Applying to U.S. Colleges as a Chinese Student
In recent years, there has been a steady growth of Chinese students enrolling in US universities and colleges, with nearly 300,000 coming to the US for the 2013-14 academic year. Although this is a fairly small number compared to the nine million university students studying in China, the country has also seen a steady decrease in students who sit for its national college entrance exam, the Gaokao. This indicates that international education is unquestionably on the rise.
With more students around the world seeking degrees abroad, the value of an international degree has increased in countries like China and India, where the common expectation is that students will return upon graduation so their home countries may benefit from their new skills and knowledge.
However, gaining acceptance to elite US universities is a challenge. Many potential applicants are unsure about how to apply to colleges in the USA for international students. Before joining IvyWise, I spent a year in China providing college counseling to Chinese students looking to gain admission to top US universities, so I know first-hand how challenging this process can be for Chinese and international applicants.