The problem is that there is now grade compression at the top. If only 20% of students got A’s 15 years ago and now 60% get A’s, you have 40% more who are now equally competitive that would not have been 15 years ago. I am oversimplifying for one class, but you would have similar compression for cumulative GPA. One of the students interviewed even talked about how important college EC’s are now since everyone has similar high GPA’s. I don’t know if the importance of certain selective clubs (IB, VC, Consulting) is exaggerated, but it certainly favors kids with connections to upper classmen who are already “in”.
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