Many go to Harvard because it’s Harvard. That’s really it. The name.
When I was in my mba, my Cornell undergrad roommate talked to his buddy at Wharton all the time. Rarely went to class. Did far less work than us. Yet companies were knocking down doors to get him.
Why ? He was at Wharton.
Of course you have kids at Harvard there to learn, participating a being the brilliant kids they are. But many will be like kids at every school - whatever they can get away with - they’re at Harvard, it’s all good.
If Harvard started failing kids, less would want to go.
Grade inflation is beyond rampant in society.