I actually made the exact same switch back in high school. I had been studying German for seven years, but decided to swap it out for English as my primary focus—even though I’d only been at English for three years at that point. Looking back, it was such a brilliant move for my long-term education and career path, especially since my German was still basically at a beginner level. Honestly, I haven't regretted it for a single second; in fact, I even managed to pull an A in one of my classes without really breaking a sweat, or rather, 😁 without even trying! Besides, there were still 17 other subjects to keep me busy, which was more than enough to stay occupied...
My take is that they’re intentionally making things unnecessarily difficult—acting like a high school diploma isn't enough for some while it's perfectly fine for everyone else. I don't see any actual benefit here for the students or even the country; it feels more like this is being driven by someone's specific interests. Honestly, even a small financial hit could serve as a decent disciplinary measure—in the US, we actually have the option to impose financial repercussions to finally put an end to these kinds of shenanigans.
All this talk about needing a 25% passing grade in chemistry, leaving the poor Treasury unable to select candidates, is just nonsense. If you earned a top grade on your high school chemistry finals, you didn't just scrape by with 25%; you likely mastered at least 85% of the material. It really makes you wonder, though: are these entrance exams strictly testing the standard high school chemistry curriculum, or is there extra stuff thrown in? And if there is "extra" material, where on earth are students supposed to learn it? Private schools? Tutors? Just teaching themselves?
Betty Wood54 said:Medical school doesn't need to pretend to be elite; it's inherently elite. In my view, it doesn't really fall into the same category as most other majors. You are training to actually heal people, and that requires a specific kind of dedication.
So, I don't mind if they "act elite" by having entrance exams. They are looking for people who truly want to pursue medicine. And honestly, there are so many applicants that high school graduation scores alone aren't enough to properly screen them. The medical entrance exams are significantly tougher than the equivalent subjects on a standard diploma, so they can perform a much better selection process.
I haven't seen any posts from capttawish yet! I'll be sure to keep an eye out for them. kaže: The real issue here is just the sheer volume of applicants. Take medical school in Washington, D.C., for example—the competition there is absolutely intense because you have so many incredibly bright students, both in terms of their grades and their actual subject knowledge, all vying for those limited spots. It got to the point where high school diplomas alone weren't enough to filter through such a talented pool of candidates, so they eventually had to introduce entrance exams to handle the selection process.
So, it looks like I was wrong about the high school diploma being the deciding factor for identifying who actually has the necessary background versus who’s starting from scratch. It seems the real issue isn't about assessing prior knowledge anymore, but rather the sheer amount of pressure surrounding enrollment numbers.
They could absolutely use the SAT scores to handle the selection process. I’ve honestly never heard of a university facing such a massive surge in applicants that they couldn't simply establish a ranking system or set specific criteria to draw a line and only enroll those who meet the threshold. Even departments facing even higher demand than the Treasury Department have managed to pull it off. But then again, maybe there just isn't enough revenue coming in from application fees to make that happen. I just really hope the government doesn't end up footing the bill for all those empty seats left by students who didn't enroll this year, only to end up stuck in a massive budget deficit because of it. ☕
Susan James said:Are you suggesting that in generations where there were tons of open spots available, there weren't enough kids with doctor parents getting leaked questions? Or maybe they got them but just didn't study hard enough? 🤔
Where did you get the idea that if there's an entrance exam for something, people immediately jump to tutoring and make a killing off it? And even if they do make money, why does it matter? It’s actually in our interest to have better student selection (basically, making sure fewer students drop out once they realize how tough the coursework is) so people can finish their degrees in a reasonable timeframe. They're being educated using our tax dollars, after all.
Even now with the medical school entrance exams, not every kid goes to a tutor. There’s a group of them who are just naturally great at math, stay perfectly on track with their studies, and even go above and beyond. Then there are the kids whose parents are well-educated enough to help them out at home. Those students deserve their spots, especially if they had decent grades or didn't rely on extra points from sports competitions.
As for the high school exit exams, I’d sooner bet that during those tests, cheating or similar things might happen just to protect the reputation of an elite school from poor results (I'm not saying that *should* happen), rather than a professor leaking entrance exam questions. Because a professor who leaks a test will have to deal with that student for five years, knowing they took a spot away from someone else who might actually have more potential.
That’s really what we’re talking about all the time—comparing high school entrance exams to national standardized testing on other subjects. It's much more likely that high school teachers might tip the scales for their own students (since it reflects on their own teaching performance), whereas professors haven't even met these students yet, but will have to teach them for four years. Whether that makes teaching easier or harder depends entirely on the foundation the students arrived with.
It’s funny how things work, isn't it? Suddenly everyone is all about having clear instructions and proper preparation. It feels like a complete 180 from just a few days ago when every other post was nothing but endless complaining about what they have and how much the kids are being disadvantaged because their parents can't afford everything. Now, out of nowhere, it's all about being organized! 🤣
Regarding the standardized testing situation, I’d honestly put my money on this: I would much rather allow students to use outside resources or even cheat during their final exams if it meant protecting the school's reputation. If those test scores come back looking terrible because of overly strict rules, it could really damage the prestige and ranking of an elite private academy. It feels like a choice between academic integrity and maintaining the high status of the institution, doesn't it?I’m not saying that's how it should be done.)I really feel like someone at the university needs to address the issue of entrance exam leaks. If someone is handing out test questions, they’re going to have to deal with that student for the next five years, knowing full well they took a spot away from someone who might actually have more potential.
....
Google That’s pretty much all I have to say about that.
Who is actually drafting the SAT prep materials and the exam questions? Who gets a sneak peek at the questions beforehand? And when it comes to grading, is it the high school teachers overseeing the process or an outside group? And regarding the college entrance exams—who writes them, who knows the answers ahead of time, and ultimately, who verifies the final scores at the Treasury Department? Is it an independent committee or just the staff within the Treasury Department itself?
It feels like you're writing this without even grasping the basic principles of external validation for results. It’s hard to take these kinds of ramblings seriously, especially when they're dressed up with dramatic phrases like "I'd stake my life on the fact that..." 🤣
It’s funny when you really stop to think about it. If a university decides that high school math scores are a sufficient benchmark for science majors—under the assumption that those students will eventually have to tackle much more intense, specialized chemistry, physics, and advanced calculus later on—then it raises an interesting question. Why isn't that same logic applied to medical school admissions? It seems strange that those same standardized test scores aren't viewed as a reliable indicator of whether a student can actually handle the heavy lifting required in the medical curriculum down the road.
Do you think the chemistry track at the School of Engineering is basically just a subset of the chemistry major over at the College of Arts and Sciences? Or maybe that physics track at Engineering is really just a specialized version of the pure physics program at the College of Arts and Sciences?
Honestly, I feel like these entrance exams don't really serve any practical purpose other than being a massive cash grab—they charge an absolute fortune for them. It’s frustrating because they just end up reopening old doors to problems that were already pretty much settled by the universal standardized testing we have now.
Personally, I think this whole situation is a perfect example of how certain universities allow all sorts of nonsense just to maintain an air of elitism. Anyone who remembers how things used to be can't help but wonder how many kids managed to get helpful hints or even outright answers from doctors and professors before their entrance exams—something that’s obviously impossible once you're dealing with the standard high school graduation requirements.
That said, there's definitely going to be a huge market for private tutors and specialized prep courses specifically for medical school applicants. The curriculum covered in a standard high school diploma just doesn't cut it for those aspiring medics, whereas for folks aiming for vet school, biology, or pharmacy, it usually suffices enough.☕
To really determine if the medical school entrance exam was handled fairly, we first need to look at whether - they actually released a clear syllabus beforehand so everyone knew what to study - how closely that material aligns with the standard high school curriculum for those specific subjects, and - whether the actual exam ended up being what they claimed it would be in their announcements
I just took a look at the FBI curriculum, and it looks like Math 1 covers derivatives and series, starting off with vectors and analytical geometry (basically a refresher on high school stuff). Then, in Math 2, they move into the fundamentals of integrals.
Honestly, if you weren't taught those topics previously, it really just suggests that someone didn't follow the standard academic track. It isn't right, and we shouldn't just assume it's "normal" or expected to know everything out of thin air.
Here are the links I found:
I’m pretty sure I’m going to dig up the syllabi for my old first-year courses now—things like linear algebra, mathematical analysis, and probability and statistics—just to see if the content matches what I studied back in the day. Those are the core essentials that have probably stayed the same for a hundred years anyway; they don't change all that much.
Adam Diaz67 said:Google Maps is pretty spot on if you're driving. But for the Metro? I guess you should just factor in a delay. It basically just syncs up with the official Metro schedule. It doesn't really account for those little specifics, like when a bus or a tram just... doesn't show up. It rarely happens with the trams, but with the buses, it's definitely not uncommon.
I gave you some examples on the last page. Take a quick look at what actually counts as part of New York City. Forest Park, Beverly Hills, Lučko, and St. Clara are all neighborhoods, so they fall under the City of New York. Even if you set those aside, how long does it take via Metro to get from Vrapče to Jordan? Or from Lanište to somewhere like Mioc? What about Vrhovac to Ruđer? Or maybe traveling from the Den or Klak over to Lucijanka or the Electrical school?
I guess you were lucky if you stayed strictly within the tram zones or near the train tracks. Once you have to start juggling multiple buses and streetcars, that’s when the real headache begins. Public transit here is generally pretty bad because the lines just aren't synchronized well. And honestly, the morning rush on the buses and trams is enough to drive anyone crazy. If you live near Central Park but work out in Zitnjak, you might be better off just giving up on public transit entirely. Or maybe if you live in Upper Dubrava and work in Jankomir. If you actually live and work relatively close to the train, it’s probably faster to get from Dug Sela to Gajnice than it is to get from Črnomerec to Malla Avenue.
Usually, there’s only one major university in town. So, if you have a specific subject in mind, you don't really have much of a choice. But if multiple schools offer the exact same program, it’s totally reasonable to just pick the one that's closer. For instance, if you live on the west side of the city, why bother commuting all the way to Ruđer if the Electrical school or Tesla is much more convenient?
FBI. Based on the high school curriculum, derivatives and integrals are supposed to be covered. A ton of schools just don't get through them because they're right at the end of senior year. Our professor just showed up, told us it was part of the syllabus, and said she didn't have the time to teach everyone from square one. She expected us to already know the basics of calculus. And that was for Math 1, which only had 135 hours in the semester. Then you've got mechanics following right after the math.
It’s funny how things work out. Back home, there was always this underlying assumption that not everyone had tackled advanced math during high school, so everything basically had to be taught from the ground up. Personally, I think we actually had quite a few more math hours than most, though looking back, we definitely messed up during that first year—we weren't exactly sure if we had even signed up for the right math track since nobody really laid it all out for us! 😁 )
I actually found myself torn between two pretty similar schools, and in the end, I went with the one closer to home—mostly because my mom nudged me toward it, and honestly, I’m so glad she did. 🙏
While the kids from my neighborhood were heading out at 6:45 AM every single morning to make it to that other school, I was usually waking up around 7:15 (since I was on the 😁late shift). I used to spend my commute studying—those 15 minutes on the bus, plus my two breaks, were usually just enough time to refresh my memory, scribble down some notes for a test, and then promptly forget everything by the next afternoon! 😂
Of course, looking back, both high schools prepared us pretty equally for the jump to college...
Terry Martinez10 said:Fair enough. But if someone finishes a three-year program and then (according to what I've seen online) has to put in two more years just to catch up to a standard four-year high school graduate so they can actually take the SATs, what does the curriculum for a four-year vocational school even look like... is it identical to a regular prep school? And what happens with all those specific subjects a university demands that aren't part of that particular trade... can those kids just sign up for them as electives? Or do they have to commit to an entire additional year if they want to be ready for college entrance exams? E: It's mostly an issue when a kid wants to go to college for something completely unrelated to their vocational training. Like, say, they finish a program focused on business or IT, but then decide they actually want to study chemistry at a major university.
I think there might be a slight misunderstanding of how the system works here in the States. Which specific high school you attend is actually pretty irrelevant when it comes to college admissions. The main thing is that you need to graduate from a four-year high school (any kind) and hit the required scores on the standardized tests like the SAT. If a university requires an entrance exam, you just have to pass that. That’s why so many people sign up for prep courses; once you have those test scores, almost any door is open to you. For instance, if you're aiming for a place like MIT, they’ll look at your GPA from all four years of high school combined with your SAT results. No one really cares which specific subjects you took in high school or even which school you graduated from.
rowdypanther12 said:That doesn't change much, honestly. You can only drive them in the morning anyway; for the afternoons, they'll just have to rely on public transit or walking from school.
I suppose the only real sticking point is the morning routine, 😁
My daughter heads downtown quite often, and honestly, she’s been navigating her way to practice solo since the fifth grade, so she knows her way around the city pretty well. It’s a small comfort, I guess... she even knows exactly how far she needs to walk if the city buses miss her usual stop at the plaza.😁
I’ve actually stopped driving to work altogether—mostly because I’m working remotely now—so the whole idea of carpooling even part of the way is pretty much off the table. I was initially open to that option, but given my current setup, he’ll just have to take the subway or walk (though an electric scooter would be great for certain stretches, I know they probably won't go for that)
As for the traffic in Cleveland, I’d rather not go there. Every single time we head that way and hop off the bypass, I find myself staring at those bizarre intersections thinking, "What on earth is happening here?" 😁 And whenever we run into a cyclist out on the road, my only honest thought is that they must have some sort of death wish...
How could she not know how much time she needs? She has Google Maps at her fingertips. My daughter uses it religiously, and she’s even been using it to scout out schools and stuff 😁
Honestly, it bugs me how today's younger generation seems less resourceful than we were at their age, despite having way more tools to help them navigate life. So, I make a point of pushing her to figure things out on her own 😁 When we were recently in New York City, I was the one giving all the directions on our first day. But by the second day, it was suddenly—"Check Google, find which train goes to which platform, see where we need to transfer, which stop to get off at, how to actually find the platform, which train is arriving, making sure we don't miss our exit, where the stairs are, where we head once we're out..." and wouldn't you know it, after just three trips, she had it all figured out 😬
Now, she’s planning the whole trip from the house to the hotel, including everything from check-in procedures and luggage rules to navigating the airport itself ☕
I can't help but imagine if my kid—who absolutely *loathes* mornings—had to face a school schedule where they had to wake up two hours early every single day for four years straight. They’d either end up constantly fighting with us or just rack up a mountain of unexcused absences in no time. Luckily, she's actually smart enough to realize how much she hates getting up early, so she keeps her eyes on the prize: afternoon classes. 👍
Since when did technical high schools get such a bad reputation? I was just reading the other day that you need about 70 points to get into a computer technician program in Chicago, while for something like an automotive tech track, you’re looking at 77 or something along those lines—which is actually higher than what some of the local prep schools require.
The real headache here is that you’re forced to step outside the school system entirely. It would be such a game-changer if there were a speech therapist available right on campus—someone who could perform an evaluation based simply on a teacher's observation without needing a formal referral first. Ideally, they’d be able to catch those subtle, early warning signs, rather than just stepping in once a major issue has already surfaced.
The core issue here is that any kid in the American school system who starts struggling with reading comprehension or keeping up with lessons in those early grades should be immediately flagged for speech therapy evaluations through the school district. Instead, it feels like everything hinges on whether a parent is willing to accept that there might be an issue in the first place. On top of that, you often run into the hurdle of having to $200 pay out of pocket for private assessments because waiting for the official school evaluation can take forever...
Well, according to the standard rules here, any kid who turns six by March 31st is headed straight to kindergarten. In my experience, I have quite a few kids born between New Year's and that cutoff date, and honestly, no one ever ran into any issues. I’d say the curriculum is generally tailored for children who are entering just shy of being six and a half, whereas those who hit seven during the second half of the school year might be a bit further along. If you have a particularly bright little one, though—like that little guy we were discussing—being two months younger doesn't really make a massive difference in the grand scheme of things.
My daughter started seventh grade at age 12, and honestly, she hasn't hit a single intellectual roadblock with the curriculum; if anything, ☕ I’ve never really struggled with schoolwork myself, even though I actually started a bit younger than she did. By today's standards, she probably would have been held back a year during enrollment.
Since there wasn’t any mention of how some people just refuse to learn from their mistakes regardless of what they were taught in school 😁 I suppose it must be quite pleasant living in a complete work of fiction ☕