.. an absolute classic!

you make me glad that I learned music (classical piano and theory) mainly alone - directed self-study (+ years of listening)

I did do a Physics degree and would highlight the dryness of the material as the main educational weakness. Too often the lecturers focussed on the trees rather than the forest, so (eg.) I needed to supplement quantum mechanics lectures with well-written pop-physics by authors like Paul Davies or John Gribbin. Without those books, the lecture details made little sense on their own.

Unlike business uni studies (re Frank's reply to you), and perhaps unlike music at uni, undergrad science is useful and essential - scientists and engineers must have good theory/prac foundations. (That's not to say you can't learn science on your own). I remember the lecturers as somewhat dry and expressively narrow, but at least they weren't the incompetent jerk-offs you seem to have encountered.

Good luck with your future studies - online sounds like a good idea

Daniel