I don't know what school this Kern when to, but I can assure anyone out there who is contemplating an engineering degree that there are very good schools in the US. I'll be receiving an MSCS from Stanford in 2006. I have continually been amazed at the quality of the education that Stanford offers. The instructors are incredibly gifted at teaching and I sit in rapture when I listen to each and every lecture. Stanford also has top-notch TA's in each and every class who not only understand all the materail, but will take great pains to explain it in any amount of detail that is necessary. Mabye Stanford is the exception, but I seriously doubt that. Please don't let the bad experience of one individual turn you off from an engineering degree in the US.