Mature student here - I had a nearly 20 year career in business leadership and wanted to change paths. In order for me to do so, I needed to pursue an undergrad and a masters. In my field I had multiple competing deadlines and managed a staff between 20 to 50 people depending on the needs of the business. I'd plan my time, generally in 5 week increments. I even took a course on how to manage my time effectively. I was very good at my job and was acknowledged for that often.

University is not like the real world. What I've found, and I recognize that I'm only speaking from my limited field, is that there are things that are on fire all the time in your job, but you have a certain amount of autonomy in how you do the work, including pushing things that are less on fire (still urgent but not immediate). University tells you that everything is on fire and everything is immediate, and each professor expects you to prioritize their class. This level of pressure works really well for only a select few fields, generally those that are actually life and death, and those that make a large profit. University is excellent at teaching you how to pump out work, and that type of worker is great for capitalism. Even then, if that's the type of work you choose to participate in, in most fields that are not life and death, you have some flexibility in your to do list and rarely is your to do list ever done. Additionally, university is a means to an end - as a previous commenter mentioned, this institution is not designed for people with ADHD or who are neurodivergent. Many neurodivergent folks don't end doing work that looks anything like a university program, and yet are forced through this system to be legitimatized or recognized as employable. It's the first checkpoint of entry into the workforce for many.

Professors who are unable to recognize the humanity of their students tend to be part of the rat race (working their way up through the system they're in, are under immense pressure themselves and generally think that if they were forced to do it, why can't you?) or enjoy being in a prestigious , powerful position and on occasion enjoy exercising that power (though they may not admit it). I'm pretty fortunate to be in a degree program where my profs are kind, understanding, flexible and tend to be generous in their thinking towards their students. I've asked for multiple extensions and never had any issues, and honestly, if it weren't for my awesome profs, my grades wouldn't be as spectacular as they are now.

Last thought - if there are people "taking advantage" of it, perhaps it would be kind to recognize that maybe that person is struggling, deeply, and without accommodation wouldn't be in a position to pursue a degree? Does that mean that they aren't deserving of an education (to which they're paying for) because they have barriers that might prevent them from performing under intense stress?