<p>"Of course this happens, but the distribution of such people is quite different from that at other kinds of schools. I think there is this idea that the “average” grade at Harvard should be a C. I don’t agree with that. The vast majority of students at Harvard were “A” students in high school, and they continue to put out the same quality of work in college. Why shouldn’t they get As? It’s not a competition, it’s an evaluation of mastery of the material. Most of them master the material. "</p>
<p>According to friends who were students/TAs/instructors at Harvard, many students who were A students…even at well-reputed public/private schools ended up failing to cut the mustard when they start their undergrad careers. </p>
<p>Only thing is that with the exception of some hard sciences, the grading curve in their experiences tends to be such that even those mediocrities end up graduating with a B- or B average. It’s been one common rant and a warning from them not to “fall for the hype”. </p>
<p>While it is hard to earn As…though no impossible, it is also nearly impossible to graduate with an average below a B- average unless “you go out of your way to slack off” or “you’re braindead”…with the exception of some hard science majors. Every one of them said if Harvard was on a C curve, many of of the B-/B average students would become C-/C average students.</p>