Can students really design their own education?

I recently wrote about DIY U and students creating their own majors.

A great comment on Andrew Careaga’s recent review of DIY U suggests this isn’t as easy as it sounds:

However (there’s always a however), I have a couple of concerns with the premise that students right out of high school can “cobble” together a meaningful education. A very motivated student possibly could, but I have my doubts when it comes to an average college student. We handhold them through orientation and class scheduling, advising, first year experience, etc. Can they really create an education on their own? I think age plays a big role, the average age of a University of Phoenix student is between 33 and 36, not 18. DeWayne Purdy