<p>I've read threads saying that the ivies and other universities give out inflated grades (e.g., 91% of Harvard undergrads graduate with honors). But don't you think that the grades only seem inflated because the students from those schools work really hard to earn them and not because they are giving As to everyone?</p>
<p>No, grades are inflated.</p>
<p>The students who go to MIT, Caltech or Chicago are every bit as good as those at Harvard and they arent all graduating with honors. Harvard has rampant grade inflation and everyone knows it. Those three schools have rampant deflation and everyone knows it.</p>
<p>When you apply to grad school, the grad school WILL know that harvard grades are higher than chicago grades and WILL adjust accordingly.</p>
<p>Not every ivy has grade inflation, for example Cornell. I would also assum Wharton at UPenn isn't inflated.</p>
<p>I know Yale has it, especially in certain areas. I thought I really put my foot in my mouth one day at my gym talking to a woman about college/grades/ratings. She was saying how her son looked at the Ivies and some other LAC's and how many colleges aren't given respect they should. I mentioned the grade inflation at Yale compared to another college and she said, "I know about that well, working there". I asked her about how rampant it was and she then told me in her 15 years as a professor, she has seen it grow. (felt a bit awkward then)Kids are lazier, but there are a lot of great minds there too she went on. She tries to make them accountable, but also said she was a "softy" sometimes. She mentioned Harvard as well, but didn't dwell on any others. I had changed the subject, but she was very gracious and honest. We still chat and she'll give me tips now and then.</p>
<p>How does the average gpa students get right now compare to the one from the past? I saw somewhere that it was lower in the past. Do you think student now are smarter and more test-friendly, as suggested by the Flynn effect?</p>
<p>I have a friend who goes to Harvard and she was telling me that some classes are cutting back on grade inflation there. It makes it very difficult, especially because some teachers do inflate their grades, while others don't.</p>
<p>bump......</p>
<p>Also, Harvard is reducing the percent of people who will graduate with honors. I believe it will be curbed down to 50%. More information is on their site at <a href="http://www.college.harvard.edu/academics/resources/honors_faqs.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.college.harvard.edu/academics/resources/honors_faqs.html</a>.</p>
<p>Trust me, grade inflation is your friend. I would much rather have an 'A' when everyone in the class also gets an A, than get a 'C+' when the average grade is a 'C'. (This actually happened.)</p>
<p>cornell doesn't.</p>
<p>Yes, but the ones people view as most important (Harvard, Yale, and Princeton) all do.</p>