Malcom Gladwell Response

Malcom Gladwell makes plenty of sense. His TED talks are pretty interesting too. Although I can't say that I've seen any other ones, the way he talks is really interesting to listen to. About the Ivy League thing, I suppose it does have a lot of truth. They really are a selection-effect institution. You don't become successful by going to an Ivy League school, you already have the propensity to be a successful person. Going to an Ivy League won't grant you success. They are highly selective. If they were a treatment-effect institution why would they need to be so selective? I strongly agree with Gladwell's points on these things, however, I would like to bring to light one of the things overlooked when he wrote his article (deliberately? I don't know) but it's that an Ivy League school does receive more endowment, therefore offering more premium programs compared to state schools.