I rarely say this, so let me say it loudly, thank you, Harvard, for ending early decision.

If it’s been a long time since you applied for college, I’ll remind you that early decision is a process that allows candidates to apply early to one university as long as they promise to attend that university. Up to a third of Harvard’s class was admitted early.

Why does this matter? What does this have to do with spirituality and the workplace?

Early decision is an insidious process of economic injustice because it does not allow candidates to compare financial aid offers from different universities.* You have to take the financial aid offer that your university makes because you are in a binding contract with them. And they have absolutely no obligation to offer you any money. So they most of the time they don’t.

So, while I do think that Harvard and many other universities with endowments the size of large African/Asian/South American nations, should be totally free, and thus just get the best candidates regardless of family income, this is a small step in the right direction.

*And, yes, I did apply early decision, and yes, I was totally fucked by that because I was then in a binding contract with a university without any financial aid.