23 Times University In The United States Confused The Heck Out Of Australians

I just don't know what's real anymore.

While Australia produces some pretty great films and TV shows, I can't think of a single movie growing up that heroed an Aussie studying at one of our prominent universities.

Fox

So instead I CONSUMED content like Legally Blonde, House Bunny, Sydney White and I was a full blown fan of Hellcats which, IMO, should never have been cancelled.

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Add in Gilmore Girls — where the entire premise was Rory preparing for university — and you can probably see where my knowledge of the USA's higher education system comes from.

So, here are just a few questions that I, an Australian, have for the United States about higher education.

1. If you're a freshman, aren't you under the legal drinking age? How come you're all drinking and no one gets caught?

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For comparison, the legal drinking age in Australia is 18. So, most of us go to uni and proceed to spend the next few years exploring the effects of alcohol...with studying being a secondary focus.

2. Speaking of, do you ever get a senior in high school and a senior in college confused?

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I mean, if you've got a young looking college senior against a mature looking high school senior...that just seems like trouble waiting to happen.

3. And on that, does that mean every university course is four years? There's no variance?

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I did a five year double bachelor's degree, plus a Master's which took me three years because I did it part-time. There's so many different ways you can through go to uni here in Oz, that labelling all first years "Freshman" and everyone in the fourth year "Senior" doesn't make any sense.

Tell me what is going on.

4. Is the term "university" completely interchangeable with "college"? I've seen it referred to as both, but here in Oz they're different.

TV Land

Colleges usually have a much smaller student body and can provide shorter courses for you to get a degree, certificate or diploma in your field of study.

5. How come your college tuitions are so expensive?

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In Oz, we have something called the "Higher Education Contribution Scheme" or HECS, which is sort of like a governmental loan, but the amount I personally owe for eight years of study seems to be only a little over one year of tuition at an Ivy League School.

6. Also, what happens with your student loans? Do you have to start repaying them as soon as you graduate — what if you don't have a job?

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In Oz, as soon as you start to earn a certain amount each year, a small sum comes out of each of your paycheque towards your debt. It's like a little extra tax and it's all done automatically.

7. And what happens if you can't pay it off?

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Likewise, if you don't earn enough money in Oz, it just sits there being indexed each year, (so the borrowed amount maintains its real value in accordance to the cost of living).

8. Moving away from student loans, why are top-tiered schools called "Ivy League".

The CW

In Oz, there are some unis that you know are better than others, but they're not grouped in any sort of way. I'm thinking there's some cute history behind "Ivy League".

9. Are there really secret societies (aka Rory and The Life and Death Brigade) at uni?

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I mean, I joined the UTS Netball Club. If there was any secret society I obviously wasn't ~cewl~ enough to join.

10. Are the fraternities and sororities really as intense and cliquey as they're portrayed? Or, are they just a fun, supportive way to meet new people?

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I don't think we have any of these at uni. I mean, you'd bond with the people in your dorm, but I don't think there's anything remotely similar.

11. How do you get into them? Like, what the hell is "rushing"?

TV Land

And is the hazing real? I know of a few instances of hazing in Oz (some of them bad), but it seems more common in the States.

12. And, if you're in a sorority or fraternity, how many of you live in those big houses? They sure are HUGE, but they don't seem like they can fit everyone in from a 50 person sorority.

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Like in Bad Neighbours...surely there's not enough room for all those men?

13. What happens if you don't get into a sorority or fraternity? Do you just chill out in the dorms?

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Dorms definitely exist in Oz, but there are also self-serviced apartments and a lot of people travel into university each day.

14. Speaking of, do first-year students have to live on campus?

Comedy Central

It's definitely not a condition here in Oz, and a lot of students opt to live at home to save money during however many years they're at university.

15. Are a cappella groups a real thing? Pitch Perfect may have completely altered my perception of reality, but I really wish that someone over there watched this movie and said, "Wow, it's like my life".

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My friend was in an a cappella group in Sydney, but it did not get the hype or the "lights, camera, action" vibe it deserved.

16. Why do star athletes have to go to college before getting drafted? Can't they get drafted straight out of high school?

Marvel

This is an area of so much confusion for me because I know nothing about college football, but in TV it always seemed weird that kids' wanted to go play football at such and such school before going pro.

17. Also, are big game days really that intense? And do that many people turn up at them?

LSU Tigers

In Oz, if you even managed to know about a sports team, there's no way you knew when the game was on.

18. What's the deal with tailgating parties? It just seems like a dirty BBQ.

The CW

Again, no real cooking at sporting events — just go to the tuck-shop and chow down on your meat pie.

19. Are sporting scholarships as transparent as they seem on TV? Like, are student athletes careless about attending class because they know they'll pass regardless?

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And there's always one teacher who tries to make a point by failing them. Is this a trope or is this real life? PLEASE, someone tell me.

20. Do people actually care about where they went to school — like in Suits where they only hire people from Harvard Law.

USA Network

I don't even remember the last time my education history got mentioned in a job interview. Literally no one in Oz cares where you went to uni, you just trash-talk any uni you personally didn't attend.

21. Do you select your major at the start of your degree? Or, do you have to do a couple of "general years" first?

ABC

In Oz, you pick your major straight out of the gate, which, in all honestly, might not be the best option. A lot of people switch their majors throughout — because who knows what they really want at 18?

22. Why do you have to do "pre-law" before going to a specific "Law School"?

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Here, you jump right into a law degree.

23. And finally, what happened during COVID? Were you allowed to go home and stop paying for accomodation? Or did you have to quarantine inside your dorms?

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I honestly don't know how Aussie universities handled COVID for those living on campus. All my classes just switched online and stayed that way.