<ol>
<li><p>There are no national/international standards for performance, therefore degrees are based on the requirements set down at the individual schools.</p></li>
<li><p>Thanks to ‘grading on the curve’ your peer group does effect your personal outcome grade-wise but not necessarily in the content that you do or do not absorb.</p></li>
<li><p>Your questions are part of the reason that grad schools have standardized testing requirements. Presumably, you and your brilliant friends will outperform the slack-jawed mouth-breathing sloths who ■■■■■ dumber campuses when it comes time to take GREs, MCATs and the like.</p></li>
</ol>