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Anyone can compose if they practice it. To become a good composer however requires creativity, which can not be taught.

Maybe my 2 cents will be interesting here, since I try to compose, but I never took lessons for it. In the spirit of SCC it's useless to argue whether college/ lessons/classes/teachers will make you a better composer, since the term 'better' means nothing. What does mean something though is your personal goal and what college/lessons/classes/treachers can contribute to that goal. And the term 'personal goal' says it all, I think. If you go into college or take a course in composition with the idea that they will provide you with a goal, you are wrong. College/lessons/classes/teachers can, however, contribute a lot to you if YOU take the responsibility to where and what they should contribute. If you have at least a vague idea about what is important for you to become what you want to become at the level that you want to reach college/lessons/classes/teachers can be very effective. It will, however, not be impossible to go without it. If you keep figuring out what you need to know to stay on track there is no reason you shouldn't stay on track. There is a lot information on every compositional subject. You just need to figure out where to get it and how to deal with the information. As for me my goal is to combine counterpointal music (without any rules to it) and pop music. I actualy realized I wanted to be able to do this when I had just started being interested in music. I don't mean to brag, but I don't think it's kind of funny, since it's so specific. Anyhow, I just went and try to do it and it turned out to be difficult. I realised I had to learn to a lot about music and composional techniques and I knew nothing. Besides I wasn't going to have an awfull lot of time ot spent on it, since I just started college and my major had nothing to do with music. I degreaded it to a hobby and went out to learn what I tought I needed to learn. I'm now 8 years further and I haven't reached my goals yet. Although I'm getting nearer. So, did/do I need college/lessons/classes/teachers? No. I will probebly reach my goal sooner or later. But, if had done so I would have probebly reached that goal sooner. So, again, I think it all depents on your goal. Where do you want to be and how quick do you want to be there? If you have an answer to these questions you will probebly also know whether or not college/lessons/classes/treachers will be a neccasity, beneficial, etc. WHAT'S YOUR GOAL AND WHAT DO YOU NEED TO REACH IT?