Academic benefits
Many students emphasized the idea that it was their choice to attend school in the United States and that this choice plays a large role in their happiness. For most, studying abroad seemed much more preferable due to the availability of options. Almost all students commented on the one-sided nature of school in China, stating that there is very little academic freedom. One student stated, “Because the focus is only on exams in China, students do not have the same desire to learn as students at Emory”. Every student interviewed expressed that the academic environment at Emory makes them excited to learn. They commented on the large academic freedom they have in comparison to their friends attending university at home and felt that it has allowed them to have a more open, broad view on social and political issues. In addition, they emphasized that attending school in the United States has allowed them to discover what they are truly interested in academically, rather than attend school on a pre-professional, pre-determined track. As one student explained, “Had I stayed at home, I would have simply attending school for business, but now that I am here, my favorite classes are Art History. I never feel like going to class is a chore”.