The number of Chinese students at U.S. universities jumped 75 percent in three years to almost 275,000 in the last academic year, according to a report by the Institute of International Education .
Students from China made up the largest contingent among the 886,052 foreign students last year, with 31 percent. India is second with 12 percent of the total, followed by South Korea with 7.7 percent.
In 2013-2014, the number of Chinese students in the U.S. rose 8.1 percent from a year earlier, while those from India swelled by 17 percent, the IIE said.
I don't think there is any secret as to why this is occurring. In general, students from these countries actually focus on studying---and studying the hard sciences.
(via Bloomberg)
Engineering and science requires smart and hard working people. In the USA the financial industry and politics (and other fields) offer smart and hard working americans far far more than engineering and science. It's not that american teenagers are too stupid or too lazy or uninterested to go into engineering and science, it's simply that other fields are placing higher bids.
ReplyDeleteThe Chinese and Indian students don't have as many options or don't think they do. Regardless they are going after the best bids they (think they) can get as well.
"I don't think there is any secret as to why this is occurring. In general, students from these countries actually focus on studying---and studying the hard sciences."
ReplyDeleteLOL, ask around, it's because they pay hard cash.
Local Ale is onto it. It has very little to do with the work ethic or personal interests--as a group--of Chinese students. This is about hot money flows out of China--same as the increase in real estate bought by Chinese in the last couple years.
ReplyDeleteWith a $50,000 cap on wiring money out of China at any given time, the best ways to move profits (legitimate or ill-gotten) from the real estate bubble off-shore is by buying high-end goods. This has manifest in American real estate purchases (as well as other locales, such as London, UK) and, now, over-priced American university educations.
Foreign students have been a way to infuse cash into engineering schools for decades. China, India, Europe even. If they have money to burn for an american college experience the worst possible choices are science and engineering. It's a college experience of work and study, not parties. Those looking to purchase an experience, as high end goods, will pick something far easier that affords the time to enjoy those years.
DeleteIn many countries competition is stiff to get into engineering and science programs. In the USA there are openings, especially for students who can pay cash.