The American Education System

[happy_in_hell]

As Australia has been inundated with American teen flicks, the age of the ppl involved has always confused me. Some questions:

1. At what age does High School start/finish?
2. What does an American teenager do then? Is there an alternative to college? Does that make you a better or a less fortunate person later in life?
3. Is it unusual for many people to continue going to the same college after HS (as in American Pie 2)?
4. Explain the college system (what is a sophomore?) and who designed it?
5. What is the legal age to drink/drive in USA? Do you need to apply for your L's and P's as in Oz?

Just thought i would bridge the gap between the two countries and i was also curious

 

[Slax]

1. At what age does High School start/finish?
finish 17/18 same as Oz
2. What does an American teenager do then? Is there an alternative to college? Does that make you a better or a less fortunate person later in life?
Similar to Australia if you wish to have a professional career you need to attend college to do further study.
3. Is it unusual for many people to continue going to the same college after HS (as in American Pie 2)?
Check your facts again. College is seperate and is the same as uni.
4. Explain the college system (what is a sophomore?) and who designed it?
I thought it was freshman and sophomore was HS related. But it is the first year at college were you have a set circulum and decide at the end of the year what majors you want to do.
5. What is the legal age to drink/drive in USA? Do you need to apply for your L's and P's as in Oz?
Drive 16
Drink 21 in most states although a couple are 18 provided you are a resident of that state.

 

[aggels]

4. Explain the college system (what is a sophomore?) and who designed it? I'm not American, and have never been there, but from talking to Americans it goes Freshman (first year), Sophomore (second year), Junior (third year) and senior (fourth year) in both highschool and college.

I'm also interested in college in america - do many people stay at home and go to the local colleges like they do in Australia, because from watching movies it seems as though everybody moves away. And like you mentioned, it seems like nobody goes to the same college as their friends. Perhaps it has something to do with having so many colleges or something. Maybe someone could elaborate.

 

[Sydneyfan]

I've got a vague idea i'm not 100% but I'll answer the ones I know (any US Bigfooty posters, correct me if I stuff up!):

1. In the States, they've got Junior High and Senior High. As far as I know Junior High is from Years 5 to 8, and Senior High is from Years 9 to 12, they finish around the same age as us.

2. As far as I know, they have Community Colleges which are similar to TAFEs over there offering trades, and diplomas which can then get you into College. Though, I don't think that the prospects are good over there if you don't go to College, I heard somewhere that 2 out of 3 school leavers go onto to College (don't know if that includes Community Colleges).

3. I think it's pretty unusual, Americans seem to travel more for their College education than we do here because their College system's more national than ours. You're more likely to get that kind of situation (friends all that the same uni) over here than over there, though I might be wrong!

4. I don't know how all the names came about but they use those names as well at Junior and Senior High. A Freshman is a first year student, a Sophomore is a second year student, a Junior is a third year, and Senior is a fourth (final) year student.

5. I think it make vary from State to State over there but I think the legal driving in most areas is 16. I'm not too sure of what systems they have in regards to L's, P's, etc. but Drivers Education is a subject you can take at school, and as far as I know you can take the driving test during school hours while doing that subject. The legal drinking age is 21 - it used to be 18 in some areas but I think it now is 21 nationwide. Understandably, there's a lot of underage drinking over there (including the President's daughters ) and I believe that 18 is a better drinking age than 21.

I've heard that it's difficult over there to drink underage (like here) but from my experience during a holiday a few years back when I was 21 and my brother 18 we only got asked ID once. Guess it depends on where you go and how old you look whether you get asked or not.
Funny thing was I was buying beer they checked it, and gave me the beer, my brother was buying cigarettes (legal age 18) they checked it, and gave him the cigarettes, and we proceeded to go. Over here, more oftem than not they wouldn't give me the beer because I was with my brother and he's below drinking age.

 

[Stealth bomber]

As an ex-pat, I can confirm the following:

1. Middle school/Junior High: Years 6-8
High School: Years 9-12

Most people turn 18 at some point during the school year.

2. College is university. There are also technical colleges, trade schools, apprenticeships, etc. Seems like most jobs require a basic degree anymore.

3. College (university) is not associated with high school; they are two different things.

4. Freshman - first year
Sophomore - second year
Junior - third year
Senior - final year

Applies to both high school and university.

5. Learner's permit at 15 years, 6 months - equivalent of L's. You can actually take driver education classes through your high school. Once you turn 16 you can take your road test at any time and get a full blown license. We don't have "P" plates here, but your license is probationary for the first four years (.00% alcohol level, double demerit points for accidents, higher insurance, etc..).

Legal drinking age is 21 in just about every state now, I think. As recently as the 1980s it was split pretty evenly between 18 and 21, and you had a lot of situations where kids from the 21 states would drive into the neighbouring 18 states, get drunk off their faces, then drive back, occasionally with deadly results. This happened a lot between Illinois and Wisconsin when I was growing up.

 

[sussudio]

is the U.S. college system strictly up front fees, or is there an equivalent to, say, HECS?

 

[bulltige]

Love it

 

[coxon]

re college/uni system..

they always mention their majors... but not the degree like we do..

so, do all college/uni students do a B.Arts ?
then go on to say law school/med school/engineering/etc to do a more specialised degree?

 

[M29]

What age is it compulsary to shag like rabbits?

 

[Nic]

Originally posted by M29
What age is it compulsary to shag like rabbits?

In America? Judging by Ricki Lake, Jerry Springer, etc....about 10.

 

[Mobbs]

According to my missus, Junior High is sometimes 2 and sometimes 3 years, and Senior High is sometimes 3 and sometimes 4 years, depending on what the 'district' setup is.

She also reckons their 'prep' is the equivalent to our 'kindergarten'. She had a term for their equivalent to our 'prep', but I can't remember it.