Does the German culture make a "class" distinction regarding higher education?

Question

I lived in Germany for a short period, and it appeared as if some germans make a class distinction when it comes to education..Ex...My friend mentioned that another friend of hers was not "smart" enought to attend a Universitat, so instead she had to go to the Fachochschule. Please help me understand this. Is it simular to the attitudes in the U.S. when it comes to attending an Ivy League school as opposed to a normal state university?

Answer 1

It is almost like failing the entrance exam, but one test covers all the schools. As I understand it, higher education is free to all citizens, but the tax payers don't want to pay for everybody to go to college if they are not up to the mental challenge or well suited to that kind of study. Those who fail the university test are sent to trade schools and educated for a profession that is more suited to their abilities. I believe that anyone can go to college, but you must pay for it yourself if you fail the test.

Peace!

Answer 2

Though I am not sure of the system in Germany, a friend of mine who was an exchange student for Hamelin, which I believe is in the Saxony went to a gymnasium and did mention a combination academic and class distinctions did determine where you go to school. In the USA, state universities and ivy league universities both receive academic degrees. I attend Columbia university an ivy league institution my brother attends a state university we are both receiving bachelors degrees in engineering, and both will attend graduate school. There are no actual set rules in the US depending on what makes sense for you will determine where you go. State universities are cheaper but not as prestigious, though I have know many people who go to a state university for undergraduate and have gone to Harvard medical school and vice versa. The ivy league from what I have seen at Columbia is a mix of socioeconomic background for the most part the wealthy and the less fortunate, not as many middle class folk as I would suspect however my view is eschewed because I live in NY which has a high cost of living. Though due to the financial aid system a socialist system of students subsidizing each other, the sticker price of the school becomes more expensive so the are able to discern who they want if you are considered poor you pay relatively nothing. They are able to do this because the demand for ivy league and other universities are high. However, if you are above poverty the costs are generally substantial $45,000 a year or 33,000 euros. though if everyone paid equally it would cost $28,000 a year or 22,000 euros, which the us government provides zero interest loans and grant up to that amount a year. So to your question no, state universities and ivy league institutions receive the same degree and can get the same or similar jobs. Though due to there low acceptance rate, history and some times rigor ivy league institutions are more prestigious. lastly because of the costs and the unbalanced nature of financial aid you generally find more wealthy people at ivy league institutions. Though there is no guarantee of admission, I have had many wealth friends at the top of there class fail to get into and ivy league university and end up going to a state or another private university. Though I have had poor and middle class friends of mine go to ivy league universities. Some state universities are some of the best in the country, Univ California Berkeley UCLA = uni California los Angeles, university of Virginia= UVA, Uni north carolina Chapel hill, the SUNY's = state universities of New York primarily SUNY Binghamton and SUNY stony brook for math and science and engineering, U Michigan Ann Arbor to name a few prestigious state universities. which generally cost is $15000 or 12000 euros. all the prices include dorms,living expenses and tuition. the average annual household income in the US which is includes everyone from lawyer, doctor, engineer, to a fast food worker, all over the country, is about $ 50,000 or 37,000 euros at this income level you would receive substantial financial aid .

Answer 3

There are three types of secondary schools in Germany that provide different levels of education. The "Gymnasium" is the highest, the lowest is the "Hauptschule" and the "Realschule" is in between. You need graduation from the "Gymnasium" ("Abitur") to be allowed to study at university. What type of secondary school you go to depends mainly on your performance in elementary school. Afterwards you can still switch between the school types, for example if you are at the "Gymnasium" and your marks are too bad you can be sent to the "Realschule" or if you are in the "Realschule" and your marks are really good you can switch to the "Gymnasium".

Then in certain subjects there is a limited number of university places and it depends on your "Abitur" mark if you can study what you want and where you want. For example for medicine and law you have to be really good, and for certain universities you need better marks than for others. It depends on how good is the reputation of the university and how many students want to go there.

For a "Fachhochschule" you don't need "Abitur" but only "Fachabitur", which is easier to get than the real "Abitur".