How is it to be a student at an american university?
I read this at CNN and once again I have to wonder about the universities in America compared to scandinavian ones:
1) What the hell is an 18 year old doing at an university? I won´t say that that could not happen here IF they went the straight way K-12 and then headed directly into uni. But the average starting age at my faculty was 24 back in 1999 and is about 22 now, which is the general age at all departments.
2) "dont know what carbs are"? I don´t think anyone doesn´t know what carbs are, not just the danish word (kulhydrat) but also carb(onhydrate).
3) Campus dining hall? 15 meals a week? At University here you take lessons, have group meetings and visit the library (but more often use the public national library). You dont live there and you don´t eat there. You make your own food at home or go to a cafe with your co-students. To have the university care for your food would make me feel like a kindergardener.
Perhaps its just another attitude towards the whole studying thing. I get some of my identity from being a student but surely not all. Its becoming more popular to get children while still a student, so it doesn´t interfere with your carrier later on and you can work up to full time, often at the state administration or in the private sector, using your aquried skills. Most have their own apartment around in Copenhagen. A full time student have to read 2400-3000 pages per semester but only attend 6*45 minutes hours (not mandatory) instruction per week. It is expected that the students are self-driven and isn´t told on a day to day basis what to do. You prove yourself at the exam (three per semester).
I guess it isn´t ideal for the economy to invest a lot of money on students that doesn´t use their knowledge to the benefit of the society before they turn 30. But its ideal for the students because they can design their way through the system so it can be adapted to the rest of my life instead of the other way around.
So are all american universities a city in the city where the students spend all their time, getting feed, work perhaps as a waiter and live at campus, sharing the room with someone else? Or is it just a fictional picture presented by Hollywood? I surely don´t read or see anything to the contrary.
1) What the hell is an 18 year old doing at an university? I won´t say that that could not happen here IF they went the straight way K-12 and then headed directly into uni. But the average starting age at my faculty was 24 back in 1999 and is about 22 now, which is the general age at all departments.
2) "dont know what carbs are"? I don´t think anyone doesn´t know what carbs are, not just the danish word (kulhydrat) but also carb(onhydrate).
3) Campus dining hall? 15 meals a week? At University here you take lessons, have group meetings and visit the library (but more often use the public national library). You dont live there and you don´t eat there. You make your own food at home or go to a cafe with your co-students. To have the university care for your food would make me feel like a kindergardener.
Perhaps its just another attitude towards the whole studying thing. I get some of my identity from being a student but surely not all. Its becoming more popular to get children while still a student, so it doesn´t interfere with your carrier later on and you can work up to full time, often at the state administration or in the private sector, using your aquried skills. Most have their own apartment around in Copenhagen. A full time student have to read 2400-3000 pages per semester but only attend 6*45 minutes hours (not mandatory) instruction per week. It is expected that the students are self-driven and isn´t told on a day to day basis what to do. You prove yourself at the exam (three per semester).
I guess it isn´t ideal for the economy to invest a lot of money on students that doesn´t use their knowledge to the benefit of the society before they turn 30. But its ideal for the students because they can design their way through the system so it can be adapted to the rest of my life instead of the other way around.
So are all american universities a city in the city where the students spend all their time, getting feed, work perhaps as a waiter and live at campus, sharing the room with someone else? Or is it just a fictional picture presented by Hollywood? I surely don´t read or see anything to the contrary.
Comments
The first thing to understand is that a much greater % of Americans go to college than most other countries. Many states have dozens of colleges, private and gov't-funded. Thus there are a huge variety of quality and size of institution. Many of the famous ones you've heard of have tens of thousands of students, and yes, they are like their own little cities. The cities that contain the schools I went to basically wouldn't exist if it weren't for the University (I went to Big Ten schools).
Students live away from home for the first time, live in a dorm, eat at dining halls, and take 5 or 6 classes at a time. It's the best thing in the world.
Of course there are "commuter schools" where few students live on campus. There's a whole lot of variety, given the number of schools we're talking about. There are tons of two-year colleges, 4-year (undergraduate) colleges, and doctorate-granting institutions.
It sounds like things are quite a bit different in Dane-land.
Other countries direct students to particular fields in proportion to what is needed.
Same difference...
Originally posted by Scott
Yes Anders it's kindergarden here. Europeans are very superior to the Americans. Congratulations to you for figuring it out.
here comes Bill O'Reilly ReLoaded.
Thus the average age for graduating candidates are more likely to be around 26-28.
Compared to the US the danish economy has a lot of could-be problems because people graduate later, have lower working hours, longer vacations and retire earlier. But you know what? Most danes love the system, even though they would like to have lowered their taxes
Originally posted by Scott
Yes Anders it's kindergarden here. Europeans are very superior to the Americans. Congratulations to you for figuring it out.
Scott. I urge you to kill yourself.
Any Aussies wish to comment?
--B
I lived in a small apartment with a close friend who was also in enigneering.
We attended class regularly, were not spoon fed or told exactly what to do, and I most definitely didn't want any kids poping up during that time.
Eric
Originally posted by Gene Clean
here comes Bill O'Reilly ReLoaded.
Actually don't watch him. You seem to assume a lot about me and know nothing at all.
We had a refectory where people could sit and eat together, but the food was ghastly and I virtually never went.