I think that the hacker crowd believes that a large part of the spirit of the internet is itself an online education. And HN is a part of that. That being sai

I think that the hacker crowd believes that a large part of the spirit of the internet is itself an online education. And HN is a part of that. That being said, I wouldn't discount college education. I felt it was an excellent choice for myself, both academically and professionally, but I am one anecdote of many. It's a very situational thing and I would hate to try to make the decision for anyone but myself. I would prefer that my children learn as much as possible online about what kind of career they want before going to college. Of course, I would let them ultimately decide. Even if they wanted to go to the most expensive college, I would mortgage the house just so they could go, if that was what they felt was right for them. Let me also point out something: College isn't just about academics, strictly speaking. One meets a lot of friends and professional contacts that one may keep for life. One learns a great deal about society. And of course, the proximity to hundreds of innovative peers can really spur creativity.