Is it possible to complete the "Elder Knowledge" quest without triggering the "First Lessons" College of Winterhold quest? What I guess I'm trying to ask is if it's possible to grab the Elder Scroll in Blackreach without first consulting Urag Gro-Shub WITHOUT glitching the game. Thanks for any and all help.

You can go directly to Septimus. Worked fine for me.

yes , you need to get into the midden dark from the bottom and go into the college from there. I did it as a thief so i could rob the place blind and did so without issue. I guess they assume if you are past the bridge your a student and treat you as one. only thing is you cant walk out the front gates, they are locked. so you have to quick travel out of there or go through the midden again.