Author Malcolm Gladwell told a podcast audience that students pursuing STEM should avoid Harvard unless they can be in the top quarter of their class, arguing elite environments risk pushing some students toward failure and dropout. Gladwell cited the ‘big fish, little pond’ effect and urged students to choose institutions where they can compete near the top. Separately, a public debate over early‑decision admissions intensified after readers responded to an essay labeling the practice an unfair “racket.” Advocates argue early decision advantages legacy and affluent applicants; critics call for reforms to increase equity in the admissions cycle. Both developments feed curricular and enrollment discussions on campuses weighing selective admissions practices, student success supports and counseling for applicants selecting institutions aligned with their academic profiles.