<p>menloparkmom:</p>
<p>I really don’t understand why you’re taking offense. What you have told us is that he didn’t find his classes or classmates challenging enough at a different school, so he decided to seek more challenge. When he got that challenge, he decided that he challenge was somehow “unfair.” At least some of his U Chicago classmates are getting As, clearly. But he is not. Why? Did it occur to him that the reason he’s not getting As is because he is not performing as well as the students around him? Has he given thought to the fact that he might just learn how to do better work if getting an A is not as easy at Chicago as it is at his former school? Does it occur to him that it might not be his professors who are at fault, but the quality of his work? Not that his work is bad, of course, but that it doesn’t, as yet, approach the level of excellence required to get an A?</p>
<p>As for the idea that Chicago, or Swarthmore, or any other school should begin to give out As for a lower standard of work because other universities do so, I wonder if we shouldn’t apply this standard in all walks of life. If any business feels its standards for products or services, and its standards for employees who turn out those products and services, are too high, perhaps it would be best to lower those standards?</p>
<p>As for your son, I do not know him and I do not know you, but your words make it appear (and perhaps I’ve misunderstood you) that you think he deserves As because he is smart. Personally, I believe As belong to those who turn out superior work. Being smart is useful in this, but it is not the only factor.</p>