Theophilus7 said:
Hi,
Thanks for posting on this thread.
Hmmm... Here's a few points to help:
People in the UK people generally go to uni. at the age of 18/19, I believe. Basically, people attending the uni. live in lots of different 'colleges' in the city. Some universities have a campus which unites the places of learning/university departments and the accomodation in one area. Others, like Durham, have the different departments spread all over the city and lots of different colleges. College life, whilst it unites folks around meal-times (if your college provides set meals a day) is pretty much as gregarious or isolated as you choose to make it, I understand. You stay at your chosen accomodation to eat and do your 'homework', primarily. College's often have their own libraries, and there's generally a big university library outside the college that everyone goes to. You needn't get too sociable with the other people staying in your college if you want to bury your head in the books. A standard university degree (Batchelors) is 3 years. You start reading your chosen subject at once - no dilly-dallying about with other subjects (your general education was completed at school). The course is generally intensive and well-packed. A person with a 3 year degree is usually fit for a wide-range of jobs - he's pretty expert by now in history, or biology, or whatever subject he chose to study.
Whether or not this is a good general picture of university education in the UK I don't know. I have only been familiar with a small handful of universities that various members of my family have attended.
Thanks for the pics
. I rather like the look of the Prayer Tower. I'm not so keen on the hands. As for the hospital, well, everyone makes mistakes ... bit of an expensive one though.
Cheers,
Theophilus7
College or University in the States:
First, you need to understand that schools in the states are as varied as our populace. If you have not been to the States before you will be ASTOUNDED at how large the whole country actually is. We are literally like 50 countries all stuck together and working together (unity = strength hehe) So even our High Schools (the last 4 years before college i.e 15-18 yrs. olds) can be very different.
Of course the greatest difference is usually if it is what is considered a "Public" school or a "Private" school. Both receive funding from the government, but the Public Schools receive a majority of their funding from the government and so are bound by all Federal Laws.
Private Schools, such as ORU, are NOT bound by any such laws, i.e. they do not have to allow students to publish a newspaper on campus without prior review etc. (i.e. public schools must allow this due to Freedom of the Press, although Brown v. Board of Education modified and codified this).
Most students head off to college around age 18, although with some variance from 17-19 being the vast majority. Now, specialized schools like ORU are going to have a wider range of ages. Some colleges in the States are VERY small only a few hundred students and are very focused. Some private schools only teach ONE THING. Some are very large like Notre Dame (not just a church in Paris hehe, if you haven't heard of it it is a very large Catholic school here). State Schools, or the public schools (we call them state schools because they are funded by the state) such as the University of Minnesota are VERY large with multiple campuses all over the state in many cities! It has everything from what is referred to as undergradute work to a full blown medical school in multiple cities. This kind of university has many buildings spread all over the city of Minneapolis, St. Paul and even little mini-campuses. It really depends on what you are studying where on what and who you interact with.
My wife and I went to a small Lutheran college in a small town. Our school had 3000 some students and was all on one plot of land together. Some of the buildings are even linked by tubes we call "Skyways". We knew very many people but it was still large enough where you could lose yourself if you wanted to. That is, my wife and I were involved in many of the same activities but still didn't meet until I had already been there for four years!
Ok, that is another major difference it sounds like. Our education system works like this:
High School: Usually, grades 9-12 or just 10-12. 12th grade being the last grade when most folks are 18.
College/University: Only apx. 20% of our population goes on to what is referred to as "Secondary Education" There are several levels of degrees offered:
- 2 year degree (law enforcement/policeman, court reporter, medical assistant etc.)
- 4 year degree or Undergraduate Degree (The sciences, Biology, Chemistry, Philosophy etc.)
After getting an undergrad degree you can get a Masters, or advanced degree. This is where denominations like Lutheranism and the such begin training pastors. Many University's and Colleges that offer Undergraduate degrees ALSO offer Masters programs. People get Masters degrees in Divinity for theological reasons. You can also get a Masters in things like Business, a science like Chemistry etc. Certain degrees are considered advanced at this level like the Law Degree from a law school (which requires an undergraduate degree) or a Medical Doctor's degree from medical school.
Finally, you can "go all the way" and work on a Ph.d. in one area or discipline. Usually you get this by studying your thesis and writing a big huge paper and then defending it against other people who have Ph.d's
Mostly what kind of experience you have is dependent on the school you go to. Some campuses are small and you will know practically everyone. It does not seem like ORU is like that, but neither does it seem like a place that is spread all over the map. Check out their website's and go take a tour if possible. And of course PRAY PRAY PRAY!
