What on earth is a WONK?
It didn't take long for me to figure out that classes at American University in Washington D.C. were going to be a little different from what I had been experiencing at Exeter University for the past two years.
"10 percent of your overall grade will be based on participation and attendance" my Professor concluded after our first lecture of 'Election 2016'. "And don't forget you can get extra credit if you provide proof of participating in one of the election campaigns."
As I said, the US and British university system seem to have a very different attitude when it comes to lectures and teaching.
Here in the US, a lot of emphasis is placed on participation and interaction. In England this is encouraged, but it is not likely to count towards your final grade, which is normally made up of end of term assignments and an exam. However at American, the professors make an effort to get to know you and expect you to do the same in return. Introducing yourself after the first class seems to be the norm, and many of my friends have informed me that establishing a working relationship with your professor can lead to lots of opportunities including good references and networking possibilities.
Lectures are also much smaller in size than a classic lecture in England. At Exeter, my lectures were frequently in theatres pushing 100 people, whereas the lectures here are tutorial size with around 20 students give or take. This means that there is no hiding at the back or sneaking in late. Your professor knows who you are, and expects you to contribute in class and share your thoughts.
Personally, I love this as it reminds me of the type of classes I encountered at school where interaction between the teacher and students was customary. Paradoxically, a smaller class also means there is more room for debate. As an International Relations student in D.C. during one of the most bizarre and controversial election campaigns to date, a class without debate and discussion would be a class wasted.
This brings me onto my classes, which I am thoroughly enjoying despite the hefty workload- one disadvantage of the increased pressure to participate is that you actually have to complete the reading and assignments. These come throughout the semester and include tests and papers which contribute to your final grade. Nevertheless, the classes are relevant and interesting, and not having my entire grade rest on a two hour exam at the end of the semester is a welcome relief.
I think one thing that makes the classes so engaging at American is the professors teaching them and their credentials in the field. Being in D.C., it is not surprising that the University attracts people who have worked within government institutions and politics. For example, my 'Election 2016' class is taught by someone who ran for Congress in her state and was only beaten by a very small margin. My 'Policy in the Electronic Age' Professor is fresh out of the White House, having been part of Obama's Digital Team and a writer for the White House Blog. The professors are often quite a big deal in their field, which means they know people who are also quite a big deal- and who normally live in the vicinity seeing as a political, media and economic hub is literally right on our doorstep. In my lecture last week, we had a guest speaker in the form of Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., Co-Chair of the Commission on Presidential Debates. He very much enjoyed informing us of his conversation with "Donald", when he "rang him the other night" to discuss details for one of the upcoming debates.
I should probably mention at this point that American University is perhaps not your average university. People here tend to be incredibly driven. In my 'Congress and Voting Behaviour' class, we went around the room and it is no exaggeration to say that 70% of the students there had or were currently interning on The Hill with a member of Congress. There are also a number of 'Professional Fraternities' with the goal of helping students increase their employability and professional network. It is not uncommon to start talking politics to a stranger at a frat party, and succeed in having an intelligent and informed conversation even under the influence of alcohol. People here are engaged in what is happening around them and are driven to succeed and utilize the opportunities available to them. They have even come up with a name for themselves- WONK. It took me a while to figure out this is KNOW spelt backwards. I'm maybe not at their level quite yet...
There are also things I have had difficulty adapting to in the American system. Classes can start early in the morning and end late in the evening. On Thursday's, my classes begin at 8am and finish at 8pm, which is far from ideal. It's a long time to stay focused and my productivity definitely lags as the day goes on. Some of my friends have classes that run as late as 11pm, although they have assured me that the Professor brings cookies and coffee to compensate. The longer classes are 2.5 hours, which I am also not a huge fan of. At Exeter, my longest lecture was 1.5 hours and that was a struggle. Expecting a student to focus and work productively for that amount of time is a little unrealistic in my opinion, and however hard I try, I do find my mind wandering after the first hour and a half.
From my experience so far, the British and American university systems have different styles of teaching and assessment, both with highlights and flaws. I imagine that certain people warm towards one system, and others to another. There are also likely to be differences depending on which university you attend so having only been to Exeter in England and American in the US (for two weeks) my experience is undeniably limited. Nevertheless, as it stands I am enjoying the American system, and hope it will contribute positively to my overall university experience.
In a couple of weeks, I'll probably write a post complaining about the workload as I'm drowning in a sea of papers and assignments, but right now I've just about got my head above the water. I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
