[matnus]

Does everyone have to move out of home when you start college?

And why does everyone move all over America to go to college? Why not go to the one where you are from?

Matt

[studentofGod]

I chose to leave home because I wanted to get away from the people there. Not my family, persay, but some of my "peers" weren't the best people in the world. That and 'shopping' for colleges often leads to finding a college that offers exactly what you want, so you go to where your expectations take you.

[Peter]

So is college the same as university?

[matnus]

i think so but don't take my word for it.

I just don't understand all the terminology like freshman etc..

Matt

[studentofGod]

Okay, there's primary school (elementary school) and secondary (middle/high school). College is the point where a student has finished the lowest level of standard schooling. You can live without going to college, but it's getting harder and harder. College is intended to deepen your education in a specific field of interest in order to compete in that job market. Undergraduate studies last for generally four years, during which one acquires a bachelor's degree or something like that. There are also associate degrees that only take two years, but those are only available in a few areas of interest. After undergrad, one can choose to continue with Graduate studies (doctors call this med school, lawyers call this law school and so on). Depending upon the degree you're going for, after four years of Grad school you get your masters. Four more years after that, you get a Ph.D. Med school and Law school I believe are both 8 years to get the proper credentials.

Freshman: first year of either high school or college
Sophmore: second year of either high school or college
Junior: third year of either high school or college
Senior: fourth year of high school or final year of college...often times, people take their time getting their undergrad degree and go for, maybe, five years.

Does this help a little?

[matnus]

yeah it helps

But over here we just say stuff a lot simpler.

LIke i would say, i'm in first year university

or next year i'm in second year uni

cos everyone's courses go for different lengths so its easier.

Matt

[Peter]

I'd rather go to Uni than College. College sounds like TAFE and who wants to go to TAFE!

[matnus]

when i hear the word college, i think of posh colleges in England.

Matt

[Peter]

well I wouldn't mind going to Oxford or Caimbridge.

[studentofGod]

Actually, a University is a collection of colleges and school. For instance, I go to Loyola University. Within the University there is the College of Arts and Sciences, the school of Business Administration, the school of Education..and so on. So, a university is actually bigger than a college.

[ashley]

a college becomes a university after it reaches a certain size...enrollment mainly.

the freshman, sophomore, junior, senior classifications dont go by how many years you've been there....it goes by how many credits you have. Like, to be registered as a sophomore, you have to have 30 credit hours...

[studentofGod]

ashley, good point about the whole credit thing. In defense of myself hehehe...generally, full time students are a freshman in their first year, sophmore the second...and so on. So...I wasn't completely wrong! I'm not totally insane! Just mostly

[matnus]

bah, i don't like it

Matt

[shephard_pie]

Originally posted by studentofGod
Depending upon the degree you're going for, after four years of Grad school you get your masters. Four more years after that, you get a Ph.D. Med school and Law school I believe are both 8 years to get the proper credentials.

Where did you come up with this?! It only takes two years of grad school to get a masters, four years to get a PhD. Med students take four years of grad school to get their medical degree after they get their bachelor's degree.

a college becomes a university after it reaches a certain size...enrollment mainly.

Wrong.

a University is a collection of colleges and school.

Correct.

You can go to a huge college or a tiny university, enrollment has nothing to do with it. It depends on whether they are one school or many colleges, as StudentofGod said. Additionally, colleges do not have graduate courses, as that would take another school.

[studentofGod]

Med school takes 8 years after undergrad. Okay, maybe this is a better description...There are four years of school and the graduate is a "doctor;" however, generally there are another four years of residency before the doctor can practice on his/her own. Trust me, I know...my sister is in med school now. So, yeah, my original statement was off...a little confusing...whatever.