>> Sure, one can learn how to solve various technical problems on ones own, but where will one get the skills to actually define problems in the first place? T

>> Sure, one can learn how to solve various technical problems on ones own, but where will one get the skills to actually define problems in the first place? There hasn't always been colleges, some people along the way have obviously developed these skills independently. I don't see why I couldn't do the same if I wanted.