Gladwell Opportunity In Higher Education Summary

Gladwell argues that “opportunity in higher education is based on a faulty assumption about poverty.” He gives a clear example of Carlos, a gifted student who grew up in poverty, but was led to exceptional schools because he was lucky and was recruited into a program for low income students. This program brings talented lower class students to elite schools so they can advance in life. It is unfortunate that just because one is born into a lower income family, they cannot afford a quality education. The public school systems often fails and does not correctly prepare students to be successful in college and later in life. He speaks on the concept of American capitalization and how the Unites States sense of being able to work one's way up
Privilege in the United States is the difference between two completely different life circumstances and possibilities. As Gladwell says, The difference between being privileged and poor in the United States is the number of chances you come into. "Disruption is not fatal to life chances (for the privileged)." Privilege "buys you second chances." But if you're a poor kid, you do not receive the same number of chances. He is working to shed light on the problems in the educational system to improve the situation for current and upcoming students. It is expected that children of all ranks are given the same opportunities, but of course families that are more affluent can afford to put their children in more advantageous schools with superior resources. This privilege is already launching wealthier students off ten steps ahead. He goes on to say how universities do not expect much from lower class students in the population, which is erroneous because when statistically tested an abundant amount of students in poverty were scoring exceptionally on pre-college