It is. But maybe not in the ways you think.

Yes, it’s physically demanding. Be prepared to be on your feet all day without breaks. Yes, you heard that right. Lunch? You might get it the first half of your first year. After that, you won’t have enough time to accomplish required tasks and will likely be working during lunch.

It’s more emotionally draining than anything. Students have been bullied by staff and other students. Staff have been demeaning and disrespectful to students. Information is disorganized and unclear. It can be a toxic environment to learn and work in.

If you need accommodations, you aren’t likely to receive them. In addition to the above, you’ll have to trek across campus if you need extended time for exams. It’s your responsibility to notify each professor prior to each exam that you’ll need accommodations for testing. Many students just don’t ask for extended time on tests to make it easier on themselves. There are no accommodations outside of classes. Autistic students have been called “slow” for needing a little more time with tasks. Zoo rules and schedules change often and without much notice. If you need clear and concise instructions to understand expectations, you’ll find this program much more difficult for you than others.