Americans make up large cohort of intl applicants

Students from the United States are increasingly choosing China for undergraduate study, with about 35 percent of international freshmen at Duke Kunshan University, located in Jiangsu province, coming from the US. According to the university, Americans account for the largest cohort among its international student community.

International applications continue to rise, especially from US undergraduate applicants, even against the backdrop of a complex China-US relationship, said John Quelch, executive vice-chancellor and American president of DKU.

"The continued growth in international applications, especially from US applicants, despite a complex US-China relationship, shows that educational exchange remains one of the most resilient and promising ties between our two countries," Quelch said.

He added that more American students are recognizing the value of experiencing and understanding China firsthand, both because of its role in the global economy and because that comprehension may add value to their future careers.

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"This experience builds knowledge, cross-cultural understanding, critical thinking and a sense of global responsibility," he said.

For Sara and Alejandra Salazar, siblings and students at DKU, the journey to China began long before university.

"Coming to China has been our dream since we were young, and to not only live here but also study here — with each other and with our parents — has truly been a dream come true," they said.

The sisters attended the Mandarin Immersion Magnet School in Houston, Texas, where half of their classes were taught in Mandarin.

At DKU, they joined the women's varsity basketball team, where international and Chinese students make up a nearly equal mix. "Our Chinese teammates have become some of our best friends on campus," they said. "Basketball has been the bridge that brought us together, helping us learn from each other while building genuine friendships."

After graduation, the Salazar sisters hope to continue their studies in China, ideally at Tsinghua, Peking or Fudan University. They also said their parents moved with them to Kunshan. "Coming here with parents who don't speak Mandarin has also given us a crash course in adulthood," the siblings said. "We've had to handle tasks like apartment hunting or buying a car — in our third language."

Birkley Grunewald, a second-year student, said the decision to study in China was driven by a desire to learn from the country's development. China and the US together account for a significant share of global GDP, Grunewald said. "The reason I decided to come to China was to learn from this incredible country, gaining knowledge, insight and connections to do something impactful in the world."

Grunewald's family was initially confused by the decision. The absurdity of moving across continents shocked them, Grunewald said.

"They thought I had accidentally applied to the wrong Duke University." But after learning more about his motivations, Grunewald said, they became supportive. His mother even texted: "This school was MADE for you. And you were MADE for it."

For Caleb Leonard, a second-year undergraduate student, it all started with a tiny checkbox on the Duke University application, asking if he wanted to apply to Duke's campus in China: Duke Kunshan University.

Having studied Chinese for 12 years in the US, he applied.

During the admissions interview, he learned about the opportunity to pursue two degrees — one from Duke University in the US and one from DKU in China. "It became clear that DKU and China were providing me an offer that I could not reject," Leonard said. His family, who had never been to Kunshan or anywhere in China before, booked plane tickets to tour the campus. They were impressed by the infrastructure, the safety of the cities, the cleanliness on and off campus, and the welcoming nature of the school's personnel and Chinese citizens.

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Leonard also said misinformation about China in the US, and misconceptions about the US in China, have led some family members to disapprove of his decision. "Now, more than ever, it is important that we break down those incorrect stereotypes and show the world how much an international education truly has to offer," he said.

Quelch said, "Education is the most enduring diplomacy." He noted that what attracts American undergraduates to Duke Kunshan is not a simple copy of Duke in the US, but a unique educational value: a Duke-quality education in an international, interdisciplinary and globally oriented environment, including studying on campuses in both China and the US, earning two degrees, close faculty-student interaction, and the experience of living and growing in China.

Contact the writers at zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn