<p>I had a 135 credit graduation requirement (The Cooper Union engineering). My year started with approximately 120 students and a dozen or so students dropped out after freshman year. It was just as bad for the art and architecture schools as well. </p>
<p>Outside of academics, some stress comes from everything associated with living on your own since there is no campus housing after freshman year. Paying rent, bills, cooking your own food (no meal plans), signing leases, dealing with landlord issues, etc. I think this is actually a good experience, but nevertheless it can be quite stressful sometimes.</p>