I think greatest dis-advantage you will face when you would try to learn this outside of university is that you probably won't have class-mates to help you and

I think greatest dis-advantage you will face when you would try to learn this outside of university is that you probably won't have class-mates to help you and professor to give you an exam at the end. One of the reasons why I finished uni was peer-pressure, i.e: when my friend managed to pass that exam already, darn, I shall sit on these algorithms until I am able to explain them in my sleep :) Fortunately, many MOOC are trying to replicate the claasroom experience now, if you had similar experience.