> Are the students to blame for being unprepared?

Not really. For many, it's just that it's not "their thing". More that 50% of the incoming students failed the first semester at the college I attended. Many tried a couple times and then went away to pursue other careers. I would never favor dumbing down the curriculum to accommodate people who want to be professional engineers but can't do math...

One day, I could be flying the planes they designed.