<p>Coming from a premier high school in Singapore, I must agree that the level of thinking demanded from students is far higher than in the US, as far as the humanities are concerned. There was a lot of “Chicago style” stuff being done - heavy emphasis on critical thinking, supporting one’s statements etc. We would argue over the validity of varied interpretations on literary texts OUTSIDE of class, just for the fun of it. It seems to me that the American high school tests how well one remembers what has been read, as opposed to testing analytical/evaluative skills. I must confess, however, that science/math classes are more fun in US, where we can apply our theoretical knowledge in actual practical situations. If only there was a way to have the best of both worlds. Please note that my experience with the US HS system has been confined to AP Calc and Physics B, which naturally does not require the same level of critical thinking as social studies courses. I’m hoping that APs like English, Econs, Govt will prove me wrong.</p>
<p>As much as the UofC board touts this “Chicago style”, I simply find it difficult to believe that such simple argumentative/critical thinking is not prevalent in places like Harvard and Yale. I’m definitely looking forward to these college visits.</p>