Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

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Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?
Claire Law

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

There are no similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam. US colleges evaluate the performance of a student over 4 years of high school and standardized test scores. The results of the Chinese domestic entrance exams determine whether the student will be able to continue their education at the university level in China.

Carita Del ValleFounderAcademic Decisions

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

Yes in that they are a measurement of a student’s knowledge on the core subjects.

Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

In China college applicants must first pass this test. In the US, your test scores have already been sent to the colleges to be evaluated with all other admissions documents. There’s a finite test score in China, not quite the same here in that respect only.

Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

In China college applicants must first pass this test. In the US, your test scores have already been sent to the colleges to be evaluated with all other admissions documents. There’s a finite test score requirement in China, not quite the same here in that respect only.

Mr C CoakleyPresidentAcademic Coaching Services

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

US college admissions often vary by school, which makes our process so interesting and unique. Always review the admissions requirements at your intended schools to determine the appropriate action plans for your own particular needs.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

how to take advantages of the admissions counseling at your school?

How to take advantage of the college counseling services at boarding schools For many Chinese parents and grandparents, sending their child to the US for boarding schools is a major decision. One of the common goals that every family shares is that their hope to provide opportunities for their children to compete for US college admissions. The fact is very few Chinese parents understood that admissions process and having knowledge about what the boarding schools are supposed to do to help them. Those parents never have face to face interviews with the students, never have opportunity to ask the headmaster about what they expect the school to help them and in many cases they cannot even hold the boarding schools accountable for college admissions. It is very rare that unsatisfied Chinese parents would write a letter to the boarding school. It is certainly uncommon for the Chinese parents to follow the boarding schools and it is typical that most guardians for the Chinese parents did not show up at the schools functions at all such as parents conferences which provide opportunities to talk to the counselors at the boarding schools. Some of the US boarding schools does not provide sophisticated college admission counseling to Chinese students. They actually hire independent contractors or part time counselors to work with their senior students for college admissions. Very few Chinese students actually have a plan until they are seniors. What happens is that more and more Chinese parents decided to bring their children back to china for SAT prep and TOEFL exam prep. In addition to that, they also hire Chinese agencies to place their child into colleges and universities in the US. As everybody already knew, those Chinese agencies has zero connections with the boarding schools and college counselors office. What kind of roles they actually play for doing the work for Chinese parents is up to everybody’s imagination. Ivy Counselors network counsel many Chinese students at US boarding schools in the past 8 years. It is a fact that the majority of those students did not know how and what to do when it comes to college admissions. The relationship between the student and college counselor in US boarding schools is very much limited to school selections. In the end, a lot of Chinese students did not even consider that the schools recommended by their college counselor at their boarding schools. Although we don’t have statistics to show what percentage of Chinese students actually successfully competed for highly selective colleges, we do know that many of them did not do well on the SAT and TOEFL exams which are critical components as international students for college admissions. It is not common to see Chinese students boarding school transcripts showed challenges and with predictable grades. In other words, the Chinese students may be a straight A student as ninth grade students but fall to B students in tenth grade and then C students in 11th grade. The recommendation letters for Chinese students as part of admissions requirement are also somehow questionable. When talking to Chinese students about who is the right teachers to write their recommendation letters and how much the teacher actually tell about the students, a few students can produce quick answers and most of them have to think and rethink and could not tell why and also have any idea what the teacher would say about them on the recommendation letter. As to the college visits, a lot of the boarding students never had opportunity to visit a college before the college admissions season. Some of them managed to tour the campus and we did not see the students actually have learned additional knowledge about the school. Some boarding schools may organize group trips to visit colleges. That certainly help students make it a lot more convenient for the parents. However, after the visit the student should be able to talk and share their experiences and perspectives about each school that they visited. The college selection process may not be the same for all Chinese students especially they’re never exposed to the outside world as much as US students. That put a tremendous limitation to the Chinese students when it comes to major selections and career choice. If the students have a lack of imagination and very little knowledge about different professions in the US, it is very hard for them to do something completely new and intangible. The evidence shows very little difference when it comes to the major selections between the Chinese boarding students and the Chinese international students from china. That demonstrated they have a shared the same common issue that is the career counseling very much unavailable to the Chinese students. No matter where they come from. College admission counseling is a personalized service that boarding schools should deliver to all students whether they’re international, domestic, or Chinese students. It is challenging for a lot of college counselors at US boarding schools to work with international students because of the cultural differences and communication barriers. Most counselors also may not able to work with Chinese parents and communicate with them effectively. Sometimes the frustration is resided on both sides. But if the trend continue, some of the boarding schools may have to face ultimate challenge of the Chinese parents that is what you can do better for my child.

Pamela Hampton-GarlandOwnerScholar Bound

Chinese vs. US Entrance Exams

There are similarities but the Chinese domestic exam is the sole exam used for entry into college while in the USA the standardized exams are only one fraction of a greater pie.

Kathleen HarringtonOwnerNew Jersey College Consulting

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

US College Admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam are similiar in that a component of the application process involves a test score.

In the US, each college requires a different standardized testing score from its applicants(either the SAT or ACT). In China, each providence requires a different score to gain admission to its area school . The more competitive of a providence, the higher the score needed by an applicant. The US college admission process is similar in that an Ivy League school, think Princeton, requires a higher SAT/ACT score than the state college, Rutgers University.
Annie ReznikCounselor/CEOCollege Guidance Coach

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

No. Typically, US colleges use a holistic review process for admission. Admission offices use a variety of factors, such as high school achievement, standardized test results, personal essay, interview, and extracurricular involvement to render a final decision. The Chinese domestic college entrance exam is the single factor used for admission.

Annie ReznikCounselor/CEOCollege Guidance Coach

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

No. Typically, US colleges use a holistic review process for admission. Admission offices use a variety of factors, such as high school achievement, standardized test results, personal essay, interview, and extracurricular involvement to render a final decision. The Chinese domestic college entrance exam is the single factor used for admission.

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Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

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Ellen [email protected]OwnerEllen Richards Admissions Consulting

China’s college entry test an ordeal for many

Once every year, students who hope to attend college in China take the gao kao – the high test. This test is the sole determinant of whether or not a student will be admitted into college. About 3 out of 5 students generally achieve the necessary score.

The pressure weighs on students and their families. Students spend up to 16 hours a day for three weeks without a break at boarding schools to prepare for the test. Parents aid their children in cheating using high-tech equipment. Lavish prizes are used as incentives for students to do well. When a student doesn’t do well enough on the test to gain entry to a top-tier school, his family doesn’t speak to him for a week. Critics assert that the test reflects flaws in the education system in China. Rather than educating students to be free thinking, creative and resourceful, students are pressured to memorize. Education is less about the quality than the quantity. It’s difficult to determine which country does a great job educating their students. In my article “Is the United States preparing students for higher education and future jobs as world leaders?” (http://tinyurl.com/oso6vn), I make note of the differences in teaching methods between the United States and Asian countries (who seem to do a better job educating their students), but the pressure that students endure in those high academically achieving countries seems to outweigh the benefits of their education system.
王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

two completely different system

US college admissions use many facts for qualifications and most improtantly they are student focused which leave options and choices for both party to match and fit. in China, it is one nation under one entrance exam, without human element to consider, it is a chain reaction to other options and choices without no room for fit and match.

Saroj Jagernauth

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

yes

Tony BankstonDean of AdmissionsIllinois Wesleyan University

Too Many Fishing Poles Makes for Bad Fishing

Imagine yourself in a small row boat trying to manage twenty different fishing poles, all of them with lines in the water. Do you think you are more likely to catch fish just because you’ve got so many poles working at once? The reality is that you are actually more likely to spend most of your time untangling knots and dealing with other problems. The college application process is not much different. Applying to a large number of colleges doesn’t increase your odds of getting admitted our securing that rare full-tuition scholarship. But it may very likely cause you to conduct a watered down college search and, in the end, make a bad decision. If you do your research ahead of time and take time to visit different types of college campuses (big, medium, small), you should be able to give yourself plenty of options by applying to five or six colleges. Even with just five or six colleges, you can have one safety school, two moderately selective schools, and three reach schools. You can have a combination of both less expensive public schools and more expensive private schools. With fewer applications “in the water,” you are more likely to keep up with the paperwork, meet deadlines, etc. In the end, you will likely only have enough time to fully investigate your top two to three college choices. Better to give those colleges a great look than spend all your time sifting through all the confusion of keeping up with twenty applications.

Tony BankstonDean of AdmissionsIllinois Wesleyan University

No Answer

No Answer

Hamilton GreggEducational ConsultantPrivate Practice

Wouldn’t that be nice!

I suppose there are some similarities but also big differences. I suppose the similarity is that both are look at in the admission process. But ends about there. The GaoKao is a much longer test, over a couple of days (2-3). It usually takes students about a year to prepare as they try to memorize every possibly answer to questions (generally speaking).

There are more subjects on the test- Chinese, English (and/or another language), Math, Biology Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Political Education. How students score on the test determines which university or not, the student can apply for. The university sets the target score and students hope to meet that target or exceed it. As you may know, the US is generally more person oriented, big long application, possible essays, grades, scores activities. In China it is all about the score.
Nicholas Umphrey

I really don’t know…

The SAT and ACT are in English, while I assume the Chinese exam is in Chinese.

Dr. Stabile

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

The Chinese test is somewhat similar to the US SAT in some ways except that it lasts more than twice as long and the nine-hour test is offered just once a year.

Mark MontgomeryFounderMontgomery Educational Counseling

Play the American Game By American Rules

Too many Chinese students focus on examinations as a way to get into a US university. They spend too much time on SAT and TOEFL preparation, and too little on academic performance and on developing their academic and extra-curricular interests. Furthermore, too few Chinese recognize the enormous differences among universities in the US: they tend to believe that all schools are the same, and that all that differs is the ranking. I work with many Chinese students working toward admission at US universities, and I remind them that if they want to win at an American game played by American rules, they need to forget everything they know about the Chinese academic game. The two systems are completely different.

Don Tamminga

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

I have no idea but I am sure you can look it up on line.

Helen Cella

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

No

Dr. SkarlisOwner/PresidentThe College Advisor of New York

Chinese domestic college entrance exam and US admissions

There are very few similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam.

Tyler BurtonPresident Burton College Tours

Apples and Oranges

In the USA standardized testing is only a portion of the admissions process. Some schools do not even require standardized testing and are called “test optional” schools. Many of these schools do require some admissions testing for international students and that may range from the SAT to the TOFEL. When I work with international students I like to begin by showing students and their families an American college application. I show them the many different sections on a college application that students will need fill in to show a complete picture. I show them that there is a small space to list test scores. Test scores are an important part of an admissions application, but they are a part and not the whole part of a complete application. When Burton College Tours takes international students to visit schools I teach students about the elements of a good fit. “Fit” means is the school the best school for that student. The above question asked me to address the differences between the US and Chinese exams. There are differences in the testing approach, the length of each exam and the level of reasoning that the testing measures are different. I chose to address how each exam plays a role in the admissions process. In the US, at most schools the test scores are a part and not the sum total of the admissions process.

David AllenManaging DirectorGlobal College Counselors Ltd

No idea

I am sorry I have no idea about this one.

Nina BerlerFounderunCommon Apps

U.S. and Chinese Admissions: How Similar?

The Chinese entrance exam, known as gaokao, is administered each June. The exam contains includes Chinese, math, and English along with history, geography, biology and chemistry and lasts nine hours over two days. It is the only criterion used for entrance to Chinese universities, generating much anxiety.

In contrast, the SAT and ACT are shorter exams that, while important, are looked at along with many other requirements such as the transcript, recommendations and essays. While in a sense the SAT and ACT are similar with their emphasis on English and Math, U.S. applicants can select which SAT Subject Tests they want to take, allowing them to shine in their favorite subject areas.
Helen H. ChoiOwnerAdmissions Mavens

Are there similarities between US college admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam?

The Chinese National College Entrance Exam (“gao kao” – big test in Mandarin) is a three day exam that is the sole determining factor for the vast majority of colleges in China. About 10 million students take this exam each year, and it has about a 40% failure rate. Many students study 12-16 hours each day for this exam. If they don’t do well on this exam — they must wait (and study) for an entire year before trying again.

Makes the SAT look pretty great, doesn’t it? A 4 hour test given multiple times a year. Not too onerous, right? Also — consider that the gao kao is the ONLY thing that matters in Chinese college admissions. In the U.S., SAT/ACT scores provide only part of the picture, as grades, curriculum, teacher’s recs, essays, interviews, extracurriculars, etc.. are all considered by admissions committees. In fact, there are some schools that are even test optional — so you don’t need to send in your test scores if you don’t feel that they reflect your abilities as a student. (For a list of test optional schools, please check out www.fairtest.org.)