Beijing lesson for some

When Chinese students and parents hear that I went to a certain American university, they perk up with interest. I know then that the usual torrent of questions about how to study abroad is coming my way.

I can understand the curiosity - Chinese are scrambling to leave the country for higher education.

But recently, I've seen more foreign students making their way here for schooling, and not just for ostensibly "academic" programs like language exchanges. There is a growing number of high caliber students coming to top Chinese universities to obtain "serious" degrees.