&nbspAfter failing the college entrance exam, the feeling of disappointment is always inevitable. Please pull yourself together – go out, play, do a makeover, read a good book and relax. Once you feel like you are ready to face reality, rationalize your thoughts with us and we’ll talk about where to go next.
   &nbspFailing your college entrance examination does not mean it is the end of your academic career, but a phased result that allows you to reconsider your future path. This article will tell you about the different paths you can take to start the next chapter of your life.

Don’t slack off yet – just go back and redo it!

It is hard to convince ourselves to repeat our high school year because it is really difficult! Students who have experienced the preparation process for the college entrance examination already know the struggles and challenges of preparing it, and the only thing that gets us through it is knowing that at the end of all the suffering, all the stress will be gone after passing the exam. However, having to retake the exam means that you are far from the end of this tunnel. When facing a 4th year of high school that is more stressful than a senior year, only students with superhuman persistence can pull through – no doubt! So, before you decide to restart your year, you should ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do you want to go back to school, or are your parents telling you to? It is almost impossible to get better results by following the advice of family members and "being forced" to repeat your courses.
  • How far off is your score from the score required by your desired university? If the score difference is over 40, it is not necessarily a good idea to repeat, because it is very difficult to improve your score by that much in just a year.
  • Do you have strong hatred toward the universities (and cities) that accept you? If the answer is yes, then four years of university/college are likely to leave you feeling depressed. In that case, repeating a year might be worth it.
  • Is this your first repeat? Repeating your studies once in a lifetime is fine, but is it really necessary to repeat it twice? The college entrance examination is a major step in life, but it does not necessarily determine your future. You use a year to improve yourself – not just to raise your score.
  • If you are still not accepted into an ideal university after repeating your studies, are you able to accept the reality? If you are, then you should just learn to let go and consider your alternatives.

Money that is spent can soon be earned back – Undergraduate at private universities

In the United States, prestigious universities are basically private universities, while in China, private colleges and universities generally have lower reputation. These opinions are usually linked to the two somewhat frustrating concepts of "third tier colleges" and "undergraduate universities." So, what are the differences between private and public universities/colleges?

The biggest difference is that private colleges and universities are not state-funded. Therefore, the school funding is often maintained by the tuition of students.

In addition, there is a difference in the learning environment. It is hard to judge a person based on just their grades, but people with good grades are often more conscious of learning. Reflecting on students’ grades in private colleges, we can see that the atmosphere for studying is weak. Therefore, you have to ask yourself, “Will I still be able to concentrate in class while students around me are texting on WeChat?”

Also, students lack self-management, and the result is that the school chooses to intervene strictly. Some private universities even have a reputation for militarized management. Even hugging and kissing are considered as violations of discipline. We are in university for four years and we are not allowed to have a romantic relationship?

Therefore, visiting universities/colleges is most important in order to get a feel of the school atmosphere, to talk to the students there, and to see if it is consistent with the school’s introductory materials. However, we still have to admit that Chinese employers still have prejudice against private university graduates. When faced with a graduate from a public university fighting for the same position in a company, it is difficult to compete.

Lower the threshold to enter the room--take the adult college entrance examination

The adult college entrance examination is also a method of admission to universities. It is an entry examination for adults continuing education. The format is similar to the ordinary college entrance examination, but it is much easier. Candidates need to fill in their program selections before the exam. The exam is held only once a year, in October, and then they go to the accepting university/school to study. Generally, undergraduate colleges and universities are full-time, and there are three options for adult higher education. In order to facilitate the self-improvement of the employed people, universities offer a range of study modes:

  • Full-time studies: Face-to-face classes and weekends off.
  • Part-time studies: Classes are held on Saturdays, Sundays, and evenings, and working hours are normal.
  • Distance education: students mainly self-study, with face-to-face supplementary sessions. This is a common choice for students who live far away.
  • After graduating from high school and going into full-time study in university, a bachelor's degree can be obtained in a minimum of four years, and a college degree can be obtained in two years, depending on the chosen major. The tuition fee is about 3,000 RMB per year, which is affordable to a lot of people. However, you must acknowledge the employers’ requirements; not all employers accept part-time education credentials.

Those who are not capable of self-study should go to university. Those who self-study can also get a bachelor degree.

The self-study exam is mainly for those who have not been admitted to university but want to obtain a higher education. There is no limit on the students’ age and education background (students can participate without a high school education). It is easy to get in, but hard to stay in. Once you have bought your textbooks, you can begin your journey of self-study. The examination time is fixed every year, usually in January, April, and October, but varies from region to region.

The advantage of self-studying is that you can get an undergraduate degree in your chosen major in the most economical way, saving money and time. The cost of applying for each subject is 45 RMB, and the teaching materials cost no more than 100-200 RMB. Of course, there is no upper limit if you go to the institution for guidance and study. Undergraduate degrees in human resources management and engineering management can even be obtained within a year. Many job requirements for academic qualifications do not specify a "full-time" undergraduate degree, so self-studied bachelor's degrees are recognized, making you competitive against other undergraduates on the path to graduate studies.

However, test takers will need to self-study and write the exam, so this has nothing to do with the concept of having teachers, classmates, and going to a college. Each subject’s examination will be written at a different specialized school, but the school is only responsible for issuing, scoring, dissertation guidance and defense. You and the university professor can only meet to discuss exams and thesis papers. The graduation certificate is issued by the National Committee for Higher Education Self-study Examinations, and the main examination institution is only the communication zone of the committee.

In addition, we want to remind you that self-study also means that there are no classmates, and the important lesson of socializing and working with other people cannot be learned through this method.

Want to explore the world? -- Studying Abroad

If you are a student with good financial support from your family, then the end of your college entrance examination marks the beginning of a new journey.

If you were accepted to an ideal university in China, you may have set foot on the campus without thinking about going abroad. At the end of the day, going abroad is a big step forward, and someone needs to push you hard to make this decision. So now, if the college entrance examination results show that you have lost your chances for your desired future of study, then you might as well go abroad to see what the world has to offer.

What is the most important thing in a person's growth? Long-term skills, knowledge, and emotional quotient. It is same for studying in university in China and abroad. When you go abroad, you will face more challenges and grow and develop faster. Improving your English, understanding foreign cultures, and meeting foreign friends are all undeniably beneficial to your growth.

There are many options studying abroad. Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia are all popular choices if you want to experience studying abroad for a short period of time. If you have longed for life abroad, you should definitely consider Canada or Australia because it has one of the most positive immigration policies in the world. Next, we will talk about several ways to study in Canada after the college entrance examination.

    • Apply directly to university
      You might have been a top student in high school for three years in China, and you have a good English foundation. Still, your results from the college entrance examination were unsatisfactory. In this case, you can quickly prepare for the IELTS and TOEFL test and apply directly for Canadian undergraduate programs after your results are obtained. Canadian university applications require students from non-English-speaking countries to provide English proficiency test results. The college entrance examination (Gaokao) results are for reference only. Universities mainly look at your Senior Middle School Graduation examination (Huikao) results and your transcript from the three years in high school.
    • University Conditional Admission Policy
      What if your grades are good, but you are not ready for IELTS or TOEFL? The good news is you don't need to wait until your English score meets the requirements before you start applying for university. Many universities have conditional admission policies so if your high school transcript meets the requirements for undergraduate admission, and only your language score does not meet the criteria, the university may still accept you. You will receive an admission letter from the University Language Centre and a Conditional Offer for your undergraduate program. In this case, you must first complete and pass the language preparatory course at the university's language centre, and then directly enter the undergraduate program. The start date of the language course is flexible. There are three to four start times per year. Students who know get their college entrance examination results in July can make plans according to their own circumstances. However, the top universities generally do not have such a policy.
      Some schools will allow you to take professional courses while taking a language course. Credits are counted towards the total required for an undergraduate degree. A typical example of this program is the University of Alberta's Bridging Program.
    • Colleges are often looked down upon in China, but colleges in Canada are the first choice for many local students, because courses focus on the training of practical skills, which results in quicker employability than universities that focus on academic education. Of course, an associate's degree is also a stepping stone to an undergraduate degree, and many college credits can be transferred to a university. You can complete the transition period in a college, experience the educational environment, and with the credits you earn during this period, consider transferring to another school and moving into the academic world.
    • Many Canadian universities that target the international market have specialized international colleges.For example, Fraser International College (FIC) and the International College of Manitoba (ICM) have established a University Transfer Program specifically for international students. The credits obtained from this program are directly transferred to the undergraduate program and the student can go directly into the second year of undergraduate studies upon completion. There are two differences between this method and the ordinary university application process. One is that there is a lower requirement. The other is that it learning environment is better. Learning in small classes allows students to transition more easily.
    • Enrolling in high school 12th grade (Pre-U)
      If your high school results from China are not good enough, you can choose to start from grade 12 in Canada. A total of 6 courses are required, one is required for English, and the other five are based on the major you intend to apply for. After completing your studies, you will receive a Canadian high school diploma, which you can use to apply for undergraduate programs. Such programs are offered by secondary schools and colleges, and there are often many start dates each year. Generally, applications must be made two months in advance.

We hope that this article gives you a different view of your results from the Chinese college entrance exam. Of course, getting good results from the exam and being accepted into a good university is the best-case scenario, but getting into university the unconventional way is not necessarily a bad thing. The frustration you feel from this period will push you to take back control of your life and think about what you want for your future. If you feel lost or confused, keep calm and reach out to us.