Are all Americans hated?

[Thackary]

Changed its name? Blimey. I'd never even considered that. Perhaps the NHS would do well to think about that sort of strategy.

Has it worked for the Post Office yet?

[Peaches]

I am also an American girl that might be coming next year. Seems like there might be a lot of us.

Warning: I am NOT going to marry the Prince. I just want to get an education.

[Prophet Tenebrae]

For the record I have no problem with American girls coming to St. Andrews and I believe that anti-american feeling is exagerrated here on the board.

[xxx]

as long as they put out, they're fine by me

[Chris Satterley]

Never fear, Chris is here.

All I ask of any foreign national is that they respect our culture as I would in their country. If you find Britain not to you liking then that is fine, just don't go around saying it in public as it will land you in trouble.

As far as the education systems debate is going - English education specialises you quickly and takes you to a more advanced level quicker than the American system, conversly the US system is broader and takes more subjects further, which is better is open to considerable debate. There are many great British and American minds that pay tesimony to both systems.

[JZ]

To any Americans out there freaking out about coming here, don't worry. I've found that for the most part, everyone is very friendly (of course there are the nasty ones, but they're everywhere in the world). Unfortunately, I've made more friends among Americans than the British, but most of the British people have been friendly. It just seems easier to make friends among people you feel instantly comfortable with in a strange environment. But the few close British friends I've made I hope to keep for all my life.
So basically, don't worry about it. It helps to not have an attitude and definitely be humble and take some friendly insults, but for the most part, there's very little different from an American University.

[ABC]

While the argument that since Americans pay more it´s easier for them to get in looks good on paper, I don´t know if it holds up under closer inspection. Take State Universities in the USA as an example. Out of state residents have to pay more to go there, but it is easier for in-state residents to get in.

[The Kaiser]

I think that in general, Americans aren't disliked - just laughed at.

The Kaiser

[The_Farwall]

[s]The Kaiser wrote on 2002-08-26 00:44:38:
I think that in general, Americans aren't disliked - just laughed at.

The Kaiser


Well, I'm sure that'll make them feel so much better about coming now won't it.

The only major problem I think an American might have in St Andrews is not knowing little, cultural quirks that the British take for granted. For some reason it seems ok that a European or an Asian student might not know the way things work, but Americans? Come on, they even speak the same language as us! if you get my drift.

The one other thing to watch out for is that levels of sarcasm seem to be much higher in Europe and espicially Britain. I know we can only talk about generalisations and averages but the British sense of humour can be much dryer, crueller and ironic than the American. Plus, patriotism tends to grate after a while. I've nothing against America as a country (I think the president's a complete twat, but he's only one man) but I find it quite insulting that so many American figure heads insist on refering to the country as 'The Greatest nation', or 'The greatest democracy' or whatever 'in the history of freedom' etc... I mean, ok, maybe by some messures it's true but there's no need to broadcast daily telecasts all round the world telling the rest of us that you think you're better than us.

[st salvator]

two points.

firstly, in common with all universities, St Andrews has a quota which it may not exceed of non-national students. The university cannot supercede this or they are fined by law.

Secondly, if we were turning students away there would be no need to enter clearing system which we re-entered this year after last year's blip.

American and non-EU students do not take places away from British students. One might more accurately say that English students take them away from the Scots, but perhaps we shouldn't go there

[underworlddreams]

Yes - let's not go there at all. The English taking places away from the Scottish? What about Irish and Welsh too? Or is it only the English you wish to deprive of this beautiful town and countryside we have in St Andrews?

[The_Farwall]

[s]Unregisted User st salvator wrote on 2002-08-26 11:40:40:
One might more accurately say that English students take them away from the Scots, but perhaps we shouldn't go there.


But surely one would only say that if one where a predjudiced idiot on the look out for any and every chance to take a dig at the English.

[st salvator]

When there is around 50-odd million English, 2 million Welsh and only a few more Irish I would think that English people taking places would be the greater threat.

The saving grace, of course, is that Scotland has always had a higher proportion of the population who attend universities...

...we're just great, don't ya know

[CarolynSD]

When Americans come they are judged-automatically-it is human nature to use prejudices you have taken so long to create by absorbing the quasi-culture in a bottle(via tube,tunes, etc) Brits etc seem to think we ARE the Britney Spears background singers, the American Pie actors, the ever so cheesy N Sync boys and obsessive groupies...
However, Brits are also human.(Don't laugh, they bleed too) After about 2 months of messing with your head and trying to make you get on your knees and cry that your country is infinitely inferior, Bush is an idiot, we were wrong to come in so late in ww2, and u-267y493 whatever was really British and everyone knows it...they will then lay off...if you are strong enough to hang in there -rather than buddy up with other americans like a yank force field-you will find some very interesting friends for the next 4 years....but it is good to understand what you are getting into. When I came in 2000 I had no idea that people had these views about Americans-what the stereotypes were-that made them hate it even more--naive, too? It was like a red blanket to a bull. Some jerks still give me alot of crap, as though I need to be the ambassador to Scotland 24/7(especially when I am a dual citizen of usa uk) and explain all of america's proceedings, but most forget I am american, come to my thanksgiving dinner, watch american pie 2 and legally blonde with me, and make fun of americans as easily as they make fun of brits and themselves--do not fear this sort of adversity. Sometimes a challenge makes your values even stronger, and helps you get rid of the useless ones.

[Big Fat Pete]

Hey Samuel L. Jackson is welcome to come and play as much golf as he likes cos he's cool. Every other "yank" should be subject to a rigourous screening process to make sure they aren't harbouring any dangerous knitted jumpers or dubious foreign policy.

[Guest]

"Should I pretend to be Canadian?"

No! - a Canadian St. Andrews student.

[Bonnie]

I agree. No one should ever have to stoop that low.

[Bonnie]

Just kidding. You know I love Canada. I really did have to pretend to be Canadian once. Back when I was 11. It was for a school project. I remember my report wasn't really all that exciting.
But I did learn the Canadian National Anthem. "Oh CAN- a- da..."

[rae]

hey! There IS a Canadian out there! I've heard rumours but haven't actually seen proof yet. Does that mean there will be two of us in a month or are there more, too???

[Oli]

Aboot time too.