<p>^on top of that, the US-borns have “weak” showing in Field Medal mostly because theoretical math has been unpopular or not highly valued in the US.</p>
<p>The point is a more structured and restricted curriculum that forces you to take more advanced classes doesn’t mean “favorable” or “superior”. It’s naive to even bring up the degree requirements in the US because the very point of American curriculum is to encourage you to take courses outside of your major while giving you the option to pursue advanced courses in your field with all those electives “if” you want. </p>
<p>By the way, please look at the international olympiads, when was the last time France or UK finished in the top five or maybe even just top ten in any field, despite all that talk about how IB/A-level being more advanced? On the other hand, USA has done very well, despite the lax requirements placed on high schools.</p>
<p>I came from Hong Kong and we have the same mentality about American system being a “joke” (heck, we think UK A-level is too easy too). I didn’t start to appreciate and understand it until after I came to the US.</p>