Editor's Note: We asked June Wang Scortino to explain how to recruit Chinese students in today's increasingly competitive global education environment.
Many Chinese students continue to apply to and enroll in American boarding schools. However, the international recruitment landscape has evolved significantly in recent years. Chinese families now have more educational options than ever before, including international schools within China, boarding schools in Canada and the United Kingdom, and expanding international programs throughout Asia.
At the same time, many American boarding schools continue to make annual trips to China to attract applicants. Increasingly, however, schools are focusing not only on increasing the number of applicants but also on finding students who are a strong fit for their communities and educational programs.
Educational consultants and agencies continue to play an important role in the admissions process. While many American schools would prefer to liaise directly with parents and introduce themselves personally, it can still be difficult to overcome the intermediary role that agencies often play. This is why working with reputable organizations and trusted educational partners remains important.
At the same time, schools now have more opportunities to communicate directly with families through virtual information sessions, translated admissions materials, webinars, social media platforms, and online resources.
How to Contact Chinese Parents
Direct access is the most important and crucial step for schools to select qualified applicants. Only parents with the necessary knowledge and information can make an informed decision about selecting the right school and, eventually, the right college.
If parents face a language barrier or are unable to communicate directly with schools or visit campuses, they will naturally be unable to understand the finer details about those schools. What Chinese parents require most is information about the education their children will receive.
From the perspective of the school, its primary role is to educate students and help them succeed. As for the parents, their involvement will inevitably have a lasting long-term impact on the child.
While virtual tours and online events have made schools more accessible than ever before, direct communication remains essential. Parents want to understand academic expectations, residential life, student wellness programs, college counseling, and the overall culture of the school before making such an important decision.
Families researching boarding schools often begin with resources such as BoardingSchoolReview.com, where they can compare schools, review demographics, and explore admissions information before scheduling campus visits.
Parents may also find our guide on choosing the best boarding school helpful during the early stages of their search.
Issues That Both Parents and Students Face
Once Chinese students have enrolled at American schools, their parents may have limited contact with the school. What they learn about the school and its developments is often from the one-sided perspective of their child.
As a result, parents may not know much about the finer details of school life, and the gap between parents and the school can continue to widen.
Due to cultural differences, some parents may be inclined to adopt a more conservative and passive approach when contacting teachers or school administrators. This can create communication challenges, particularly when concerns arise regarding academics, residential life, or student well-being.
As for the students, while many are relieved to have escaped the intense pressure of high-stakes entrance examinations, they may also experience loneliness, homesickness, or isolation. Their struggles during their studies can weaken their self-confidence and self-initiative. Unlike students attending school closer to home, they do not always have the opportunity to share their frustrations with their parents face-to-face.
Many schools have responded by increasing parent communication through translated newsletters, multilingual parent portals, virtual conferences, and regional parent events. These efforts help ensure that families remain informed and engaged even when separated by thousands of miles.
The Association of Boarding Schools provides additional resources for international families through TABS.org.
Supporting Students Beyond Academics
One lesson many schools have learned over the past decade is that supporting international students requires more than academic assistance.
Students often need help adjusting to new classroom expectations, developing friendships, participating in extracurricular activities, and navigating cultural differences. Schools that provide strong advisory systems, dormitory support, peer mentoring programs, and counseling services often see stronger outcomes for international students.
Families interested in understanding the role of residential life may also enjoy our article on why boarding school remains a unique educational experience.
Cultural Differences
The large number of Chinese students entering American boarding schools has created a need for schools to adjust their policies and approaches toward international families.
This may include providing contracts and admissions materials in multiple languages, employing multilingual staff members, offering English-language support, and organizing meetings with parents in their home countries or online.
At the same time, some families choose to accompany their child to the United States during the transition period or maintain residences nearby while their child attends school.
The question many schools continue to face is this: As a school and educational institution, have we fulfilled our responsibilities? Or should we move beyond traditional frameworks and extend additional support to students and families adjusting to life in a new country?
Today, many schools answer that question by investing in orientation programs, family engagement initiatives, student wellness services, and cultural support systems.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also emphasizes the importance of supporting adolescent mental health and adjustment through resources available at AAP.org.
Building Cultural Understanding
Successful boarding schools recognize that cultural integration is a two-way process.
International students benefit from learning about American culture and educational expectations, while domestic students benefit from exposure to diverse perspectives and global experiences.
Schools increasingly view international enrollment not simply as a recruitment strategy but as an opportunity to enrich the educational experience for all students.
Families exploring boarding school culture may also find our article on common boarding school myths useful as they evaluate different schools.
Setting Expectations Realistically
Private boarding schools have many advantages and long-term value. However, we cannot assume that Chinese students or other international students will automatically derive the same advantages and values from the experience.
Boarding schools were originally designed primarily to serve students and families within their home countries. International students often face additional challenges related to language, culture, distance from family, and adaptation to a new educational system.
As Chinese parents are not American parents, their role in supporting children studying abroad remains especially important. They can become a critical part of the support system that helps students assimilate into the American school environment while maintaining strong family connections.
Even though it is neither the legal responsibility nor formal duty of schools to help parents become more effective supporters of their children, educational institutions can and should do meaningful things that benefit students and families.
Many schools now recognize that family engagement, communication, and support are essential components of student success.
The National Association of Independent Schools' 2025–2026 State of the Independent School Sector Report highlights the growing importance of enrollment strategy, student support, and family engagement as schools navigate an increasingly competitive global environment.
Looking Ahead
The future of international enrollment will likely depend less on recruitment travel and more on trust, transparency, communication, and student outcomes.
Schools that successfully communicate with families, support students beyond the classroom, and foster meaningful cultural integration will be best positioned to attract talented students from around the world.
Final Thoughts
Chinese students continue to make important contributions to boarding school communities throughout North America. Their presence enriches classrooms, broadens perspectives, and strengthens global understanding among students and faculty alike.
For schools, successful recruitment begins with direct communication and honest conversations. For parents, success begins with access to accurate information and a clear understanding of what a boarding school education can provide.
When schools, students, and families work together, the result is often far more than successful recruitment. It is the creation of a supportive educational partnership that helps students thrive academically, socially, and personally throughout their boarding school experience.
