The following is a reposting of anarticle published in Urban Family by MIT educated CEO/Founder of New Pathway Education and Technology Group

With the rapid rise of China as a major player on the global economic stage, several industries are seeing a rapid expansion: luxury goods and services, healthcare, and education among them. As purchasing power increases along with the number of prosperous Chinese people and the value of the renminbi, consumers are becoming more discerning in their choices. The effect within the education field is especially significant.

The education industry in China can be split into several categories: public schools; private schools; extracurricular/supplementary tutoring; language training; certificate or professional qualifications preparation; test preparation; arts, sports, and other training; vocational training; management education; and online education. The country』s private education has grown rapidly, stimulated by the desire of an increasing number of Chinese students to study abroad. According to the Investigation Report on the Trend of Going Abroad for Study 2011 (released by www.eol.cn), the number of Chinese students studying abroad increased by more than 25% annually between 2009 and 2011. Chinese students with ambitions to study abroad have a number of considerations to take into account.

As the private education sector has expanded, competition amongst test preparation institutions and private education service providers has stiffened. With ever more options to choose from, how does a consumer differentiate amongst education providers when seeking preparation for overseas study? Generally there are two principal services to consider: test preparation and consulting/counseling/advisory support.

When choosing a test preparation institution, the most important consideration from the consumer』s perspective is the track-record of results that the particular institution has produced. There is no better indicator of future performance than past performance. Factors to weigh include the length of the institution』s history, average score increases over a specified period of time, the range of services the institution offers, and how students』 attitudes to test preparation and academics have been influenced or changed by the particular institution and its educators.

Consulting/counseling companies should be able to guide and advise students on how to best present themselves to colleges. In general, the goal is to find a company that can rapidly assess the student"s interests, values, and abilities, give guidance and mentorship, plan the entire process, and counsel the student on how to reach his or her potential. The company should also provide academic support services include learning skills assessment, counseling on courses, and study skill lessons on time management. The counselors should streamline the research that students need to undertake, for instance by identifying potential majors and career paths, choosing colleges, and assisting with test registration. The student needs to respect and trust the counselor, and the counselors should be able to build a strong relationship with the student. Therefore, the background and ability of the counselor is an absolutely essential factor. Counselors must be able to strategically plan the entire application, identify a personalized list of schools, help develop a resume, and assist students in editing essays. Such customized guidance is important because students should aim not only to gain acceptance to the best school possible, but also to find the best match for their own interests and abilities.

Choosing whether to study abroad or stay in China for post-secondary education is a big decision that must be made carefully, with many factors taken into consideration. However, once the decision is made to go abroad, it is essential to find the best team of people possible, to help effectively and to efficiently prepare for it.

Sam Hwang

Founder/CEO

New Pathway Education & Technology Group

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