Harvard University rejects 97 percent of applicants each year, but many admitted students skip classes and avoid required readings after enrollment. A faculty committee report released in January revealed that undergraduates focus on electronic devices when they attend class and hesitate to speak up because they fear sharing unpopular ideas or have not completed assignments.
Grade inflation allows students to earn high marks without significant academic effort. About 60 percent of grades awarded are As, up from 40 percent in 2015. Half of that increase occurred when courses moved online. Students graduate without meaningful interaction with professors and peers and remain isolated in ideological bubbles.
The faculty group acknowledged that concerns about free expression on campus have merit. Only one-third of seniors reported feeling completely free to express personal views about controversial topics in spring 2024, down from 46 percent the previous year. Students expressed concern about social ostracism and the pressure to align their opinions with those of professors in order to receive good grades.
Harvard has responded by implementing changes for the fall semester. Some instructors take attendance, and students are encouraged to take handwritten notes rather than use devices. Professors have adopted confidentiality rules to encourage classroom participation. The university added an essay question to its 2024 application, asking prospective students to describe a time when they strongly disagreed with someone.
Students defend their behavior by citing intense competition for internships and jobs in fields such as law and finance. They argue that extensive involvement in extracurricular activities helps them stand out among high-achieving peers. Many say they developed these habits before college admission.
Grade inflation allows students to earn high marks without significant academic effort. About 60 percent of grades awarded are As, up from 40 percent in 2015. Half of that increase occurred when courses moved online. Students graduate without meaningful interaction with professors and peers and remain isolated in ideological bubbles.
The faculty group acknowledged that concerns about free expression on campus have merit. Only one-third of seniors reported feeling completely free to express personal views about controversial topics in spring 2024, down from 46 percent the previous year. Students expressed concern about social ostracism and the pressure to align their opinions with those of professors in order to receive good grades.
Harvard has responded by implementing changes for the fall semester. Some instructors take attendance, and students are encouraged to take handwritten notes rather than use devices. Professors have adopted confidentiality rules to encourage classroom participation. The university added an essay question to its 2024 application, asking prospective students to describe a time when they strongly disagreed with someone.
Students defend their behavior by citing intense competition for internships and jobs in fields such as law and finance. They argue that extensive involvement in extracurricular activities helps them stand out among high-achieving peers. Many say they developed these habits before college admission.
