Rupert Yorke - College of Social Sciences and International Studies

Yorke, RupertCollege of William and Mary, VirginiaContentsLearning Log 1 - Statement of Expectations ........................................................................................... 2Learning Log 2 - Experiences in settling into my new environment ....................................................... 4Learning Log 3 - Reflections about host university ................................................................................. 6Learning Log Assignment 4 - Survey of the treatment of British news in the media of the student’shost country ............................................................................................................................................ 8Learning Log 5 - Reactions to the teaching of and approach taken to the student’s academicdisciplines at their host university ........................................................................................................ 10Learning Log 6 - Reflection on the student's period abroad and what they have gained from it,together with a guide for other students visiting the same institution ............................................... 12

Yorke, RupertLearning Log 1 - Statement of ExpectationsThe single question I have been bombarded with to an inordinate degree over the past few monthsregards my decision to abandon the plush hills and legendary pubs of Exeter and study abroad for ayear. Why? It would be fallacious to suggest that the relative luxury of “time out” is what I need – Ihave just finished what has emerged to be a reassuringly successful second year studying Politicsand Philosophy under the auspices of HuSS and feel in pole position to tackle the rapidlyapproaching final year. Yet I can discern an inherent desire for a vastly different perspective on life, adesire for more acute socio-cultural awareness and most of all a fundamentally more challengingand vibrant educational atmosphere. Despite my happiness and satisfaction with Exeter,opportunities to engage in a totally alien culture seldom arise under the liberal rubric of “StudentExchange” and therefore it is with a great sense of enthusiasm and eagerness that I keenly await mydeparture for the prestigious College of William and Mary in the U.S.A. in mid-August.Nestled within the historical delights of Colonial Williamsburg in the bucolic state of Virginia, I mustconsider myself fortunate on three broad accounts compared to my slightly more apprehensiveErasmus colleagues. Firstly, I have no language barrier to overcome. The intricacies of learning andstudying within an alien language seem to pre-suppose to me incredible bravery and stoicism; I canindeed count myself lucky in dealing with the familiar wonders of the English language (despite theconsiderable degree of transatlantic vagaries seemingly adopted across ‘The Pond’!) I say this withrelative trepidation however – Virginia’s status as a Southern state suggests a frightening tendencyof slow speech allied with the incorporation of certain ‘hic’ phrases. Having suffered perennialcastigation from my mother and her disdain for my habit to “mumble”, I recognise a profoundrequirement for more coherent elocution. Secondly, organising accommodation has betrayed theEuropean norm of onerous bureaucratic obstacles – the College has simply allocated me a roomconveniently right in the centre of campus amongst the American students. A signature was all thatwas required (as well as the not-so-insignificant joy of a not-so-small cheque!) Thirdly, choosingcourses and other such administrative tasks have similarly been handled by the College withineluctable helpfulness. The American collegiate system’s reputation for organisation and systematiccoherency is certainly no myth – my remarkable lack of effort and input rests somewhat uneasilywith me considering the burden my Erasmus friends have endured 1 !It is my intention that this first diary entry is characterised by positive ambition and unwaveringoptimism, and it is true that I genuinely do have a paucity of ‘fears’ and apprehension for theforthcoming year. However, the emotional upheaval may perhaps take its toll as the year progresses– as my Mother continually reminds me, I am a long, long way from the delightful (or not!) towns ofinnocent Berkshire and our fragmented family may even grant me the luxury of lamenting myabsence! I will also leave behind what has become an incredibly close-knit group of friends at Exeterand it is with deep sadness that I shall not be able to graduate with them. But returning with hasteto practical matters, the financial commitments will doubtless prove also to be a significant strain.The costs of transatlantic flights, accommodation, food (the American approach to dining is the stuffof legends), mandatory health insurance and what I’d ideally like to ‘live’ off appear precipitous at1 I must make one crucial exception here – the application for my Visa has been nothing short of long, tiresomeand utterly exhausting.

Yorke, Rupertfirst glance. However, the messianic capabilities of Student Finance England will hopefully intervenefrom above and I won’t be graced with multiple bank statements cheerfully caked in too much redink.Much is made of the American educational system and its well-earned and virtuoso reputation isnaturally accompanied by a more stringent daily approach to learning. My meagre eight hours ofcontact time per week looks set to be more than doubled and it is with great eagerness that I lookforward to the high levels of encouraged and expected participation inherent in the American ‘class’system 2 . This will be of huge relief given the slight monotony I have often found in Exeter’slecture/tutorial approach, and the occasional lack of scope for individual contribution. Havingspoken to current William and Mary students at Exeter, they laud their home institution’s propensityfor student-professor interaction and the extent of familiarity which one can build up with theirinstructors. I intend to cultivate this avenue to the highest possible degree. I have been reliablyinformed also that the Americans nurture an emphatically different style of writing; sacrificingambiguity and subjective awareness for a more definitive, one-dimensional and conclusiveapproach. Whilst hoping to add this new technique to my essay-writing arsenal, I also intend toundertake considerable research for a potentially titillating dissertation topic on American politicalphilosophy when back in Exeter. By combining the two, I am confident I will return to Exeter heavilyarmoured and more than ready to launch the final assault on my degree.Educational adaptation aside, there is also the need to culturally assimilate myself with the variousidiosyncrasies and colloquialisms of Virginians. Although I have been to the country several timesbefore, social etiquette will refreshingly take on a rather different form from some of the alcoholfuelledrelationships I seem to have fostered at Exeter and I am sure my cultural awareness andappreciation will improve to no end. Being situated just one hundred and fifty miles south ofWashington D.C. is mouth-watering for a student of politics or ‘government’ and I will thus frequentmyself on the excursions north to the political capital of the liberty-loving Western world. Indeed, Ihope to meet young people at William and Mary who share my drive and zeal for politicalappreciation and I will doubtless consider seriously the U.S.A. in a career-minded light upongraduation.The possibility for personal development is therefore what I crave most and feel somewhatincapable of cultivating at Exeter at the present time. Although I will miss certain aspects of homelife, I am not apprehensive in the slightest and am looking forward with excitement and optimism tothe coming year. The scale of opportunity and potential on offer, the chance to really flourish andundergo a unique experience amidst an entirely different, liberal culture is simply too good anopening to turn down – I am merely counting down the days now.2 I refer to their use of the term ‘class’ in the educational sense - not the social hierarchical connotation!

Yorke, RupertLearning Log 2 - Experiences in settling into my new environmentAs I recline innocently on the verdant lawns of William and Mary’s much-frequented SunkenGardens, oblivious to the tempestuous battle of the elements apparently raging above me, I findsolitude, tranquillity, and serenity – three qualities I craved more than any when I elicited myexpectations for this year back in June. The past three and a half months have been nothing short ofchallenging, refreshing, and at times, utterly “awesome”, to employ by far the most regularly citedAmerican adjective.Setting my present sentiments against the expectations and desires I felt in June seems the mostexpedient way to evaluate my first semester in the U.S.A. There has of course, been absolutely noinsurmountable language barrier to overcome unlike my Erasmus colleagues – however myrecognition for improved coherent elocution has become a salient issue, especially in class. What Ihad previously dismissed as a media-exaggerated myth regarding American’s compulsion towardsthe British accent and British culture in general has proved to be a source of great pride, borderingon quasi-jingoism at times. I have even found myself defending the monarchy at times. Routinelyreferred to as “the Brit” certainly has its merits in terms of pseudo-favouritism displayed by theextremely amicable professors (I am positive this is predicated on fascination with British lifestyle asopposed to my own personality). Having established myself within a diverse yet brilliant group of(mostly) American friends, their fierce patriotism and often-dogmatic zealotry has revealed manyqualities about the American character which I feel only the British are sufficiently able to match – atleast in their eyes. Sharing with a rather regimented German who befriended two Frenchmen veryquickly only accentuated the extremely high regard young Americans hold for British people.The classroom certainly has the warmer, more liberated atmosphere comparable to A-Level schoolclasses; yet whilst the content may be slightly lighter compared to Exeter, the workload and readingrequired every day makes the overall working day tougher indeed. Many Americans I have met‘transferred’ in to William & Mary after one or two years at community colleges throughout Virginia(broadly equivalent to our “poly’s”) and both anticipated and emphatically confirmed the extremelyhigh workload its students endure. Being a “Public Ivy”, I am assured they work ‘us’ nearly as hard asthe likes of Harvard and Yale! The lack of administrative and bureaucratic obstacles has certainlymade life relatively easy in terms of personal organization – as long as one turns up to classregularly, on-time, prepared to participate and willing to learn, it is hard not to succeed. Such areflection seems emblematic of the American educational system as a whole – extremelymethodical, rigorously planned, and forever willing to nurture their eager students towards fruitfulrewards. Without attesting to impertinence, English universities could certainly learn a thing or two!From a social perspective, I have had a lot of fun since my arrival in August. Whilst flirting with theinfamous fraternity culture has provided many unforgettable memories, the general affability andhospitality exuded by almost every student brings such a positive, embracing atmosphere to everysingle day. I have thrown myself vigorously into supporting the ‘Tribe’ football team (Americanfootball) and having befriended one of the biggest twenty-one year olds I have ever seen who playsin a much-magnified equivalent of prop in rugby union, have enjoyed a pretty personal insight into agreat game characterized by competitive bonhomie. However, Williamsburg is not quite the

Yorke, Ruperthedonistic utopia I fully expected crossing the Atlantic in August. It is a terrifically small ‘city’ whosenightlife options are restricted to just three fairly tawdry bars and where owning a car is anabsolutely prerogative in order to cultivate alternative entertainment pursuits. Whilst I endeavournot to lie to myself that I am a clubbing guru, a college town without a club of any sort mildlyresembles any American building without the stars and stripes majestically surfing the wind–incomplete. I have managed to tame my yearning to ‘flee the nest’ by visiting the irresistiblystunning Washington D.C. as much as possible, being only three hours away on the impressiveAmtrak. I have even managed (somehow) to keep in touch with a few students studying atGeorgetown University in D.C., which always provide a welcome tonic for the occasionally insularWilliamsburg.As I look forward to flying home next week to recharge the batteries amidst the fineries of homecookedfood, ‘real’ beer, and the festive harmony of one’s friends and family, I am holding no regretswhatsoever in electing to study for a year and not a semester at William & Mary. I know I will wantto return come January, such is the warmth and allure of Virginia, and the U.S.A. itself. Whilst I havemissed friends, home and my Mum particularly (to whom I am very close), I feel very much part of aloving, caring community in America – something perhaps I lacked last year in Exeter. This wassurprisingly recognised by my mother when she visited me in D.C. and Williamsburg for five days orso in October – the seven hour or so flight really isn’t all that unsettling as it is made out to be. Thework is tough, but by no means impossible. The food is desperate at times, but by no meansinedible.I desired first and foremost for this year an improved socio-cultural awareness allied with a renewedperspective on life, and one event in particular on October 14 th managed to deliver this goal in asingle handshake. Having spontaneously and wildly applied via email to ‘An MTV Conversation withPresident Obama’ in Washington D.C.’, I found myself being invited to an interview in the capitalover Fall Break which culminated in a seat in the audience for a live question-and-answer sessionwith the much berated President. And so the dream come true – following the nation-wide livebroadcast, the most powerful man in the world perused the flabbergasted audience with hiseffortless swagger, shaking ‘shaking’ hands. I am relatively confident that little in life can compare tolooking the President of the United States in the eye and exchanging handshakes – life is going wellacross the pond.

Yorke, RupertLearning Log 3 - Reflections about host universityRegrettably entering the final quarter of my year in America places me in an ideal position to reflecton the most salient similarities and differences between life at William & Mary and Exeter. On thewhole, a comparison between two Western, liberal academic institutions would likely yield aplethora of resemblances (and there are indeed many), yet there is a significantly larger proportionof crucial differences in everyday college life which both enhance the American educationalatmosphere and highlight the considerable contrast in basic values between Americans andEuropeans 3 . By placing these differences in the context of the general American system ofeducation, my reflections provide me with a safe reminder that although I do inevitably miss certainaspects of British life, I certainly feel I made the right decision in choosing to apply to study here.In terms of administrative and bureaucratic functions, William & Mary would appear to have theupper hand over a frequently gridlocked Exeter. Admittedly, the latter has gone under sweepinginfrastructural changes during my year away which have almost certainly contributed to the declineof regular communications with the relevant departments. However, it is a testament to theenhanced role American institutions play in the lives of their students that William & Mary appearsbetter organized and more willing to clarify difficulties swiftly. This quasi-platonic bond betweencollege and student is manifested in so many more ways such as the myriad college traditions 4throughout the year and the zealous adherence to the William & Mary Honour Code – such respectand adulation for one’s college is simply lacking in Exeter, and seems to be in European institutionsas a whole. The college life for American students is a very large part of their lives – by no means amere three years under the umbrella of an academic establishment in order to garner some sort ofcareer-magnetising degree.In terms of facilities and the infrastructures of the two universities, Exeter and William & Mary sharevery comparable libraries, IT access, recreational facilities, student clubs, and campus-wide WIFIconnectivity. Whilst it appears some European destinations have recently emerged into the moderntechnological classroom arena, American institutions as a whole are extremely well-funded 5 andenjoy very liberal access to the exact same sort of facilities we enjoy at home. This has proved to bea major relief during my time abroad – the relative lack of bureaucratic and logistical obstacles topotentially hinder my enjoyment of what American education has to offer.One could argue that this lack of bureaucratic difficulty underlines the far superior challenges myErasmus colleagues are facing closer to home. However, the rigorous academic methods employedby William & Mary certainly vindicate such a theory; the most discernible and profound differencesbetween the two universities centre around their radically different approaches to classroomteaching. Exeter’s lecture-tutorial system for Politics and Philosophy requires relatively littlepreparation, a usually manageable amount of reading and no pressure to participate if one does notfeel the desire to. Two years of such an environment in large lecture halls with little input from an3 Judging by Learning Logs submitted by previous Study Abroad and Erasmus students.4 Charter Day on February 4 th was a particular highlight being British – a celebration of the College’s foundingback in 1693 under British royal charter.5 Having said this, word around campus is that William & Mary is reputedly “running out of cash”.

Yorke, Rupertoften muted audience was radically thrown out the window upon arrival at William & Mary.Conducive to the general feeling that American colleges are more like schools (in the British sense)than universities, I have been engaging in far smaller ‘classes’ as opposed to lectures, where studentinput is both encouraged and in fact mandatory in order to foster a high participation grade – usuallynot more than 10%. In Exeter such a requirement is totally alien, and in places such as the Institutd'Etudes Politiques d'Aix-en-Provence, it seems participation is even frowned upon. This providesyet a further reflection of this deep underlying trend is American academics – greater reliance onfrequent interaction and thus a closer college-student association.Forsaking the actual learning method, the content of the courses and what is required during theregular assessments is certainly on the slightly easier side than Exeter. Despite an extremely heavyreading list, barely manageable at certain times6, what is required in papers (‘essays’ in Britishvernacular) is of a far lower standard – no secondary sources and a far more objective summary of acertain argument certainly proved a welcome relief from Exeter’s comprehensive essay criteria. Theexam format also differs remarkably – gone is the formal rigmarole of being escorted to yourallocated desk in a designated hall under strict silence complete with a student ID card, pen and theperennial threat of a £25 fine if your mobile phone should emit even the slightest sound. Instead, atWilliam & Mary, one just waltzes to the classroom like any other day, takes a seat and completes theexam with the professor absent for the full hour or so. It is perhaps another remarkable reflection onthe sincerity and affection American students have for their studies that with full capacity andopportunity to cheat (via oral or cellular means) – they do not even consider it. I have yet to evaluatewhich method I ultimately favour but I do miss Exeter’s system where students are not constantlyassessed and held accountable for daily study.William & Mary is a publicly-funded liberal arts college and enjoys a rich history steeped in prestige,tradition and, as far as Americans can do it, sublime pomposity. It enjoys a hugely respectedacademic standing in the US educational system and thus being able to tell locals and strangers thatone studies there is an often unexpected source of pride and satisfaction. My fellow students escapethe much exported and hugely perpetuated image of the quintessential American college student –spoilt, regularly inebriated and not particularly work-minded. Instead, I find myself mixing withextremely bright students7 who are by no means all from wealthy families but instead retainrealistically big ambitions and have a penchant for hard work and optimism for their future careers.Most seem to graduate and seek employment in the Washington D.C. area, being only two or sohours away, making the study of government an extremely insightful opportunity here.I would strongly recommend studying at William & Mary to anyone – it is a challenging yet warm,embracing environment where making friends is not hard and where it is impossible not to feelvalued by someone or some body within the community. Although the academic requirements mayappear tough and somewhat tedious at times, the liberal, unrestrained atmosphere which the valuesof the college foster provide a harmonious learning environment and a great way to appreciate atruly great country. I look forward to spending a large part of the summer months travelling the USAin greater depth, on the back of an incredibly enjoyable time at William & Mary.6 Whilst writing this entry I am being stared at by a large copy of Mill’s On Liberty looking menacingly on,needing to be read.7 The overwhelming majority of which are from Virginia, as William & Mary is a ‘state’ or ‘public’ school and sohas requirements to admit mostly in-state students, unlike private colleges - such as the University of Virginia.

Yorke, RupertLearning Log Assignment 4 - Survey of the treatment of British newsin the media of the student’s host countryWhilst forever conscious of over-generalizing and offering a rudimentary conclusion to a relativelycomprehensive question, I can safely report that the coverage of British news in American media,nationwide, is virtually non-existent. Such a statement could easily be prone to excessive hyperbole,but British affairs and developments are seldom covered by the self-obsessed, insular leviathan thatis the US media. Such an approach was actually not much of a surprise when I arrived out here – Ihad previously gathered that American reporting tends to be characterized by an incredible degreeof self-centeredness and constant harking back to how America is directly affected. The newswebsites online such as the ‘objective’ CNN site would possibly provide the best (if veryrudimentary) British news stories, but these will be strictly limited to monumental political oreconomic developments such as the election of a new Prime Minister or government scandal 8 . Theywould certainly examine isolated events and rarely address on-going social issues. The impressiverange of daily newspapers will similarly neglect to report exclusively British news, instead opting toclump us together with the rest of Europe and remind Americans of the general distrust andantipathy for European affairs. American TV is notoriously poor, comprising either American sports 9 ,inane chat shows, or lengthy news programmes – the latter of which only approaches anythingBritish when the Royal family seem to be attracting headline news. Americans seem obsessed withour monarchy and its individuals – when the announcement of Prince William’s engagement to KateMiddleton emerged, our quaint island was at last granted a few precious and saturated minutes ofnational televised coverage.In terms of my experience of American media, I try and purchase a daily broadsheet every other daycombined with listening to NPR (National Public Radio) online every morning, providing I wake up intime. USA Today and The Washington Post are supposedly pretty impartial, objective newspaperswhich report on mostly national and federal issues, along with no more than one or two doublepages of international news. The recent political unrest in the Middle East was reported in quitesome detail, yet in a recurring theme in American journalism, the nuances of the developments arealways linked back to the varying connotations for the US – speculation as to how much aid theObama administration should be preparing or whether or not every US citizen is safe and out of theregion. NPR is extremely informative of US news, but will only delve into international issues ifAmerica is directly involved. This is testament to the still very much active element of isolationism inAmerican culture – news about their own culture comes before anything else.In a further reflection on American media in general, it cannot be disputed that the standard of theirreporting and worldwide coverage (when it involves them) is first-class. Despite the chronicinsularity and quasi-jingoistic tone, both local and national newspapers are of an extremely highquality in terms of reporting and opinions. The more liberal New York Times seems to garner mostrespect and following amongst young students at William & Mary, but students in general seem torefrain from purchasing a daily paper, relying on Internet-based sources instead. However, the8 I have read next to nothing concerning how the David Cameron-led coalition government is settling in togoverning the UK.9 British, and indeed European sports, are seldom ever reported in the states.

Yorke, Rupertvarious columnists, such as The Washington Post’s Harold Meyerson, will consistently promulgatetheir unwavering dogmatism that the world continues to revolve around the USA. During thecatastrophic Japanese earthquake disaster, Meyerson was all too quick to reflect on what Americacan take from the disaster – his March 16 th column asked “Our Lisbon moment? What Japan’sdevastation teaches us?” 10 . In a nation where freedom of speech is so cradled and enshrined in theinerrant Constitution, it appears that Americans can write on absolutely anything they wish, safelyprotected by their extant founding documents.It therefore remains to be asked how the lack of British affairs reported in US media reflects on ourposition in the twenty-first century, at least from an American point of view. Despite this neglect foraffairs en Bretagne, it does appear that Britain in fact receives far more favourable reporting thanmost other European countries. Through a combination of our intertwined historical connections,the “special relationship” accentuated through the close alliance between Tony Blair 11 and GeorgeW. Bush during the Iraq/Afghanistan wars and a general affection for each other’s cultures, Britainand America do indeed enjoy a unique relationship which is manifested in daily interactions here inVirginia. Being British is a source of extreme pride and satisfaction. Americans bizarrely value ouridiosyncrasies and eccentricities hugely and view our culture and our comparably rich history withconsiderable envy. This appears to be in stark contrast to Germany’s modern opinion of the Brits asarrogant and supercilious – this however must similarly be tainted by historical vicissitudes too.Americans have considerable respect and admiration for the Brits, justified by the extent to which somany are desperate to visit London at some point in the future. Nevertheless, despite this affinitybetween our two cultures, they still neglect to report our news to any substantial degreewhatsoever.It is with a fair degree of reluctance and hesitance when I therefore inform Americans that US affairsand the Obama administration in particular is followed closely and reported almost daily back in theUK. Perhaps we must accept that the ramifications of American socio-political movements are(regrettably) far greater than those of twenty-first century Britain. Or perhaps they are just toowound up in their own elevated spirit of die-hard patriotism. Either way, the BBC website providesan incredibly satisfying escape from the Americanization that my eyes have endured in recentmonths – I do not feel cut off from home at all when I can’t help but read how Kate Middleton’scatwalk dress fetched £65,000 at a recent auction – lets just hope her marriage to the future King ofEngland can at least receive 60 seconds or so before Glenn Beck gets going.10 The Washington Post, March 16 th 2011, p. 21.11 Tony Blair has done us the great favour of landing the UK with the not so humiliating “lap dog of America”tag.

Yorke, RupertLearning Log 5 - Reactions to the teaching of and approach taken tothe student’s academic disciplines at their host universityWilliam & Mary alumnus Thomas Jefferson once remarked that “a mind always employed is alwayshappy”; it is clear from a Founding Father as prominent as he that his sentiments have illustrated theAmerican approach to education since the founding of the nation. The UK and the USA are regularlyadvertised as offering the best higher education in the world 12 with Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard andYale constantly exchanging incumbency of the much coveted ‘Number 1’ spot in myriad surveys anduniversity guides. As I approach the end of my second semester at William & Mary, my expectationsat the beginning of the year in terms of what to expect academically have all been fulfilled; it is easyto see why thousands of international students now choose full-time American education at collegelevel.Sending one’s child to college is the biggest source of pride for American parents – it is endemic inthe American Dream and a major indicator of vindication and success for the upbringing of theirprogeny. Whereas in the UK going to university can often be seen as merely putting the ‘icing on thecake’ in terms of finishing one’s education, admittance to a prestigious American college is viewed asthe passport to unbridled optimism and eventual prosperity. Such a significant advancement in anAmerican student’s life is reflected in both the attitude they adopt to learning and simultaneously,the attitude the college atmosphere fosters towards every single of its students. The formal, once-aweek,hour-long lecture system whereby the lecturer dictates to a fifty plus group of students in theUK is replaced in the US by frequent classes of no more than thirty students meeting for no morethan forty minutes or so. Such an informal method requires regular participation by each student (somuch that it is nearly always an assessment criteria), and most importantly, opportunity for one’sown merit to shine through unhindered by the professor’s personal judgment. Professors are held inextremely high regard by their students – some even revered with obeisance given their impressivequalifications, passion and knowledge of their subject area. Whereas Exeter’s style does not placetoo much emphasis on who the module instructor is due to the outside reading requirements andless contact time per week, at William & Mary it is of huge importance which instructor you receive.During registration for classes for the spring semester, students will choose classes solely on thebasis of who will be teaching it – even if they do not care much for the content nor need it for theirdegree program. 13In terms of daily academic demands, there is certainly a greater and therefore harder workload thanthe average British student would endure - far less time for independent study and a considerablybroader range of assessment criteria. Oral presentations are both frequent and valued extremelyhighly by professors; essays or ‘papers’ often require less secondary reading than what Exeterrequires but a similar level of analysis; exams or ‘finals’ emerged as wholly unpredictable in regard totheir content and style of examination – some requested a ten-page specific essay whilst othersinvolved maps and solely multiple choice questions! One palpable bonus which this multifarious12 Indeed, many American students view higher-level education elsewhere as significantly inferior to their own– with the exception of the UK.13 Unlike in the UK where one is relatively confined to one’s subject area (i.e. History), Americans are allowedto study all manner of subjects until their penultimate year at college when they have to ‘declare their major’.

Yorke, Rupertrange of assessments demonstrates is that there is less pressure on any one particular component ofthe course – at Exeter, some modules require solely a two-hour unseen exam for the entireassessment. However, deadlines and attendance are treated with equal stringency for the most part– although there is perhaps greater occasion for professorial sympathy if an assessed task is a day ortwo late, characteristic of the more personal pedagogic atmosphere in general. Yet whilst the hugereading lists and regular assessment may put off the slightly indolent European, 14 this is offset byconsiderable resources; the online learning resource ‘Blackboard’, Swem library and bookshop atWilliam & Mary provide the students with truly world-class facilities with which to conduct theirstudies – as long as one is prepared to put in the hard work, there is little excuse for failure.The William & Mary website states that “research is at the heart of a unique academic culture whereevery facet of student, faculty and institutional life is infused with original scholarship and hands-oninquiry.” 15 Whilst trying to avoid excessive obsequiousness, William & Mary’s prestige andreputation justify such a claim and render it as a leading institution in which world-class research inacademia is conducted. This vibrant scholastic atmosphere, engendered through its liberal artsstatus 16 and proximity to Washington, D.C., filters through to the classroom where what one learnscan be readily applied to world affairs, such is the stimulating content and depth of analysis. Havingsaid this, one criticism which can certainly be recognized is the slight lack of impartiality as regardsto content. I mainly studied Government classes this year and the heavy bias towards US opinion,policy, and sentiments is pervasive throughout the courses. It is difficult to even study courses whichdon’t relate to America at all, such as anything relating to the European Union, and when one doesget into a course with a slightly more international twist (International Politics), the students wastelittle time in shifting the tone of discussion back to America and its particular involvement. Whilstthis may seem understandable given American values and their occasional hubris, it did get slightlyweary after a while. Approaches to philosophy differed also; concrete substantive knowledge wasoften replaced by continuous subjective opinion and discussion – I often felt that, as useful as mycolleague’s opinions are, I needed something slightly more in depth.But this minor criticism, probably buried under the banner of post-colonial jealousy, cannot detractfrom a remarkable educational institution. The demands are high and the going is tough – more sothan in the UK – yet if one can tackle the copious tasks and get to grips with the strenuous academicrigors, the rewards are fruitful and the horizons seem far-reaching.14 It seems clear that, unlike in Europe, one has to be far more proactive and resourceful to succeed in Americagiven their higher demands.15 http://www.wm.edu/research/index.php.16 A liberal arts college is one in which students must study a broad range of subjects until they can specialise –maths, science and literature are included.

Yorke, RupertLearning Log 6 - Reflection on the student's period abroad and whatthey have gained from it, together with a guide for other studentsvisiting the same institution