I’m an American who just started my first year of undergraduate studies at the National University of Singapore last month. I chose Singapore over the US because I wanted to live abroad, and Singapore checked pretty much every box for me: it’s in Asia, tropical, safe, developed, and English is the medium of instruction.

Now, even though NUS is a great university by global standards, the reaction I’ve gotten from many of my family members and friends is that choosing to study abroad as an American is inherently a downgrade, regardless of the university or country. That’s where my question comes from.

  • lokalhorst@feddit.org
    10·
    6 days ago

    From whom do you want an answer, US americans or “other”? As a European I can’t tell you about what is an upgrade/downgrade for the US as we don’t rank universities that much over here. So no idea about the job chances in the US. From the other side of the pond I can tell you I like when people make experiences in foreign countries and I think it can be an important part of education and strengthens open-mindedness (is that a word?).

    From what I know from US culture via the web (bias!) I feel often people are very US-centric and nationalist, so the reactions of your family and friends don’t shock me.

    • Starya67@lemmy.world
      2·
      6 days ago

      My brother used to be a manager, and when an applicant was from Europe he wouldn’t check the university but when they were from the US he definitely would.

      • lokalhorst@feddit.org
        1·
        6 days ago

        Our universities are mostly publicly funded, that’s why the level of education quality doesn’t vary that much. Sure you got famous universities with very strong research groups in certain fields. But the impact on education is limited - if you passed linear algebra it doesn’t really matter much where. I can only speak for Germany though, it may be different for example in the UK.

        On the other hand - the top US universities seem to be on a much higher level then ours, that is why the elite love sending their children to the Ivy League universities. So even in Germany if you went to Harvard or Columbia this will often qualify for the real good positions.