Is self-studying a meme?

No.12163656 ViewReplyOriginalReport
There are lots of posts on internet forums of people asking if they could study the material that is taught in an undergrad program of subject xyz within 4-6 months on their own.

Has any of you actually done that? Even though these questions are not as common on /sci/ than on other sites, I'm still curious whether people asking these kinds of questions actually then went ahead and put in the hard work that is required.