I came here to point that out as well. But I was thinking it was a good thing, rather than a bunch of fools playing out the Dunning–Kruger effect.
One of the more valuable things you can learn as a smart kid in college is that you're not the smartest kid around. It also means that they're being challenged at the school. There's plenty of schools that are hard to get in, but there's no challenge after you're in.
Besides, I don't know about you, but I can't stand people that think (or pretend) they're heads and shoulders above in ability when they're not.
For me personally, most of the stress does come from being challenged academically.The professors pull no punches, and some of the classes are downright exhausting.
Although I appreciate being challenged, it can be disheartening whenever I observe the local coding guru / math major knocking out problems in a fraction of the time it takes me.
However, I believe that this student response best sums it up:
"I still believe it’s true that at MIT, students generally compete more against themselves than against each other."
Everyone simply wants to be the best that they can be.
One of the more valuable things you can learn as a smart kid in college is that you're not the smartest kid around. It also means that they're being challenged at the school. There's plenty of schools that are hard to get in, but there's no challenge after you're in.
Besides, I don't know about you, but I can't stand people that think (or pretend) they're heads and shoulders above in ability when they're not.
http://tech.mit.edu/V132/N59/pressure/breakdown/year/index.h...