I'll disagree with your "disagreement" - of course, I went to a relatively unique school: Waterloo computer engineering with co-op in the 90s. 8 study semesters, 6 work semesters. Clearly lets you see what "work" is like, and which parts of your studies seem relevant. Obviously, no one will use 100% of their engineering courses - they're designed to cover a lot of material but not specialize in anything.
True, grad school was focused on making professors - I did a master's, ended up being a lecturer for a while. Now a 20+ year software developer in the valley. But undergrad was focused on blending theoretical and practical skills. If they didn't, employers would have stopped coming back to hire co-op students, and would stop hiring the students at a high rate when they graduate.
I COULD have learned a lot of software myself - I was already coding in multiple languages before attending and had a side-software-contract before ever going in - and that was before the "web", so I had to buy and study books and magazines and I was able to do that reasonably well (IMHO).
Yet I never regretted my time in school. In fact, I had a job offer with my last employer before going back to grad school, and they hired me as a summer contractor at a very nice hourly rate back then.
True, grad school was focused on making professors - I did a master's, ended up being a lecturer for a while. Now a 20+ year software developer in the valley. But undergrad was focused on blending theoretical and practical skills. If they didn't, employers would have stopped coming back to hire co-op students, and would stop hiring the students at a high rate when they graduate.
I COULD have learned a lot of software myself - I was already coding in multiple languages before attending and had a side-software-contract before ever going in - and that was before the "web", so I had to buy and study books and magazines and I was able to do that reasonably well (IMHO).
Yet I never regretted my time in school. In fact, I had a job offer with my last employer before going back to grad school, and they hired me as a summer contractor at a very nice hourly rate back then.