In Conversation With
many different types of students. When we recruit themselves into seeming like American students
students, we don’t apply any single set of criteria. and downplay their cultural uniqueness. I hope
Based on our communication with professors, Chinese students will express themselves more
we find that professors appreciate students with confidently and take pride in their culture. During
distinct viewpoints who are capable of thinking their high school education, they can go into cul-
actively and coming up with novel ideas. Another tural factors that greatly interest them. This is the
important quality is dedication to their major most important point for Chinese students.
courses.
Sabrina: This brings to mind Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Percy: What you said brings to mind the idea that who said, “We know ourselves through others.”
most Chinese students and their parents talk about Sometimes, what we share with others and the
receiving higher education in a foreign country: world, and their feedback to us, may serve as a
they say they will “pursue study.” This mindset may mirror reflecting back on ourselves.
seem like a modest and open attitude to learning,
but it also means they don’t position themselves as
a participant and contributor to campus culture.
This also offers an important new dimension to a
college’s diversity. By comparing and contrasting
other cultures, we better understand our ethnicity,
When applying to colleges, and also thinking about
culture, and tradition. Furthermore, an American
what a college can bring to you, it is crucial to college itself serves as a mirror through which,
ponder what you can offer to the table. This is a key and through the eyes of other students, a Chinese
point that Chinese parents and students need to student can see the value and significance of his
adjust. Of course, we go abroad to “pursue study”, culture.
but beyond this, we also share what we know and
Percy: In the process of applying to an American
have learned with the college and the world.
college, Chinese students and their parents typi-
Sabrina: This is a great perspective. College edu-
cally put too much emphasis on the hardware of a
cation is an valuable opportunity for students to college without delving into its intangible cultural
get to know themselves, understand others, and dimensions. The result? Students miss out on
learn about the world. At a liberal arts college getting a fuller and more memorable campus life.
more so, a Chinese student can do that by helping
others broaden and deepen their understanding I also think that domestic schools and educational
of the world through the language, arts, and the organizations should narrow this gap in perception.
aesthetics that their culture represents and the Middle and high schools should be obliged to
perspectives that they bring to discussions.
provide students who will apply to American col-
leges with comprehensive information about what
Xiaofeng: Chinese students have a unique cultural those colleges, and the US higher education system
advantage because our expansive history and in general, are really like. This enables the students
culture goes back more than five thousand years. I and their parents to make well-informed choices.
like to see this cultural background and tempera-
ment as a distinct perspective in their writing.
Sabrina: Agreed. This is the underlying consid-
eration behind our efforts to organize a series of
Unfortunately, over my years of reviewing applica-
dialogues and lectures to prepare students and their
tions of Chinese students, I have seen very few who parents for their overseas study journey. We hope
maximize this advantage. Some students package that students and their parents can get detailed
The Keystone Magazine 77