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Just because some students don't aspire to go to a German university doesn't mean the quality of education would be any worse. Many of my close friends (and me

Just because some students don't aspire to go to a German university doesn't mean the quality of education would be any worse. Many of my close friends (and me personally as well) did their undergrad in Germany and then a semester abroad and/or their Master's in top-10 universities in the US. I have yet to hear from anyone that they felt in any way more challenged in the US (typically the opposite). Yes studying in the US is great fun compared to Germany (sports, extracurriculars, nice spirit of community, ...) but in terms of learning I doubt there is much of a difference

jernfrost 9y ago
Same experience. I think despite the ranking, European universities are actually higher quality. American universities use too much student assistants. Too much of the teaching is hand holding and high school like. When I compare my dutch university experience with my American, it was more research oriented in the Netherlands. You learned to think more scientifically. In the US it felt like it was just about learning lots of stuff. Also the grading system in the US is a weak spot. It is usually far too easy to get an A in the US. I've also have friends who have gone to top US universities, but who mainly can speak of the advantage being that, because they are big, they can offer more variation of course, but with respect to quality there was little difference.
- yardie 9y ago
  It's a double edged sword. I didn't attend a European university but I have many friends who have. Their complaints were the subjects were book heavy with very little practical overlap. Professors were unreachable, office hours did not exist. This was for the normal universities. The technical schools are a different animal. Extrememly competitive to the point of mental breakdown. And if that happened? Tough luck, they don't care.

jernfrost 9y ago

Same experience. I think despite the ranking, European universities are actually higher quality. American universities use too much student assistants. Too much of the teaching is hand holding and high school like. When I compare my dutch university experience with my American, it was more research oriented in the Netherlands. You learned to think more scientifically. In the US it felt like it was just about learning lots of stuff. Also the grading system in the US is a weak spot. It is usually far too easy to get an A in the US. I've also have friends who have gone to top US universities, but who mainly can speak of the advantage being that, because they are big, they can offer more variation of course, but with respect to quality there was little difference.

yardie 9y ago
It's a double edged sword. I didn't attend a European university but I have many friends who have. Their complaints were the subjects were book heavy with very little practical overlap. Professors were unreachable, office hours did not exist. This was for the normal universities. The technical schools are a different animal. Extrememly competitive to the point of mental breakdown. And if that happened? Tough luck, they don't care.