12 Years a Student

12 YEARS A STUDENT The Academic Journey in the US & UK AGE 3 -5 US: Enter Preschool UK: Enter Nursery / Reception A BABY IS BORN Age 2 AGE 5/6 US: Enter Elementary school UK: Enter Primary school Age 4 I'm in the 3rd grade, and I love maths! What grade do you get in maths? In the US, the first year of elementary school is called kindergarten. Simplify: 5+ 4x2 - 3 + 2x Hmmm, what is he talking about? ... Age 8 12x(8x9)+5 = ? A C In the US the word 'grade' has the same meaning as 'mark' in the UK, So the phrase what grade did you get in your test?' is the equivalent of saying "what mark did you get in your test?'. In the UK at age 11, Common Entrance Examinations are taken by some children. Age 10 Moreover, in the US the word 'grade' is used to refer to the academic year that a student is in. These exams are part of the admissions process for academically selective secondary schools. They can also be taken at age 13. So when someone in the US says 'what grade are you in?' it is the same as saying 'what year are you in?' in Britain. AGE 11 USA: Enter Middle school UK: Enter Secondary school In the US, middle school can sometimes be referred to as junior high school. In the UK, the term 'secondary school' can be replaced with 'high school' if the school does not also teach primary school-aged children. Typically middle school lasts from grades 6th - 8th, whereas junior high school lasts from 7th – 8th grade. USA UK AGE 14 UK: Choose GCSE subjects Start preparing for exams AGE 14 US: Enter High school Age 15 Argh. Exam time. Why don't Americans take GCSES?! This is so unfair! In the UK, GCSES are compulsory national exams subjects taken at age 16. AGE 16 UK: Choose A-Level subjects Start preparing for exams Students are usually required to pass 5 or more (at grades C or above) before they can move on to study A-levels. In the UK, A-Levels are a school leaving qualification. Students take at least three A Levels for entry to university. Many students choose to study this in an A-Level college. Argh. A-Level exams! I just hope my A-Level results get me into a good university! Argh. SAT time! I just hope my SAT results get me into a good college! Woop! I passed my A-Levels! The SAT is a standardised test widely used for college admissions in the United States. Yay! I passed my SATS AGE 18 US: Leave High school UK: Leave Secondary school Did you know? [1] In the US, 83% of bachelor's degree recipients were enrolled in degrees that were not STEM* majors ("science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). [2] In the UK, 44% of all full time student enrolments were in science subjects. AGE 18 US: Enter University (aka College) UK: Enter University In the US, universities are known as Colleges. In the UK however, whilst some universities have colleges within them, the term 'College' is typically used to refer to establishments for A-Levels studies. I'm studying at Yale University. It's a top US College in the Ivy League! Age 19 I study at The University of Liverpool. It's a top university, and part of the Russell Group! Top universities: The American Ivy League is the equivalent of the UK's Russell Group. UK Russell Group universities: US Ivy League universities: Cambridge, Oxford, and Liverpool. Harvard, Yale. and MIT .. Just 3/4 more years of this! Age 20 UK Degrees: A UK undergraduate degree tends to focus on a main degree subject right at the start of the course (aka 'program' in the US). US Degrees: The US uses a liberal arts system that requires students to learn a broader curriculum than in the UK. A single honours degree focusses on studying a single subject, and a joint honours degree allows for a combination of subjects. Each undergraduate course typically awards between 3 - 4 credits. Students usually need roughly 120-130 credits to complete their bachelor's degree. Yippee It's taken 12 years but I've finally made it! 3/4 YEARS LATER (avg.) Congratulations! You have passed your degree! Age 21 Do a master's degree Find a job Graduate employment in the US: Further study in the US: 69% of bachelor's degree recipients were employed approximately 4 years after completing their degrees. [1) 10.7% of bachelor's degree recipients were both employed and enrolled in additional studies approximately 4 years after completing their degrees.[1] Graduate employment in the UK : Further study in the UK: Of all UK domiciled leavers, 77.3% were working; including those studying as well as working. [2] Of all UK domiciled leavers, 19.1% were studying; including those working as well as studying. 12.2% were in further study alone. [2] Created by Chini C. Ugboma KAPLAN INTERNATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION Sources: [1] U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2008/12 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:08/12). [2] © Higher Education Statistics Agency Limited 2014 ----- -