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Poll: What level of education have you reached

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Re: Poll: What level of education have you reached

#32

Dropped out of high school and got my GED. The full story is that I grew up in Belgium - I moved to the States during Sophomore year, and the schooling was so far behind that I wasn't engaged and quickly became bored. After a year I just couldn't take it anymore and dropped out.

Sophomore year, that's 2nd year of high school, right? What age was that? You had spend 2 years at a Belgian 'high school' (in the sense of 'secundair onderwijs', not 'hogeschool' :) ) ? Do you mind telling what program you followed in Belgium (I assume 'ASO', was it Latin-Mathematics, Latin-Greek, Economics, ...) ? Did you go to a public or private high school in the US? In a city or more rural?

(Sorry for the questioning, I have a strange abstract interest in comparing educational systems across borders :) )

Re: Poll: What level of education have you reached

#33
post #15
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe the "Graduated High School" choice would be the closest for that.

But does "Graduated High School" imply "finished the standard education expected" (equivilent to GCSEs in the UK) or "finished the education required to move straight on to university" (equivilent to A Levels in the UK). If the latter, maybe "Dropped out of High School" is a better choice.

I chose "graduated high school" as I left secondary school (increasingly being called "high school" in the UK, I notice) at 16 as that was the end of my mandatory education and no British person in their right mind would say I "dropped out of high school" since leaving at 16 is quite normal (even if only to go to "college" to do A levels which is not "high school").

Re: Poll: What level of education have you reached

#34
post #3

seems masters, doctorate work should be represented. and homeschooled doesn't necessarily exclude higher education. edit: ah, you can vote for more than one. wasn't clear.

Yes, I was homeschooled and went on to get a PhD, so this simple poll does not seem to be able to represent that!

Re: Poll: What level of education have you reached

#35
Other: Associate's degree, 2 different certificates (one the equivalent of master's level work), never finished my bachelor's. (This makes me both overqualified and underqualified for any job I could possibly apply to. :-/)

Re: Poll: What level of education have you reached

#38
post #32

Dropped out of high school and got my GED. The full story is that I grew up in Belgium - I moved to the States during Sophomore year, and the schooling was so far behind that I wasn't engaged and quickly became bored. After a year I just couldn't take it anymore and dropped out.

Sophomore year, that's 2nd year of high school, right? What age was that? You had spend 2 years at a Belgian 'high school' (in the sense of 'secundair onderwijs', not 'hogeschool' :) ) ? Do you mind telling what program you followed in Belgium (I assume 'ASO', was it Latin-Mathematics, Latin-Greek, Economics, ...) ? Did you go to a public or private high school in the US? In a city or more rural? (Sorry for the quest…

You are correct in assuming Latin-Mathematics :) When I moved to the US I attended a public high school in Denver, CO (somewhat city), and back in Belgium I attended Atheneum van Deurne. I was 14/15 when I moved to the States.

I don't mind the questions :) A little hard to remember as it's been 16 years now, but would be happy to share.

Re: Poll: What level of education have you reached

#39

Dropped out of high school and got my GED. The full story is that I grew up in Belgium - I moved to the States during Sophomore year, and the schooling was so far behind that I wasn't engaged and quickly became bored. After a year I just couldn't take it anymore and dropped out.

I hate it that the first thing you got to experience in the US was our crummy education system. My condolences. :(

Well it gives me some perspective as what to expect when I send my own (future) kids off to school. Hopefully I will be able to teach them things to offset that.

Re: Poll: What level of education have you reached

#40

Dropped out of high school and got my GED. The full story is that I grew up in Belgium - I moved to the States during Sophomore year, and the schooling was so far behind that I wasn't engaged and quickly became bored. After a year I just couldn't take it anymore and dropped out.

Just to add on to my original post - even with a GED I have been quite successful as a developer and can't complain about where I am or the salary I make. I am pretty sure that it's pure luck that my hobby while growing up became an industry I could be good in - I'm not sure if my GED would have gotten me as far otherwise.
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