People seem to be content to discuss a “high stress” culture as part of the deal when going to a place as “high caliber” as CMU. What your are all overlooking is that it is not the academics that are the true source of this stress.
The faculty at CMU are abusive
They do this on purpose. They psychologically abuse and physically exhaust young people because these comments above enable that type of abusive culture. It is not necessary, and does not help anyone in the long run. Finishing university mentally and physically broken does not prepare you to succeed. Many students (who are not discussed here on this chat) commit suicide- multiple suicides during my time at CMU- because the faculty and the administration destroy them. The university doesn’t pay for lighting, for facilities to be maintained- your children end up in rat infested dim basements without any positive role models. No wonder they break down.
Stop supporting these dangerous practices in higher education. It’s not acceptable!