It's your job as a potential student to determine what kind of education is the right choice for you. Especially if you will be paying for it. And it's the job

It's your job as a potential student to determine what kind of education is the right choice for you. Especially if you will be paying for it. And it's the job of guidance counsellors (or whatever you have in previous schools) to help you make an informed choice. Research universities have theoretically oriented curricula, because that's what they are good at teaching. They also operate from the principle that universities are places of learning, not places of teaching. The curriculum is just the bare minimum, and students are expected to learn more on their own, according to their interests. For some people, this is exactly the right kind of learning environment. Others may prefer educational institutions that are more active in guiding them towards the right path.