I was thinking about quitting university after taking part in Stanford's AI Class and then realizing that they have around 12 courses planned for the next semester. I don't believe that any university in my country could beat the quality level of what's offered now by Stanford, MIT and others. I decided to stay, but I'm not lying to myself anymore about the reasons. I stayed not to get knowledge - which I can get faster and of better quality elsewhere - but because of:

  - Master degree (as in, formal title; it may come in handy)
  - Access to expensive/difficult to get equipment - for all those
    crazy ideas of mine that involve e.g. a piece of custom hardware
  - Access to people who know some particular area inside out
  - All the smart people who study at the university - there won't be
    any other chance to meet so many amazing people and maybe Build
    Something Amazing with them, and then keep contact for the future.
  - Cheaper tickets for public transport.

But as I said, I'm not there for the knowledge. Not anymore.

"I'm not there for the knowledge. Not anymore."

I'd argue that you ARE there for knowledge just not the kind that universities tend to say they give you.

Rather it's the kind of knowledge that the University system was supposed to give you before they all turned into job training, especially telling is "Access to people who know some particular area inside out". That's what university is supposed to be about.

Of course cheap bus is nice too.

I did the same. Plus the education was an expensive proposition that had no return as just about everyone I studied with now understands.

I know a qualified BSc mechanical engineer who works in a supermarket for wage scraps.