Yep. I would expect MIT's exams to be outright impossible for a mortal to pass. University of Wisconsin's will be nearly impossible to pass even with concerte

Yep. I would expect MIT's exams to be outright impossible for a mortal to pass. University of Wisconsin's will be nearly impossible to pass even with concerted study. Northern Illinois will be possible to pass with study. and then there will be institutions whose certifications don't mean a whole lot. There's no question about that. But MOST people will try to pass the impossible ones... because the payoff will be so much bigger. Only a few will pass though. I'm thinking the tests will be designed that way. I strongly suspect getting a degree from UMichigan, UWisconsin, UTexas, Berkeley, etc. will be MUCH easier if you just attend. But this is a good option for those who, for whatever reason, don't wish to do so.