<p>experience? I mean something more real than stereotypes... I'm an international student and was surprised when I found that American colleges and universities are something different from what I thought they would be... I don't even know where I got that image from ??!! I'll tell you about the image after I hear from you guys ;)</p>
<p>I do not think there is any such thing as a "typical" U.S. college or university.</p>
<p>Why don't you try narrowing down the type you want to know about: big; small; only undergraduate or a campus that includes grad and professional schools; commuter or residential; urban or rural; tech oriented or all-purpose; etc?</p>
<p>Some campuses include programs that draw working adults, some are almost exclusively 18-22 yr olds. Some are religious in nature, others are secular; some are private, others are public (state financed). Some have active, cohesive campuses, others do not offer a lot in the way of a close-knit campus culture. Some are swimming in money, some are far from it. </p>
<p>I don't know where you are from, so I can't compare, but many believe U.S. campuses offer more than European colleges in the way of a "campus culture", with libraries and computer facilities open every day until late, places to eat.</p>
<p>As for students: all over the place. Some are serious academics, others are just hanging around wasting their parents' money. Some start out pretty immature but turn around in a year or two, others flunk out. One thing that is good about the US system is that a lot of those who flunk out can return to college later and start over. There is much more academic flexibility in the US system than most other places.</p>
<p>I'm tired of typing. What are your stereotypes?</p>
<p>Agree with the above. Your image of U.S. schools is probably as accurate as your image of anything American- it depends on so many factors. So many geographic, climate, ethnic...differences. Is a typical college public or private? Large or small? Liberal or conservative? Maybe what you want to know are the things all, or almost all, American colleges have in common- the sorts of things we take for granted and therefore never mention. We can help by listing them. You will also get a feel for them by checking college websites. A warning, if you check the elite private schools you will get a different idea than if you check flagship (ie the main)public universities. You will get another impression if you check all the public schools in one state. Or ... you get the idea.</p>
<p>Undergraduates tend to start college at the age of 18, after finishing high school (typical high schools will be public, accomodate all types of students, from special ed to gifted and will include those going to college, attending a technical/"trade" school or going straight to a job after graduation). There are usually slightly more women than men these days. Most will go away to school in a different city, but in the same state or region. Most will be members of the vast middle class, with varying needs for financial aid (depending on parents' income and the cost of the school). Most will live in dorms their first year, although the numbers will vary drastically from school to school after that. The dorms will either offer three meals per day plans or pay per item food service- there will usually be campus food available from early morning to midnight. Freshmen are more likely to go home some weekends than others. Most students will share a room with one other person, with a common bathroom down the hall or one shared by perhaps two rooms. Often small microwave ovens and refrigerators, TVs in rooms- cable and internet service, also.</p>
<p>Classes usually start later for most than in HS- running between 8 am and 5 pm generally, Monday through Friday, but most students will spend a maximum of 15 to 20 hours per week in class (the latter for labs) with later starts and earlier finishes. A fulltime student is usually defined as one taking 12-18 credits, with one class hour per week equal to one credit (except for labs which may typically run 3 or 4 hours per credit). Many classes will consist of 2 or 3 lectures with a discussion each week, therefore be 3-4 credits. Many introductory calculus and science classes are 5 credits- 3 lectures, 2 discussions for calc; 3 lectures, 1 discussion and 1 lab for sciences.</p>
<p>Continuing with generalities. No school uniforms, generally casual dress (varies with climate and socioeconomic status of the student body)- blue jeans or khakis and t-shirts come to mind. Grades often mainly dependent on papers and 1-3 exams plus a final (finals are usually 2 hours long, all during about a week after the classes end for the semester or quarter (two semesters equal three quarters). No attendance required. Buy books for each course- through a campus area bookstore or online. Computers- laptops or desktops, PCs or MACs. One or more Student Center or Union on campus. Often plenty of nearby churches, campus religious groups. Spectator sports such as football, hockey and basketball. Student activities including many different clubs and sports. Cultural performances- such as music, theater and dance on campus. Art museums, movies.</p>
<p>Some variations- liberal arts or engineering or all of the above available. Church affiliated- religious or secular nature, other private, and public. With or without a graduate school. Large or small. Tired of typing. Next...?</p>
<p>From the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education:</p>
<p>
[quote]
College students in the United States defy a single stereotype. About 13 million undergraduate students attend many types of colleges and universities: public, private, two-year, four-year, for-profit, and not-for-profit.</p>
<pre><code>* About a third of undergraduates are older than 24 years of age.
* Almost 40% are enrolled part-time.
* About 42% attend public two-year colleges, 38% attend public four-year colleges and universities, and 20% attend private colleges and universities.
* About 84% live off-campus.
* About 30% are non-white.
[/quote]
</code></pre>
<p>*In the 2000 US Census, only about half of all college students were between the ages of 18 and 24.</p>
<p>Well, there ARE some 'typical' experiences probably unlike those of in foreign universities. Here are a few:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>declaring a major: in the US, many students decide on a major field of study only in their second year, and sometimes even later. </p></li>
<li><p>general ed requirements: something fairly unique to the American system.</p></li>
<li><p>cheating: many foreigners frankly admit that they're surprised by the general lack of cheating -- certainly not on the scale often accepted in their home countries. </p></li>
<li><p>college sports: the sheer number of serious, competitive collegiate sports, and the importance attached to them by students and alums, is a surprise to many foreigners. The experience of going to a college football game is unique -- and fun. </p></li>
<li><p>sorority and fraternities -- always something that has to be explained to foreigners. </p></li>
<li><p>school loyalty: here many people identify with their school far longer, and experss that loyalty in the way of financial donations, to a surprising degree to many foreigners. </p></li>
<li><p>the tradition of "going away" to school: granted, while it is limited to middle and upper-middle class students, the tradition of moving away from home, sometimes thousands of miles, to attend university isn't as common in many parts of the world as here. </p></li>
<li><p>the level of interaction between professor and student, and the level of "customer service" between school administration and student is often a very pleasant surprise. </p></li>
<li><p>the feel of "college towns" is unique to many foreigners, where schools are more integrated into larger cities and communities</p></li>
<li><p>college 'campus' as a concept -- same as above</p></li>
</ul>
<p>-- and that's just what i can think of right off the bat...</p>