As a first-year, or “fresher,” at the University of Edinburgh, the most common question I come across is “What is your course?” Of the first few times I was asked this, the conversations turned into lengthy discussions about the United Kingdom and American school systems. I always answered the question with some hesitation before rattling off the names of the business, economics, and philosophy courses I was enrolled in. The other student would often give a misunderstanding look before asking how (and why!) I was taking three different subjects. Surprisingly, these two culturally-similar countries differ greatly in the way that their young adults study and receive their degrees. After some clarification and reflection, I have come to prefer the United Kingdom system for its organization and direction.
In contrast with the standard American undergraduate system, schooling in the United Kingdom forces students to specialize their studies earlier on. After high school, which actually ends around the age of 16, individuals complete their GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams in the eight to ten subjects they have studied. Depending on their results, students can choose to continue their education or begin working with parental permission. Generally, students who wish to continue studying choose four or five subjects to enroll in at “college.” College in the United Kingdom is two years and allows students to explore the courses they both excel in and enjoy. Following college, it is very common — even more so than in the United States — for students to take a gap year between college and university. This gap year is spent travelling or working to earn money for university. Afterwards, they attend university at around the same age as young adults with one to two subjects as their only focus or “course.” This is similar to a undergraduate major in the United States, but these differences highlight some setbacks to the US school system.
It is less likely for a British student to change their course or feel lost since they have been given time to narrow it down and decide. In contrast, the United States requires young adults to study several subjects until we finish our undergraduate degree. In university in the United States, we are still required to take many subjects that we may feel disinterested in or do poorly in. I believe this contributes to subpar participation and an overall lack of learning in colleges back home. Since the United Kingdom. encourages such a specialization, it is more likely for young adults to truly enjoy their studies and pursue something that is worthwhile for themselves as well as the whole community. There seems to be more of a focus on actual learning, rather than achieving respectable letter grades for your GPA and transcript, since individuals genuinely enjoy the subjects they are taking. Lastly, the structure of the United Kingdom system eliminates student loan burdens for many since it directs students into an area they will do well in. (Although Scottish students attend university in Scotland for free, therefore there are no student loans to worry about for them!)
From this explanation, you can see how my conversations with Scottish and English students almost always started with confusion. I now know to answer others' “What is your course?” with my major at home. If we continue to talk, our discussion almost always moves into the differences between the United States and United Kingdom systems. From my observation, United States and United Kingdom students both agree that the British system makes a lot more sense. Although I have enjoyed my time thus far at Georgetown, part of me wishes the United States had offered the direction that the United Kingdom does!