The people here have asked me, on a few occasions, about my qualifying exams/ my grad program. My boss (from grad school) had visited before I came and he apparently told them about my graduate program and my exams (probably because I had just taken my final qualifying exam before his visit). My Japan boss talks about how much more difficult my program is.
Most PhD programs (in the United States SPECIFICALLY) have some form of qualifying/comprehensive exams. They vary a lot but the general rule is that they are difficult and important. I am bringing this up because I just found out the massacre in Colorado was committed by a student after failing his qualifying exam (in neuroscience). It is under debate about whether he is insane (schizophrenia that was induced by the stress of failing) or faking it. After failing, he immediately dropped out. Then he went on to kill 12 and injure 58.
Let's face it, my program isn't easy-- especially since they implemented a new curriculum which I affectionately referred to as "Psycho Class." I learned a crap-load in a very short period of time. I can credit my program for that. What I don't like is when people (like my Japan adviser) credit my program (or my program tries to take credit for) with my ability to think. I came with that trait built-in.
I just took my final qualifying/comprehensive exam. In my nervous moments (which were thankfully not often), I hoped to pass so I wouldn't have to have the "what will I do with my life now?" moments. While I would not want to exact harm on others, this stranger's murderous rampage having taken place after failing a qualifying exam in an area of my research-interest, hit home.
I meet a lot of international students here who are looking at international PhD programs. They tend to not consider the US because they make it difficult to get in (exams) and the programs are long and difficult. It was interesting to hear.
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