Originally Posted by bluemagic
And despite the students sky high 4.35 GPA's and 10 AP's, many of these students seems less ready for college than in years past.
Perhaps, but average college GPAs have continued to increase at the most selective schools, and graduation rates are very high. Since the BA is a less well defined credential than an MD, schools can define the level and quality of work that most students actually do as A-level college work.

Dean Says Median Grade at Harvard College Is A-, Most Common Grade Is A
By MATTHEW Q. CLARIDA and NICHOLAS P. FANDOS
Harvard Crimson
December 4, 2013