"Thrun is an elite academic. He has most likely never even attended a university that had to teach remedial math courses..."
Thrun went to college at University of Bonn. I don't know how it ranked 25 years ago but today it's # 178 on Times list, around # 75 in Europe and only the 9th highest ranking in his native Germany:
http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-ranki...
Not that I give much for these rankings but University of Bonn is hardly an elite university. It's a good public university, just like so many other good European universities. But I would be surprised if not some students at University of Bonn take remedial math courses.
The difference of universities in Germany is far less than the difference of US universities (thus terms like "elite universities" are hardly used in Germany despite tries of the German Government to give some universities additional funding to become something officially called "elite universities").
There are really hardly any remedial math courses in German universities since vocational education is rather common in Germany if you don't want to make a general qualification for university entrance (Abitur). Additionally in Germany (that's very German) there are universities of applied science (Fachhochschulen) which give a very applied course of studies. There are even some more more exotic ways of getting higher education (vocational academy/university of cooperative education (Berufsakademie)). Thus in Germany you go to university since you want this kind of education, not because there are hardly any alternatives. Living and having studies in Germany I never heard of something like remedial math courses - they say if you aren't able to self-teach such material you should rather not go to a university or at least be a student in a different subject.
The Max Planck Institute of Mathematics is in Bonn - I'd imagine that it's influence extends to the university in terms of top-tier mathematics education.
Thrun went to college at University of Bonn. I don't know how it ranked 25 years ago but today it's # 178 on Times list, around # 75 in Europe and only the 9th highest ranking in his native Germany: http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-ranki...
Not that I give much for these rankings but University of Bonn is hardly an elite university. It's a good public university, just like so many other good European universities. But I would be surprised if not some students at University of Bonn take remedial math courses.