I did find it ironic that one of Thiel's major complaints about education was the exclusivity of universities like Harvard given that his solution was a program that admitted a mere 20 would-be entrepreneurs.
jwz is right: be alert to the agendas of those who would influence you.
jwz is saying "follow the money". Thiel's drop-out scholarships are offered by his non-profit foundation.
There is no relation between the discord between the self interest of a VC and a startup employee on the one hand, and the possibility that Thiel is giving bad advice to people who he has no financial interest in.
jwz is right: be alert to the agendas of those who would influence you.