It’s the same for every passion and profession. You think medical school is the only way to save lives or improve health? It might be one of the least effective ways, for all you know. Great athletes create new training regimens. Great artists create new techniques. Greatness creates its own definitions.
— Read on fee.org/articles/want-to-be-a-scholar-be-a-scholar-you-dont-need-academias-approval/

I agree in full.