“I can’t reach my maximum level of enjoyment just learning the material because I’m so anxious about the midterm, so anxious about the papers, and because I know it’s so harshly graded,” she said. “If that standard is raised even more, it’s unrealistic to assume that people will enjoy their classes.”

For an academic track, sure. Why not. For anyone looking to go into commerce or public service, these quotes are an indictment of elite education. (Consider the tradespeople we tax to subsidize these students.)

Look at somewhere like Cal Tech, Chicago, Carnegie Mellon, or Rose Hulman. Students don't enjoy all the classes. The rigor's necessary to be out in 4 years instead of 6.