Harvard goes to China to recruit math students

A post by Pat

Harvard and other American universities are actively recruiting math students in China directly out of high school. Scholarships are offered as an incentive.

Colleges Scour China for Top Students

There are no quotas, no limits on the number of Chinese students we might take,” Fitzsimmons [Harvard's admissions dean] told a standing-room-only crowd of more than 300 students during a visit to Beijing No. 4 High School. “We know there are very good students from China not applying now. I hope to get them into the pool to compete.”

That message is disconcerting for American students toiling to land a coveted spot in Harvard’s 1,660-student freshman class – and controversial among some educators. But Fitzsimmons and others say they had better get used to the idea. Applications from China have exploded in recent years as the Communist country opens up to the world, and they’re only going to increase.

Even fifth-graders in Wellesley, Newton, and Brookline, who as adults will face international competition for jobs, should begin beefing up their academic résumés if they want a shot at an Ivy League education, Fitzsimmons said.

“We’re trying to send a message to young people, as young as primary school, to make the most of their studies,” he said, “because they’ll be competing with students around the world later on.” And while universities are seeking applicants throughout the world, China’s rising influence and the academic devotion of students there make it especially appealing.

It isn’t clear exactly why American universities need to actively recruit foreign students or why American students interested in pursuing math and science would have to compete with them for a seat in an American university. It is clear that American dominance will be seriously challenged in the 21st century if American students are not competitive in science, technology, engineering and math.

The National Intelligence Council estimates America has a broad lead and is expected to remain dominant economically, technologically and militarily at least through 2020. We are the undisputed leader in research. We cannot, however, deny the fact that the rest of the world is coming up fast. We can’t stand still much less fall behind in preparing the next generation for the world awaiting them. Rebuilding the educational pipeline to produce the qualified labor pool for the high-quality, knowledge-intensive jobs that will ensure American competitiveness can’t be delayed.

The 2007 report Rising Above the Gathering Storm focuses on the critical need to strengthen the quality of math and science education in the United States and to encourage American students to pursue those fields. We are still dominant in technology and innovation but if we are complacent about addressing the problem of preparing for the knowledge-intensive quality jobs necessary for 21st century competition, America’s standing as an economic leader will be in jeopardy.

…While he supports international admissions, Harry Lewis, a computer science professor, worries that Harvard is making it harder for American students to get in.”There’s a real tension here,” said Lewis, former dean of Harvard College who sits on the admissions committee. We get tax exemptions not so we can help build the economy of China, but so we can help contribute to the economy of the United States.”That being said, Lewis acknowledged that “we’re not alarmed enough in this country about the lack of interest and motivation we’re giving to math education here.”

It used to be foreign nationals came to America for an education and stayed for a job. Now they go back home.

Here is a 10-minute podcast reporting on “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” convocation held in April. Please listen.