The right age for college?

I know many college and graduate students from third world countries, and they were all much more prepared to enter college in the US than the vast majority of US citizens. Our education system is one of the worst in the world - no wonder our kids aren't prepared to enter college, even at 18.

I believe that you are confused by their use of the word "college". It does not necessarily mean "university."

In the US, you use the term "college" to mean "the place you get your bachelors degree", what many foreign countries call "university". In many foreign countries, college means "the place you go to prepare to enter university".

In many foreign countries, primary education ends at around age 15-16. Then, students can either go on to college to prepare for university entrance exams, or go into an apprenticeship program, or go into vocational training, or go directly to work.

Those students that go on to college, to prepare for university entrance exams, end up with just slightly more than the equivalent of a US high school diploma (it's very roughly a diploma, plus 3-4 AP exams). If they leave after primary school, before college, they have, in many cases, slightly less than the equivalent of a US high school diploma.

Of course this varies by country, and I'm talking generalities, but you really do need to understand that when someone outside the US says "college", it's quite possible they do not mean university.

Know that the US higher education system - its university system - is among the most respected and prestigious in the world. One can argue that the US can do a much better job with their primary school system, but their university system is absolutely top notch.

I think you might be trying to compare apples and oranges. Other countries have a different school system. In some countries you go up to 7th grade and then make a career choice. At that point you go to a trade school or college prep. I think England parallels our school systems. I also think maturity level has more to do with college prep then age. That's why a lot of our kids go into junior college first. Some of our kids are taking college courses in high school. They are called AP courses.

I started college at 13 in the US, and I didn't have any trouble. I think it just depends on the person. Where you come they are probably more accommodating to younger people since its the norm, or possibly there is just a stronger cultural emphasis on young people being educated.

Age really doesn't impact success in college. Many 18-21 year olds are too immature to succeed in college, and many younger students are just fine. It's all in the individual.

I started college at 16...in the US. I didn't think I was too young =|

And like the other person said, our educational system is horrible, 16 year olds in other countries are probably smarter than our 20 year olds

well in most well developed countries also some students manage to be bumped up a couple of grades and finally get in to college at such tender ages so its nothing to be astounded about but if such students are getting in to college at early ages because of the educational system and not because of their own talents,then its just downright sad and backward of course