Quote by Frank Zappa on College

My first thought was, "Go to college and do both.", much like the parent post. However, being educated as a mechanical engineer and self-taught as a sysadmin/developer, I think what is missing here is the influence of teachers. This is a somewhat ironic thought since my engineering professors did little to really give me great insight into engineering or the practice of it. What I do know is this: Someone who wanted to learn administration or development could learn more in one week with me than they would in one year of college or learning by themselves. The information might not be as deeply embedded in their brain as it is in mine, due to all the pain and suffering of figuring things out for myself, but I often wish I'd had a great teacher or mentor. I'm sure my skills would have benefited greatly.

My first thought was that I was a complete loser!

But, looking at where I went, who I met, and what life's like on the outside, there's definitely an important part of college life. Everyone around you is the same age and going through the same thing you are. Everyone more experienced than you (e.g. the teachers) are mostly there for your benefit. A real incubator to grow up.

Oddly, what I was looking for in college (but never ended up finding) was a woman a few years older who could serve both as mentor and sex partner.

I ended up meeting some hot grad students and getting a bit of stimulation (intellectual and otherwise), but never quite found the right combination -- I wanted someone to whom I could utterly submit intellectually; someone who would teach me patiently and willingly everything she knew, and then, with our hearts and minds open, share a vigorous and uninhibited sexual romp.

I like this one, and perhaps it's pertinent to the atmosphere of entrepreneurship and individualism here on HN:

"If you wind up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your priest or some guy on TV telling you how to do your shit, then YOU DESERVE IT."

Colleges usually have libraries. Mine had 4.

College, libraries, girls, and anything else: all about what you are going to make out of it.

Next year I plan to spend much of my time in the libraries at Emory University. Hopefully I will do both. ;) heh

College is not so much about knowledge, it's about developing intellectually.