Harvard considers capping A’s to curb grade inflation

[Anonymous]

Harvard has not admitted all the best of the best for a while. Their institutional priorities and social agendas have driven their selections. Let those underperforming students true achievements be reflected. They are still happy with a Harvard degree because they should not have gotten in in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A recent report found that a majority of grades given out at Harvard were A’s. Professors will vote on a proposal to limit the number to around 20 percent.



https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/us/harvard-grade-inflation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share


However, there is concern about increasing student stress and competition as a result of capping A’s.

This is insanity. If students can’t handle stress and competition then why go to such colleges? Just to reduce student stress everyone should get As.. crazy

It is stupid. Only the best and brightest go to Harvard. It tracks that they would achieve. There’s zero reason to artificially impose a bell curve.

That's only true to a point, given the large numbers of athletic recruits, legacies, and FGLI admits. I'm sure they're perfectly bright, but "best and brightest" should be qualified. More than half of the entire student body getting As is absurd.

Agree it's odd anyone thinks this is a uniformly accomplished student body.

[Anonymous]

They should follow Stern curve!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A recent report found that a majority of grades given out at Harvard were A’s. Professors will vote on a proposal to limit the number to around 20 percent.



https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/us/harvard-grade-inflation.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share


However, there is concern about increasing student stress and competition as a result of capping A’s.

This is insanity. If students can’t handle stress and competition then why go to such colleges? Just to reduce student stress everyone should get As.. crazy

It is stupid. Only the best and brightest go to Harvard. It tracks that they would achieve. There’s zero reason to artificially impose a bell curve.

That's only true to a point, given the large numbers of athletic recruits, legacies, and FGLI admits. I'm sure they're perfectly bright, but "best and brightest" should be qualified. More than half of the entire student body getting As is absurd.

Agree it's odd anyone thinks this is a uniformly accomplished student body.

Other than the athletes, immigrant children strivers and the children of wealthy people tend to be very accomplished people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Harvard has not admitted all the best of the best for a while. Their institutional priorities and social agendas have driven their selections. Let those underperforming students true achievements be reflected. They are still happy with a Harvard degree because they should not have gotten in in the first place.

Exactly when did Harvard admit the best of the best? When it was just white men?

[Anonymous]

They have to do it. You have to distinguish between the students who should go to PhD, MD, JD and the students who are going to get good jobs. If both groups are A students, there is no signal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have to do it. You have to distinguish between the students who should go to PhD, MD, JD and the students who are going to get good jobs. If both groups are A students, there is no signal

Why are you suggesting that kids with a B undergrad GPA get any of those things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard has not admitted all the best of the best for a while. Their institutional priorities and social agendas have driven their selections. Let those underperforming students true achievements be reflected. They are still happy with a Harvard degree because they should not have gotten in in the first place.

Exactly when did Harvard admit the best of the best? When it was just white men?

They never admitted best of the best..Unfortunately the perception is that all top 10 schools admit best of the best. Its simply not true..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Harvard has not admitted all the best of the best for a while. Their institutional priorities and social agendas have driven their selections. Let those underperforming students true achievements be reflected. They are still happy with a Harvard degree because they should not have gotten in in the first place.

Exactly when did Harvard admit the best of the best? When it was just white men?

They never admitted best of the best..Unfortunately the perception is that all top 10 schools admit best of the best. Its simply not true..

Cite please