GO BLUE!

The minor quest IV about a "Third Century Initiative" for the University of Michigan made me think about the differences of the school system in America and the Netherlands. For our presentation we thought ‘BIG’ and we came up with something completely new, and so did other guilds, and I really hope that some of the ideas will be implemented in the future, although it would take quite some time to see if some of the things we suggest truly work in real life. On the other hand, you might not want to change anything because the university of Michigan is one of the best universities is the world, so whatever they are doing, they are doing it right. For example in the Netherlands you have to choose a major right away, when you attend the University. For me this worked out just fine because I knew all along I wanted to study psychology, but I also have friends who started a study and figured out on the way it wasn’t really something for them and then had ‘wasted’ a year and had to find something else (they hoped) they would like. The University of Michigan takes care of this problem by the fact that you guys have the option to be ‘undecided’. You can take classes in every field you’re interested in to see if it is something you like and only have to declare on the end of your second year.

Also, at Leiden University we have quarters. You take 3 courses (2/3 American credits) for approximately 6 weeks. This way you go to the material really quick and there is now time to make reaction papers, midterm exams etc. most of the time there’s only a final exam that count for 100%. This can be seen as a good thing, because if you don’t feel like doing something for a week, you’re not obligated to do so, the only thing is that you have to study reaaally hard for you final exam, but I can tell you from experience it is not to right way to learn. It’s nice not to have to turn in papers every weak (but because of those you keep up with the material and at the end you only have to refresh your memory) but because of all this ‘freedom’ most of the studying I did in Holland was last notice and it was purely to pass an exam and the weak after I already forgot about halve of the material, because I never repeated it. The strength of the Michigan school system (being engaged with the material and being forced to write a lot and think about what you learn) was also pointed out by Richard Hersh on the Colbert Raport. (see link if you haven’t checked it out already!) http://annarbor.com/news/university-of-michigan-featured-on-tuesdays-colbert-report/

So I guess my point is, that although it’s ok. to want new things (more freedom to study what you want whenever you want etc.) It’s also because of the rules and guidelines (that many of us hate so much) that Michigan is one of the best in the WORLD!

Elise.