In today’s Pope Center piece, economic professor Robert Martin discusses a recent paper that suggests a “dark side” to selective college admissions, particularly in that it may encourage students who think they have it made because they’re getting a degree from an elite school to slough off.
I think there is something to that, especially where grade inflation has set in. If sharp students know that a mediocre effort will still get them a B, some will fall for the temptation to economize on course effort to save time for things that are more fun.