As more Chinese international students choose to attend school in the United States, researchers increasingly analyze their adjustment to school, socially and academically. Almost all of this research states that international students, especially those from Asia and non-English speaking countries, experience a tremendous culture shock and subsequent social isolation that can negatively affect their mental health. The dialogue involving the experience of international students at colleges in America is consistently negative in terms of the experience for the international students, at least in their initial year at school. Although there is an understanding of why Chinese international students choose to attend school in the US, most researchers do not focus on why students choose to continue school in America. The prominent focus on the emotions of Chinese international students has caused a skew in the data. As stated in Passionate Politics, “The emotions they had were inevitably negative or troubled rather than positive or joyful; they reflected a psychological problem…” (4). Passionate Politics points out the lack of acknowledgement of the influence of emotion in research.
This research will attempt to find out what causes Chinese international students to choose school in the Unites States and what aspects of the experience were most positive and beneficial in long term view. I wish to fill the gap in the research that neglects to indicate why, despite all of the unique challenges faced, Chinese international students strive at university and continue to attend school in America in large numbers. Their perceived success is important information for universities that heavily recruit Chinese students and for counseling services that generally fail to be culturally sensitive. The research will be conducted using interviews and surveys. As the interviews are conducted, I will focus on the student’s perception of their experience at Emory University versus the experience of their friends who stayed in China. This will give a glimpse into the difference in academic environment as well as the struggle of being so far away from home and the way this is dealt with.
Survey questions to be asked include:
This research will attempt to find out what causes Chinese international students to choose school in the Unites States and what aspects of the experience were most positive and beneficial in long term view. I wish to fill the gap in the research that neglects to indicate why, despite all of the unique challenges faced, Chinese international students strive at university and continue to attend school in America in large numbers. Their perceived success is important information for universities that heavily recruit Chinese students and for counseling services that generally fail to be culturally sensitive. The research will be conducted using interviews and surveys. As the interviews are conducted, I will focus on the student’s perception of their experience at Emory University versus the experience of their friends who stayed in China. This will give a glimpse into the difference in academic environment as well as the struggle of being so far away from home and the way this is dealt with.
Survey questions to be asked include:
- What were your major concerns about attending school in the US before arriving?
- What were the most difficult challenges you faced while adjusting to school at Emory University?
- Professors have been helpful and understanding (agree to disagree)
- Programs provided by Emory University for Chinese international students have been helpful to my adjustment (agree to disagree)
- Most of my friends are from my native country (agree to disagree)
- Have you every sought counseling to deal with stress caused by school?
- I feel that I have overcome many of the challenges I initially faced (agree to disagree)
- I feel that I have become more independent during my time at Emory University (agree to disagree)
- I feel that my experience as a Chinese international student will help me in the future (agree to disagree)