In my time at Brussels, on of the biggest difference I noticed was how much American students ask questions. I think it’s because we’re taught that raising your hand and challenging the professor is how you show you’re smart and engaged; and it was a room full of Pre-Law or research driven students. We received good feedback after every meeting, but there were many occasions where the presenters seemed almost…intimidated. We asked a lot of questions, some toeing on the line of investigative.

In Brussels, we were told by many of the officials we met about the difference between US and EU students. Apparently, students primarily ask questions regarding their own countries. American students asked more systemically based questions and it seemed—we asked them a bit more aggressively.

I found the difference between how academic success is displayed interesting, and I’ll admit, a bit funny.

The feedback also made me feel a bit of pride to be a Pitt student, we all were good students, and we knew it.