Choosing an International Higher Education

Grace Lin
Client Relations Manager, UK

In 2000, my parents decided to send me abroad for a better education. Ten years later, after returning to China and working in the international education industry, I am now the mother of a lovely baby boy. As a mom at home and a Client Relations Manager at work, now I often think about whether I should send my son abroad when he’s older, so he may also receive an international education.

Chinese education is focused on core fundamental courses, such as Chinese, Math, Biology, Chemistry, History and so forth. In senior school or sixth form college in the UK, however, students can choose four subjects at AS level and drop one at A2 level to learn more specialised information related to their areas of expertise. Yes, I do want my boy to gain more knowledge to survive in this changing world, but I also want him to have a happier simple life that focuses on the areas that interest him most and allow him to excel. An overseas education also gives him the opportunity to learn how to think critically and creatively, and studying in a different language environment would be a huge learning experience for him and really benefit his career prospects.

This year’s Gao Kao college entrance exam will take place this month. Many many students will take the exam, and many will not get into a 1st tier domestic university. For those students, a highly viable option is to study abroad. I might think the same way in few years for my son, but I haven’t made any definite plans for him. For me, the most important thing is to help him make the right choice for him and his future.