It should be noted that this is a fairly common pattern in graduate mathematics departments at public schools - IMO, it is to give students a chance when given outstanding resources.<p>I experienced something similar while at UIUC for math, but I passed the comprehensive exams solidly (my first attempt at two of them were thwarted by abnormally difficult exams where almost no one passed).<p>I ultimately left, but largely due to non-academic reasons combined with the state of Illinois stealing the university&#x27;s budget allocation. Teaching wasn&#x27;t too bad, but life in the tech industry sure beats academia.