The Roots of the Challenge: Undergraduate Chinese Students Adjusting to American College Life

Recent economic development in China not only has improved the overall living standards of Chinese people, but it has also created a new middle class. Another impact of the economic development is the increasing demand for educated workers. Subsequently, the demand for quality higher education has also increased. With more than 50% of the world’s top 100 universities located in the United States, the United States is regarded as the number one destination for international students for higher education. Due to the cultural differences between China and the United States, scholars have found that Chinese students encounter the most challenges adjusting to American college life. Lack of Western cultural exposure, different cultural values, the effect of the One-Child Policy, the emphasis on effort, endurance, and hard work in education, the continual impact of the Cultural Revolution’s aftermath on people’s relationships, the unfulfilled expectations of American college life experiences, and the influence of the Chinese education structure on students’ characters and skills-building all have an impact on Chinese students’ worldview and their interaction with their new environment. By reviewing the literature on the topic, this article seeks to understand the roots of the challenge to gain insight into the reasons why Chinese students do what they do after they come to the United States for higher education.