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Comment by vaksel | Hacker News Reader

if you want to learn something, it's better to learn it by yourself. School is aimed at the lowest common denominator and is aimed at finishing a small portion of curriculum during the semester. And since most classes are 3-4 credits, at most you'll be paying to learn something 3-4 hours a week.

While on your own time, you can dedicate 30-40 hours a week on your studies.

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Sort of.

There are times when a structured class gives you more benefit than unstructured. Specific examples off the top of my head are like sciences where you need lab equipment. Or if you're the kind of learner who needs lectures rather than readings.

School is not as worthless as HN makes it out to be.

I agree. Also, sometimes you need that outside perspective to challenge what you think and provide feedback. You can get this without school through meeting with people in the field and seeking out advisers. It'll take more self motivation, but then again you need that to start a company anyway so it'll be a good test.

At uni no-one checked or took roll call at lectures. You could just rock up without enrolling/paying and get free learning. Of course you can't do the exam and get the degree, but that's not the goal here.

Is it stealing? The professor would be doing the exact same thing with or without you there. As long as you don't take up a seat in an otherwise full lecture.

Well sure, if you go to a big degree mill. I went to a small liberal arts school in the States, and classes were participatory, and it was very difficult to attend without changing the dynamic of the class.

I think the lesson is choose your professors, classmates, and class sizes carefully.

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