General thoughts on the advantages of institutional learning. * Experts know the relevant information, and learning from them is the best way. Colleges provid

General thoughts on the advantages of institutional learning. * Experts know the relevant information, and learning from them is the best way. Colleges provide access to experts. * A good lecture can be just as informative or more informative than a good book. * Lectures can include information from published journals that haven't made it to textbooks yet. There is too many published journals to know what is the most relevant/interesting in the field without being an expert, and lecturers can provide required background information to understand bleeding edge ideas often written in ways off-putting to novices. * Many people study harder if they know they will be tested on their knowledge. * Assignments provide feedback on your work. * Math is something best learned in groups for most of the population. * Social interactions with other dedicated students can be encouraging. * College provides many resources that help aid studying & research. From libraries to uranium centrifuges. I'm not sure college is the best use of four years for everyone, but I am sure that it does provide real value.