Chinese international students' academic adjustment to MBA programs in the United States: a case study

Chinese citizens are enrolling in American MBA programs at record rates. This study followed nine Chinese international students in a US MBA program in order to better understand how Chinese students adapt to the US academic environment. The findings indicated that (i) language challenge, (ii) workload challenge, (iii) challenge from teachers' higher expectations, (iv) challenge due to different teaching styles, and (v) challenge due to lack of cultural context knowledge are the major academic challenges for Chinese international MBA students. To address these challenges, students have adopted series of strategies which include (i) manage time well and be efficient, (ii) develop selflearning ability, (iii) not hesitate to ask for help from faculty, (iv) study actively in teams and learn from each other, (v) learn working under pressure, (vi) learn from teachers' feedback, and (vii) take advantage of customer service to improve communication skills. Faculty's support and students' concern for future job prospects are two other findings in the study.