My college buddy, Shane, emailed me to recommend
Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art
of Battling Giants, as “a goldmine of material” for my blog. And loyal reader George forwarded me this podcast featuring Gladwell’s discussion of the book. At 24:40, Gladwell explains why a student
might be better off choosing “Hartwick over Harvard.”
I’m sure many people will dismiss Gladwell’s argument
that many students are better off attending a college where they are sure to shine (I don’t actually agree with
the point for every student). But I will
say that I have seen some students who attend prestigious schools have a lot
of difficulties adjusting to the new reality that they’re no longer at the top
of their classes (and may in fact now be near the bottom).
I’d use Gladwell’s research as a reminder that no
college, not even a prestigious one, is perfect. Many students thrive at the most selective
schools, but those colleges aren't the right fit for everyone. Find the right school for you and resist the
temptation to make prestige a driving factor of your choice.