Rupert Yorke - College of Social Sciences and International Studies

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”.