The New York Times reports that the most popular class at Yale is “Psyc 157, Psychology and the Good Life.” This semester, 1200 students, more than one quarter of Yale’s undergraduate population, were enrolled in the class, which promises to teach students how to lead happier, more satisfying lives.
Why is the class so popular? Here’s the instructor’s explanation:
“Dr. Santos speculated that Yale students are interested in the class because, in high school, they had to deprioritize their happiness to gain admission to the school, adopting harmful life habits that have led to what she called ‘the mental health crises we’re seeing at places like Yale.’ A 2013 report by the Yale College Council found that more than half of undergraduates sought mental health care from the university during their time there.”
If high school students are sacrificing their health and happiness to gain admission to any school that ultimately accepts fewer than 10 of every 100 students who apply, it begs the question, is the sacrifice worth it?