<p>Because you ignore the results of all the other students. Brown publishes the summary statistics for all the students. Of course any individual can get A’s at a rate lower or higher than the mean. But, if 46% of grades are A’s, then that is the result. </p>
<p>You choose an example based on a low A percent of 25%. If that were typical, then the overall A rate would be 25%, but it is not.</p>
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<p>That is why one looks at the overall results, they include the large lecture classes, the small seminars, and everything in between. And it is not “dumb”.</p>
<p>As for what it takes to get an “A”, how about “It takes hard work from the sort of top students who enroll at Brown”?</p>