Thomas Misco Ph.D. epub Preparing to Succeed at U.S. Colleges and Universities: A Guidebook for Chinese Students

Preparing to Succeed at U.S. Colleges and Universities is written for Chinese students who are beginning an undergraduate education in the United States and who take courses introducing them to U.S. culture, teaching, and learning. In addition, this book has salience for Chinese high school juniors and seniors who plan to study at U.S. Colleges and Universities. I chose to write this book in response to a practical problem. As more Chinese students have entered U.S. Colleges and Universities, scores of anecdotal and journalistic reports reveal a struggle for adjustment and academic success. In response to this problem, most universities have provided: a) more remedial English language classes, primarily for students who have passed TOEFL requirements but who struggle academically and b) an increased attention to cultural adjustment and social interaction with traditional domestic students. Although both of these efforts are valuable and necessary, I contend that there is also a problem of adjustment that hinges upon a far more recondite and paradigmatic distinction—that of epistemology and the intellectual assumptions that are fundamentally different in the United States as compared to China. Whereas other books and resources seek to inform all international students on how to transition on all matters of life in the United States or other western countries, this book focuses solely on Chinese students who study or plan to study at an undergraduate level in the United States, with a primary emphasis on intellectual and educational preparations required to be successful. This book uncovers deeply held intellectual and educational differences and will help Chinese students to have an easier and more successful transition into U.S. higher education.