Does Jag need a girlfriend

We have compulsory classes for all 12 years. You must take history math Englisher and science every year when I was a kid. Then you could pick from other classes.

For instance 10th grade sophomore in HS usually 16 years old. You take English. Geometry and introductions to trigonometry, Biology and American history. 11th you would take English, Chemistry,Trigonometry and basic calculus and World history. You take a different history, science and math class every year. Plus stuff like gym ,art ,music, home economics and the like.

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Gawain of Orkeny @ May 11 2004,22:40)]We have compulsory classes for all 12 years. You must take history math Englisher and science every year when I was a kid. Then you could pick from other classes.

For instance 10th grade sophomore in HS usually 16 years old. You take English. Geometry and introductions to trigonometry, Biology and American history. 11th you would take English, Chemistry,Trigonometry and basic calculus and World history. You take a different history, science and math class every year. Plus stuff like gym ,art ,music, home economics and the like.

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Is it common at highschools that you have the same schedule every day?

When I spent 6 months at a highschool the daily schedule became such a routine that I still remember the order of subjects

1. English
2. Maths (trigonometry)
3. Sports (Advanced Strength Training - LOL I still have no idea why they put me in one class with all those huge football players http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/confused.gif )
4. Spanish
5. Chemistry (we had and exchange teacher from Australia - fun http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...-2thumbsup.gif )
6. US Government

As JAG is trying to say - the school system is different here. You do all the subjects up to age 13. Then you choose 8 subjects including Maths, English, Science and a Language. At 16 you then do external exams on these 8 subjects (the exams are called GCSEs).

If you get 5 GCSEs grade C or above you can then go on to what we confusingly call 6th form college. Here you do 3 or 4 A levels. These are two year courses culminating in external exams. This is what JAG is currently doing. A Levels are a bitch They are really tough. A massive leap from GCSEs. In fact from those I have spoken to who know about US education - English A Levels (Scotland has a different system again) are at a similar level as US degrees. Lots of fact ingestion and regurgitation, set writing style etc. The exams are normally 2 or 3 per subject. Each usually 3 hours long requiring 4 essays. You have to write 1,000 words about a subject in detail, sighting examples and references - in answer to a question you probably haven't come up against before.

Theoretically you need a mimimum of two grade 'E' A Levels to get into university. However the requirement is usually higher. It normally works on a points system. A is worth 8 points, B is worth 6, C is worth 4 etc. Popular courses at prestigous institutions will ask for 24+ points. Which means that you need three As plus another course. Getting an A at A Level is *damn* hard. Most people feel that they drop a gear when they finnally get to university.

To defuse any potential argument - I'm learning you've got to step in quick in this place http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...icons/wink.gif

US and UK education systems are very different. Neither is better or worse. In the UK system you specialise earlier, which means A levels, as Idaho has correctly said, take you to a standard roughly equivalent to 1st or 2nd year college in the US. But you do fewer subjects so your overall education is less broad. The same thing happens for US 'college' vs. UK 'university'. In university we study one or at most a very few subjects, but take them to a higher level than at a US college (partly because A levels start us higher, partly because we study fewer subjects in uni). This is one reason why PhDs take ~5yrs in the US and ~3yrs in the UK (ours have no or very little taught component, you start research straight away). It's also one reason why Masters' degrees are more common in the US (although they are becoming much more common here as 4yr undergrad courses).

However, the govt. actually prefers a broader education system and is moving slightly in the US direction. A levels used to be so hard you had to be damn good to do more than 3, but a couple of years ago they got a bit smaller and easier so the standard is now 4.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both systems. E.g. in the UK you only have to do most subjects up to GCSE level (16ish). If after this level you drop mathematics, you will never study calculus. I became a confirmed scientist at A level, as I took Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Further Maths (and I can't resist telling you that that was before the change). This means at 16 I dropped ALL arts, languages etc., which could of course be regarded as putting me at a disadvantage in life

Good luck in your exams Jag http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/gc-book2.gif

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (MalibuMan @ May 12 2004,04:17)]I became a confirmed scientist at A level, as I took Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Further Maths (and I can't resist telling you that that was before the change). This means at 16 I dropped ALL arts, languages etc., which could of course be regarded as putting me at a disadvantage in life

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I knew I should have went to the UK for school. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/gc-book2.gif

OK, JAG. I told you I owed you one. This is it. I'm almost beside myself wanting to post something. But I won't. Hope you have a glorious day and do smashingly on your tests. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif

Good luck in your studies JAG. There will be plenty of time for any serious relationships afterward. You start thinking with the wrong head, and before you know it your working a dead end job for low pay, no prospects, while trying to support a family.

This type of thread topic and banter is okay between good friends. However, I don't think I'd classify the relationship between the author and JAG in that way. I commend JAG for showing restraint and not letting this thread turn ugly. Gawain, my PM to you is self explanatory. I'll leave this thread open, for now, since it seems to have steered around the rocks and pot holes. Play nice, the Sandbox Police are watching. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...-policeman.gif

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Took me 26 years to find a woman who was into short Ugly men. I think she married me cause she wanted to get into heaven. She figures if she pays her penance on earth with me, then she will be in the fast lane to heaven's pearly gates.

Guess that makes me kind of a recruiter for the Lord woohooo :)

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yep, she's burning off those purgatory years http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif


nice job m8, I'm sure you'll get some kind of credit for that

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Quote[/b] (ShadesWolf @ May 12 2004,05:21)]Good luck in your exams Jag http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/gc-book2.gif

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Hear hear Are they A1s?

Well this has become quite an educational thread and very interesting. I had no idea that our systems were so different. Now I understand why you have such a heavy workload with only 4 subjects. Hope you do well Jag.

Jag do you know where you want to go to university yet?

I spent a year at Edinburgh University, during my junior year of college. Many Americans do part of their college education abroad.

Most of the people I know that went to University are worse off now than those that didn't go at all... (Bloody fees)

Still I hear its a fun way to arse about for a few years while living off Pot Noodle http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-jester.gif

Gah - I shall endevour to explain the system (as it is now) here in Britain. I don't really understand it, but having just chosen my GCSE subjects, I'm probably most in the know.

At 14, you choose your 'options', or 'pathways'. We take english lit, english lang, maths, science (either 2 GCSEs in all three sciences, or 3 GCSEs - one in biology, one in chemistry, and one in physics), compulsory sport (not a GCSE), then half a GCSE each in Religious Studies and IT, making one full GCSE. We then choose four other subjects from four blocks, and are encouraged to choose widely (I've chosen German, History, Art and 'Resistant materials' - woodwork metalwork and plasticwork together). This adds up to 10 or 11 GCSE subjects, plus sport. Over the two years of GCSE, you do coursework projects, culminating in external exams (marked outside of the schools) at 16.

You can then choose to stay on for sixth form, where you do AS levels and A2 levels. These are narrower (I believe 5 subjects for AS, and 3 or 4 at A2), and harder, although there has been much annoying speculation that the exams are getting easier. These results then go with you to university applications.

Or you can leave school at 16, and go straight into work. Then your GCSE results are used as indicators, although those with AS or A2 levels are better qualified. You cannot get into university without AS and A2.

Complicated, no? Welcome to the next 5 years of my life http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...gc-stunned.gif

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Dhepee @ May 12 2004,16:27)]Jag do you know where you want to go to university yet?

I spent a year at Edinburgh University, during my junior year of college. Many Americans do part of their college education abroad.

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I want to go to Keele university in Staffordshire, it is a great uni and I will have to get good grades to get there - fingers crossed - And I want to study American studies and international relations / politics / history, still deciding the 2nd course. I will get the chance to go to the US and study at a uni over there for 6 months, which will be very good.

Good luck in your exams JAG. http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/gc-book2.gif

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (JAG @ May 12 2004,12:09)]

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Dhepee @ May 12 2004,16:27)]Jag do you know where you want to go to university yet?

I spent a year at Edinburgh University, during my junior year of college. Many Americans do part of their college education abroad.

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I want to go to Keele university in Staffordshire, it is a great uni and I will have to get good grades to get there - fingers crossed - And I want to study American studies and international relations / politics / history, still deciding the 2nd course. I will get the chance to go to the US and study at a uni over there for 6 months, which will be very good.

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If you do your American study at the University of Illinois then you can look me up. I'll either be in the law library http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/gc-book2.gif or the bar http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ons/cheers.gif .

Sounds like a lot of pressure on 14 to 16 year olds to have to decide a career that early. What if you decide halfway through that you want to change your career path/goals? Can they be changed?

My daughter is in her second year of college. She has changed her major 3 times already http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-dizzy2.gif , remember what I said about gray hairs Suribachi? She's gone from forensic chemistry to pharmaceutical studies to a business degree. It helps that she has had the oppourtunity to work jobs at the college in the last two fields mentioned. A little practical experience can help you decide if that is what you want for a career, if you give it a reasonable amount of time to judge.

There are a lot of over-educated/over qualified waitresses and bartenders out there who didn't really know what they wanted for a career before entering college, and just kind of drifted through the system. So in a way, I can see some advantage in the Brit system.

JAG, after seeing what you are studying, I've got a theory as to why you spend so much time here. You've basically got us lot doing your homework for you - you start a conversation about something and then copy and paste our replies http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-jester.gif You don't even need to do any typing

Topic: Does Jag need a girlfriend http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...gc-stunned.gif

I hope I'll never get this popular and get topics about me

http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...ns/biggrin.gif

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Accounting Troll @ May 12 2004,19:06)]JAG, after seeing what you are studying, I've got a theory as to why you spend so much time here. You've basically got us lot doing your homework for you - you start a conversation about something and then copy and paste our replies http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-jester.gif You don't even need to do any typing

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Busted http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg...s/bigthumb.gif

Though seriously, it is more to do with expanding my own opinions and arguments than anything else, seeing what right and left wingers think, then being able to effectively counter / support it, help me alot with my politics class.

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Hosakawa Tito @ May 12 2004,12:37)]Sounds like a lot of pressure on 14 to 16 year olds to have to decide a career that early. What if you decide halfway through that you want to change your career path/goals? Can they be changed?

My daughter is in her second year of college. She has changed her major 3 times already http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cg.../gc-dizzy2.gif , remember what I said about gray hairs Suribachi? She's gone from forensic chemistry to pharmaceutical studies to a business degree. It helps that she has had the oppourtunity to work jobs at the college in the last two fields mentioned. A little practical experience can help you decide if that is what you want for a career, if you give it a reasonable amount of time to judge.

There are a lot of over-educated/over qualified waitresses and bartenders out there who didn't really know what they wanted for a career before entering college, and just kind of drifted through the system. So in a way, I can see some advantage in the Brit system.

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It can be a problem, but it's not as bad as it sounds. You only start A lvls at 17ish, and at GCSE (14-16) you do pretty much all the major subjects (maybe drop one or two e.g. I dropped geography in favour of Latin). Once you've decided your A lvls it is true that you will have closed some doors. E.g. you can't get into an English degree with all science A lvls Once you get to uni it actually gets more easy to change around. Course changes like the one you've described your daughter going through are fairly common (although usually you can only change once per year).

A big problem which the govt is trying to make a bit better is that our culture has a bit of an arbitrary arts/science divide (don't know if it's the same elsewhere?) so although there's nothing to stop people doing a mix at A lvl it is far more common to do all arts or all science. This is already a lot better than it used to be.

The system does force you to think a bit more, which might be good, but leaves you in a bit more trouble if you get it wrong the first few times. This is why I recommend people to follow a policy of 'closing as few doors as possible'. That's why I advised BKS to think about a science degree earlier in an another thread: he can always do a law or medicine conversion course after a science undergrad, but he will never be able to do research without a science degree.

Options cannot be changed except in very exeptional circumstances. at 14, I'm setting up for the next 10 years (inc. uni) of my life, and then work after that. It's sorta tough, but hey.

We have to do Latin outside school time at GCSE - I have to do 1 hour after school per week. That's on top of coursework and exam revision. I'm going for 12 GCSEs.

Good luck with the Latin I'm glad you're bothering with it

I have no choice. My mother took the form to work to sign, and she ticked the Latin box without consulting me Although I would have taken it anyway, i thought that was a bit OTT on her part...

I'm going to be sitting my GCSEs in three weeks-I'm not unduly worried. Are you enjoying the philosophy, Jag? I've got to pick 5 AS levels I want to take. So far I've got History, Biology, Chemistry and English Lit., but I'm not sure about the last one...

Philosophy is great, though you NEED a good lecturer, mine is very good, he is very knowledgeable so it makes it worth while. The topic makes you think and is challenging.

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (JAG @ May 12 2004,22:07)]Philosophy is great, though you NEED a good lecturer, mine is very good, he is very knowledgeable so it makes it worth while. The topic makes you think and is challenging.

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Right, cool.

Most people I know who went on to study philosophy at university ended up as stand up comedians .

Tito ;

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Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Sounds like a lot of pressure on 14 to 16 year olds to have to decide a career that early. What if you decide halfway through that you want to change your career path/goals? Can they be changed?

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I chose all my subjects for the career I wanted when I was 13 , then something occured which made me change my mind , I couldn't change the subjects so I didn't bother going to school . Still no regrets .

Personally, I'm somewhat dissatisfied with the A-level system - as it is now, we pretty much define how our careers are likely to turn out at the age of 15 - when we choose our A-levels.

For instance - I chose all sciences - Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Statistics. Now I'm stuck doing a subject I don't enjoy - although I am trying to change... But that's going to be very tricky - it's not so easy to swap to something totally unrelated, I've discovered. I'm trying to swap to Classics (with virtually no knowledge of Latin or Greek - should be fun)

I think it would probably be better if we instituted the International Baccalaureat - so we'd have less specialisation, but we would have more developed people - as it is, we get people who have no knowledge or interest in anything out of their field.