Chinese parents' perspective on sending their children to study in the US

Despite the tense relationship between the US and China, many parents in the country of a billion people still want their children to study in the US as they seek better opportunities.

Students cross the street on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA on April 15, 2025 - Photo: AFP

More opportunities

In the context of US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping scheduled to meet in South Korea this week, on October 29, AFP News Agency published an article sharing about Chinese parents who are still pursuing the "American dream" for their children, despite the tense relationship between the two countries.

Many expect the meeting between the two leaders to pave the way for stabilizing bilateral relations.

"Although there are many changes now, everything is temporary. This is what I always believe," Ms. Huang, a resident of Shanghai, told AFP.

Ms. Huang is determined to have her daughter complete her expensive education in the United States. Her 17-year-old daughter has been in high school in the United States for three years and wants to study computer science at a university there.

Mr. Trump’s unpredictability and “America First” policies have worried some of Ms. Huang’s friends, who are considering sending their children to study in Europe or Australia instead of the United States.

But for Ms. Huang, the benefits of an American education far outweigh the disadvantages. "We feel that America is a country that can provide our children with more opportunities and the education there is definitely more diverse," Ms. Huang explained.

But the costs are steep. Ms. Huang estimates she now spends more than $100,000 a year on tuition and living expenses for her children in the United States.

People who don't worry

Chinese students have long been important to American universities, which rely on full-tuition paying international students.

In the 2023-2024 academic year, China contributed 277,398 students, while the number of Indian students took the lead for the first time in many years.

However, Mr. Trump has introduced policies to restrict immigration. In May, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington would "aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students."

But just a few months later, Mr. Trump announced that the US would allow 600,000 Chinese students to enter the United States.

The uncertainty doesn’t seem to be deterring many Chinese parents, according to Godot Han, who works at a test-prep center in Beijing. Her wealthiest clients, in particular, “are not worried.”

“They won't just read an article and suddenly change their long-prepared plans,” she said.

Her center prepares about 200 Chinese students each year for American college entrance exams. One-on-one lessons cost between $112 and $210 an hour.

Some parents are concerned about their children’s safety following the recent mass shootings in the US and the policies of the Trump administration. But many still “have the American dream,” according to Ms. Han.

There was never a "honeymoon" period.

Associate Professor Dylan Loh at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) pointed out that the lasting appeal of American education lies in its "recognized quality and historical reputation".

"That reputation and prestige have been there for a long time and despite the difficulties, they still exist and will exist for a long time," he said.

Another parent, Ping Jiaqi, said American universities could help foster “independent thinking” in his 17-year-old daughter, who studies at an international school in Zhejiang province, eastern China.

She attended a summer course at Brown University (USA) last year as well as visited several other universities in the US, and is hoping to go to the US to attend university.

He estimated that his daughter's entire college education in the US would cost more than $400,000.

Mr Ping, who runs a study abroad consultancy for Chinese students, said the daily lives of his students and friends in the US were “not much affected” by Mr Trump’s moves.

"When you think back, the US-China relationship has never really been good over the past decade. There was never really a honeymoon period," he said.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/goc-nhin-cua-phu-huynh-trung-quoc-luc-nay-ve-viec-cho-con-du-hoc-tai-my-20251029153928697.htm