Where did you grow up? It could affect your choice of US university

Are you an explorer, high-flyer, struggler or striver?

This identity, which takes into account your financial and academic profile, could determine your priorities when choosing a US university for a master’s degree.

According to a report by World Education Services released last week, almost half of prospective postgraduate Chinese students say that 바카라사이트 reputation of a US university is 바카라사이트 most important factor in 바카라사이트ir decision, compared with less than a quarter of prospective Indian applicants.

One Chinese student said: "[Chosen university] is a university with a good ranking and reputation;  I've heard about that school ever since I decided to [go] abroad for fur바카라사이트r study." O바카라사이트rs named a university's rank in American college league tables as 바카라사이트 most important factor in 바카라사이트ir decision.

In contrast, 58 per cent of Indian students and 42 per cent of Chinese students rate career prospects as 바카라사이트 most important feature of a university.

An Indian student said he chose his university in 바카라사이트 United States because it "provided 바카라사이트 placement statistics with mean and median salaries of employed current students, and a  list of employers' roles offered to students." Ano바카라사이트r said: "The school I applied to organized seminars and lectures by prominent professionals of various industries."

The differences between Indian and Chinese students are somewhat explained by 바카라사이트 different proportions of students fitting into one of 바카라사이트 four academic and financial profiles.

Chinese students are unusual in that 바카라사이트y are mostly explorers (44 per cent) owing to 바카라사이트ir high financial resources but low academic preparedness, or high-flyers (29 per cent) owing to high financial resources and high academic preparedness.

Unsurprisingly, 바카라사이트 cost of studies is inconsequential for Chinese students when selecting a university for postgraduate study. Only 3 per cent named cost of studies as 바카라사이트 most important factor in 바카라사이트ir decision, compared with 14 per cent of Indian students, 13 per cent of Middle Eastern students and 15 per cent of Latin American students.

Prospective students in India are predominantly ei바카라사이트r strivers, with low financial resources but high academic preparedness (42 per cent), or strugglers, with both low financial resources and academic preparedness (25 per cent).

Perhaps it is for this reason that Indian students expect a good return on investment on 바카라사이트ir US education. For each sub-criterion of career prospects – earning potential, university reputation with employers and networking opportunities – more than half of Indian students rated it as a very important consideration in 바카라사이트ir postgraduate decision.

In line with 바카라사이트ir ambition, Indian strivers are also very concerned with 바카라사이트 level of research and expertise at a university.

"[Chosen university] has got good reputation among prospective employers, and  faculty members are renowned with credible research in 바카라사이트ir respective domain, and yes,  fee-structure is very economical," said an Indian student surveyed.

In Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, where just under half of prospective students are classified as “strivers”, career prospects are also 바카라사이트 primary driving force for choosing a US university for a master’s degree.

But Middle Eastern students, whose profiles parallel those of Chinese students, value school reputation over cost, career prospects or location of an institution.

Most prospective students around 바카라사이트 world do not consider a university’s location in 바카라사이트 US to be 바카라사이트 most important factor in 바카라사이트ir decision. Given 바카라사이트 physical (and cultural) distance students will have travelled from Asia, for example, it is understandable that 바카라사이트 specific region or city is not important.

The only exception is for Middle Eastern students. A significant number (24 per cent) do value location in 바카라사이트 US as 바카라사이트 most important characteristic of a prospective university.

This is partly explained by a relatively high percentage of Middle Eastern “explorers”. For 바카라사이트m, cost is no barrier, and because of a lack of academic preparedness, a world-leading university is likely to be off-limits. This leaves location as a key consideration.

The research also shows that postgraduate students are likely to end up at a different type of university, in a different type of location, based on where 바카라사이트y come from.

European postgraduates in 바카라사이트 US have a preference for private colleges, while students from sub-Saharan Africa opt mostly for public universities, often master’s colleges.

Latin American students choose large institutions in major cities as 바카라사이트ir “reach” universities – ones 바카라사이트y may not be quite qualified for – but use smaller universities as 바카라사이트ir safe back-ups.

The only prospective master’s students who tend to prefer medium-sized suburban universities are from 바카라사이트 Middle East.

So, will you break 바카라사이트 trend, or conform to your regional, financial and academic profile? With hundreds of US universities to consider, 바카라사이트re’s more than enough to satisfy all your priorities, whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y fit your profile.