There are many hurdles when applying to colleges as an international student. We’ve discussed these before, and talked about how you should approach them strategically, from the application as a whole, to English proficiency testing, to financial aid. A hurdle that’s less often discussed is what happens after you’re admitted.
The transition between high school and college is always a remarkable one. You’re far from home, surrounded by new people, and experiencing many new things. This experience is only heightened for international students, who have a whole new layer of culture shock to deal with.
Hundreds of thousands of Chinese students come to the US every year to attend university. We’ve worked with many of them, helping them navigate both the admissions process, and the transition to a new style of education. In this article, we’re going to share with you our tips for navigating this change, and what culture shocks you should look out for as you manage this transition yourself.
Differences Between Chinese High Schools and US Colleges
There are a lot of these, so we won’t cover the obvious ones. We’ve already discussed the high school to college transition generally, so won’t touch on things like living alone for the first time. Instead, we’re going to be discussing the primary academic differences you will find between a Chinese high school and a US college.
Note that there is a great variety in the offerings of high schools in China, and in what you can experience at US colleges. We will be speaking in general terms, but your own specific circumstances may be greatly different, depending on your own educational experience. As always with generalities, we will be broadly correct, but will unfortunately sacrifice a bit of nuance in doing so.
The largest difference is the lack of supplemental classes. While tutoring is somewhat common in US schools, supplemental academic classes are rare. Some students will take a course or two to investigate a particular subject not offered by their high school, but for the most part, supplemental classes are not a thing in the US in the same way as they are in China.
As a parallel to this, there is no equivalent to the Gaokao in the US, and while exams are still stressful, there is no parallel to the exam culture which exists in China. While final exams do exist in university courses, and you are expected to study for them, they are not meant to be as high pressure.
Finally, there is an ideological bent in every educational system. US schools require the teaching of US history, Chinese schools require the teaching of Chinese history. This is entirely normal, but may give you a different set of background knowledge. Some US colleges also require students to take courses in either US or state history. This is generally true of public colleges where mandated by the government; in Texas, for example, 6 semester credit hours worth of US history courses are required of students at public universities.
While these courses may have a political leaning, and most professors (especially tenured ones) are not afraid of sharing their political opinions, the courses are not meant to be indoctrinary. The goal is to expose students to different belief systems, and even courses about a particular political philosophy are not generally meant to extoll it, but rather to explore its point of view.
Cultural Differences
There are, of course, significant cultural differences between the US and China. SOme of these trip students up as well, and you should be prepared for them. While college is about the courses you take, there are many other things to do there as well, and you will spend most of your time outside of the classroom.
Names and Pronunciation
Many Chinese students pick an American or Anglicized name when coming to the US for college so they don’t have to hear their classmates constantly mispronounce their name. Your classmates are likely to give it a good faith effort, and some will even be able to pull it off, though this depends on the school in question. Many students do find it simpler to just choose an assumed name to use however. Doing so is a personal choice, and is up to you.
Socialization
There is a significant population of Chinese students at US universities, and you will be easily able to find a community to join. This will be easier at larger schools, both because the overall student population is larger, and because many top universities put a limit on how many international students they admit in total. While there will always be some international students, there are going to be fewer than at other schools.
You can and should socialize with other students. They will likely have many questions about your background. These are generally not meant to be rude (though may be unintentionally). It is perfectly acceptable to let your classmates know if they have said something offensive, or asked an inappropriate question. College is a learning experience, and a significant part of that comes from interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures.
Food
There are many restaurants in the US which purport to sell Chinese food. The veracity of these claims varies; “American Chinese Food” is a style of cuisine all its own. Dining halls likewise will sometimes serve dishes which may purport to be Chinese, but you should not expect authenticity here. Schools in larger and more urban areas are more likely to have authentic restaurants, but this also depends on the demographics of their location.
Similarly, schools located in more urban areas are more likely to have access to specialty stores which sell the kinds of ingredients and other products you can’t find otherwise in the US. You are more likely to find this at UCLA than UIUC. While UIUC is a great school, Urbana-Champaign is not quite an urban area. This does not need to impact your choice of where to apply, but is worth noting. Many students are disappointed the first time they order “Chinese Food” and receive something other than what they expected.
Language
As always, attending a school abroad means dealing with everything in a second (or possibly third) language. Most students and professors will be understanding and accommodating, though most will not be able to speak any Mandarin or Cantonese themselves. Your fellow students may be curious to learn a few words or phrases, but most will not devote themselves to learning the language in any way seriously.
As all of your instruction and coursework will be in English, you may want to brush up on your skills before beginning university. Also note that there are some regional variations in how people in the US speak and address each other; what counts as polite in one area may be seen as rude in another.
Managing Culture Shock
The best way to manage this transition is to prepare ahead of time. Do research on both the specific college you will be attending, and the region it is in. You don’t need to know everything about the location and its people, but having a general sense of the area you will be staying in can make acclimating to it easier.
You can also reach out to current students, especially if there are student groups for students of your background. The Chinese student’s association is likely to have many more directly pertinent tips for new students, ones which are directly specific to your new university.
Finally, you can always take advantage of the resources offered by the international student office. US universities welcome hundreds or even thousands of international students each year, and these offices exist to answer your questions and smooth your transition. If you have concerns specific to your university, this is the best place to begin addressing them. They might not always have the answer, but they will be able to direct you to the resources you need.
Final Thoughts
Many Chinese students come to the US for college, and have a wonderful time in doing so. While navigating the transition is not always easy, many find their footing with style and aplomb, and go on to do wonderful things in college and beyond. We hope this article has given you insight into how you can manage this transition yourself, and shown you some common concerns international students face.
Of course, the hardest part of applications, especially as an international student, is getting in in the first place. While many top colleges want international students, they also limit how many they admit, and competition for spots is fierce. If you want advice on formatting your own application to US colleges, or on managing your journey to college as a whole, schedule a free consultation today. We have a long experience helping students achieve their educational dreams, and we’re always happy to hear from you.
