Why, in the U.S., is the word “college” used interchangeably with what is meant to be “university”?

[Anonymous]

I know that “community colleges” and “liberal arts colleges” don’t offer master’s degrees or higher. But in other countries, college = high school.

[Anonymous]

This isn’t other countries. This is a different country. That’s why.

[Anonymous]

In other countries they call soccer “football” and French fries “chips.” Sometimes the same word can mean different things.

[Anonymous]

Who cares? I think college is the right word for undergrad. Otherwise the speaker sounds British. “I went to university.”

[Anonymous]

In the US, college refers to the education of undergraduates. University generally refers to an educational institute that does research. Because the US education system does not specialize until year 13 or so (first year of us college), it makes sense that we don’t go to university until several years after that. In many other countries specialized non-research education happens in the teen years/high school so it makes sense they would use college for that.

[Anonymous]

Because it’s the US.

[Anonymous]

Here’s a full explanation: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2018-02-14/understand-the-difference-between-a-college-and-university-in-the-us

[Anonymous]

Seriously. When I was studying abroad in Germany from an elite liberal arts college, the German professors thought our group was basically high school students and the kid from the University of Vermont who was along with our group was some kind of advanced academic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In other countries they call soccer “football” and French fries “chips.” Sometimes the same word can mean different things.

+1 sheesh

[Anonymous]

Because we are different!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. When I was studying abroad in Germany from an elite liberal arts college, the German professors thought our group was basically high school students and the kid from the University of Vermont who was along with our group was some kind of advanced academic.

I thought Europeans were worldly unlike provincial Americans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously. When I was studying abroad in Germany from an elite liberal arts college, the German professors thought our group was basically high school students and the kid from the University of Vermont who was along with our group was some kind of advanced academic.

I thought Europeans were worldly unlike provincial Americans.

Germans are total meatheads. Their most “advanced” high school is a “gymnasium” lol

[Anonymous]

And why is the main dinner course in American cuisine called an entree!

Why is laboratory pronounced differently in British and American English?

Maths vs Math as an abbreviation?

I demand answers to these eternal mysteries that Google can’t explain!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And why is the main dinner course in American cuisine called an entree!

Why is laboratory pronounced differently in British and American English?

Maths vs Math as an abbreviation?

I demand answers to these eternal mysteries that Google can’t explain!!

NP. “Maths” is like nails on a chalkboard for me! Glad Americans changed that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And why is the main dinner course in American cuisine called an entree!

Why is laboratory pronounced differently in British and American English?

Maths vs Math as an abbreviation?

I demand answers to these eternal mysteries that Google can’t explain!!

NP. “Maths” is like nails on a chalkboard for me! Glad Americans changed that one.

Yes!