INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR SERVICES
POSSIBLE DIFFERENCES IN US & OTHER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS In Other Countries You May Find
In the USA You Usually Find
Schools treat international students in a special way or at least make exceptions for them. They may have special classes, special exams, or easier requirements than national students.
Schools offer little special treatment to international students. They are graded exactly like everyone else. Also, they do not get any special credit for having studied in English in their home countries.
Schools are academically relaxed throughout most of the semester with heavy, concentrated study at the end of the second academic term & before finals.
Often schools are academically challenging & coursework is heavy & constant from the first day of class. Getting behind can be disastrous because it can be hard to catch up.
Schools use exams as the primary form of evaluation making them the most important (or often exclusive) part of a student’s grade.
Schools emphasize writing skills, debate, & discussion of readings. Along with exams, class participation is often counted as a significant part of the final grade.
Schools preprogram coursework and schedules. Students know what they will take and when they will take it for the entire degree program.
Undergraduates are required to take courses within certain distribution requirements, but otherwise they can choose their own classes. Graduates may have stricter distribution requirements, but they too have choices about elective classes.
Students are expected to study in groups or may be assigned to groups in which they stay for their entire program.
Students choose their classes individually. They may find other students to study with on an individual basis. Some class professors may assign group projects.
In many countries, specialization begins at the pre-university level.
In the first two years undergraduates are expected to develop a general education. Specialization often begins during the junior year when students are expected to begin taking more courses in their area of interest. Note: Certain undergraduates specialize at the freshman or sophomore levels, i.e., engineering, music, natural resources, etc.
The lecture format is customary in most classrooms.
Lectures are also common, but experiential forms of education may be more likely to be incorporated into the coursework.
Classroom topics are more likely to depend solely on the professor’s curriculum.
Classroom discussions are more likely to draw on the personal experiences of students.
Students are expected to raise their hands if they wish to be called upon. If students are unable to answer a question correctly, this may result in loss of face or embarrassment.
Students accept being called upon at random. Unless it is made obvious that they are not paying attention in class, they do not feel shame if they do not know an answer. International Student and Scholar Services 72 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10011 Phone: (212) 229-5592 Fax: (212) 229-8992 150 West 85th Street, Rm. 202 New York, NY 10024 Phone: (212) 580-0210 Fax: (212) 580-1738 email: ISS@NewSchool.edu ISS @ January 2015
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AND SCHOLAR SERVICES
POSSIBLE DIFFERENCES IN US & OTHER EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS In Other Countries You May Find
In the USA You Usually Find
Students often assist each other & have a team approach to study.
Students may work in groups but almost always do many parts of their coursework individually. Also, students often compete.
Students are often formal with their professors.
Students are often informal with their professors.
Students may wait a very long time to speak after someone else has spoken for fear of being rude & interrupting.
Students usually wait a much shorter period of time before speaking. They may even interrupt others. At times, interruptions may be considered apropriate & desirable because they further intellectual debate.
The evaluation of students is based on memorization, problem solving, & maybe participation in discussions.
The evaluation of students is based also on memorization & problem solving, but participation in discussion is more likely to be included. Also, creativity is much more likely to be a standard of evaluation.
Students may tend to be more passive in the classroom, where they are expected to be silent even if they know the answer to a question or simply wish to express agreement with the professor.
Students may tend to be more active in the classroom, where they are encouraged to express their opinions even if different from their professors’.
Students may be focused on maintaining good relationships with professors & other students, & might be more likely to sacrifice academic goals as a result.
Students may be so focused on achieving their educational goals that they give too little attention to relationships with professors & other students.
Students may dress formally for class. They may not be permitted to eat or drink in class.
Students may dress very informally for class. They may eat or drink in class.
International Student and Scholar Services 72 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY, 10011 Phone: (212) 229-5592 Fax: (212) 229-8992 150 West 85th Street, Rm. 202 New York, NY 10024 Phone: (212) 580-0210 Fax: (212) 580-1738 email: ISS@NewSchool.edu ISS @ January 2015