Well Unreal, I am just plowing into my second year of using lightwave. Most the people on this site are hobbyists. Some are very good hobbyists. A few are professionals, though often they are diversified in thier services. Hobbyists get to work on any project they want, at thier own pace. Professionals usually have to make what someone else wants, on a deadline.
I am pretty sure, since the 3D community tends to be very open and helpful, that most if not all the hobbyists learned from tuts and stuff. I know some professionals have learned that way... withought college. However whenever somebody that is in a 3D college course posts something for us to see, it looks real good.
As for myself, I would like to get a few contract jobs doing 3D, but only after I improve some things that I know needs improving. I am a self-learner. Possibley because I was home-schooled. Your learning style may vary, in which case a 3D course may be just the thing for you. Either way, the bottom line is that good 3D models require hard work, and skill.
All the best to you.
Oh, and if you want to see how far my first year of messing around got me, go to
My Website