making informed and educated decision for applying financial aid
Most Chinese students did not apply for financial aid, or told not to apply for financial aid by agencies to enhance acceptence rate.
For most Chinese parents who are willing to support their children in US Boarding schools, they should do more beyond paying for tuition and expensive live style. It is true that many Chinese parents can learn a few excuses that they never had enough time to communicate with their children before of their final decision of sending their child to US boarding school. But the Chinese parents don’t know they are actually sending their children to not just a different school, but a different world. That would involve the necessary and much needed support system ultimately require the parents’ participation. From parents’ point of view, it is enough for them to receive emails, student reports and notifications from the school for tuition. Do more than that is not necessary, not required, and a waste of time. I can tell them one thing for sure that is wrong as what we say in America the scariest thing in America is that you don’t know what you don’t know.
A typical US parent decide to consider boarding schools for their children involve a standard procedure and interview process for final decisions. And that is being done through numerous interviews between the parents and the headmasters of US boarding schools. The American parents will typically visit the school first, listen to what the school has to say, and then they will all have to opportunity to ask the headmaster face to face what they had in mind and what they expect the school will do for them. In the end, the American parents or guardian will select the best possible school based on their agenda. Or course, the Chinese parents cannot do the same as American parents do for their children when it comes to selecting the right school for their children. Most of those Chinese parents will be told what to do, which school to go, by the Chinese agencies. They never have the ability to visit a school, talk to teachers, or have a conversation with the headmaster. It is common that they have very limited information about the boarding school they’re sending their child to and it’s typical to receive the wrong information for that school in the beginning. Let’s talk about what US boarding schools must do for their students regardless domestic or international students. Chinese parents will not read this through any brochures, marketing materials, or even here, directly from boarding schools. But it is essential for Chinese parents learn what the boarding school can do for them. Therefore, as a parent they know how to support their children and work with boarding schools shoulder to shoulder. For example, boarding schools should communicate with the parents and adults and require the parents’ ability to understand the communications from boarding schools regarding the students’ well-being including academic and psychological issues and emotional stage. If the boarding school chose to have one-way communication with the Chinese parents and does not require the Chinese parents to appoint a US guardian to receive communication from the school and function as the intermediate person for the school and the parent, then the Chinese parents must consider the consequences without a US guardian. The first question for the Chinese parents is: why would a US boarding school not require a US guardian in the first place? Who is going to be responsible for the students during the holiday session and make informed decisions for the students during the school year? If the boarding school expect the Chinese parents who are 5000 miles away, 12 hours time difference, to be able to make emergency calls and take care of the students without a delay that is called delusional and irresponsible policy. That is the number one support system and number one priority for the Chinese parents to consider as part of the support system for the child.
When it comes to college admissions for Chinese students at US boarding schools, what the Chinese parents can expect US boarding schools to handle the admissions process. Boarding schools have counselors office which must provide services as early as ninth grade all the way to senior year. Normally American parents will keep contact with the counselor’s office regularly and have a face to face meeting with the college counselor during the school year on a regular basis. In this case, Chinese parents are not in the position to talk to counselors in the boarding schools and have a face to face meeting with them at any given time. The disadvantage of not being able to take advantage of the counseling service at us boarding schools is obvious. Those Chinese students chose to bring their Chinese students back to china during the summer in order to attend test prep and toefl classes. In addition to that, more and more Chinese parents decide to hire Chinese agencies for college admissions. All those would not happen if the Chinese parents know how to support their children at a us boarding school. Because they’re already paid for the services which should produce much better results for them.
If the Chinese parents have options to function like American parents, it is highly recommended and must consider a qualified US guardian plus academic advisors for the student and parents. This way, the Chinese parents will protect their best interest and hold US boarding schools accountable. For what this is supposed to do in the first place. Most boarding schools totally understand what the Chinese parents expect them to do. They will have no problem working with professional guardian not only on the holidays but also the academic plan and student life on all aspects. It is a great challenge for Chinese students to work alone at a US boarding school without support system from the parents or guardian. Because their ability is limited the Chinese parents should expect less results and lower their expectations when it comes to college admissions. However, the misunderstanding of many Chinese parents are totally the opposite. They expect the return of their investment should directly result in successful college admissions at highly selective US colleges. But the reality is that percentage is low, probability slim, without a support system for the Chinese students.
In order to support the Chinese students at the US boarding schools, it is required that the Chinese parents are willing to change and work with the school. As part of the support system, Chinese parents should improve themselves and encourage their child to succeed. That cannot be done through expensive lifestyles alone but has to be done through hand-holding advisory services to bring not only the parents but the students to the level that belong truly belong to the boarding school community.