Reply to I'm telling my kids to go to the UK for undergrad

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The UK system excels at helping students learn a specific topic quite thoroughly. The system also is designed around how to take a specific test (A levels). It also means students need to declare their intended career path by approx. age 15.

The U.S. system allows for more flexibility and exposure to other subjects. Knowledge may not be as deep, but the U.S. system seems help people to think in a more broad-based way and to draw from more disciplines, which can help fuel innovation.

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This is such rubbish.  I'm British and went through the British education system.  I had no idea what I wanted to do or be until my final year at university.  It didn't matter a jot.  I studied the subjects I was interested in and that I wanted to pursue and my tutors taught me how to think and stretch myself.  I ended up with a great degree and a cracking job.  I have no idea why people are so sure that Brits have to decide what they want to be at 15.  Where did that idea come from?[/quote]

Part of it comes from the fact that Americans can go to law school or medical school whenever, whereas Brits have to apply at 17.  It also stems from the fact that the majority of Americans do not graduate in the major they were considering freshman year.  In the UK, you have to apply to university in a particular major, and switching, if you are even allowed to do so, often means practically starting over.  [/quote]

This has not been true for many years.  In fact, it's nearly rare for one to become a UK solicitor simply by proceeding towards a BA (Law) and then taking professional practice course alone.  PP, not sure where you are getting your info.  
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From the Law Society of the UK.

Here are some examples of friends who changed majors at US universities. If you assure me that each of these changes is possible at a UK university, I will stand down

Engineering to Math and Scandinavian Studies
Chemistry to English literature
Biochemistry to Biology
Biology to American History
Political Science to Economics
Physics to physics with an English literature minor

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Me thinks some of your friends would benefit from thinking and planning ahead, instead of living la vida loca.[/quote]

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