From what you see on social media, in the news, etc. it might seem like "wow there are people out there who are self taught and made it big! I can do that!" But

From what you see on social media, in the news, etc. it might seem like "wow there are people out there who are self taught and made it big! I can do that!" But keep in mind, these stories are out there because they are rare. Most people who don't go to school, even those who shared the dreams of making it big, end up failing. The ones that succeed are unicorns. The inherent structure of school forces you to follow through with learning, projects, and eventually completing a degree. There are multiple benefits to this. First you have a base to fall back on. No matter what you do from that point on, you have a degree that declares that you are at least somewhat competent in your field. You can't go any lower than this new platform you made it to. Secondly, having gone through college for a degree in a field that I do not work in now, I can say there is still immense value in getting any degree, especially a science degree. The most important thing you learn is how to think logically, think for yourself, and how to problem solve logically. These are things that are often taken for granted, or overlooked. Thirdly, you learn about a multitude of topics that you may not have bothered to investigate, which broadens your horizons, and makes your a more informed and intelligent person. Same goes for meeting new people. You meet people that you may never have had the chance of interacting with. Universities aggregate people from all over the world. You will make lifelong friends and connections that can be just as important in a career as technical skills. This also results in learned social skills and emotional intelligence which is immensely beneficial.