As others have mentioned the affects of a coach cannot be overlooked. Add in also the benefit of exploring with one's peers in a free environment. The idea th

As others have mentioned the affects of a coach cannot be overlooked. Add in also the benefit of exploring with one's peers in a free environment. The idea that reading a selection of books is an effective substitute for an undergraduate education is a damning comment about the state of CS programs. As an actual effective substitute, no.