American vs British Educational Systems

[Amjad]

My favorite topic.

I always like to compare between the American and British educational systems. Some members here already study abroad, and others might be studying abroad in a couple of years so maybe they can have an idea about both systems from this thread.

If you're familiar with one system or the other, please share your experience with it and what you think of it.
I will only start by saying that I prefer the American higher education system. Though, I got to admit that the American education system in school (especially high school) is so freaking weak compared to the British one. For higher education, however, it's otherwise.

Just so you know, Sultan Qaboos University is following the American educational system. Most of the private colleges & universities in Oman follow the British system, but a few of them follow the American one.

Discuss.

[Moosa]

American system, it's less complicated.

[[AB]]

^^ Less complicated ?
Isn't the American system more complicated, with the credit and all that? I don't know, it was hard for me to quickly understand their system.

I studied in Australia for high school for a few years, and of course they follow the British system, and it wasn't complicated at all. There was one school in Australia that was following the American system, where it got to the point where we have to be in classes of students younger than us or older than us, meaning from a different grade. It was ok.

Then in college, they are again following the British system, where we are all in one class. Ever since we start, untill Inshalla we graduate. It's okay too I guess.

They are both educational =p

[Muggle]

Even though I follow the British system, I prefer the American one for the following reasons:
1- They get to choose their subjects and make up their own timetables, something we can't do. It's true that I get to choose 2 modules next year and 3 in my final year, but I'm still tied to a timetable and it's not usual that students get to choose modules anyway.
2- The American system offers summer courses. The British one doesn't.
3- The American system is based on assignments, homework and exams. The British system depends mainly on exams and assignments generally only consist of a smaller percentage of the total mark (not always though), or in my case (in 2 out of 3 modules) they're not even assessed!

But I don't like how the American system doesn't offer re-sit exams. Then again you can just repeat the module whereas in the British system if you fail the re-sit exam you re-sit the whole year.

[[AB]]

Originally Posted by Muggle

Even though I follow the British system, I prefer the American one for the following reasons:
1- They get to choose their subjects and make up their own timetables, something we can't do. It's true that I get to choose 2 modules next year and 3 in my final year, but I'm still tied to a timetable and it's not usual that students get to choose modules anyway.
2- The American system offers summer courses. The British one doesn't.
3- The American system is based on assignments, homework and exams. The British system depends mainly on exams and assignments generally only consist of a smaller percentage of the total mark (not always though), or in my case (in 2 out of 3 modules) they're not even assessed!

But I don't like how the American system doesn't offer re-sit exams. Then again you can just repeat the module whereas in the British system if you fail the re-sit exam you re-sit the whole year.

Not neccessary. In my college, which has a fully British course. You don't re-do the whole year. You just re-submit the essay or the exam that you failed in. So you see students in their 2nd year, sitting an exam with year 1 students. The re-submitting students don't attend the classes of the module, they just re-sit the exam or re-submit the essay.

[Muggle]

^Really? That's the first time I hear of this. I've been in 2 universities so far and I haven't seen this being applied, but it's really good! I hope all universities follow this!

[[AB]]

Its good. But some students fail two exams for instance, so if they take 6 subjects in their 2nd year, they'd have to sit 8 exams, which puts the student in a lot of pressure.
But I think, if you fail three or something, you must re-do the whole year.

It's money they're after =S

[Amjad]

In my first post I said that the American educational system in high school is so weak because students there are barely taught the very very basics and they don't have advanced high school diplomas like the O'level, A'level and IB. Students who studied in the US would come out of high school barely prepared for college, and in their first years of college they're taught stuff that they should have learned in high school.

In general I prefer the American system. But the British one is more advanced in some areas. For me, as an engineering student, I definitely prefer the American system because the technology in the US is more advanced and the American universities have more experience in that. Though, if I was a Law or Medicine student, I would have definitely gone to the UK. Not that I'm saying that the US is less advanced in the medical field (it's actually not), but I feel that the medical system in the US is very complicated, and it's only used in the US, unlike the British medical system which is used in many places in the world. Same thing for Law and the American legal system.

I also prefer the American system for the things Muggle mentioned above. In that sense, the American system becomes very handy and practical, especially for science & technology majors.

[Amarant]

i studied in SQU which is using the American system.

i think each system has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Muggle gave the advantages of the american system.

what i like about the British system is:
- Less years :P
- it's true you dont choose the subjects you want, but you feel consistent, and you know you can have a seat in that subject.
- re-sits

i would pick the American system though ...

[Radar]

I studied a british system for my high school and an American in uni. I like both but prefer American.
Its knowledge either way =P

[Muggle]

Originally Posted by Amjad

Though, if I was a Law or Medicine student, I would have definitely gone to the UK. Not that I'm saying that the US is less advanced in the medical field (it's actually not), but I feel that the medical system in the US is very complicated, and it's only used in the US, unlike the British medical system which is used in many places in the world. Same thing for Law and the American legal system.

If you wanted to study Law in the States you can't do it as an undergraduate course anyway. You'd have to have a degree first.

Originally Posted by Amarant

what i like about the British system is:
- Less years :P

Not necessarily! If you haven't taken A-Level or IB then you're gonna have to do the foundation year, so in total it's 4-5 years whereas in the US if you take summer courses you can finish earlier.

[Amjad]

Originally Posted by Muggle

If you wanted to study Law in the States you can't do it as an undergraduate course anyway. You'd have to have a degree first.

Yes. You have to do Pre-Law first, and by that you actually get a Bachelors degree, and then continue your Law degree as a post-graduate degree. Sometimes you don't need to do Pre-Law in specific; you can do any bachelors degree like Business or Accounting, but you have to take specific courses and tests (BAR) in order to be admitted to a Law program.

Law & Health Sciences degrees in the US are considered a kind of post-graduate degrees. First you obtain a bachelors degree with certain requirements, and THEN you apply for the Law or Health Sciences degrees and study another 4 years of university. It's a bit complicated and takes forever, that's why as I said in my previous post, if I wanted to do Law or Medicine, I wouldn't think of doing it in the US.

[cKz]

i was into both and honestly they both suck :/ they should do a system of their advantages together :p

[3bB@$]

Hi everybody ,, it's a nice topic

well i prefer the American System For one reason , because if the GPA
The GPA makes the student interested in the course , they work and study hard to raise their GPA's ,,

while in The British System Many that i know only aim to pass the course ,, even though they passed with D.

[Rummy]

I studied both systems and to be honest I prefer the American system. It's much more flexible and actually made me somehow enjoy more of my college life than when I was taking the british system, which seems like its like school where you get forced into a certain timetable and aren't given a chance to select what you feel like taking.

[Bling]

Which system do you think it's more beneficial for the student? Share and discuss.

[[AB]]

American system is much more convenient in my opinion. Cause, you can choose how many subjects you want in one semester if you believe you have too much pressure on the other subjects. Though, I've seen how the SQU-ers suffer from registering and not finding a seat and all that, so the student's effort is needed. Opposite to the British system where you can find your timetable done for you and its the same as everyone else.

I noticed in the British system they try to pack you with subjects - higher level subjects of 6. So, it is quite difficult for me.

Other thing is, I like how you get to meet so many new students that haven't been in your class before in the American system .. In the British system, its always the same people =p

[sHanna]

i prefer the American system, i'd die if i was stuck with the same people for years

[PhantomX]

I've been to alot of schools, if i had a choice i'd choose the British system hands down.. First of all, the American system, you have to annoy yourself every semester to pick your classes. Most of the time, the class you want to enroll, might be full. It has happened to me back when i was in high school and i was frustrated. Also, you need to have a 120 credit to graduate.. so you have to pick a variety of crappy classes. three years of sciences two years of electives and you get credit after completing a class..the important classes like biology, physics and maths you get 1 credit for 1 year.. crappy classes like art and choir it's 0.5 credit. They're soo many restrictions. Moreover, every year, you need to have a certain amount of credit so you can move on to the next year :S.. As a result, I had no choice but to pick classes i didn't want to study.. British system is ALOT better because, they give you set subjects to pick from that has a set of classes for you to study until you graduate. You have an understanding on what you're going to study the following years and you don't need to worry about people taking your classes.. What's wrong with seeing the same person the following years? :P