August 20th-Classes begin for Fall 2008. I dont have any classes on 20th and my first class is on 21st. In fact,my timetable is pretty much convenient. All my 3 courses fall on Tuesday and Thrusday and I have the remaining 5 days off. It is this flexibility that impressed me most about the education system in the USA.Back in India, if were to pursue some form of higher studies, we would have a strict 8 to 4 schedule with classes being incorporated every possible weekend. It is this imposition of so-called discipline and lack of flexibility and free time that results in a literal burn out. We are so fatigued at the end of it all that we have no time or interest for research, reading up on allied subjects or even plain unwinding and this very obviusly affects our productivity.
What I appreciate here is the beautiful work-life balance and the importance given to the individual. Of course, I still will have assignments, projects and coursework to catch up on the rest of the five days but the fact that we are given time for it all is so amazing. In fact, I get to choose my courses, my professors,my advisors according to my interests and convenience. Nothing is thrust upon us and so each of us is given an oppurtunity to pursue our respective fields of interest in an atmosphere of freedom. This is why there is so much of active research going on out here and so many publications in International journals.
I can go on and on, but for this post, this should suffice.
2 comments:
@Srividya,
Well,in our country imagine if the system in US is there...it will be total confusion. My college was 40kms off Chennai,imagine if the classes were scheduled for 2 hours in a particular day then it would be totally tiring. It would be good for hostelites and not day scholars. Also choosing teachers/lecturers also would never work out! I feel school like education with timetables works well for Bachelors. But for Masters it might not be a good idea!!
Of my friend from work who apped for NCSU used to tell me,it is one of the Top univ for Networks!Sadly he got a reject because he was not Comp Sci undergrad despite having 3 years of L2 experience!
No wonder they have technical publications and active reseach!
The issue is not proximity any longer!!
If you want good education, you should be prepared to make sacrifices..a lot of the in-state students here, despite living in other parts of the same state, stay on campus dorms or nearby the campus, so that commuting is easier..but all this needs a lot of infrastructure and that is smtn we lack in..so yes, it will not work out in India unless a lot of other allied points are taken care of....
And yes, I did mention, higher studies..not necessarily Bachelors.
But it does not work this way for even masters in India, so..
NCSU is amazing for networks, you got that right.
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