Study in the United States: the highest rate of 100,000

The surface seems to save time and effort to study abroad intermediary, operation but hidden many hidden dangers. Study Abroad Intermediary Chaos Survey: The United States to strengthen supervision of overseas enrollment next year morning newspaper reporter is winter and winter "I am now regret, there is a feeling of being fooled."　　Leigh (a pseudonym) recently complained to the newspaper reporter.　　Like most parents, more than a year ago, after graduating from high school with her 19-year-old daughter, Leigh intended to send her daughter to the United States to study for undergraduate studies, and the way is through the domestic intermediary agencies, but now talk about studying this topic, Leigh Heart unavoidably some lost. Disappointment is not only Li Yiyi individuals, thousands of Chinese students each year to study in the United States, many of them through intermediary agencies matchmaking.　　The surface appears to save time and effort intermediary, operation but hidden many hidden dangers, even some intermediary in order to get Commission, at the recommended students go to some unsuitable university study. Big cake in the United States, Chinese students have become the main force, with 1 out of every 5 foreign students from China.　　This has in some ways also spawned a preference for American universities for Chinese students, as well as a "harder" way for students to deliver. According to the American International Education Association (IIE) in November 2011, the number of international students enrolled in American universities grew by nearly 5% to 723,000, a record high in the 2010-2011 academic year.　　Among them, 158,000 Chinese students grew 23% from a year earlier, becoming the largest source of American international Students for two consecutive years.　　In nearly 160,000 of the Chinese to the United States to study in the Army, 57,000 people read the undergraduate, the growth of 42.7%, postgraduate 76,800 people, an increase of 15.6%. Against the backdrop of a weak U.S. economy, international student fees are far higher than for local students, which is good news for universities that recruit large numbers of international students.　　The U.S. Department of Commerce data shows that the 2010-2011 school year, overseas Students for the United States more than 21 billion U.S. dollars of income, higher education as the United States's most important export products of services. David Hoggins, director of the National University Management Committee, said: "Our university is now back to the 19th century gold Rush era, as if we have been doing so many years of study, suddenly found that the original opposite the ocean there is a golden hill." "At the State University of New York, for example, Bloomberg has reported that international student tuition is more than 2.5 times times higher than that of New York State students." The so-called "diploma factory" that was previously exposed-North Dakota State Dixon State University in the United States (DSU), students from China are paying as much as $12978 a year, and more than twice times the tuition of 5608 dollars for students in the state of the school. (Note: local time February 10, the State University of Dixon issued an internal audit report that DSU has issued a diploma to hundreds of overseas students who did not meet the required minimum score lines, most of them Chinese students. According to the US investigation, the diploma has been issued since 2003Of the 393 Chinese students in the book, only 3 were qualified. On the day of the report, Jon Brudvig, DSU's vice president for foreign affairs, resigned, and Joen Bradigue, dean of the School of Education, Business and Applied Sciences, shot himself on the same day. Unlike the Western Pacific University, where Tang June's reputation is discredited, the State University of Dixon, although ranked 100 in the United States, is still a regular university accredited by the Chinese Ministry of Education, offering a bachelor's degree course. Peggy Blumenthal, IIe Senior advisor, told the Morning News reporter that American universities recruit international students in a series of considerations, not just to bring economic benefits to the school, but also to diversify and globalize the campus, "where students are not willing to be recruited by schools to perform in general," says Brumento. This will not only hurt the students, but also affect the school and its overseas reputation.　　"The intermediary of the" Overlord contract "on the one hand is the United States education resources, on the other hand is the tedious American University application process that has never been contacted, compared to graduate students ' DIY applications, undergraduates are more selective through intermediaries, while the burden of communicating with intermediaries falls on parents ' shoulders, while children concentrate on various language tests.　　As many parents of the United States to apply for the lack of knowledge, almost formed a "listen to the intermediary, with the intermediary to go" situation, the intermediary said what is what, the key is not to worry about their own. Agencies have sprung up.　　In China at present, thousands of of various types of study in the intermediary agencies, as of March 6, 2012, received the Ministry of Education at their own expense to study intermediary qualification approved only 420, of which only 16 of Shanghai.　　Leigh for her daughter to study in the intermediary agency precisely in Shanghai has no service qualifications, although its headquarters in Guangzhou has been recognized by the Ministry of Education. According to Leigh, the reason for choosing the intermediary was the recommendation of a local famous university in Shanghai, "at that time to listen to a friend's recommendation chose the University of a preparatory class, said to be in the country last year, can arrive at American University credits, there are several docking schools." At the entrance ceremony, the university recommended the agency, and the fees were cheaper than others.　　"But when we actually enrolled, Leigh found it completely different from what it was described before." Leigh told the Morning Post reporter, originally thought that school will have standardized management of the students, "but you pay the money, want to do why, no one cares if you have to go to class, management is very loose, teachers feel is patchwork, can not guarantee teaching time and quality."　　"and prior to the school promised to offset the national Matriculation College credit is not realistic, if the change of professional, this credit can not be used, the so-called docking university or the same request students in accordance with the application criteria to apply, rather than lower the threshold. "I now understand the docking, is this side can be with the United States responsible for recruiting people docking, contact, but not other docking."　　"Leigh said. It is to be noted that, March 29 This year, the Office of the Ministry of Education issued a "notice on strengthening the standard management of foreign-run schools", requiring all colleges and universities to accurately grasp the policy boundaries of Sino-foreign cooperative education, should not be in the name of Sino-Foreign cooperative running a special promotion of this project, preparatory classes, such as　　Newspaper reporter in Leigh said the famous university website to find the so-called "American Foundation Course" of the relevant introduction, but then read the Ministry of Education published "Through the review of Sino-Foreign Cooperative schools and Sino-Foreign Cooperative Program", and did not find the name of the university-related courses.　　The disappointment is still behind. At the same time the daughter went to school, Leigh signed a contract with the intermediary, "now it seems to be an unequal overlord contract."　　Leigh said that the school and the intermediary are urging their early signing, the reason is to be able to track the situation of each student earlier, master dynamic. Leigh said, and intermediary signed contract terms are very general, not a menu-style service, feel more like a contract price, "first ask you to which country, each country charge different, the school can choose 5, and then the choice of professional."　　Leigh said that a three-part contract was withdrawn by the intermediary after the parents signed the letter, and the intermediary did not sign the contract, and had not yet got the contract.　　In fact, as early as 2004, the Ministry of Education and the State Administration of Industry and Commerce launched the "Self-study intermediary service commissioned contract (model text)", but so far the use of the study of the text of the intermediary few. After signing the contract, Leigh proposed to adjust the professional, but the intermediary said to change a professional to charge more than 1200 yuan fee, "at that time the intermediary also desperately recommend some schools to me, said that they have cooperation, if not selected intermediary recommended, they are afraid to apply for a package of votes." I think there must be some kind of relationship between the agency and these schools. "Leigh daughter of one-year matriculation fee of 80,000 yuan up and down, intermediary fee of 20,000 yuan."　　has not yet gone abroad, Leigh has spent 100,000 yuan for her daughter, equivalent to a year's living expenses of studying in the United States. Interestingly, in an interview with the Morning Post reporter, Leigh repeatedly stressed, can not use her real name, also do not want to open intermediary and the name of the university, Leigh worry, once exposed, his daughter's American road or will stop, "all the material in the intermediary hands."　　In fact, as early as in 2004, the Ministry of Education and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce launched the "Self-study intermediary service commissioned contract (model text)", but so far the use of the text of the intermediary Limited. After signing the contract, Leigh proposed to adjust the professional, but the intermediary said to change a professional to charge more than 1200 yuan fee, "at that time the intermediary also desperately recommend some schools to me, said that they have cooperation, if not selected intermediary recommended, they are afraid to apply for a package of votes." I think there must be some kind of relationship between the agency and these schools. "Leigh daughter of one-year matriculation fee of 80,000 yuan up and down, intermediary fee of 20,000 yuan."　has not yet gone abroad, Leigh has spent 100,000 yuan for her daughter, equivalent to a year's living expenses of studying in the United States.　Interestingly, in an interview with the Morning Post reporter, Leigh repeatedly stressed, can not use her real name, also do not want to open intermediary and the name of the university, Leigh worry, once exposed, his daughter's American road or will stop, "all the material in the intermediary hands."　　"The intermediary fees up to 100,000 yuan" this is only the tip of the iceberg of the insider, and Leigh feeling is also right, some study abroad intermediary and American University does exist interest relations. A person who has worked in a study abroad agency has revealed to the morning news reporter that the intermediary will recommend some of the universities that have interests with them, especially those who are generally successful but who want to study in the United States and do not care about the university rankings, "We have several partnerships on the list of their universities to ensure that they are finally admitted, As far as the top schools are concerned, we will not be particularly serious when applying.　　"The above people also said that the original work of the intermediary also did not deal with the qualifications of studying abroad, but through the affiliated institutions with the qualification of studying abroad for business."　　Many parents think that the school with the intermediary is easier to accept, and do not care about the ranking of schools. Senior experts in Zhang Hengrui told The Morning Post reporter, the problem is that not all alleged that they have the cooperation of the University of the intermediary and the university really exist cooperative relations, or even did not, "worse still, the intermediary will continue to subcontract, this is the biggest problem now." "Zhang Hengrui examples, such as a intermediary has a real cooperative agent relationship, B, C, D, E, F and other intermediaries are not, a intermediary will say that the study case to them, by a intermediary to operate," but the actual will not, because customers will run to a there.　　"The reality is that many intermediaries do not have agency relations, but rely on some solo personal agents, who have lived in the United States for many years and have a better relationship with an American university, may sign a special agency agreement with the university, and then come to China to promote the agency, allowing the intermediary to transfer the students to the individual and then to the "So many of the cases end up with so many problems because of subcontracting, these companies have these chaos, is derived from this side ... And the students are ignorant from beginning to end.　　Zhang Hengrui said that subcontracting would create a domino effect, as long as there is a link between the problem, the whole chain will collapse. According to Zhang Hengrui, in the United States, the top 100 of the university is rarely the case with the intermediary contract, mainly in the 100 after the private university, those ranked in 200 after the private university is more willing to pay commission to the Chinese study intermediary to bring more students,　　American universities usually pay commissions ranging from 500 to 1500 dollars, and these commissions are also drawn on a layer by agency.　　As for the intermediary fees for students, Zhang Hengrui said that the prevailing market prices are: The top 100 28000 yuan, 50 to 100 of 35000 yuan to 42000 yuan, the first 50 yuan 48000 to 100,000 yuan. Noteworthy, the number of American universities that pay commissions to intermediaries is growing.　　Jim Miller, chairman of the American Association of University Careers Advisers (NACAC), told the Morning Post that some of the four-year universities in the United States had a commission-interest relationship with Chinese intermediaries, including formal intermediaries, informal and personal agents, and the number was rising. In addition, there is also a "cheat" of students in the market, that is, to attract students to sign contracts in advance, to earn high intermediary fees, but did not do too much counseling work.　　A senior industry personage told The Morning Post reporter, some study abroad intermediary launched the so-called "Early Bird" study abroad program, two or three years in advance with students to sign a high agreement, but this two or three years to do is to prepare the language test, and Half-way can not refund, unless students can not go abroad, this has caused many disputes. US plans to oversee overseas enrollment next year although one-tenth of American universities and intermediaries have partnerships, the morning paper reporter randomly selected a number of the top and the Chinese students have a "rotten school" title of the University (that is, easy access to universities and intermediaries like recommended schools),　　No university claims to have a cooperative relationship with intermediaries, all of which indicate that they are independent enrollment. Brumento points out that there is a growing concern in the United States about some of the less-qualified intermediaries who send their students to schools that are not suitable for them, and that NACAC has set up a committee to consider measures to prohibit American universities from paying overseas intermediaries to recruit international students.　　And this behavior itself is prohibited in the United States.　　Brumento said that overseas intermediaries are in fact charged at both ends, charging students for an intermediary fee while accepting commissions from American universities. Miller explained that in accordance with U.S. law, it is illegal to collect commissions, but this applies only to domestic admissions in the United States, which leaves the university with a chance to exploit the loopholes. "We are planning to introduce measures to regulate or regulate recruiting overseas.　　Miller said NACAC is expected to hold a meeting in 2013 to discuss the issue. Study abroad intermediary in the operating procedure does not conform to the standard, not only collects the Commission, but also includes the forgery various kinds of documents and so on.　　The intermediary told the Morning Post reporter, usually the intermediary will prepare for the students all kinds of documents and other materials, rather than let students write themselves. The claim was confirmed by Miller.　　Miller, for example, some intermediaries will write personal statements for students, and this is fraud, because the original request is written by students, and some intermediary will forge school materials, such as transcripts, and even ask students to pay a sum of non-existent costs, and claims that the United States University requirements. According to the People's Daily, April 5, recently, some sources said that in order to prevent the fraud of study abroad, to avoid the actual level of students and materials show a greater difference, the United States colleges and universities will strengthen the interview examination for Chinese students. Commissioned by more than 300 U.S. member schools, including the Ivy League and state universities, the American Association for International Education Exchange will be in ChinaThe United States University application interview (CAI) assessment.　　Cai Assessment as a "one-to-one" interview form, the interviewer will be based on the performance of candidates in the interview to write an assessment report, the report will be as a student to apply for U.S. schools important reference indicators.　　However, Miller also stressed that there are still many intermediaries, in the student application process can give help and advice, and familiar with the application procedures for studying in the United States.　　Apart from the intermediary approach, there are many ways to help Chinese students to apply for American universities. Shah Krom, deputy director of the International Student Admissions office at Michigan State University, told the Morning Post that the Educationusa, under the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Education, had offices in China to help students learn about American universities and provide free guidance on applying for study abroad. Michigan State University often communicates with the agency on admissions plans. Krom said the school also noted that many Chinese families paid to study abroad to help their children apply, and that Michigan State University had never paid intermediary money or had contractual relationships with intermediaries, "there are some American universities and intermediaries who have contracts, but we do not." Krom warns that if a student is applying through an intermediary, the student is likely to lose his chance if he is found to have serious problems, such as incomplete material or integrity issues. "So parents should keep in close communication with the intermediary to understand every step in the application process." Ideally, the intermediary will only help students choose the appropriate school, and explain the application process, and then the students to complete the application. "Michigan State University is one of the top 10 international students in the United States, and the number of international students has increased 3 times times over the past 5 years, with the largest increase in Chinese students."　　In the fall semester of 2011, a total of 3,000 students from China entered the school, including undergraduate and graduate students, up 50% per cent year-on-year.　　Miller pointed out that in order to ensure the procedural transparency and impartiality of Chinese students in applying for American universities, the two governments should spur or regulate educational institutions, including schools and intermediaries or individuals, in moral conduct. (The Morning Post intern Chen Shin also contributed to this article)