In REBEL WITHOUT A CREW, Rodriguez suggests actually making a movie instead of going to school, since, essentially, you'll know how to make a technically good movie, but not an entertaining one.
Does anyone agree?
What he was implying is that you can learn more from your mistakes on a first film than any professor can teach you at film school.
He has a point, but you can also make short films at film school and not max out 10 credit cards in doing so. (although tuition is a bitch)
Every film school is different, some are more experimental, and others basically just prep you to be a gopher on a hollywood set.
I'd say do both if you are truly interested in a career in the movie business.
Don't forget that Robert (and kevin smith) both went to film schools for a short time and learned the workings of 16mm cameras. I'm not sure if Robert went to a "film school" but he had a class where he made Bedhead on 16mm.