<p>The US does not have a single educational curriculum across the country - and that will never happen. We also have national exams that allow you to compare students taking different course side by side. They are the SAT, ACT, and AP. You complain that universities wont know how rigorous the curriculum is and then complain about taking nationwide exams. </p>
<p>It sounds like you did get good advice about college applications. Your ds has been accepted to several schools and has gotten merit aid also. There are hundreds of colleges in the US. You may have been steered to schools in the North east, but they seem to have been good choices based on his acceptances.</p>
<p>In Ireland, they take O and A level exams and based on the point score you’re told what you can study and at what university. What they did for the last four years (GPA) doesn’t matter, only this one set of exams. You want to be an engineer - sorry needed to score 176, if you scored 174 you can do accounting. Want to study medicine? Gotta make a cutoff or you can only be an engineer. No thanks, don’t see the benefit to this system.</p>
<p>Hello Python,</p>
<p>“The US does not have a single educational curriculum across the country - and that will never happen. We also have national exams that allow you to compare students taking different course side by side. They are the SAT, ACT, and AP. You complain that universities wont know how rigorous the curriculum is and then complain about taking nationwide exams.”</p>
<p>Seems as if I am giving the impression that I am not from the US. Completely born and raised. Took my my SAT here many moons ago and earned three degrees in the US. To clarify my post, I was simply saying-- because there is not “one single educational system” here in the US", it might be a good idea to exam unfamiliar curriculae a bit more closely to determine their true rigor. </p>
<p>“It sounds like you did get good advice about college applications. Your ds has been accepted to several schools and has gotten merit aid also. There are hundreds of colleges in the US. You may have been steered to schools in the North east, but they seem to have been good choices based on his acceptances.”</p>
<p>Thanks for your positive input. The schools my son has received merit aid from unfortunately were not suggested by his guidance counselor. It’s all good nonetheless.</p>
<p>“In Ireland, they take O and A level exams and based on the point score you’re told what you can study and at what university. What they did for the last four years (GPA) doesn’t matter, only this one set of exams. You want to be an engineer - sorry needed to score 176, if you scored 174 you can do accounting. Want to study medicine? Gotta make a cutoff or you can only be an engineer. No thanks, don’t see the benefit to this system.”</p>
<p>Many moons ago I lived in the UK and as I remember the exit credential that Irish students earn and different from the English. If my memory serves me correctly, English students earn either O or A levels and the Irish earn is called the “Leaving Certificate.” </p>
<p>I could very well be wrong. If I am, pardon the correction.</p>
<p>Best to you.</p>