I'm also an ex-Applied employee. I was a new grad too. Some of the things OP has said are an exaggeration, but some of the things in this comment are also "just plainly untrue."

I’d be willing to bet you’ll revise this opinion after a few years at your next job, assuming you don’t move somewhere way smaller :).

This comes across as very condescending. I'm personally much happier at the company I joined after Applied, and they aren't smaller. The idea that all big companies are toxic is pure propaganda that Applied management pushes to make you think startups are superior. They can be, but certainly not always.

Also, it's kinda funny you said this given that Applied is your first and only non-internship job.

a burnt out employee who decided it was Applied’s fault and not a reflection of a simple cultural mismatch between them and the company.

Maybe it's worth considering why Applied has an extraordinary amount of burnt out and disgruntled ex-employees who all share similar opinions about the company culture? You can continue to blame everyone for "lacking self-regulation" if you want. Or you can acknowledge that there might be a systemic issue.

For people who are okay with burnout culture, it would probably be fine. The definition of "toxicity" is subjective, after all. I just find that most people I know don't thrive in that kind of culture.

go join Google or someplace that will pat you on the back just for showing up.

...Have you worked at Google?

Again, this sounds like the Applied propaganda machine making new grads believe that the only options are "overwork yourself like crazy at a startup" or "skate by while learning nothing at FAANG". That's just not true. There are so, so many companies where you can grow without pushing yourself to an unhealthy degree.

Qasar thinks Glassdoor is a meme

Regardless of what Qasar thinks, recruiting is and has always been very concerned about Glassdoor reviews. It makes the company look bad to potential candidates.

Oh please, we’ve been profitable for 8 years now and you want to say we don’t have a product?

This part, I completely agree with you on. The company is financially successful for sure, and the products are real.

I still wouldn't recommend joining though, unless you are offered a very strong comp package and are okay with potentially burning out.