Combining Studies in Islamic Colleges with Attending Scholarly Gatherings

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, how does a student of knowledge combine seeking knowledge in the Islamic colleges, which require memorization and review, with seeking knowledge in the scholarly gatherings in the mosques?

Answer:
The default is that he should focus on the formal studies, which include exams and passing or failing. He should focus on the formal studies, for there is good in them. There is good in the formal studies, and they have courses: fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis), hadith, hadith terminology, Qur'anic sciences, language, rhetoric, and grammar. There is good in them; if he understands them, he has been given much good. If he has extra time, there is no harm, or during the holidays, he can receive knowledge from the scholars in the mosques for the rest of the time, so that all his time is spent in knowledge: the time of formal studies and the holidays. Yes.