<p>Found some interesting facts just to put us in perspective of College Confidential:</p>
<p>Of all websites visited by people with Indian Internet Providers, College Confidential ranks 12,627. The first three are: Google India, Google and Facebook.</p>
<p>Indians comprise of College Confidential's second largest viewers (6.8%), only after the US (70.7%) and with China trailing right behind us at 4.1%</p>
<p>Source: Alexa</p>
<p>Yup with you guys writing a post every 20 seconds, like yesterday, It is no surprise. </p>
<p>There is an interesting article which is worth a read</p>
<p>Why Indians love America so much
By Siddharth Srivastava</p>
<p>[Asia</a> Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan](<a href=“http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GG07Df02.html]Asia”>http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GG07Df02.html)</p>
<p>Haha. It’s makes me feel guilty as if we did something wrong :p</p>
<p>I did read the article it seems to me that the Indians mentioned in the article come across as somewhat enamored by Americans. Although I still have a very positive view of Americans, I do not view them <em>all</em> as educated, high minded people. </p>
<p>From what I have gathered from the news over the past ten years, (and yes, one can argue that news will always have a bias) is that poles of global power are shifting towards the East.
Obviously, there are many spheres where we are rather shamefully behind these ‘developed’ countries (not to call India undeveloped) but I think that telescoping 200 years of development in 20-30 is not fair as well. It will take time (perhaps when the class of 2016 would be on an average 25-30 years old).</p>
<p>Who knows? We might be seeing reverse surveys like this in ~30 years? :D</p>
<p>Here’s something interesting: [The</a> Secret Weapon of American Science - YouTube](<a href=“Michio Kaku: The Secret Weapon of American Science | Big Think - YouTube”>Michio Kaku: The Secret Weapon of American Science | Big Think - YouTube)</p>
<p>Michio Kaku FTW.</p>
<p>That is all.</p>
<p>Interesting video Tizil and in continuation to that here is another article which will amuse you and make you proud. Because it is because of highly charged and engaged and ambitious students like you and others on CC now and earlier that makes it so relevant.</p>
<p>“The United States can learn from High School students in India and China”</p>
<p>[The</a> United States Can Learn from High School Students in India, China: News: Stanford GSB](<a href=“http://www.gsb.stanford.edu/news/headlines/education_film.html]The”>What the U.S. Can Learn from High School Students in India, China | Stanford Graduate School of Business)</p>
<p>These links are quite interesting. Thanks anialways and tizil</p>
<p>“While the Americans attend sports, socialize, work in part-time jobs and study, their Chinese and Indian counterparts pretty much study nonstop. And while even the best American students say they don’t feel challenged in schools, the most brilliant in China and India are constantly challenged to learn more.”</p>
<p>While this may reflect what used to be, the new generation of Indian/Chinese (asian) (first generation aka american born kids of asian immigrants) kids are changing the way high schools used to be. </p>
<p>For example, in my D’s high school, the top kids are following what they would have followed in their parent’s home country (india, china, korea). Meaning, they get far ahead from their usual HS curriculum. A lot of high schools are now providing the flexibility to students to take advanced grade classes in lower grades. Believe me the top kids from high schools here who get into HYPMS have gone over and beyond regular high school curriculum. And yes, in addition to that, some of these asian kids are also doing all the stuff that normal american teen does - such as competitive sports, music and leadership …to make them multi-dimensional.</p>
<p>Take a look here <a href=“News | Mathematical Association of America”>http://www.maa.org/news/usamo2011/winners.html</a>
(asian american kids are following the trend)</p>
<p>Here’s something you (everyone) should watch: [Two</a> Million Minutes Part 1 on Vimeo](<a href=“http://vimeo.com/1091538]Two”>http://vimeo.com/1091538)</p>
<p>It’s basically … 2 students each in India, China and the USA have 2 million minutes each in high school. The difference is how they spend it.</p>
<p>Wow this was a very informative thread. Thank you Anialways, Tizil and FallParent :)</p>
<p>He got full scholarship at Purdue after scoring well in his PSAT!! There’s such a massive difference in the educational systems! They don’t have to slog as much as we do and with the little bit of slogging, they’re bestowed with scholarships! Rightly said by the Indian girl, living the life of an American high school teenager is like a dream. </p>
<p>Thanks for the links! Really informative! :)</p>
<p>I think there are too many extreme cases in all countries - india, china, US. In India, being academic in ingrained into you, same in China. The problem in India sometimes is so severe that unless the students take tutoring from the time they are 10 years old, they can’t handle the course work. For 10th/12th board exams, you pretty much take classes that drill you into those exams. I think same in China.
In the US, independence and creativity rules. I think somewhere I read that though asians are getting more PhDs but the upper management is still dominated by the non-asian americans. I think if there was a way to blend the different aspects (of schools in the three countries), that would be ideal. Look at Apple, microsoft, facebook, google - all founded by americans who thought differently.</p>
<p>Fall2016parent, I agree with your analysis however your comparison of American entrepreneurs to the Indian and Chinese counterparts is somewhat unfair. This is because when I read your comparison, it seems to me that your are trying to telescope 70-100 years of development and comparative advantage into 15-20 years of Indian growth. Though I do acknowledge American entrepreneurs’ innovative abilities, the fact of the matter is that the ‘potential’ to ‘produce’ such innovative entrepreneurs lies more in China and India. A statistic from the movie I just posted states that 60% of PhDs awarded in Engg. in the US are to foreign nationals.</p>
<p>Oh and by the way, here’s part two: <a href=“http://vimeo.com/1091662[/url]”>http://vimeo.com/1091662</a></p>
<p>Since we are exchanging info with young Indians who are planning their next possibly 4 or more years in US, the Wiki article is worth a glance.</p>
<p>[Indian</a> American - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_American]Indian”>Indian Americans - Wikipedia)</p>
<p>Tizil, like I said, there is a gray area in all perspectives. The videos are great, but again everything needs to be taken with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>The kid who got PSAT scholarship, that is just a 2000$ merit scholarship and does not cover the purdue expenses (again I still need to view the video). All I am saying is all places have their positives/negatives. IF there was a way to blend it, we would produce the best candidates. Believe me, I know how the indian system works (been through it myself) and I have also been through education and work life here in the US. Yes, can we (USA) have better math/science curriculum so the high achieving students don’t need to go to fancy prep schools or study on their own to qualify for math/science competitions (which test at college level and above). Yes, definitely. I think elementary school level math/science standards could be more intense. But should India promote kids to be more well rounded and not force math/science into kids who are definitely not ready and have to spend thousands on tuition to get ahead or even be competitive. Yes, definitely…what was that movie…3 idiots says it well :). Every side has its positives.</p>
<p>Ok…saw the video. Believe me, to get full scholarship at Purdue, the boy probably has something which is not apparent in the video (bear in mind Purdue is a state school with guidelines to accept in-state local students like the one in the video). </p>
<p>Sure there are kids here who can sail through high school, take the bare minimum and still go to some local college but to get to the top colleges you do have to go above and beyond.</p>
<p>Mhm. I agree with all that you said F16P. The boy getting a letter promising him a full ride does prove his merit not outlined in the video. And this supposed sense of ‘superiority’ we tend to value is only in terms of high school education, and that too as you pointed out because of parents ‘exhorting’ their kids to do well - something which I am assuming you might have seen lacking in the US.</p>
<p>Though, would you agree that investment in higher education by means of going to the US for undergraduate studies is still as practical as it was before? Especially considering the rise in cost? I want your opinion as someone who went through this process some time back and is now perhaps being faced with the same thing for his/her children?</p>
<p>PS. I don’t wish to come forth as presumptuous, but I did presume a lot in the above paragraph.</p>
<p>“Though, would you agree that investment in higher education by means of going to the US for undergraduate studies is still as practical as it was before?”</p>
<p>I think for graduate studies, the US universities definitely offer a lot in terms of research and such. For undergrad, everyone has their own opinion but I can only say I am happy to have done my undergrad in India and I wouldn’t have wanted to be away from my family in a foreign country when I was just 17. However I know some students who manage to get full scholarship in the big ivies here (as undergrads) and I think if anyone can swing that, that is a great opportunity.</p>
<p>You have to consider several factors, one of course being finances. I do know some Indian american parents have pulled their kids out and sent them back to Indian engineering colleges. Again money was the big factor, majority of us are middle class and we don’t qualify for financial aid, 30-50K/year is still a LOT of money for most of us. So I would say this - if you get into a top university with good financial aid, sure it is worth it. (Be prepared to get homesick, culture shock…etc…etc…
believe me it happens…we can’t run to India as often as we want…and money is always tight…) </p>
<p>Otherwise get your undergrad from India (though I hear the competition is worse but there are more accredited private colleges now as well…?) and do well and apply for Graduate studies here. I came from the era when we honestly did not have the money to think about undergrad here. Again, you have to compare the cost in India vs cost here. It really comes down to what your family can afford. So yes, if you take my scenario - person A gets partial aid (he still has to come up with 20K/year), same person A gets into NIT (or some other reasonably well known Engineering college). I would say go with the indian option…dont spend so much money. Again that is just my opinion …I hope some of the recent indian kids in american colleges will chime in…</p>
<p>Tizil your comment about not thinking <em>all</em> americans are educated and high minded seems to suggest that many of them are. Dont be under any such pretenses. You are going to be sorely disappointed when you come here. America like any other country has its flaws except that being historically very wealthy it has become very bloated and complacent. They have arcane laws that put their own citizens and law enforcement officers’ lives at risk. Laws that are so inordinately ■■■■■■■■ that despite resulting in the highest crime rates in the developed world still dont get amended because of avarice veiled by the facade of maintaining the ideals of the founding fathers. </p>
<p>It is true that a lot of people like anywhere else are very nice. They also seem extremely hospitable but its not like they are any better than Indians in anyway. Our culture may not be as forthcoming as theirs but it is a lot more genuine and what one prefers is completely upto them. This country has gotten rather lazy as well due to the aforementioned wealth and many of their students lack drive which is clearly visible in the percentage of asians on high school honours lists compared to their percentage in the population. Americans also consume a ridiculous amount and have no qualms about wasting water or fuel, something who’s mere mention makes asians cringe. </p>
<p>I am not bashing America. What is happening here is natural and has begun to take root in the moneyed class in asia as well. Americans arent bad at all, they’re real nice. As are Indians and Asians in general. Just dont be under any false impressions of them being educated or high minded. Most americans have very simplistic thinking that extends often only to what colour shoes they like to wear.</p>
<p>MysticGohan, you echo my thoughts and feelings however, to be honest I said that because I thought I might offend Fall2016Parent by saying otherwise, considering he/she is currently situated in the US and his/her children will probably be going through their education in the US.</p>
<p>"I am not bashing America. What is happening … "</p>
<p>Exactly. Talk about the rich kids at RKP, Sanskriti or for that matter any other school.</p>
<p>“Most americans have very simplistic thinking that extends often only to what colour shoes they like to wear.”</p>
<p>Hahaha 
Brought a smile to my face.</p>
<p>Here’s something I stumbled across: [The</a> Secret Weapon of American Science - YouTube](<a href=“Michio Kaku: The Secret Weapon of American Science | Big Think - YouTube”>Michio Kaku: The Secret Weapon of American Science | Big Think - YouTube)</p>
<p>I think Michio accurately summarizes our viewpoint.</p>