422 Harvard’s GPA Problem: Why Internships Matter More Than Grades

What if the “A” isn’t proof of learning anymore?In this episode of the Disrupt Education Podcast, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl sit down with Brandon Busteed to challenge one of education’s biggest sacred cows: grades.Brandon drops a stat that should stop every educator and parent in their tracks: 60% of grades at Harvard are A’s (up from about 25% two decades ago). So… what does an A even mean now?From there, the conversation goes exactly where schools need to go next:Why grades and GPA often don’t predict real job performanceWhy students need internships and work-integrated learning more than “perfect transcripts”The internship gap: millions of students want internships, but far fewer actually get themBrandon’s bold solution: the 5% Internship Pledge—and how it could scale opportunity fastHow we shift the culture to value learning from all work (yes—even retail and “starter” jobs)Brandon also shares what he’s building through Edconic: immersive industry learning experiences that are co-designed and co-taught by educators and industry experts—giving students real exposure, real feedback, and real skill-building that actually transfers.If your school is still living and dying by grades… this episode is your wake-up call.Connect with Brandon Busteed at https://www.linkedin.com/in/busteed/A quick thank you to our sponsor, YouScience Brightpath — the next-generation platform helping students make personalized decisions as they move from education to career. If you’re serious about connecting students to real opportunities, head to youscience.com/disrupteducation-podcast. Request a demo and let them know you heard about YouScience right here.