May 02, 2016 10:05 AM EDT By Frances Jean Williams, UniversityHerald Reporter

The allegedly "uninspiring" state of their country's low-quality education systems led many Chinese students to choose studying abroad. United States Universities seem to be a primary destination, particularly for those who aim to get a higher education.

The number of foreign students is steadily and rapidly on the rise, as Wall Street Journal reported, and China is the largest contributor. Figures are up by a million enrolments just last year, which constitutes a 40% increase in foreign student enrolment as compared with data from five years ago.

The story of Chinese student named Fan Yue also gained their attention. In her personal recountings, Yue thought that colleges in her country were "uninspiring."

She cited several reasons for the claim, two of which are the "pervasive cheating" and people skipping class outright. But perhaps this is more a result than a cause, what with Chinese universities promoting the study of what is now known as the "Mao Zedong thought."

Add to this the fact that one must study rigorously for the "gaokao," which is the Chinese equivalent of the SATs (and apparently constitutes the thorough study of 17th century poetry). Only a few of the millions who take it pass, and the rather elitist nature is not encouraging for those who desire less competition and more education.  

Yue found the system "soul-crushing," claiming that there is no meaning to such a system, and she learns nothing from it. Many students with middle-class backgrounds seem to agree, as evidenced by the aforementioned statistic. She is an exception, however, in that her parents were actually against her moving to the U.S. to pursue higher education. Still she found herself applying to the University of California, and she got in.

The Chinese students' dreams and their country's education sector is not the only factor in the current U.S. migration trends. As CNN reported, the general weather of the living conditions in China contributes to it, as well.

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