In terms of education, they're right. Unis became a relic in terms of giving up to date knowledge compared to the ""open"" market. What they chase is headcount

In terms of education, they're right. Unis became a relic in terms of giving up to date knowledge compared to the ""open"" market. What they chase is headcount and research funds, entangled in medieval rulesets and personnel with lifelong tenure (either by law or politics) who have little incentive to change. Few fields remain where they are unavoidable, like law or medical studies. In terms of social life, experiences, my heart breaks for them to miss this. Merely just the setting of getting off the chains of parents, while still not having to (that much) worry about finances and and just visiting lectures that interest you gives you a whole different scope of thinking.