College Differences

One thing that I have really noticed during my time in San Diego is how much more diverse University degrees are in the States and it has made me kind of jealous that I didn't study here. Everyone has their standard Majors which they apply for and ultimately get their degree in but the ride along the way is much more interesting. For my degree I had two minors which I took in first year ('Freshman' over here), which I then dropped to concentrate solely on my degree subject. I took only classes that related to English and that was that. In the States it is more of a unit system and you have to have so many units to complete your degree. Each Major has specific classes which are compulsory but you also have a choice of what to do with the remaining credits you have. Let me tell you, the choices are vast and some of the electives are so fun! Now I am basing my knowledge here on The University of San Diego and obviously the classes vary elsewhere but Students at USD have a Core Curriculum (CC) which they have to follow and a bunch of other classes they can take to fill in the rest. The CC is pretty hefty because USD is a Catholic school. Students have to take classes in: Indispensible Competencies, Traditions, Horizons and the Diversity of Human Experience. Basically Literacy, Maths, Logic, Theology, Religion, Philosophy and Humanity. I don't know whether it is just the school girl still in me that thinks all of that would be interesting but I do. Wow, I am at that stage where school is attractive. I must be getting old. Ha. Anyway, the extra classes you can take to fill up extra credits are so awesome. You can take a avriety of different classes from Business Golf to Piano to Surfing to Photography to Billiards. Amazing. Can you imagine getting University credit for surfing? I mean that would be just too cool. Out on the glistening waves, lapping gently and waiting for the next big swell to come. And photography! It is all the hobbies you always wanted to do but never had time for. Well, going to University over here means they make that time for you. This 'time' thing is where the students here have a slight problem and I suppose I can see their point. I quote 'We have to go to school for longer to take these bullshit classes' and when you are paying $18,500 a semester I imagine these extra classes can become fairly frustrating. Especially as these extra classes mean a standard Undergraduate B.A degree takes 4 years to complete not 3 like at home. That meaning a debt of $148,000. £97,000. A small house. Y-ouch. There is also the argument that a degree is meant to 'specialise' you in one subject, not simply carry on the multiplicity offered at high school.... But you know what, I dig it (yeah, yeah I know I am picking up the slang) and would definitely recommend international education over here to others. Surfing for credit. I just can't get over how amazing that would be. And don't even get me started on how posh the campus is...