A couple of weeks ago the Columbia Spectator reported on a leaked university document that revealed that at least 1 in 12 Columbia undergrads earned at least a 4.0 last semester:
The spreadsheet listed 482 students in Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science who earned perfect grade point averages. Whether the numbers reflect grade inflation, the criticism often aimed at universities giving higher grades than in years past, remains unclear.
Stuart Rojstaczer, a retired Duke professor who has written widely on grade inflation, said that since the data only includes students with a 4.0 or higher, the numbers were difficult to compare specifically to other schools.
As readers of this blog know, we’ve covered the Cornell grade inflation debate extensively over the past year.. here, here, and here. Rojstaczer is right, though- even the 1 in 12 figure is difficult to use in a comparison of grade inflation levels between schools. Cornell inducts the top 3% of A&S juniors into Phi Beta Kappa, all of whom had above a 4.0 GPA last year. The threshold for graduating in the top 10% of A&S is 3.92, so at least it’s pretty safe to say that fewer than 8% of Cornellians graduate with above 4.0’s.
Why do people see grade inflation as a problem? Jealous? I see it as a solution. It’s a solution to the notion that everyone must out-compete their already-highly-intelligent peers in order to qualify for the workforce. Grade deflation only serves to gratify over-motivated, book-smart students while implying that 90% of Ivy League students are somehow inadequate.
How do you figure “the threshold for graduating in the top 10% of A&S is 3.92”? Just curious if A&S published something or if you had your own equation.
sorry, here’s the source:
http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2010/04/08/phi-beta-kappa-honor-society-induct-juniors
luke, I think what is unfair is not grade inflation per se, but differences in grade inflation between schools. There is a false perception being created that there are more qualified Columbia grads out there than Cornell grads because of the difference in average GPA. Most employers still look pretty carefully at one’s GPA, even if he/she did indeed go to prestigious institutions like Cornell which makes grade inflation unfair (or perhaps the lack of it at Cornell).
Way cool! Some very valid points! I appreciate you penning
this write-up and the rest of the website is also very good.