[jll29]

The "uni degree value" discussion on here is very biased towards the US, where expensive courses exist, some excellent but others perhaps not providing sufficient value for money.

Note that in several countries in Europe, studying is free of charge or only costs a symbolic fee (scholarships aside).

The university system is thousands of years old, and it would be disastrous if it were abolished. I'm a self-taught developer, who also obtained two Masters and a Ph.D. later, and I can attest to it that the speed of learning at uni cannot be compared with the speed of learning via self study, especially self-study in isolation.

Having said this, learning only in groups/herds is also not the best approach IMHO, there is something to sitting alone and figuring something out without external help, at least occasionally, as it trains your analytical skills, your ability to concentrate and it gives you grit/perseverance.

[LudwigNagasena]

Lectures were made obsolete by Gutenberg. There is little of value (but not none, ok) in wasting time of reputable professors on repeating the same stuff each semester to a hall of 200 students.

Seminars/labs and office hours is where the biggest value of university can come from, but that’s the part that is often left to TA…