From: Daniel Schierbeck Date: 2005-12-04T00:37:33+09:00 Subject: Re: [OT] Studying in the US Phil Tomson wrote: > In article <4390c1da$0$152$edfadb0f@dread11.news.tele.dk>, > Daniel Schierbeck wrote: >> Hi fellow Rubyists! >> >> I've been on this list for a little while now,and I feel like you're all >> very open and helpful. That's why I direct my question to you. >> >> I'm at my senior year at the Danish (north of Germany, south of Sweden) >> equivalence to the US high school. My grades are excellent (about an A >> average, though I'm not completely sure about the conversion. I expect >> to finish with an average of over 10, if there are any Danes that know >> what that would amount to in teh US system.) I was hoping to study in >> the US either next school year or the year after, depending on what my >> options are (and perhaps it's already too late to apply for next year,) >> but I'm not sure I will be able to afford it - We have a public (free) >> education system in Denmark, so I do not have any college savings. What >> I want to know is what my options are in regard to scholarships and >> whatever funding there may else be. > > US schools (even public ones now) are extremely expensive. > Most US students end up with school loans that take them many years to pay > off. > >> I've been looking at colleges like UC Berkeley, which I believe is a >> state college, but I've also been dreaming of going to more prominent >> colleges, such as Boston College, though that may not be realistic. >> >> My grades are good enough to get me into pretty much any education I >> want here in Denmark, but I'd very much like to get away for a few years >> and try to live across the pond. I also find the selection of courses >> more interesting. Here we specialize a lot earlier. >> >> I'm mostly interested in the scientific and mathematical areas, so I >> think I'd pick math, CS, or the like as mayor. > > > Unless you've got a significant amount of money saved up, I would advise you > to study in Europe. You could try a different country in the EU like the UK > or even Italy, for example. In the past US uni's were highly regarded, now > I'm not so sure it's going to be worth the money vs what you'll pay in > Europe... > > Last year I was on a research fellowship in Italy (Genoa) and I as quite > impressed with their system. The grad students had various labs they belonged > to based on their interest. In the lab you had your own computer assigned to > you. It's not like that in the US- you have to go to a computer room full of > computers and wait for one to become available (at least that's how it is at > PSU even for grad students). I was really impressed with their system there > in Italy - the grad students all seemed to have funding (meaning that they > were even getting a monthly allowance) - that is definitely not the case here > in the US. > > So, while the grass may seem greener over here in the US, I really think you > folks in Europe have a great thing going: low (or free) tuition, and the > Universities still seem to be well funded (unlike here). You'll save yourself > a lot of money and trouble by not coming to the US for your studies. > > Phil Yes, I know that Europe's a lot cheaper. I'm still considering it, but, realising that many people on this list are Americans, I wanted to know what it's like in the US, and how hard it is to study and live there. Here in Denmark all students recieve an education aid of approximately $700-800 per month. There even is an aid to high school students (though I can't really see the point of that) of at least $100 per month, and more if your parents have a low income. I'd be able to take that aid with me if I were to study abroad, though I'm not sure I will if I do the full 4 year period. Cheers, Daniel