Education

Education

Education is a formative time in anybody’s life. It is especially important as a child when you are learning skills that will get you through the rest of your life. As an American, I started my education in preschool at age four. Then, I started kindergarten at age 5 and stayed in elementary school until I was twelve. After elementary school, I moved into middle school from age twelve to fourteen. Then high school was from age fifteen to eighteen. I also attended a public school where there was no cost, however, if my parents wanted to send me to a private school there would have been a cost of attendance. Then there is the option to attend college for a cost. Sometimes we can forget that not everyone has this same opportunity and experience. Therefore, it is important to be aware of how other education systems work. Factors to consider are cost, year until completion, graduation rates, and values of the school systems.

In England, and most of the United Kingdom, it is broken down into key stages. According to an article by bright world, key stage one is from 5 to 7 years old, key stage two is from 7 to 11 years old, key stage three is from 11 to 14 years old, and key stage four is from 14 to 16 years old. Children begin in primary school from age 5 to 11. Then they begin secondary school at age 11 and start out in the Junior school (what we would think of as a middle school) until they are 13. Then they move onto the Senior school in which the students’ study 9 to 12 subjects. They will then graduate from secondary school at the ripe age of 16. From there they can choose to pursue higher education by attending a university or boarding school. Much like the United States, primary and secondary education are free, However, higher education, such as university, can cost from £11,400 - £38,000 for an undergraduate degree according to an article by British Council.

The percentage of secondary school graduates attending university in the UK has increased throughout the years. Based on data from UK Parliament, 36.4% of 18 year olds attend higher education. According from an article by Student tenant, and information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency, 82% of students enrolled in college graduate. This rate can be impacted by high living costs, lack of financial aid, working students, and more. It should also be noted, based on information from the UK Parliament, women are more likely than men to attend college. Ethnic groups such as Chinese, Black, and Indian have the highest entry rates to college. However, Black students have a higher chance of dropping out of college than other ethnic groups. White students are more likely to finish their education once they start. Students with disabilities are also more likely to drop out of higher education. The Office for Students helps to ensure that students from diverse backgrounds will be supported through their higher education experience.

Applying to college can be challenging throughout the world. When applying to Cambridge, certain requirements must be met. The competition is highly competitive; therefore, you must have strong academic performance. According to the University of Cambridge, there are many English requirements, tests, certificates, written work, and interviews you must complete upon enrollment to the university. When I was applying to the University of Idaho, I had to provide transcripts, personal and educational background, and have an exceptional GPA (around 3.0). Applying to the University of Idaho had less steps than applying to Cambridge as they must complete all the U of I steps plus more certificates, tests, and interviews.

Cambridge offers a wide range of majors ranging from arts to sciences. A few popular majors from Cambridge include philosophy, history of art, economics, politics, natural sciences, engineering, medicine, archaeology, and architecture. These are just a few among the thirty-five undergraduate courses they offer. These are like the majors in the United States. However, Cambridge lacks the diversity of the business classes offered by most colleges in the United States. For instance, my major of Business Management & Human Resources is not offered by Cambridge. This can reflect the beliefs of Britian to be centered more towards art and sciences while the United States can be centered more towards business and agriculture. Though, all colleges and universities are different and that should be celebrated.

Education is at the heart of several people’s lives from all over the world. It builds our intelligence and gives us knowledge we would not know without the education system. There are many similarities between the UK and US education systems, and there are some differences. Education gives us a foundation for the rest of our lives.