I think people remember college through rose-colored glasses---as if college is where you do whatever you want and learn whatever you want for a few years. If

I think people remember college through rose-colored glasses---as if college is where you do whatever you want and learn whatever you want for a few years. If you're degree-seeking, and you are pursuing a decently difficult degree like Computer Science or Engineering at a competitive college, most of your courses will be planned out for you. You may have a few "electives", but they'd better not take too much time away from your required classes. Now if you're independently wealthy and a non-degree-seeker, you really could learn whatever you wanted at whatever rate was most optimal. That's not the usual college experience. That does seem closer to a "college subscription" though.