<p>@coureur - I just tried to briefly answer your question in MS Word and copy & paste it here and it is already taking up more than one page. Therefore, I can’t answer your question here because it would take quite a long time. The answer to that question deserves it’s own thread and based on my experience online most people really aren’t interested in that anyway. But I will say that all knowledge should be free and accessible to everyone and not institutionalized/elitist… I really admire past and present autodidacts such as Da Vinci if you didn’t notice. lol!
Thank you for that! Maybe we should connect if they have the time. You can PM me if you like or I can PM you. ^^ </p>
<p>Either this OP is a complete idealist and can’t seem to compromise with reality, or this is a ■■■■■ that’s just annoying the rest of us.</p>
<p>And the OP is apparently an international student by definition- not an American citizen. Could have some impact on his ability to get financial aid. Do you have a green card or something?</p>
<p>Ditto the book that Bookreader suggested. It’s the best of both worlds - you do self-study but receive traditional credit and eventually an accredited degree. One accredited university that does lots of work with granting credit to self-taught students is Thomas Edison State College - [Thomas</a> Edison State College](<a href=“http://www.tesc.edu/]Thomas”>http://www.tesc.edu/)</p>
<p>I know it sounds seductive to log onto the MIT site and visualize coming away with an MIT trained brain. Alas, it’s a bit like me watching the Olympics. No matter how expert I am at watching and listening, it is still not the same as being there, in the pool or on the balance beam or on the track with a javelin in hand. </p>
<p>Good luck (truly) finding a path that engages your heart and brain. You may be correct that the traditional college path is not the one for you – but please don’t have the air that you have found a clever path here. Unless you are incarcerated, I think your passion for the on-line lectures will fade within six months. </p>
<p>Part of the ire you are provoking is in the tones of the posts. “Look at me! I’m so clever! I’m going to be an engineer and not pay what you dolts do! I’m so clever, I don’t need labs, don’t need colleagues, don’t need mentors, don’t need hands on experience!”</p>
<p>You might get more supportive words if you toned down the posted vision and just started with one on line course and conquered that material and then asked for advice for the next teeny step. Everyone loves the quirky kid who is also hard working, respectful of others’ paths and seeking to better himself. But the guy who is quirky and loud mouthed and not seeming to acknowledge reality . . . wow, that guy is making few friends. Work more. JAbber less.</p>
I am an American citizen but, as I said, not by birthright. I brought that up to refute the claim that I may never make money if I happen to complete my endeavors. Maybe not in the USA but abroad it is possible. That’s all.
Thank you for the tip!
Coureur, this is why I chose not to delve into the specifics of why I would not like to attend college. A lot of people online get very offended when someone disagrees with them and doesn’t take their advice. I have stated several times in this thread that I would not like to discuss whether or not my plan will work. It’s because people always seem to come to the conclusion that I feel I’m better than them since I choose to “different”. I asked for specific advice in this thread. I don’t understand why anyone would feel I have an obligation to their viewpoints. If anything, your continual exhortations for me to attend college is ■■■■■■■■ whether your intentions are good or not. I specifically and politely requested that we not discuss that here in this thread. And I do realize that I initially requested any and all thoughts about my plan BUT once you stated your thoughts, that’s enough. There’s no need to belabor the point you’re trying to convey. ^^
And I’ll type this for the second time -> see post #34</p>
