Harvard’s Grade Inflation Dilemma

Recently, news surfaced about Harvard University potentially addressing its infamous grade inflation. For many years, Harvard has awarded A’s to students as if they were handing out candy at a parade. However, it appears that administrators are beginning to feel pressure from public opinion. It’s noticeable that graduates’ transcripts often read something like: Congratulations! You are remarkable.

In response, students reacted—calmly, reflective of course, and with a sense of humility.

American universities should inspire wisdom and virtue. If Harvard students are perceiving studies as an imposition, maybe it’s time to evaluate the institution itself.

Just kidding; they’re in complete moral upheaval—a peculiar reaction considering that most students only acknowledge morality when it pertains to identity. Yet, once faced with the prospect of academic rigor, they seem to rediscover a universal truth burning brightly.

What triggered this existential crisis? A rumor—just a whisper, really—that more studying may be on the horizon.

One distressed student lamented that tighter grading standards would reduce time for extracurricular pursuits. After all, college life—at least for many at Harvard—is often more about clubs and activities than academics. Completing assignments was merely a stepping stone to a world free from the burden of studying.

Others reportedly spent their day in tears. Life can be tough, I suppose.

When pondering the idea of sacrificing extracurricular activities, sailing trips might come to mind for some. For others, it meant diving deeper into activism. If a revolution must hit pause for midterm elections, who’s left to dismantle “oppressive structures”? Who will rescue those oppressed by citation?

As absurd as it sounds, this outrage uncovers several uncomfortable truths about the American higher education landscape.

1. Past Hardships Lead to Present Apathy

One student confessed that they nearly faced their end just to gain entry into Harvard. Don’t be foolish enough to think you can slack off there, but the belief seems to be that hard work is something reserved for the past.

If you’re an employer with hopes of finding disciplined thinkers among Harvard grads, prepare for a reality check. You might end up hiring someone unfamiliar with the concept of reading a book. Many there seem to have specialized in “activism,” feeling entitled to receive salaries while they continue their advocacy.

These students often view their workplaces as extensions of their campuses, where “advocacy” takes precedence—even in an office environment. You wanted employees, huh? Well, you just might get an organizer instead.

2. Exclusivity is Part of the Admissions Game

Harvard draws a certain kind of student. A student who inherently believes excellence is their entitlement, where hard work is dismissed as a microaggression.

Some go so far as to assert that the “work ethic” needs decolonization, viewing it as a remnant of privilege. It’s intriguing how they demand As while contributing minimally. They seem to think quite boldly.

It’s time we stop treating “Harvard graduate” as a compliment. Instead, perhaps we should consider it a caution sign. Such students expect their effort to be overlooked and justify their demands with claims of privilege.

Why not? Harvard has shaped an entire culture around these sensibilities. Nowadays, universities seem to cater to student needs rather than fostering growth.

3. The Higher Education System is Struggling

The upheaval at Harvard underscores a larger national issue. For years, society has touted college as essential for success, prompting universities to expand enrollment, create numerous frivolous degrees, build vast administrative structures, and inflate tuition costs.

And what’s the outcome?

Currently, we have a swell of graduates drowning in debt, yet holding unrealistic expectations for lucrative careers—without possessing the knowledge to back them up. Education has become akin to a trendy handbag, more about the brand than usefulness.

To truly gauge the system’s flaws, just ask any Ivy League alum:

• What does wisdom mean?
• What constitutes the highest good?
• Has your education made you a more virtuous individual?

Chances are, you’ll receive a convoluted explanation full of buzzwords about advocating for marginalized communities and challenging oppressive structures. But when asked how this translates into doing good, expect a vacant stare.

Of course, fields such as engineering still require genuine commitment. But they represent tiny islands amid a sea of inefficiency. Many universities now resemble multi-billion dollar community centers, where actual classes are disguised as entertainment.

Is There Hope for the System?

Perhaps, but don’t hold your breath.

Changing the faculty mindset, which leans heavily left, is near impossible. It’s not merely unbalanced; it’s a homogeneity that’s resistant to reinvention.

But change is on the horizon. Enrollments are dropping, budgets are ballooning, and public trust is waning. The only thing keeping many of these institutions afloat is their ability to convince students that identity activism and advocacy are essential educational missions.

The solution? Let’s cut funding for trivial pursuits. No law mandates that anyone must pay extensive tuition to hear a gender theory lecture criticize traditional values. There’s no requirement to finance one’s own ideological indoctrination.

Honestly, I’d love to speak in an empty room.

Universities had a mission: to nurture wisdom and virtue. If students at Harvard now view education as repression, maybe it’s time to assess the institution itself.

And I, for one, am eager for the results.