>>12931257You can self study mostly anything that doesn’t require extensive lab equipment, but I’ve found self studying is most effective after at least 2 years of formal education, at which point you likely have taught yourself how to teach yourself and synthesize the material. Discipline is still hard, but it’s way easier than self studying absolutely everything.
Everyone in academia eventually self teaches. It is a necessary skill to keep on top of things. This is why the classes even at the PhD isn’t a good indicator of what someone actually knows. I know a math PhD who knows way more statistical mechanics than a physics PhD. I know a physics PhD who knows way more randomized algos than a CS PhD. I know a CS PhD who knows way more mathematical logic (traditional and computational) than a math PhD. They got into these things through their advisors, self studying, and sitting in on other classes they would have otherwise had no background for. You’re expected to pick up whatever you need or find interesting.
>>12931310>without books Libgen exists
>without help MIT OCW exists
