School Questions to Americans

[buddyfuzz]

Heya,
I'm currently living in London, however I may be moving to the US next year, specifically CA. I'm 15 at the moment guys, and I was wondering if any of you can answer some questions I have about schooling over in America.

How many subjects (courses?) do most people take in the last two years of High School over in the US? Is there an alternative to school which is more of a university/college course aimed towards one thing. Is coming for the last two years a bad time to make the transition? Can anyone help me with these questions, it would be really appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Jonny

[pro-fusion]

Re: School Questions to Americans

Well, it's been a long time since I was in high school, but I suspect you'll find that if you are on a college preparatory track in the UK, the level of study at U.S. high schools will seem really low.

American schools don't teach most kids at that level very well, with the result that many end up taking courses in college that kids in other countries would have studied before college, such as calculus.

However, most U.S. high schools offer advanced courses that are taken by the 'high achievers' who seek entry into the more elite universities. These may be what you need to stay on course if you seek to go to college in the UK.

In the USA, a lot of it has to do with where you live. Unlike most countries, our education system is almost entirely locally controlled. So, schools in some states tend to be better than schools in others, and schools in the inner city tend to be much worse than the schools in the suburbs. Partly due to funding differences, partly due to politics and social/race/economic class differences.

If you are concerned about staying on track for UK colleges, you might check around to see if there are any special programs--maybe run by the British consulate over here--to permit you to take the right courses that will be accepted by UK colleges. I know American students in foreign countries do that sort of thing, since U.S. colleges can be picky about accepting coursework in other countries as satisfying their prerequisites.

Good luck--enjoy the California weather!! You may not want to go back after a steady dose of sunshine. There is a very large British expatriate community in Southern California that stays there just for that reason.

[Guest]

Re: School Questions to Americans

Condoms man, lots of condoms... [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Oh wait, what was the question? [img]/images/graemlins/poke.gif[/img] Sorry bro, I've been out of school for over 20yrs...

Pat

[buddyfuzz]

Re: School Questions to Americans

Thanks for the help, I'm not actually planning to go to College, regardless of where it is. My ideal situation is to find some sort of school/college where I can study something music related, (performance, composing, production?) from ages 16-18, but I don't think these places exist.

I'm the last two years of high school, do you do every subject you've always done, or do you narrow them down. Eg. Over in England, in your last year, you only do three courses.

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: School Questions to Americans

come to california. school is lacking, but box is not.
you won't leave.

[buddyfuzz]

Re: School Questions to Americans

Oh yeah, what's the 80's Shred scene like over there, (particularly in my age group!). Or is it all emo/indie like over here? Oh yeah, and to the Badmin, you live anywhere near Laguna beach?

[Tetsuo]

Re: School Questions to Americans

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the help, I'm not actually planning to go to College, regardless of where it is. My ideal situation is to find some sort of school/college where I can study something music related, (performance, composing, production?) from ages 16-18, but I don't think these places exist.

I'm the last two years of high school, do you do every subject you've always done, or do you narrow them down. Eg. Over in England, in your last year, you only do three courses.

[/ QUOTE ]

No you would still have a full class schedule usually 8 or 9 periods (6 or 7 classes)

[buddyfuzz]

Re: School Questions to Americans

Ah, so there's no form of diploma/degree college for those under 18 then?

[Tetsuo]

Re: School Questions to Americans

No you can graduate early and most schools offer a work program your last two years that counts as credit... in fact my Nephew is coming to work for me next year

[buddyfuzz]

Re: School Questions to Americans

Ah, thanks for all the help, you guys are being great.

In your honest opinions, what were the last two years of high school like? Did you actually have to work much, or was it pretty much lazing about/partying? Also, when you graduate, is it either graduating or not graduating, or are there different grades of graduation, like A, B, C, according to how well you do?

Sorry to be a pain with all the questions,
Jonny

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: School Questions to Americans

i live in huntington beach, about 20 min. north on p.c.h. from laguna beach. take the "L" out of Laguna and replace it with an "F" and that's what it is. it's beautiful as hell down there but the men are women .

[buddyfuzz]

Re: School Questions to Americans

Ah, so are the beaches and everything really all they're cracked up to be?

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: School Questions to Americans

Not exactly true Tets. He could always take the GED (high school equivalency exam) and apply to colleges. I know a girl who came here from the Ukraine at 13, took the GED immediately, did 2 years at a community college, double-majored at UCLA, then graduated from Harvard law when she was 20. That's not the norm but talk about being ahead of the game!

[Tetsuo]

Re: School Questions to Americans

[ QUOTE ]
Ah, thanks for all the help, you guys are being great.

In your honest opinions, what were the last two years of high school like? Did you actually have to work much, or was it pretty much lazing about/partying? Also, when you graduate, is it either graduating or not graduating, or are there different grades of graduation, like A, B, C, according to how well you do?

Sorry to be a pain with all the questions,
Jonny

[/ QUOTE ]

No a High School Diploma is simply that what determines your college placement is your Grade Point Average (and SAT scores) but diploma's are all equal.

Just a question you should have an upper curve on the education aspect why not go to college and get a degree in music... If you work hard enough you should easily get into a good school

[thurston]

Re: School Questions to Americans

When I graduated 13 years ago there was a program called Post-Secondary(I think). You basically took College courses and recieved both college and high school credit for these classes.

This was Minneapolis in 1992, I'm sure theres similar programs everywhere.