Have you ever studied overseas or would you want your children to study abroad?

By Sun
@Sun7788 (260)
Changzhou, China
August 10, 2016 9:30am CST
US of A seems one of the top destinations for Chinese students studying overseas. Last week, My niece finished her one-week study tour to US organized by her high school and came back . She told me that she visited NewYork, Washington and was amazed by the modernity and beautiful environment there. Well, my niece's parents wanna send her to study in American University. Although my niece is very intelligent and always gets good grades, she is only 16 years old and I'm afraid she may lack the independent living ability. I hope my cousin can takes more consideration about her daughter's growth and study, i think it would be better for my niece to attand the China's College Entrance Examination full of fierce competition and enjoy four-years college life in China. At that time, she will be mature enough to pursue her further study abroad. Have you ever studied overseas or would you want your children to study abroad?
9 people like this
9 responses
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
31 Aug 16
I've never studied abroad but I guess I can say 2 of my children have, sort of. My daughter is in the USAF and spent a year in South Korea. My son is in the USMC and is stationed in Bahrain for awhile. It is a lot different in the military than in a university of course, but still it is difficult knowing your children are that far away from you. But it is valuable for them to be exposed to different cultures around the world. That kind of experience is very educational. Your niece is very intelligent and there will be plenty of people to help her. Also the internet will allow her to stay in contact with her family members while she is away. Maybe she could spend a year in China and then plan to study abroad, giving her a little more time to mature.
4 people like this
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
4 Sep 16
@Sun7788 My daughter in had some leisure time in North Korea to see the sights and her husband got to go over and spend some time with her while she was there, but my son in Bahrain has to stay on base all the time so his experiences will be limited there. But he may get to be stationed in Guam next so he should have more liberties if he is stationed there.
2 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
4 Sep 16
@clrumfelt The army life seems relatively leisure in peace time. Well, many young soldiers in my country choose to retire after three or five years of military service, only a few can be remained and attain a high military rank. Your children must be those excellent soldiers and have a strong sense of patriotism to safeguard your motherland.
2 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
4 Sep 16
Wow, USA is a a military power, your children are great soldiers, were they allowed to contact with the local civilians when they stationed overseas?I have a friend who joined the Army when he graduated from college and was sent to an unsettled frontier of Tibet, he said he had been trained rigorously in a closed environment and felt a little depressed. But I think it will be a valuable experience for him to go through any difficult time in the future. Recently, many parents want to send their children to go abroad .Yeah, whether study or work overseas, it is valuable for them to be exposed to different cultures around the world. With a rich experience under theit belt can can make people mature.
2 people like this
• United States
12 Aug 16
I would love to study abroad. My old roommate is actually going to Africa to study abroad this year through some program.
4 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
13 Aug 16
Really? It is hard for me to understand that your roommate will give up the best education in your country and study in Africa. Someone i know have gone to Africa for work, but few people around me will choose Africa for study.
2 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
15 Aug 16
@CaseyRoss9966 Of cause, everyone is different. Her major is Wildlife Biology, so i can understand why she choose Africa with various kinds of wildlife to study practically.
2 people like this
• United States
14 Aug 16
@Sun7788 Well she is a Wildlife Biology major so working with the animals over there is what she is going to be doing with her life. That is what her study abroad program is for. She wants to be there. She still is still getting a good education because the program is through an American program she is going through. Just because the people you know don't like it doesn't mean she want like it or even love it and deciding to stay there. Everyone is different.
3 people like this
@Shavkat (140118)
• Philippines
10 Aug 16
We don't need to study abroad. Since our universities can provide a better education. It is unlikely that children need to study abroad.
3 people like this
• Philippines
12 Aug 16
@Sun7788 uh, I don't know about that.....Only the rich and middle can study unless they have scholarship, sad to know that I wasn't smart as my siblings.
3 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
13 Aug 16
@Letranknight2015 I wasn't smart either and my family also could't afford my studyabroad tuition, so what i can do is study hard and find a better job at home, I am content with what i have now.
2 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
11 Aug 16
It means your government attaches great importance to teaching and schooling, it's very lucky for your children to enjoy a better education.While my country have faced education inequality for many years. The admission scores lines can vary according to the applicant's place of residence and ethnicity. especially students in my province have to stand the harshest test than other provinces of China , so that's why my cousin want send her daughter to study abroad.
2 people like this
• Philippines
11 Aug 16
There was a time were I thought i could continue my highschool in the States but that didn't happen. Those people are lucky and I hope they study well.
3 people like this
• Philippines
12 Aug 16
@Sun7788 In the end I realize I might not be happy being there because grandma was too possesive and controlling in their house, which I was suppose to live if i ever get there. Im glad i didn't.
2 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
12 Aug 16
@Letranknight2015 You mean your grandma will be possesive and controlling you? Why not stay in school, is there no residential boarding school there?
2 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
12 Aug 16
Well, i was also eagered to study overseas when i was student in college,because some of my classmates had studied abroad and i didn't think i was not as good as them. But after a few years of social experience, i thought i was too young and too naive. It doesn't do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.
3 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
10 Aug 16
I would support whatever they decide. Of course I would go through all the pros and cons first.
3 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
11 Aug 16
It's very considerate of you, you are a very parent.
3 people like this
@Daljinder (23236)
• Bangalore, India
11 Aug 16
@Sun7788 lol No I don't have any kids but I would support any future kids I might have.
3 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
12 Aug 16
@Daljinder Neither do I, i think raising kids is an arduous task, full of the sweets and bitters, Only when i have a child, can i really understand the selflessness and greatness of parents.
3 people like this
• Hangzhou, China
31 Aug 16
I had a two-week overseas study experience last August. The teaching atmosphere there is good, but the living fee as well as the education fee is rather high. Also we have to live in a homestay. For a short-time study, it is ok, but in the long run, I don't think I will ever want my child to study abroad.
3 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
1 Sep 16
It's wonderful that you have chance to study overseas, i worked in the public institute, it seems impossible for me to go abroad on business or further study. Have you watched the TV series recently named "xiao bie li" which tell the story about three different families when they face the problems of education and study abroad. This TV series react the real life to some extent, we must go through the parting, reunion will be valuable to know. If the economic conditions allowed, i hope my children can study abroad in the future, but i will respect their final decision.
3 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
4 Sep 16
@williamjisir66 Oh, Auckland is the largest city of New Zealand, best wishes for his learning success.
2 people like this
• Hangzhou, China
2 Sep 16
@Sun7788 I have not watched this play yet. It is very important to respect our children's decision when it comes to studying abroad. Last year one of the boys from Beijing who studied in the same class as I was made his own decision to study in Auckland. He is going to study to pass the language test first and then he is going to spend his senior high school years there as well as his university education. He is a very diligent boy.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
12 Aug 16
I wonder what your niece thinks about it? Does she want to go? It does seem a little young to go to live and study so far away from her home.
2 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
13 Aug 16
My niece just feels fresh to study abroad without a very clear and specific goal, There are a lot of uncertainty. She is a grade one student in high school and still have enough time to prepare applying to overseas universities.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137634)
• United States
5 Sep 16
Hmmm... I have never studied abroad, and am not sure I would like my daughter to do so or not... Of course, if she chose to go to some other country to study, I wouldn't even consider standing in her way, either. Honestly, it might be better for your niece to complete her education in China before she considers continuing her college education or post-graduate education in America. I believe your family will find that the colleges here are not as strenuous as the curriculum in China, so your niece might not get the education she actually needs here. (I dislike saying that about colleges in America, but it is the truth.) As far as the ability to live independently, your niece isn't old enough to enter college here, yet. She would still be considered a High School student. As a High School student she would not be allowed to live on her own, As a foreign exchange student she would have a sponsor family that she would live with during her year(s) of study here. They would treat her like their own daughter and take care of things for her just as her own parents do now. That is always assuming your niece has not somehow graduated early from High School. If she has, then she would still need to file as a student and be accepted by the college. The last time I checked (when Pretty was filing her college entrance paperwork.) the colleges won't accept students under 18 years of age without a special permit.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137634)
• United States
13 Sep 16
@Sun7788 That is good to know, Sun. Thank you for telling me. Hmmm... I am not so sure your judgement on the curriculum for American schools is correct, but I haven't got anything concrete to actually decide on what you've said, so I will simply accept it and move on.
1 person likes this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
13 Sep 16
Thanks for your sincere advice. Her parents have decided that it would be better for their daughter to study overseas when she reaches an adult age. So my niece will enter the the college Entrance Examination in China.She is good at difficult examinations and has adapted to strenuous curriculums here. so i think she will get a high grades and enter a good chinese university. As for as the difference of education system between China and USA, high school life here is so harsh like hell, while college life is so relaxed like paradise. While USA is the other way round, whether students can go to a better college won't be decided by just one exams, and the teaching methods are more scientific in the USA, i think.
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@rina110383 (24492)
11 Aug 16
I've always wanted to study in one of the Ivy League schools in US.
3 people like this
@Sun7788 (260)
• Changzhou, China
11 Aug 16
Wow, the Ivy League schools presented the top educational standard full of global elitist. While the best university of my country still are outside the top 20.
3 people like this