<p>I do not pretend to have any knowledge of the Ivy League and am not qualified to compare such an education to any other. However, in my years at university, I have encountered many teachers and profs and I can tell you that grade inflation is often teacher-specific rather than a conspiracy of a certain institution. I’ve had teachers who claim that an A is only for God, a B for teachers and C should satisfy any student (seriously). At the opposite end of the spectrum, I’ve had teachers who awarded top grades for mediocre essays simply because they thought I was capable of performing at such a level (the teacher’s pet phenomenon). Some courses I took have been ridiculously easy; others have been inhumanly demanding (with a pass rate of less than 10%).</p>
<p>I wonder what FuriousTadpole’s experiences or arguments are to support his/her claim that grade inflation happens mainly at the party schools? In my experience top grades are usually awarded in small classes when the teacher expects the students to perform at a high level.</p>