I don't know if it is a generalized feeling, but I sometimes tend to idolize my University years, where I was restlessly spending my time for pure pursuit of knowledge and truth (yeah, yeah :p). Really, those years were more about sweat and tears and curses about the bad teachers and the poorly worded manual and the absence of any documentation for the API provided to us (which was appropriate to face real life, I confess).
When I say I miss University, I miss the opportunity to choose classes at random and learn stuff I didn't know. I don't really miss the 8:30 classes and the long hours to produce lab assignments. I don't miss the effort, I miss the reward.
On a side note, maybe it is only their metrics about a class success and what "popular" is that are bad.
No reason not to just audit some classes at your local community college or check to see what classes are offered by your county.
The top-level offered might not be what you want, but they probably offer lots of diversity in choice. Plus it's stupid cheap.
I took a semester of pencil sketching from my county during a particularly stressful time, other than a pencil and some paper, all other materials were provided and it was one of the most relaxing things I ever did (plus I could feel the creative parts of my brain being exercised while I let the analytic parts rest for 3 hours a week). I think it ran under $200 and the class was only 12 people.
I was discussing this very issue with some friends of mine last night. The non-PhDs in the room could not believe what we were saying (core issues seems to be very limited opportunities in academia and research labs, a very strong job market for fresh graduates, and a general disdain for PhDs by startups).
When I say I miss University, I miss the opportunity to choose classes at random and learn stuff I didn't know. I don't really miss the 8:30 classes and the long hours to produce lab assignments. I don't miss the effort, I miss the reward.
On a side note, maybe it is only their metrics about a class success and what "popular" is that are bad.