Increasing safety concerns, high costs, and geopolitical tensions are causing Chinese students to reconsider studying in the United States, impacting long-standing educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
In Shanghai, two young women opting for education abroad have chosen to bypass the United States, which has been a top choice for decades but may be losing its allure. Helen Dong, a 22-year-old advertising senior, cited cost as her reason for not choosing the U.S. She expressed concern about spending a large sum but being unable to find a job upon returning. Meanwhile, Yvonne Wong, 24, studying comparative literature and cultures in Britain, considered safety a critical factor, with her family preferring the U.K. over the U.S. due to gun violence concerns.
As global interest in studying abroad picks up post-pandemic, there are indications that the long-standing trend of sending Chinese students to the U.S. may be on the decline, as geopolitical changes redefine U.S.-China relations. Fanta Aw, the executive director of NAFSA Association of International Educators, emphasized the importance of international education as a bridge for future leaders and professionals. The decrease in Chinese applicants to U.S. undergraduate and graduate programs is attributed to various factors, including strained relations, regional alternatives, and high U.S. education costs, causing concern for future ties between the two nations.
Despite the ongoing criticisms and challenges faced by Chinese students studying in the U.S., there remains a strong desire among many young Chinese individuals to pursue education abroad. New Oriental, an education service provider, noted that these students aim to enhance their career opportunities in a competitive labor market back home. While some are deterred by negative perceptions and political tensions, the appeal of reputable foreign universities continues to attract Chinese students, even as preferences shift away from the U.S.
Source : Post-pandemic, Young Chinese Seek Studies Abroad, Just Not in US
