<p>No, it's just you kind of reminded me about one of Zipper's posts about education, except he had a focus on socialism.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Well, there clearly is a large gap between the educated the not-so-educated, more so than virtually any industrialized nation.</p>
<p>In terms of overall educational merit, I think it's significantly behind the other super-powers.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Just as a point of clarification, there are no other superpowers in the world today. The Soviet Union is gone, comrade. The US lags behind Japan and many of the European countries to be sure, but I don't know how much worse off we are than Australia and the UK, other Anglo-foundation countries.</p>
<p>Maybe it's just all England's fault. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>On the topic of transfering or homeschooling -</p>
<p>They would probably be an improvement from the academic point of view, however athletic involvement would be much more difficult. Also, as to transfer I would have to go private(only open enrollment within district, which wouldn't change a thing) - so why spend 60k+ when I could spend that on my college education.</p>
<p>If I was a couple years younger than I could have been in the 'International Academy West' which is much more academic(it is new second campus of the IA from Bloomfield Hills which has been ranked the number 1 HS in the nation a few times before). Which would have been great, but I can't make that happen.</p>
<p>"Yes, thousands of dollars of spending is necessary to get into schools(which you apparently defined as HYPSM), that's why we have a greater number of students at top schools who are 'in poverty' than other countries."</p>
<p>I am not debating this. I have no idea where this came from.</p>
<p>"Just as a point of clarification, there are no other superpowers in the world today."</p>
<p>Semantics. I use superpowers in the same sense as industrialized. No need to clarify, since both terms are not fully defined. What constitutes a superpower is still up for debate. </p>
<p>Back on topic: My anger lies on the relationship between the average public high school and American universities. I view the path to education consists of ridiculous e.c, bloated grading inflation, and titles that only King's would be jealous of. I imagine education as a mechanism of learning, not competing. Sure competition is a factor in innovation, but to apply such cold-blood attributes to something that doesn't need application is bulls**t.</p>
<p>I'll give you an example of two "qualified" high school seniors:</p>
<p>John: "Yo, what up 4.5 GPA."</p>
<p>Mike: "Yo, what up 4.4 GPA."</p>
<p>[END]</p>
<p>When academic ability is measured through the cycling of grades, financial specs (how else is one supposed to afford all these volunteer opportunities, let alone drive/fly to them), physical condition and time to help teh p00r kids is not a proper evaluation.</p>
<p>I look at the U.S educational system like I look at the Mensa I.Q exam. Both are dependent on factors independent from their goals.</p>
<p>In my experience, the easy grading in US high schools was a blessing. I went to one of the better schools in Hong Kong and my experience there was a highly pressured and often discouraging one; I got F on my bio final (the rumor was that 80% of us failed) and got poor grade in "additional math". I had a lot of doubt about myself. Over there, fear of failing provides the motivation to study for many students there. When I came to the US to finish my final two years of HS, it was a very refreshing experience. The easy grading translated to a much more fun learning experience. I had a lot more free time to read and learn whatever I was most interested in. I became very interested in math and sciences and became one of the best students in those subjects. One of the positive things about grade inflation is it boosts confidence and gives loads of encouragement. :)</p>
<p>I believe Hong Kong is consistently one of the top places in those surveys. But I had a much better experience in the US and I personally know quite a few people with similar transformation. My sister is even more extreme. She used to have red marks all over her report card (in Hong Kong, they use red ink to write down failing scores) but when she moved to Canada with her mom (technically a half-sister), she thrived in a Canadian high school with easy grading and got into University of Toronto. She later transferred to University of Hong Kong and did well there. </p>
<p>By the way, each year around the time HKCEE/HKAL results are out (HKCEE/HKAL are like A-level but with much harsher grading curve), some students committed suicide by jumping off one of many residential high-rise buildings. I think similar things happen in places like Korea or Taiwan, the countries that are among the top in surveys similar to the ones you cited. The give grades that really differentiate who is really the best but they are also very brutal (my friend that scored 800 on SAT math SAT and SAT II math 2 got a D in A-level "pure math"). Many students require counseling; so in comparison, US system isn't that bad. ;)</p>
<p>Thank you for taking the time to post that, Sam Lee. I found it very interesting.</p>
<p>I forget to add that those kind of encouragement helps develop genuine interest in the early age and that's the most important in the long run. There's a reason why US has more Nobel winners than other countries.</p>
<p>Honestly, it just sounds like you are complaining because you can't achieve the high grades that those around you are. Instead of taking personal responsibility, you are trying to blame something else. Everyone has this sort of mentality about something at some point. It's a shame that you are caught up on trying to debase something that is admittedly not that strong instead of trying to make yourself a better student.</p>
<p>Don't you think that if the person who got a C in an advanced class were taking a regular class that they would get a better grade?</p>
<p>I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, but that's the likely justification.</p>
<p>Exactly!
But it'd be better off that way, if they don't want to be here and then they're not... then the only people who are here are the ones who are willing to work and "believe in the american system" as ****ed up as it is.</p>
<p>Well, my school doesn't weight grades at all, plus it takes a 94% to get a 4.0.</p>
<p>While I agree that weighted GPAs can be inflated (kids at my high school take dual enrollment classes instead of APs, because it's easier to get an A, and they are weighted the same as APs), colleges do not ignore unweighted GPAs. In fact, many schools recalculate GPAs in order to combat weighted inflation.</p>
<p>Also, AP scores can't be faked, as they are judged by college-level standards. An adcom can come to certain conclusions about students who have A's in AP classes yet don't qualify for AP Scholar awards (based on your scores).</p>
<p>Adcoms are not naive, they realize that all of the problems you pointed out exist.</p>
<p>Don't you think that if the person who got a C in an advanced class were taking a regular class that they would get a better grade?</p>
<p>I'm not saying that it's right or wrong, but that's the likely justification.</p>
<p>No, not necessarily. There is a standard in "AP" text, but not the grading that goes with it. For "standard" non-ap assignments, there is no fixated text. Who's to say a demanding non-AP class is not equal in difficulty to AP?</p>
<p>The facts remain: More and more kids are taking AP, but I will not accept that these kids are college-able. In my local high school, half the junior class is enrolled in AP. The result? High grades are easier to obtain because the average is so, so low. Since you really don't need to qualify for AP, signing up is so simple.</p>
<p>For the record, my school doesn't offer AP (only two honors courses, both of which I am taking). 3.8 isn't stellar compared to a drugged 5.0, but I'm pretty content with myself. It is others who anger me, not out of envy, but out of sadness. These kids are the future, and the system is cheating them. </p>
<p>Because the system is cheating them, kids like me get screwed. Colleges will see my school doesn't offer advanced classes (although imo, the classes are quite advanced), while Sally down the street who's been nailing C- in AP English is equal in GPA.</p>
<p>Some colleges weight AP GPAs, but I sincerely doubt they would opt for a 3.8 no weight vs. a 4.5W. </p>
<p>A little off topic: How many adcoms are in the average school? Who are these adcoms?? Teachers? Students? Does one officer decide or do all the people vote?</p>
<p>I have tons and tons of awards for writing (yes, don't moan about mechanics I'm tired) and have participated in some UN-sponsored writing competitions and other big-name crapola....will schools recognizes this? </p>
<p>My math is horrible and I'm not the greatest tester.</p>
<p>HSisOverrated,</p>
<p>Your complaints are, to an extent, legitimate. There definitely is an issue with consistency from place to place, and it should be addressed.</p>
<p>However, that's where the SAT and other standardized tests supposedly come into play. </p>
<p>Nonetheless, I believe that university admissions officers, in dealing with situations like yours year after year, have at least some sense of what's up.</p>
<p>Our high school weights for APs, but a 90 only becomes a 99. I do think grade inflation is a problem, both in high schools and colleges. Not sure what the solution is, but I do think SAT2s and APs give colleges a bit of a reality check as to what knowledge was actually imparted in their high school courses.</p>
<p>As for homeschoolers, I've known some who were doing amazing things and others who got an appalling education. Just like public schools.</p>
<p>Well, the average homeschooler is two grades above public. Registered, that it.</p>
<p>There is so much unnecessary crap in these schools.</p>
<p>HSisOverrated,</p>
<p>But then there is an interesting issue of confounding variables. Is the average homeschooler maybe excellent to begin with? Or is it homeschooling? You also have to control for income and location to really see what's going on.</p>
<p>It's not really a good idea to just say "homeschooled kids do better, so therefore publics are poor" simply because we don't have a good grasp of what's causing the differences.</p>
<p>You think there is some homeschooling gene? They are just inherently excellent? </p>
<p>Let's see: Homeschoolers, on average, are TWO grades ahead of public. You're asking if this is the result of "excellent to begin with" (which I'm not even sure what you're suggesting), or the source is actual homeschooling. </p>
<p>I never said publics are poor, but homeschooled kids perform better. There is a less of a gap between excellent students in the homeschooling field than public. </p>
<p>This is a fact. Forget academics, the American public school environment is awful. 2,000 students, police officers, packed classrooms, hold text, AP priority, remedial kids holding down API and thus LCLBA doesn't offer proper funding, etc..etc..</p>
<p>It takes strategy to excel in these schools (for most), as demonstrated in these forums. Whereas homeschooling, you don't have deal with any of that - you and your child have the power to learn whatever you want, without any government agenda or forced classes.</p>
<p>Remember, I'm only a sophomore and am quite ignorant in this field...but I'm probably more aware than most.</p>
<p>"Forget academics, the American public school environment is awful. 2,000 students, police officers, packed classrooms, hold text, AP priority, remedial kids holding down API and thus LCLBA doesn't offer proper funding, etc..etc.."</p>
<p>You say that you are homeschooled, correct? What makes you an authority on the subject of public schooling, then? I agree that some schools have the aforementioned problems, but to generalize the entirety of American public schools is overreaching to say the least.</p>
<p>Not only that, but what proof do you have that homeschooled students "perform better"?</p>