question for the american folk

[sven222]

hey people
I have a quick question, over your end, what is the difference between college and university? Are they the same thing or what. Just interested because everything is different over here.

[TheBurningCat]

Yea, I go to college but i think it would be a high school to you dudes. Its still called high school here but i got to some fancy catholic private thingy so its called college.

[sven222]

im currently in grade 12, and its called a college, but other places its called high school. But college in america is university isnt it? oh i dont know

[Germ]

Yes, the two words are pretty much interchangeable in the states.

Germ

[ChoaticWhisper]

I always thought university had more prestige.

[desmocat]

Generally, they are interchangable over here, but for a school to be called a "university" here (in Texas at least), it has to offer a 4 year Bachelors degree program.

That's why all the local community "colleges" are such, as they are generally two year institutions that you get an associates degree from.

It is usually done in this manner to save money, but you take a lot of your basic courses for the first two years of a 4 year degree at a local community college to get them out of the way at a much lower cost per semester/hour than paying the big bucks for them at a university. You just have to make sure the hours will transfer, which around here, they almost all will apply towards a four year schools bachelors degree program.

[Sohgin]

At my University the different departments are divided into colleges. College of Engineering, College of Business Administration, etc. But usually any education received after graduating high school is said to have been gotten using the generic word college.

To sum up there are official differences but laymen use them interchangeably.

[geekgrl]

Also, most universities receive public funding, and most colleges are private, therefore not receiving public funding from the state.
Although, you are right, we use the terms interchangeably(sp?)

[geekgrl]

*sigh* Such hard questions!!!

[Chooco]

in Canada, a college is just a hurtin thing, usualy a trade school. a university is where you learn non_trade things like puter, bussiness and such.