U.S. can't crack top 10 in student skills

[screwitlah]

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screwitlah, I meant that adult American scientists are not now behind those in other countries, although they were “behind” as children.</p>

<p>As for your claim about “top graduate programs other than those in the humanities often [seeing] few or no Americans,” I don’t believe that is so. I can’t seem to access the grad student directories of the other university departments that I tried (due to FERPA restrictions), but this doesn’t accord with my view of the rooms when I give seminars, nor with the group of grad students I meet at conferences (in quantum mechanics).

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<p>I don’t dispute that the best scientists are still found in America. But I daresay the abilities of the average person are among the factors slowing America down.</p>

<p>Interestingly it’s true where I am. Even as an undergrad, I’ve found that the best way to make international friends is to drop by the grad students’ offices. In my major I’ve not had a single American TA. My friends in other majors are all saying the similar things.</p>