During a recent episode of Conan O’Brien‘s talk show, Conan invited renowned author Malcolm Gladwell as a guest. The conversation took an unexpected turn when Gladwell addressed his alma mater, Harvard University.
Gladwell boldly declared that he has never shied away from criticizing Ivy League institutions, and Harvard was no exception. He delved into a chapter of his book that targets the prestigious university, explaining his reasons for doing so.
The chapter in question starts with a discussion about Harvard’s women’s rugby team. Gladwell questions why this chapter received no mention during the conversation, which prompted Conan to inquire further. As it turns out, Gladwell himself had been a member of the women’s rugby team and received a scholarship for it.
Gladwell proceeded to unveil his extended assault on Harvard, emphasizing that no one attacks the Ivy League more than him. He exposed how Harvard dominates in the realm of Division One sports, surpassing all other colleges in the country. Harvard boasts an astounding number of student athletes and grants significant admission preferences to recruited athletes.
The author then focused on specific sports that Harvard prioritizes, such as rowing, fencing, sailing, rugby, and tennis. These sports are often associated with an affluent background, known as “country club sports.” Gladwell dedicated an entire chapter to understanding Harvard’s fascination with these sports and its affirmative action program for athletes in these particular fields.
He unveiled a startling revelation about Harvard’s recruiting practices, highlighting that being the best athlete in one’s class, rather than the best student, is the easiest pathway to gaining admission. To further illustrate his point, Gladwell emphasized that to be recruited as a tennis player, one must play Division One tennis, which necessitates parents who are willing to spend $50,000 to $100,000 annually. Essentially, Harvard is reserving admission slots for the children of wealthy parents capable of affording such expenses.
This blatant preference for rich kids’ sports exasperates Gladwell, who strongly believes in meritocracy. He finds it disheartening that the symbol of meritocracy, Harvard University, actively rewards students involved in these exclusive sports. He sees it as a contradiction and laments the loss of true meritocracy in this country.
Conan chimed in to express his affinity for churros, prompting Gladwell to tease him about his exotic locations. Interestingly, their conversation segued into a discussion about travel, with a brief mention of T-Mobile and its benefits for travelers.
Returning to the topic, Gladwell speculated that most kids partaking in these country club sports would likely end up in professions such as hauling crab or becoming lobstermen. He humorously recognized the potential future of these athletes, playing on their chosen sports’ nature.
Gladwell expanded his argument, highlighting how people have the ability to game any system. Even if Harvard were to rely solely on standardized tests like the SAT for admissions, individuals would find ways to manipulate the system. He alluded to the billions of dollars spent annually on SAT tutors and emphasized that any set of rules can be exploited, just as we’ve witnessed in the past with Wall Street’s collapse.
Conan shared an anecdote about his experience challenging his assistant to the LSAT, where he discovered the focus on processing without understanding. This revelation amused Gladwell, who imagined the consequences of having a lawyer state that they processed a case without comprehending it.
The conversation then shifted to a personal anecdote from Gladwell’s life. Having grown up in Canada, he found himself unfamiliar with standardized tests like the SAT. Curiosity led him to take the SAT as an adult, placed alongside much younger test-takers. To his surprise, Gladwell tied his assistant, defying expectations set against his age. He humbly admitted that his score was not impressive, but it underscored the unnecessary pressure society places on such tests.
Conan expressed his admiration for the talented individuals he has worked with in the entertainment industry, pointing out that he often doesn’t even know where they attended college. This remark tied into Gladwell’s discussion about resilience and the advantages derived from non-monoculture backgrounds.
As the conversation came to a close, Conan light-heartedly joked about intentionally forgetting his SAT score. The duo laughed, ending the segment on a lighthearted note.
Overall, Malcolm Gladwell‘s appearance on Conan O’Brien‘s talk show provided fascinating insight into his critique of Harvard University’s admission practices and the disparities within the meritocracy ideal. As always, Conan managed to keep the conversation engaging and entertaining, leaving viewers with much to ponder regarding the intersection of sports, education, and privilege.
