<p>" Additionally, I personally did a study a year ago comparing our tier 1 vs. tier 2 schools that shows larger percentage of graduates at top university get higher GPAs than at easier schools"</p>
<p>I believe this. However, I think it’s because in general, students at easier schools are not as smart or motivated as are students at the most competitive schools. The students at the easier students in general didn’t have as strong secondary and elementary school educations.</p>
<p>I’ve taught at second and third tier colleges. Many papers that would gain “As” at such colleges would be at best “C” work at top colleges. The exams also were harder at the most competitive colleges. For instance, at Harvard, students think writing a 10-page paper is an easy midterm assignment, and it’s routine for students’ tests to be essay tests.</p>
<p>At many (not all!) second and third tier colleges, graduate school may be the first time that students have to write a 10-page paper, and exams may be short answer and multiple choice.</p>
<p>My experience was that in general the quality of work produced by students at the most competitive colleges was far better than was the quality of work by most students at less competitive colleges.</p>