Increasingly, the skills required for entry level jobs in China are becoming more and more complex. Skills such as analytical thinking, problem solving, communication, presentation and teamwork are becoming more important. To be successful in the workplace today, students will need more than just a narrow body of knowledge. An American undergraduate education is designed to allow the individual to adapt quickly to changes in the workplace and in society. This is because the education develops the student’s ability to think laterally and independently. Many US universities can help you achieve this, but which university should a Chinese student choose and is there really a benefit of attaining this skillset?
For a decade, China has made efforts to expand higher education, doubling the numbers of students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs. There have been huge investments in new campuses and laboratories. In contrast, the salaries for new graduates entering the workplace are lower, including that of some foreign degree holders who return to China immediately after graduation. Education overseas is expensive. Students and their families invest in foreign education because they expect foreign degree holders to earn a premium when they return. That premium is still there, but only if you go to the right university, which has a good reputation in China. Although it is true that the salaries of some Chinese foreign degree holders are not much higher than local graduates, this cannot be said of Chinese students who attend top US universities, which have strong brand names in China and may have big alumni networks here, too. It is important to choose your US University wisely. Through the alumni network, many of these students are able to find high paying jobs when they return, especially students who have gained US work experience. US universities with strong alumni networks in China include: University of Southern California, New York University, University of Michigan, Boston University, Michigan State University, University of Illinois, Purdue University, University of Texas-Austin, Harvard University.
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