Every
school is a little different, but thinking of a different school in a different
country (and continent, and hemisphere…) makes me wonder just HOW different the
academic experience will be! No fear! The internet is a powerful tool, and I have
plenty of answers about the education system in Uruguay.
A
major difference between Uruguay and the US is the grading scale, which ranges
from 12 (Outstanding) to 0 (Deficient). Here’s a handy chart to illustrate the
ranges:
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Some
sources have given slightly different names for each category (like “Bueno Muy
Bueno/BMB” rather than Muy Bueno), but I think the idea remains the same.
Further,
the grades that you get are attached to a slightly different way of attending
classes. Many classes are condensed into a single afternoon or evening meeting,
rather than the typical MWF hour-long sessions in the US. I always have
preferred morning classes, so I will definitely have to adjust if I end up with
a 3 hour evening class! However, some classes meet for shorter amounts of time with
the expectation that students will spend more time outside of the classroom
working on the concepts. Therefore, contact hours don’t necessarily equal the
credit hours. Anything for the sake of knowledge!
The
working-outside-of-class aspect of the system could work in my favor for
socializing. Most students work for a degree within a facultad, and take
courses toward that licensure with the same group of students (who are within
the same facultad). Many times students work in groups, “together against the
system” rather than “against each other,” which seems to promote camaraderie.
Plus, if I take more than one class within the same facultad, I will have
extended time with the same group of students… Can you tell that I just really
want to make friends?!
Uruguayan
schools are, in a way, more focused on practicality than my home university.
What I mean to say is that the purpose of going to the University in Uruguay is
to complete a degree, not to develop oneself as a whole. Therefore, student
services and accommodations are limited. If a student is having problems, they
need to ask for help from friends or [host] family. Professors don’t generally
have office hours, so you may have to chase the professor down after class to
ask a question. From what I have heard about Uruguayan hospitality and
friendship, it seems that if I make good friends, we will help each other out
well.
According
to ISEP’s country handbook,
“In
most state run universities, students have to present two term papers or exams
along with quizzes and a final oral and written presentation of the results of
a research topic or, a specific assignment. This research paper can be
substituted by a final comprehensive exam. Most of the time, research papers
are done in groups, which requires a good cultural sensitivity on the part of
the international student in order to fit in. This is a challenge that after
completing their exchange period most students find it very rewarding. In some
social and biological programs students have to do fieldwork as well, either by
themselves and organized in groups, or with the professors in fieldtrips. This
fieldwork requires extra work in preparing the instruments to collect the
information and in writing reports afterwards.”
So it seems that study groups and
working with other students may come all at once for those big assignments. I
will attend a private university, but I expect that this format will not be so
different from a state school. It will be a relief to not have so many
assignments throughout the semester, but I’ll have to watch out to make sure
that I continue studying regularly.
From what I have gathered, it seems that
La Universidad Católica del Uruguay is a challenging school. I plan to take a
mix of international-student- and normal-Uruguayan- classes, which will
definitely stretch my Spanish learning! Even though there are some structural
differences between academics in Uruguay and the US, I expect that I will learn
a whole lot regardless.
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