JOURNAL ARTICLE

Malcolm Gladwell tells young people if they want a STEM degree, 'don't go to Harvard.' You may end up at the bottom of your class and drop out.

  • Published In: Fortune.com, 2026. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Rogelberg, Sasha 3 of 3

Abstract

The article discusses Malcolm Gladwell's perspective on the risks associated with attending elite universities like Harvard for students pursuing STEM degrees. Gladwell argues that students should consider attending schools where they can rank higher in their class, as being in the bottom half can lead to increased dropout rates and hinder success. He emphasizes that success in STEM is influenced more by relative standing among peers than by raw cognitive ability. Additionally, he suggests that employers should focus on candidates' class rankings rather than the prestige of their alma mater when hiring. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Fortune.com. 2026/02, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Biography
  • Publication Date:2026
  • Accession Number:191587706
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