As most people who read my blog and My Ambulance Education, I am heavily committed to the education of all individuals at many levels of academia as well as science and medicine. Currently I am a Professor of Neurology in the University of Cincinnati. It has been my privilege to work and learn in the education systems of the USA, Paris France, and Oxford England. I have also traveled to multiple countries and institutes of higher education.

I am extremely happy to report that the state of the education system in the USA is sound and that our students are competitive. Indeed, I have found that the intelligence, tenacity and creativity of the students in Cincinnati are on par with the best students in Europe.

In my travels I have found that much is made of England’s dreaded ‘A level’ exams. While they are hard and stressful and are thought to put British high school students beyond the training of American high school students; they do not tell the whole story. An American high school student could not do well in the British A levels, but nor should they be expected to because that is not their goal. The British A level exams are typically 3 focused exams where the student has chosen to work towards them for the previous several years. Often taking no other classes except those related to A levels. The result is a highly trained and narrowly educated individual coming out of the British high school system.

A similar focus also occurs with the British college students where they do not have to take general electives or the so called core curriculum that Americans take. Almost all the college classes for a British student are within their major. Again the result is a highly trained individual lacking breadth of knowledge. If I wanted to hire a new graduate who was a science machine, I might hire a British over an American grad. But if I wanted out of the box THINKING, the American grad would be my choice.

In graduate school the American graduate student will get advanced classes focused on the field of study for that student. He or she will also have an opportunity to do independent research for their Ph.D. thesis. If there was a ‘gap’ in training between American and British students that didactic instruction is more than made up for in graduate school. But here is where the transition occurs that produces a highly trained scientist. The American trainee will have had an education based on breadth, depth and diversity. He or she will have had a chance to incorporate life experiences in their education and be prepared to face the world in a way that their often younger and spoon fed British counterparts will not. Please recall the old adage that discovery favors the prepared mind. I believe the diverse background of the American system better prepares young minds for scientific discovery.

In my opinion the American system is preparing our students of advanced education to be highly productive and capable individuals ready to face the job market and ready to work. I will always choose a new American Ph.D. student over a newly minted British Ph.D. any day.