<p>I'm from spain and I need help deciding if the USA would be a good idea for me. I've studied my entire life in a British school so english is not a problem. Tuition is also not a decisive factor. How can I benefit from the american education rather than one in the UK, Spain or France? Part of the reason why I want to go to the states is because I've done some summer courses there and I love the life there, not even to mention the high international prestige of american colleges, but of course, I can't let prestige guide me.</p>
<p>What is your major and/or career interest?</p>
<p>What are your test scores and GPA?</p>
<p>I don’t have a major or career interest although I tilt a little bit on the maths, economics side. I have high grades for an international student.</p>
<p>in the US the curriculum is much broader. this means that, even though you focus on your subject, maybe 35%-50% (not really sure) is general education requirements (example: you’re required to take 2 years of a language at college x).</p>
<p>so the focus isn’t 100% on your subject, and you can take a wider variety of courses.</p>
<p>it depends on you whether this is an advantage or disadvantage. I don’t like it, but alot of people prefer this system.</p>
<p>In the U.S., about a third (or slightly more) of the undergraduate curriculum is typically general education as Stressedout indicates, a third (or slightly more) is in your major field, and the remainder consists of elective courses that you can use to explore different areas of interest. This type of curricular breadth is valued by Americans, and many of us would be rather dismissive of an education that consisted of a single technical field. In addition, American higher education places a great emphasis on what happens outside the classroom. A typical college schedule would consist of 15 hours per week in class, and somewhat more than that outside of class. In a quality American college experience, the student would live on or very near the campus and spend the remainder of their time in college activities such as clubs, athletics and social events. Again, “well-roundedness” outside of the curriculum as well as in, is important to most Americans.</p>
<p>gadad, I couldn’t have said it better myself!</p>
<p>Two more thoughts. In my own experience, faculty in the US make themselves much more approachable than faculty in Europe. And coursework tends to emphasize continual work and sustained effort over a single exam at the end of the semester. </p>
<p>Maybe someone else wants to chime in and elaborate. If not, I can compose a longer response tomorrow, but I gotta catch up on sleep first! :)</p>
<p>Thank you all for the responses, they have been very helpful 
</p>
<p>B@r!um if you wouldn’t mind posting a konger thread I would be very interested!</p>
<p>I would agree that the professors at my son’s school are VERY accessible. But that is at a small LAC–may not be the same as a big university. American schools are very expensive, and they aren’t all so wonderful, but at some of these schools, the education can be incredibly rich and personal and rigorous. Not only that, but there are many ways of connecting with others–through social clubs and charity work, etc. My son’s school has a huge budget just for students who want to start charity projects to, say,help kids in a poor town nearby learn how to fix their own bikes, or whatever. It’s also very high in its academic standards. Another thing that is good about it is that it is extremely international, so that most of his friends are from different countries. They grow very close and I feel sure he’s going to have a floor to sleep on anywhere aroundt he world by the time he’s done! They also have dinners where alumni come back and give students their advice and network with them as they eat, which is a nice, civilizing, practical idea. Another great thing can be connections for interns so that students can earn real-life applicaitons of their craft.</p>