According to research performed under the Institute of International Education (IIE), which surveyed nearly 10,000 students all over the world, the United States is the most desirable international destination to study, (followed by the UK, Canada, and Australia).
World wide, approximately 75% of these students feel that schools in the United States are their top choice for international study because our schools are perceived as being the highest quality educational system. We also draw international students because we have plentiful and diverse fields of study and degrees to fit with all types of goals and personalities. More than 2/3 of students from all different surveyed regions of the world in this IIE study also feel that the United States is a welcoming place for international students.
In the last few years, the majority of international students have been comprised of students who come from Asia. More specifically, these students come from China,(and Taiwan), South Korea, and India. What explains the recent trend of students from these Asian countries? Well, many factors, but here are some of the main points:
1. In these countries, there is a rising generation of wealthy students who can afford to pay top dollar for a U.S. education. (Along with parents who scrimp and save for the opportunity to afford to send their children here for schooling.)
2. Students are still coming to master English as a very marketable skill. Most students are already highly proficient when they arrive to start their studies, but being here is the only way for them to reach native-speaker level, which is highly sought after, and is usually very marketable if the desired outcome is achieved.
3. Schools in many Asian countries are extremely competitive, to the point that family time does not exist as we know it here. Students are often in school from 7:00 am until late into the evening. They spend more time with their teachers than with their parents during these challenging years. Younger children who have "regularly" scheduled schooling that resembles our domestic system, are still expected to self-study and be tutored into the late evening hours just to remain competitive with peers. Parents who can afford to avoid this kind of structure are choosing to send their kids to the United States' school systems. Also, students who are simply not as gifted at studying, have a chance to thrive in the American school system, rather than fall through the cracks in their native environment. Though interestingly, these less-than-superior students are still expected by their parents to outperform their American counterparts.
As with everything, this trend is likely to change for reasons beyond our control. But for now, it's important to understand who is coming, why, and how we can prepare our academic and social communities to accept the diverse student body that treasures our educational system above all. It is a gift to be seen as an invaluable system by the majority, and a gift that allows for growth of our universities and private schools, along with our communities and global-social networks.
If you are looking to become a part of an international family, please see our Host Family Program section, or contact us at: homestay@everydayinteraction.com
