[nostrebored]

And decoupling them from the environment I was in, the work that I was doing, and the people that I was around is absurd.

[ThomPete]

So when I developed the same areas and wasn't in studying how do you explain that?

[nostrebored]

It's not a winner take all game. Of course you can develop skills both ways. One way places an emphasis on it. Think of a good CS degree as an interface for abstract thinking.

[ThomPete]

nothing to do with winner takes all. CS degree does not guarantee you to be able to do abstract thinking. Thats the point. It's a skill you develop way before you even go take a CS degree.