Many people attend commuter schools where you don't necessarily get the networking, friendship, and dating benefits. I think in Europe many students live at home which is part of the reason why educational costs are generally lower there.

8 hours of lectures? Then more time on computer for homework/project work?

It's an hour of reading/ a small code exercise, two hours of lecture, lunch, a small project and a brief meeting in a smaller group.

It's equivalent to a 40 hour work week.