Malcolm Gladwell urged prospective STEM students to avoid elite institutions like Harvard unless they can place in the top quarter of their class, arguing the risk of being a low‑performing student raises dropout risk. At the same time, corporate leaders—including Amazon’s Andy Jassy and Accenture’s Julie Sweet—told Gen Z graduates that opportunity persists if they embrace curiosity, tackle hard problems, and adapt to changing roles. The juxtaposition spotlights two coordination points for higher education: institutional fit for STEM majors and career‑readiness programming. Colleges may need to amplify honest fit counseling, bridge programs, and employer partnerships to better align student selection with long‑term outcomes.