One of the biggest challenges Chinese students face when they come to America is language. Speaking Chinese and English is very different and can be very hard for someone who isn’t fluent in both. This leads to Chinese students not really talking to non-Chinese people, and instead make friends with other students like themselves. It also becomes hard for them to communicate with their professors and write papers and the likes because they aren’t practiced in the language.

Another huge problem is culture. American culture and Chinese culture are vastly different. Chinese students have deeply rooted ideals regarding school. It’s all about getting high numbers and achievements, which leads to intense pressure for them to perform well because it becomes very difficult to achieve those high numbers and achievements when you’re in a completely different place.

Finally, simply coming to a foreign country all by yourself is a task that is overwhelming in itself. Disregarding school, just living in a completely foreign country without your family can be a difficult task.