Well, the first part stems from not using the system on a day-to-day basis for the most part. We learn how the system works, learn how to convert, use it in science classes, etc., but don't necessarily know how to estimate how many kilograms we weigh, or how many meters tall we are, how many kilometers away something is, whether or not 38 degrees Celsius is a hot day or an average day, etc.

However, the second part is inexcusable and I'm curious to know which University it is that would accept students that hadn't been through at least one advanced science class in High School where metric would be used extensively and it would be very basic knowledge that 1 cm = 10mm...