While standing outside the US Embassy in the chilly wind of Beijing's early winter, Wu Qian practices answering questions she will likely field from an immigration officer.

The 22-year-old Tsinghua University chemistry major recently stood outside the embassy with dozens of other Chinese students who hoped to receive F-1 visas that would allow them to study in the United States.

"It is the off-season for students applying for visas. I hope I have good luck this time," Wu said as she anxiously waited for her number to be called.

Thousands of young Chinese are eager to study abroad, and a long queue has been a common scene in front of the US Embassy.

Nearly 90 per cent of China's youth hope to receive higher education overseas, especially in the United States, Europe or Japan, indicates a survey conducted by the China Economic Monitory Centre (CEMC) with the National Bureau of Statistics.

About 700 people were polled during the survey, conducted early this month in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

A mere 9.5 per cent of respondents said they wanted to study at China's public universities and colleges, and fewer than 1 per cent wanted to receive higher education in private Chinese universities.

"The result clearly shows most people still lack confidence in China's private universities and colleges," said Guo Tong, an analyst with the centre.

"The situation in the United States is just the opposite. Most US residents believe private universities provide better higher education," Guo said.

The survey indicated the respondents most particularly were not satisfied with three aspects of China's higher education:

First, most people do not like the old-fashioned, rigid teaching methods on domestic campuses. Many students complained they could not change their majors after they entered universities. They also hated preparing for examinations.

Second, the respondents complained about Chinese universities' poor facilities and infrastructure.

"The advanced laboratories and libraries in Western universities will benefit me," Wu told Business Weekly.

Third, most respondents believed they would have an easier time getting a job in China with a diploma from a US university.

"Think about it," Wu said.

"When you come back with a master's or doctor's degree, you will have many job opportunities. Salaries will also be higher than what you would earn if you graduate from a Chinese university."

Most respondents were satisfied with China's pre-school, primary school and high school programmes.

The survey indicates 46.5 per cent of respondents were satisfied with China's private pre-school education.

Many people said they believed privately operated kindergartens were capable of providing pre-school education.

Some 37.5 per cent of respondents said they wanted to send their children to State-owned kindergartens.

Less than 16 per cent of respondents thought they should send their children to foreign countries for pre-school education.

Many respondents thought highly of China's compulsory nine-year education.

"They believe China's compulsory education is a mature, high-quality system that can provide sufficient information to Chinese teenagers," Guo said.

However, an increasing number of people are thinking about sending their children overseas for their high school educations, Guo said.

Some 18.5 per cent of respondents would like their children to receive high school educations abroad.

The survey indicates 76.5 per cent of respondents were satisfied with China's high school education.

"We noticed it has become fashionable in big cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, for parents to send their children to high schools in other countries," Guo said.

The survey indicates 70.5 per cent of respondents prefer vocational education or training programmes conducted by foreign organizations or institutions because they offer advanced techniques.

Only 26.5 per cent of respondents said private institutions in China were capable of providing qualified vocational education.

Three per cent of respondents said vocational education should be offered by Sate-run education institutions.

(Business Weekly Shen Gang 19/11/2002)