Well so far I have to agree with Freak (just know that I'm not so far in the course yet, not even halfway, but if I look at some "more advanced" students, sometimes I can solve stuff they can't...). The problem is, I always try to make the best of it and improve things myself as much as I can (I can't count the number of times I've corrected teachers anymore). I know I live in an utopia

It's expensive, but I'm also not paying for it myself. On your question should you have prior knowledge in the department I definately say no. As I see right now, they start of with the very basics. Some students of my class never touched a mixer in their life (one even asked what the hell a subwoofer was, in that case I'd ask myself if I'm doing the right though...). Everything starts of really easy, to put it rough, really for newbies.

As free time, it's difficult to say, cuz it depends. Like I said, I'm used to way more due to my former school and the real world jobs I already did, so now SAE seems like vacation to me. But if you're really into audio, you are completely into it. Seriously, it's been a long time I went partying, and the last party I recall, I was pretty pissed because the sound wasn't well equalised, the compressors were badly configured, and I couldn't change a thing about it. When I walk into the street and a car blasts it's horn, I try to guess what frequency it was, that kinda stuff. It all depends on how serious you take it. But if you love what you do, even hard work seems like fun, cuz when you hear the final result and it's good, it's very rewarding.