@exlibris97 I was there at the same time, and I have to disagree with some of what you said. Yes, the College had some pluses back then, but honestly, it was kind of a miserable life. Very few 18 years olds were ready to live lives as though they were graduate students, even if they thought they would be when they applied. I entered the College with almost 800 other students in my class, and graduated with 500. The rest transferred away, flunked out, or got depressed and simply dropped out - including several of my best friends.
I don’t worry that the College has “lost” much of anything worth keeping. From what I can see, it is an infinitely better place to be now. The education is still stellar, but life there is no longer soul-crushing. The students are better adjusted, and are getting great outcomes.
I think there is a tremendous psychological incentive to romanticize the past. In this case, it isn’t warranted, IMO.