> "Both fields embrace a sort of masochism and active desire to keep knowledge impenetrable b/c it acts as a mechanism to feed out the dummies. The system acts an an informal IQ test - that maintains the prestige of the departments. If you're pigheaded and clever enough to get through the masochistic torture is that their undergrad textbooks then you're probably pretty clever and so the prestige of the degrees is maintained."

So true, in many areas. I know a couple of young people that got destroyed by this kind of meat grinding machinery. Typically applies to every medical studies in France, where many kids (with parents that have the money to pay) are going to Spain, Romania or Belgium to study in a less oppressing environment and better teaching methods.