NPR: American College/University system question.

mhwood

I'm not quite sure how the American college/university system works.  I will admit I've been on another website that has a teenage parenting board (I was a teen mom, so I try and offer some advice every now and then), some of the girls on there are like 16 and going to college for veterinary medicine, teaching or gynecology.  It is really confusing to me.

In Ontario (Canada), students graduate high school at 17 and then go on to college or university.  College is diploma based and more for specialized trades or jobs like early childhood education or administrative work like a medical or legal secretary.  University is degree based and less hands-on more theoretical usually leading to further education through Masters, PhD, or graduate certificate. 

Can someone please explain? Or point me in the direction of a website that can?

cbidt*sgirl

typically you graduate from high school at 17 or 18 after 12 years of education (plus any kindergarten or pre-school as a youngster).  The words college and university are often used interchangeably and both denote a 4 (or in some cases 5) year undergraduate degree.  You pick a major and get a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in your chosen field.  We also have "junior colleges" which often a 2 year degree in limited fields.  Some who do not earn admittance to a 4 year school might go to a junior college and then transfer to another college.  Those who choose an advanced degree would pursue graduate work (either a 2 year masters or a doctoral degree).  Typically referred to as "grad school"

mhwood

Thanks! I was a little confused as to how someone at 16 can go into a specialized field such as teaching or medicine right out of high school.  It just didn't seem plausible to me.

 

hopefulmom

Graduate around age 17-18-19 (depending on birthday and if they failed any years).  Junior College is two years...Associates Degree.  From there those classes usually transfer to a 4 year plus college or university.  Like the other pp said...grad school would be masters and/or PhD.

It is possible that 16 year olds could be going to a technical school  We have those here in Michigan.  They go 1/2 day technical school and 1/2 day high school (or alternative high school in some cases...which is usually easier if they have kids).  For some certificates it is a one year program and some are a two year.  For instance, a certificate in dental assisting is 1 year but cosmotology is 2 years.  They would go their Junior and Senior years.  My oldest DD took dental assisting in her Junior year in high school and has her certificate.  She is currently working in Accounting!  Go figure.  lol

penguingrrl

PP explained it very well.  Basically, the difference between a "College" and a "University" in the US system is that a College generally only offers 4 year degrees and maybe one or two specialized Masters degrees whereas a University has many accredited graduate programs and the ability to grant a Doctorate.  However, some schools have University status, but choose to keep the name college for historic reasons.  The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA comes to mind as having kept their name as college despite having the ability to grant upper-level doctoral degrees because they're one of the oldest schools in the country.

hopefulmom

PP is correct about the college vs university name.  Also, some colleges specialize.  For instance my oldest DS graduated with a BA from Walsh College and will return to get his Masters and proably PhD there.  It is a well-known Business College in our State.

I don't think the girls on your board could possibly be starting medical school or veterinarian school at the age of 16 or 17...unless they are geniuses and can skip the first four years of pre-vet and pre-med.  Just not happening if they say they are going straight to medical school.

hero

The girls probably are probably preparing to obtain undergraduate degrees that will prepare them for the post-grad and graduate levels degrees that they want to pursue. It's easier to describe their goals by the career field title.

College is also used as a generic term for Colleges and Universities. "I went to college." vs. "I went to the University of Oregon."

emiliemadison

The simple answer is that a 16 year old teen mom who says she's in college is 99.9% likely to be lying. She may ASPIRE to study X,Y or Z in college, but it's incredibly doubtful that she is in a?veterinary?or medical program at that time since it's required to have an undergraduate degree first. ?A veterinary degree or a gynecological degree (both Drs) would take 8 years minimum post high school.?Since, as the other's pointed out, pre-college education is until 12th grade (plus 1 year of kindergarten) so that puts almost all 1st year college students at or very near age 18. The difference here between college and university is whether or not it offers graduate degrees or not (any degree past an undergraduate degree which is typically 4-5 years).?