Students widen overseas study options

Canada considered

Meanwhile, Fang Zhuoxin, an 11th grade student in Shanghai, said all students at her international school traditionally go to its Boston campus in the US for the 12th grade. However, due to the pandemic, she and her classmates are applying to schools elsewhere.

"I'm looking for possibilities at high schools in Canada. This may make it easier for me to get a student visa in the first half of next year to guarantee my travel in summer," said Fang, 16, who studied at a leading junior middle school in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province.

Having traveled to the US numerous times, she said she enjoys the academic atmosphere in Boston, but realizes she may not be able to go to the country due to the pandemic affecting visas and flights.

"Regardless of whether I finally go to the US or Canada, I look forward very much to years of studying abroad, where students can fully participate in class discussions and there are plenty of course alternatives," Fang said.

Her mother said that despite concerns about the pandemic, including reports of anti-vaccination demonstrations taking place in Vancouver, Canada, she will encourage her daughter to go abroad as planned.

"Studying abroad is a process that accelerates and broadens the experience of reaching adulthood. When she needs to cope with problems on her own, she will become more cool-headed, confident and will broaden her personality," said the mother, who requested anonymity.

Jiang, from Crimson Education, said there has not been a slump in the overseas education market, as many people have imagined.

"Schools such as Cornell University and Duke University have reported year-on-year rises of 36 percent and 20 percent respectively in the number of early applicants. This may be partly attributable to test-optional policies," he said.

Test-optional policies give college applicants the choice of whether or not to submit their standardized test scores with their admission applications.

In September, a report published by higher education analysts QS Quacquarelli Symonds in London showed that 4 percent of Chinese students interested in studying abroad will abandon the idea.

"The rate was lower than in India, Europe and North America," Jiang said.

Gregory D. Hess, president and CEO of the Institute for the International Education of Students Abroad, and the Study Abroad Foundation, said that surveys and consultations showed that Chinese students and their families see the long-term benefits and value of studying overseas. However, there has been a fall in the number of international students due to travel restrictions and other factors.

With the world trying to end the pandemic through one means or another, there is going to be a "pretty sharp" rebound in opportunities to study abroad, he said, adding,"Universities in the West will be keen to have Chinese students back."

Amber Mercier, vice-president for strategy, new business initiatives and analytics for IES Abroad and SAF, said major global incidents such as the 9/11 attacks in the US and the SARS outbreak in China in 2003 had a short-term impact on overseas studies, but there was often a significant rebound afterward.

"We've seen how such situations have played out many times in the past," she said.