Fiche de révision : Higher Education in the US and UK

📋 Plan du Cours

1. Les universités américaines
2. Le vocabulaire universitaire
3. Les systèmes britannique et américain
4. Coût et financement des études
5. Excellence et limites des universités américaines
6. Harvard et la vie étudiante

📖 1. Les universités américaines

★ À maîtriser

• U.S. universities give students freedom to explore academic interests before specializing, and students continue to take courses in other subject areas after specializing in their second year. - www.cpd.uk.co.uk, 2023

• Extracurricular activities matter more in U.S. university applications, which value leadership, community involvement, and emotional intelligence as well as academic ability. - www.cpd.uk.co.uk, 2023

Compléments

• More than half of the world's top universities in several benchmark rankings are located in the United States.

• U.S. universities are a good option for students who are unsure about their future career because they can explore different academic interests. - www.cpd.uk.co.uk, 2023

• Students can live, study, and socialize on campus, and U.S. universities offer extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, and music.

💡 Astuce mémo

Liberté d’explorer aux États-Unis, spécialisation précoce au Royaume-Uni.

📖 2. Le vocabulaire universitaire

🔑 Notions clés & Définitions

• Flunking : Failing a class or an exam by not getting a passing grade.
• Swotting : Swotting and burning the midnight oil both mean studying very hard, often late at night and usually before exams.

★ À maîtriser

• The four undergraduate year names are :
  • freshman for the first year
  • sophomore for the second year
  • junior for the third year
  • senior for the fourth year

📌 A scholarship is money awarded for merit, whereas a grant is based on financial need and usually does not have to be repaid.

📌 A master's degree is higher than a bachelor's degree, and students must earn a bachelor's degree before beginning a master's degree.

Compléments

• Most students live in dormitories during their first year, and some later move to shared apartments or houses off campus.

💡 Astuce mémo

Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior : de la première à la quatrième année.

📖 3. Les systèmes britannique et américain

★ À maîtriser

• The UK university system usually lasts three years, whereas the U.S. system usually lasts four years.

• UK universities are cheaper on average, whereas U.S. universities are more expensive on average.

• UK students focus deeply on one subject, whereas U.S. students have more subject choices and develop broader knowledge before specializing.

• UK students are mainly assessed through final exams, whereas U.S. students are assessed regularly throughout the year.

Compléments

• The UK system is more specialized, while the U.S. system gives students more choice and freedom to study different subjects.

💡 Astuce mémo

UK : profondeur et examen final ; US : diversité et évaluations régulières.

📖 4. Coût et financement des études

★ À maîtriser

• U.S. university tuition is described as averaging between $10,000 and $26,000 per year, while a university can cost up to $28,000 and total costs can reach $100,000 a year.

• More than half of American families depend on scholarships and grants to pay for college.

• More than 50% of American families borrow money to help pay for college.

Compléments

• More than 13% of college costs are covered by students, who may have to work while studying.

• To repay student loans, graduates may :

  • work multiple jobs
  • reduce consumption
  • start saving

💡 Astuce mémo

Frais élevés → emprunts, emploi étudiant et sacrifices.

📖 5. Excellence et limites des universités américaines

★ À maîtriser

• According to the Shanghai Academic Ranking, 15 of the 20 best universities are in the United States. - Shangai Academic Ranking

• The course states that U.S. universities invest $150,000 in each student.

📌 The system's high costs and selectivity create inequality because poorer students may not be able to attend and many applicants are not admitted.

Compléments

• Selective universities choose promising students and train them intensively, aiming to develop their potential and advance their careers.

• These universities employ :

  • qualified teachers
  • researchers
  • scientists

• The course states that an Ivy League graduate earns $35,000 more than a graduate of a public school.

💡 Astuce mémo

Sélection et moyens favorisent l’excellence, mais limitent l’accès.

📖 6. Harvard et la vie étudiante

★ À maîtriser

• Harvard students work late, have heavy workloads, and participate in many extracurricular activities; the account describes libraries and dorms as busy at all hours. - Raphaëlle Soffo, 2017

Compléments

• Harvard was founded in 1636 and is described in the course as one of the oldest universities in the United States.

• A 2017 personal account by Raphaëlle Soffo presents a typical day in the life of a Harvard student to explain the university's reputation.

• Despite their workload, Harvard students also socialize, party, and explore Boston.

• Important qualities for succeeding at Harvard include :

  • time management
  • discipline
  • motivation
  • organization

💡 Astuce mémo

Une course contre le temps entre travail intense et vie sociale.

📊 Tableaux de synthèse

Comparaison des systèmes universitaires