When reading over college enrollment statistics, there are several things that 

catch the eye. The enrollment numbers, the graduation rates, and the number of quality degrees the 

college offers. What one does not notice is an ever increasing rate of Grade Point Average (GPA) among 

these colleges. The University of Tennesee, a fairly lax academic college, touts one of the highest GPAs 

in the nation. Although grade inflation is evident in the classroom, it is necessary for colleges to compete 

among each other.

	As a student, I must adjust to the teacher's grading style, rather than my learning ability	

 there were many things that stood out to me when making my college selection, but

 there were only two that mattered the most: Money and GPA. Most colleges responded to my needs by 

offering a variety of scholarships to apply for along with my government grants. Combing through the weekly 

college newsletters in my mailbox introduced me to Pellissippi State. Pellissippi offered a low-cost quality 

education which guaranteed support from the University of Tenneessee when transferring credits. Theater 

class reintroduced me to basics of theatre, although not learning any new material, I often find myself 

working to please the teacher and not to relearn the actual material. Steven Vogel agrees as his students 

experienced the same, "For them the  goal of going to class, writing papers, taking exams, and so on, is 

simply the grade itself." (338). When I selected my college classes, I had a variety of choices, but there were several classes 

I was interested, but fearful of taking because of the possibility of a drop in GPA. Finland addresses this issue by completely 

having a revamped scale, David Rothenberg states, "No professor can fail a student for not completing work." (341). Students 

feel no pressure to complete assigned work on time and cause unnecessary stress. (338, 341)

	Faculty inside colleges and schools are pressured into feeling sympathy for students to keep them enrolled in the 

courses. As long as a student is enrolled in a course, they will be bringing money into the school. I have had several classes

 where I had fallen behind due to many different reasons, but the teachers went beyond their power and helped me pass the 

course. These professors feel compelled to do so because if the teacher gains a reputation to be too stern, they will have less

 students enrolled in their courses, and eventually their course could be dropped. According to Vogel, a professor "plays our

 our own fantasies about money - we can be skinflints, stingly giving out one or two A's a year, or spendthrifts, spreading high

 grades everywhere..." (339) Increasingly over the years, Colleges have put a pressure into more lienency in order to keep a

student enrolled in course, the more students enrolled in courses, will generate more money into the system, which in turn 

benefits the entire student body and the faculty because it can increase pay rate. According to Journal of Instructional 

Psychology, "Grades have been steadily increasing since the 1960s'".(58). (339)

	A problem that has been persistant throughout my schooling career, and many others is, what exactly determines 

what a grade is? Steven Vogel, a professor of philsophy at Denison University, ponders what exactly what specific grades 

mean, and he states, "what exactly is the difference between a B- and a C+? Damned If I know" (337). A problem that 

persists is that every single professor grades differently, If a professor himself does not know what a grade means, why must 

a student be expected to achieve those grades when there is not a set standard of what will get it? The Finnish system 

frowns upon competition,  and "the Finnish government sends a specific message: Education is both a right and a privilege." 

(Rothenberg, 341) Without a confusing grading system, the Finnish students are allowed to work on their own time, and to 

not rush with their projects, instead they are allowed time to work steadily and at their own pace. Instead, students are 

allowed to skip all the general classes that many Americans are required to take, and focus on their major.