Grade inflation is a trend that affects major universities across the nation, according to CNN.com, and some attribute this inflation to an increasing pressure for professors to give high grades.

In accordance with this trend, many students think it is no longer acceptable to achieve anything below a perfect mark in their courses.

Anne Baker, assistant professor of English, said she has observed a desperate struggle for good grades and students will often turn to their professors when their grades aren’t to their satisfaction.

“I definitely feel a pressure to give good grades,” Baker said. “People feel they won’t get into graduate school if they don’t get perfect grades.”

Baker said this “grade grubbing” trend originates in high school and with the added pressure found in college, students become desperate to maintain their grades.

“When they get [to college], it is pretty competitive and they can’t handle getting B’s and C’s,” Baker said.

Baker said the pressure students apply on their professor is unfair and is usually unjustified.

“I sort of resent the idea that anyone can do unlimited extra credit,” she said. “It’s more work for the professor, and it’s usually a sign that the student didn’t do the work in the first place.”

Marcus Wagnborg, a senior in electrical and aerospace engineering, said he can identify with the inclination to achieve perfection in classes.

“It’s A is good, B is OK and anything else feels like total failure,” Wagnborg said.

Wagnborg said, however, that it is not an increased difficulty in the work that leads to students struggling to succeed, but rather a lack of initiative by the students themselves.

“Students are just getting lazier and lazier,” Wagnborg said. “I don’t know that the pressure is bad. What I think is bad is that we all wait to the last minute to do our work, projects and studying.”

Camden Carver, a senior in sociology, expressed similar sentiment — saying he expects his grade to reflect his effort.

“The grade I work for is the grade I deserve,” Carver said. “I don’t feel I should get an A if I do C-value work.”

Carver explained that teachers usually clearly outline their expectations at the start of the semester, so he cannot claim he was cheated.

“I work towards an A, but I don’t think I should pressure my professor for it,” Carver said. “If I don’t get an A in a class, obviously I didn’t do everything that was expected of me.”

Justin Buckland, a sophomore in chemical engineering, said he doesn’t subscribe to the grade inflation trend, and students can do well even if their grades slip from time to time. “Success isn’t based on a person’s grades because oftentimes, grades don’t reflect a person’s work ethic or determination,” Buckland said.

Baker agreed, saying that students shouldn’t let grades be the most important thing in their lives.

“Grades don’t completely define you,” Baker said. “Getting a B or a C doesn’t mean that you’re not smart or that you can’t succeed in school.”