Online courses have become a mass product.
Every month, new “schools” and “mentors” appear.
But most courses do not create strong professionals.
They create the illusion of learning.
1. Unrealistic Promises
“Become a developer in 3 months.”
“Earn $5,000 in six months.”
“Career change in 8 weeks.”
This is marketing, not reality.
Complex skills take years, not weeks.
2. Shallow Learning
Most courses focus on:
minimal theory
simple examples
copy-paste projects
Students learn how to repeat, not how to think.
They cannot solve real problems.
3. No Engineering Mindset
Courses teach tools, not systems.
You learn:
frameworks
libraries
patterns
But not:
system design
architecture
debugging logic
Without this, growth stops early.
4. Instructors Without Real Experience
Many “teachers” have never worked on serious projects.
They:
took courses
made courses
sell courses
It’s a closed loop.
Confidence replaces competence.
5. The Illusion of Progress
Watching videos feels productive.
Completing modules feels good.
Getting certificates feels rewarding.
But none of this equals skill.
Progress feels real. It isn’t.
6. No Independent Thinking
Courses provide step-by-step paths.
You:
follow
repeat
submit
You don’t learn how to explore on your own.
Real jobs don’t give tutorials.
7. Sales Over Education
For most platforms, priorities are:
revenue
funnels
upsells
testimonials
Not your long-term competence.
You are a customer, not an apprentice.
8. No Long-Term Support
After finishing:
no mentorship
no roadmap
no feedback
You’re on your own.
Most people quit here.
9. No Responsibility Training
Self-learning requires discipline.
Courses often weaken it.
People expect to be guided forever.
That never works in real careers.
Conclusion
The problem is not education.
It’s the format.
Most courses:
sell hope
simplify reality
avoid complexity
create illusions
They can be a starting point.
They cannot be a foundation.
Real mastery happens outside platforms.
