La vision du mot "école" pour les étudiants américains signifie
apprentissage et travail. L'école est un lieu où l'éducation prend
beaucoup de place contrairement à la France où l'éducation se fait
surtout par les parents et la famille. Je pense que les étudiants
français , tout comme les étudiants américains sont conscients que
l'école est une institution où l'on apprend de nombreuses choses et
qu'on ne peut pas la négliger si l'on recherche la réussite sociale et
professionnelle. Quelles autres différences ?

Just a quick question...what does "assas" mean?

I also noticed that both French and American students associate school
with work, but also see it as a place where they can meet friends and
socialize. I thought it was interesting that some Americans associate
choice and fun with school whereas the French primarily thought of
discipline. I also noticed that there were more words about the future
and ambition in the french column. French students seem to view school
as a good preparation for the future.

Hello, ASSAS est le nom de la rue dans laquelle se trouve l'université
Paris II. Je suppose que les américains, tout comme les français,
considèrent l'université comme la préparation du métier qu'ils feront ?

J'aimerais ajouter que pour tous l'école est aussi un lieu
d'épanouissement social. C'est tout au long de notre scolarité que nous
nous forgeons un caractère. Alors des connaissances constructives pour
notre avenir, une vie sociale mouvementée et des amis... pourquoi les
jeunes ne veulent pas aller à l'école (en même temps je les comprends)

pour répondre à Aparna Rao, ne vois tu pas aussi l'école comme une bonne
préparation pour le futur? Ne penses tu pas que ce que tu étudies
conditionnera en quelque sorte l'homme ou la femme que nous seront plus
tard?

In response to most of the students of Paris II: yes, it is safe to
assume that to Americans, school is the way to success. And to Patricia,
yes, I do agree that school shapes up what kind of person you are in the
future. On that point of view, it is a mixed bag with Americans. For
example, some just "want their college degree so that they can work" and
they seek very little or no personal fulfillment. Then there are those
that are just trying to become better individuals by expanding their
knowledge. However, no matter what their frame of mind is, to an
American a college education will ultimately mean a way to pay their bills.

In response to Patricia, I agree with Edgar that although both French
and American students see school as preparation for the future, their
individual perceptions differ. The French seem to value the knowledge
and enrichment gained from an education whereas Americans are more
career focused.

The vast majority of Americans see college as more important now than it
was in the past. According to a Public Agenda trend analysis from
1993-2003, parents of high school students are becoming increasingly
worried about the cost of college. Is college cost high in France?

I'm under the impression that college is free. Many colleges in France
actually pay stipends to their students in addition to providing
education free of charge. Health care's all set too. It's one of those
great European things that would take a lot of change to implement here.

Yes college is affordable to everybody. If you can pay (you or your
family can afford it) you pay about 200 to 500 $. But if you can't the
government will grant you a scholarship. Pardon j'ai oublié qu'il
fallait parler français. Oui ce système nous permet à tous, après
obtention du baccalauréat, d'accéder à l'enseignement supérieur. Les
différences sont ainsi gommés. Aux USA je crois que cet accès à
l'enseignement supérieur est plus difficile pour les classes les plus
pauvres. Qu'en est-il exactment?

In response to your comment, Pierre, I think that it's true that pooer
students have a harder time getting higher education in the US. For
people I remember talking to in my home town, they would not apply to
more well known universities because they said that they couldn't afford
it. Many colleges nowadays give grants or significant financial aid to
students whose families may not make enough to pay the full cost of
college, but if these poorer students aren't aware of it or even with
grants can't afford the rests, then often they go to community colleges
or technical schools in order to get post-high school education. Another
thing that I think happens is that these poorer students would prefer to
get jobs to try to earn money rather than "wasting their time" in
school. Depending on one's situation, I think it can be hard to see past
the years in school to the benefits one receives as a result.

Pierre - You're right in the sense that it's difficult for poor families
to send children to the very top level schools. Our government schools
(state schools) are relatively cheap, and considering the fact that we
pay fewer taxes makes it relatively affordable. Of course very few state
schools are as good as our top level schools. We also have military
schools that are entirely free, and of course there is government
subsidy for people who cannot afford college. Usually it is not free,
but even at colleges like Harvard, if students cannot afford it, they
will be given money, loans, jobs, etc. In most cases, although it does
cost money, if you want to go to college, although it takes quite an
effort, you can probably make it work.