Just heard from someone I know with a business in Shanghai that helps prep Chinese students who are planning to study in the US. The parents are freaking out right now over yesterday's news that Trump considered halting student visas to Chinese citizens.
Usually her top students want to go to the US, but a lot of parents today are asking about options in the UK and Canada. "Before I didn't think it was a big deal, but now we don't know how low Trump will go," one said,
She's seen a noticeable trend this year of the best students making UK and Canadian schools their priority choices over US, and today just saw a huge spike in queries. She's starting to feel like she can no longer honestly assure parents it'll be ok in the US.
A blanket ban *probably* won’t happen, but its mere discussion is having impacts. And the bigger risk is that PRC students who do come experience more and more suspicion, discrimination & experiences that lower their regard for the US and democracy, which is already happening.
