At Global Admissions and China Admissions we work with thousands of international students applying to universities all over the world.
There are many students who have unrealistic expectations when they are applying to universities. They only want to get to the top ones, but they don’t have the grades.
But there are also a large number of students who do have the grades, but they don’t realise they have a shot at some of the top universities. This is especially the case for master’s programs.
I understand how valuable it can be in getting into top universities Vs average ones, and how that can completely change a students life.
It can completely change the trajectory of their life.
They can meet more excellent people, find more opportunities, be surrounded by excellent people. They can think more clearly, they can earn more, they can help their family. There is a huge list of benefits of going to a top university that students who go to average ones don’t have.
This problem is partly one of incomplete information. They just don’t know they have the chance. That’s something we’re working to address by making the process more transparent.
This is also a problem of their expectations.
They have never been told that they are capable.
They have been surrounded by average and normal, nobody has ever told them.
The majority of those who have been told, have been told by their school, but also by their parents, a vast majority of who’s parents are immigrant parents. Who think globally, and pass this drive and these ways of thinking to their parents.
I sometimes wonder how these expectations might influence students lives in other areas too. Do they also aim to work at average companies and look for average relationships?
I understand that most people are by definition average and normal. But I don’t accept societies acceptance of average and being normal. Being average and normal is fine, if they really do appreciate excellence, and they’ve tried their best, they’ve had their shot, and they’ve gone for it.
But being average and not trying and trying to make others average, that means to be a freerider, to freeride off other peoples hard work.
Who is going to build the iphones, or their house and run the country? Do average people want to live in average houses? Do they want to go to work in an average car? In an average train that has delays? Who is going to watch average people play football? Do they want to have an average politician, that makes their country an average country? In political affairs, that means it is likely to be subjugated by excellent countries. If they think they want average, then I think if they really got the average, they would quickly change their mind.
There is a contradiction in society that people want to be average and normal and don’t seek excellence in their own lives, yet they expect excellence from others, they enjoy excellence on TV, and excellence in how trains are run, and everything else. When things are average, they complain.
I do think there is something wrong with being average and normal and not looking to improve. Being comfortable with being average and not appreciating or striving for excellence is a recipe for decline personally and for societal decline.
Going back to the university problem, and not aiming high enough according to their level. I think this is a tragedy. Their lives can be so much better, but it’s not just about them, it’s the impact they can have if they were excellent on those around them. Their contributions to society, to their families, and what they could create and do if they were great.
I understand not everyone can be excellent, by definition, but I believe it is important for society to appreciate excellence. It is important that people strive for excellence. That would push the overall amount of excellence much higher.
For universities, the cost of applying to these top universities is very small, in terms of time and cost, related to the benefits. Tiny downside, unlimited upside.
One thing I’ve noticed is that those who apply to top universities are those that have largely been told that they can. They never got this idea, and they’ve been told they’re average, or it’s ok to be average, by average people.
For those who have told them that they can aim for excellence, they’ve been told by their school or their parents. With parents being the majority. Parents have a far bigger influence on the decisions of children than schools. The schools provide them with a basic education, of some tools, and it’s like a resource they can use. They do the heavy work of teaching them how to read, and write, and give them the skills, but it’s their parents who guide them through that journey. The schools don’t have someone who consistently do that throughout their education journey.
Immigrant parents are a notable group who do seem to instill in their children a drive for excellence. They’ve understood the difference between being in two countries, and how much work it takes to do well, coming from an outside perspective.
