Why are American Students superior?

Short answer: it's just the culture of American higher education.

I think I study where you did, and I'd agree that's also the case in my MSc course. Other students think I'm a genius because I talk a lot; and I'm certainly not one. I'm just American

I was hoping you might respond to this thread, and indeed we are talking about the same place.

So by "culture" do you mean that at American universities even shy kids are encouraged a lot more to be vociferous, or that being argumentative is simply part of growing up in the States?

In one seminar, we actually ganged up on the professor and spent 2 hours grilling him on his positions! That's what type-A Americans do. That's also why we get a reputation for being pushy and loud. I guess it's a trade-off.

So what do you think is better? Teacher-led classes where every student contribution is like squeezing blood from a stone (and where the teacher might himself run out of ideas eventually), or participation-driven classes that run the risk of teaching nothing other than debating skills?

Today, 11th July, results were published...

Well, after having done 2 out of 15 accounting homeworks, 5 out of 14 economics homeworks, 1 out of 10 stats homeworks, 4 out of 10 maths homeworks, and no IS143 homeworks, I managed to get a 2:2 not the best result but certainly a good one considering I thought I failed due to the lack of work I did :P Few people got 1sts (most of the ones I asked who got this were Chinese...), a couple got 2:1's and 2:2's, and 4 people I know failed.

With a little common sense first year isn't that bad

Time to work for 2nd year

I attended a university that engaged heavliy in US->UK exchange, and the uni likes to think that it teaches the cream of the crop (ish) from both countries. Now I took several Econ, politics, maths and IR classes, and in the majority of cases the only thing that saved the class from becoming a series of awkward silences occasionally interrupted by the teacher shuffling their papers was the vocality, flair and charisma of that lone American exchange student sitting in on the class.

Now my question: Why is this? Why do so many British/EU/Asian students sit around jaded and unable to respond to basic questions while American exchange students are more often than not bursting to contribute? Is there a difference in college climate? Do admissions in the US place greater emphasis on extra-curriculars and personality? Does anyone else get this impression? Any thoughts appreciated.

(I should point out that unlike domestic students, American exchanges receive a grade for class participation. However, this only counts for a very small share of their final score, and liveliness and creativity are hardly things that can be forced with grades.)

So what do you think is better? Teacher-led classes where every student contribution is like squeezing blood from a stone (and where the teacher might himself run out of ideas eventually), or participation-driven classes that run the risk of teaching nothing other than debating skills?

In all my my sections (i.e. classes) and seminar classes in undergrad, you'd get 3-5 people desperate to speak every time the professor or TA paused. I actually had one class that was 3 hours long and the professor didn't speak for more than 10 minutes; the rest was student debates and discussions. In one seminar, we actually ganged up on the professor and spent 2 hours grilling him on his positions! That's what type-A Americans do. That's also why we get a reputation for being pushy and loud. I guess it's a trade-off.

Also, are you sure talking more is related to intelligence? George Bush has more "vocality, flair and charisma" than Tony Blair IMO. He always call himself the commander-in-chief! But I guess he gave the world more troubles than our Tony Blair or the very tight-lipped Hu Jintao (China's President).

You think George Bush has "vocality, flair and charisma?" He can barely utter a sentence without tripping over every word. Whatever your feelings about Bush are, I don't think anyone would praise his public speaking skills. And I don't think the thread starter was trying to equate speaking in class with intelligence.