. And, of course, he’ll attribute the success of Harvard athletes to their privileged upbringing, completely overlooking the hard work and dedication required to excel in their respective sports.
The Myth of Athletic Privilege
Sports like rowing, fencing, and squash may not be as popular in inner-city schools, but they require skill, strategy, and athleticism nonetheless. And as long as these sports are featured in the Olympics, we need collegiate programs to develop future champions. It’s our duty to support these programs, even if they’re not as flashy as basketball or football.
The Real Disadvantage
What Gladwell won’t tell you is that Harvard athletes actually face academic disadvantages compared to their peers at other top universities. At schools like UNC and UVA, student-athletes are given priority access to classes to accommodate their demanding schedules. Not so at Harvard, where athletes are expected to juggle their coursework with grueling practice schedules.
A Recipe for Disaster
Gladwell’s book will likely be a mess of flawed logic and biased assumptions. And why should we care? Because it’s just another example of elitist thinking, where success is attributed to privilege rather than hard work and determination. So, go ahead and read his book, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Leave a Reply