Critical thinking is a very valuable skill especially for Chinese students studying in the US. It can be simply understood as the process of making decisions that are aimed at solving various problems. You may be asking yourself why critical thinking is important in college: it provides you with an intellectual approach to any kind of information you come across. This is a process that plays a fundamental role in making choices both at the college level as well as at the job market.
International students, especially Chinese, are required to put more effort than their American peers in their activities due to the fact that they are far away from home, their language knowledge is not perfect and the difference in mentality is striking. So, what does this have to do with critical thinking? Why is critical thinking important in college? Well, with this skill you can do the following
Evaluate and Improve Your Own Thinking Processes
While using critical thinking skills you can communicate effectively with others while trying to come up with solutions to different problems. It results in better communication with professors and fellow students. In the long run you are likely to experience better grades and improved relationships with your peers.
Self-Improve Intellectually
Critical thinking helps you to think open-mindedly in situations that require analytical thinking and assessment. And when you come across something you don’t know or understand, critical thinking pushes you further to explore the depths of the given information and try your limits of comprehension.
Better Deal with Stressful Situations
This is another reason as to why critical thinking is important in college. Chinese students in the US are likely to face a myriad of problems due to the change of the environment, language barriers, etc. With good critical thinking abilities you can easily come up with solutions that may help you deal with stressful situations in a more effective and simpler way.
Raise Vital Questions and Find Solutions to Problems
This is achieved through gathering and assessing relevant information. With this information you can come up with abstract ideas, interpret them effectively and come to well researched conclusions and solutions.
Become a Better Team Player
Critical thinking allows you to develop your team work skills and assess effectively the situation you are in. You are also able to better interact with your peers as well as solve any possible conflicts or problems that may arise in your day-to-day lives. This is because you get to be a great listener and collaborator when working in a group with other non-Chinese nationalities.
Critical thinking is important in college especially among the Chinese students as it helps them to better understand international processes as well as encourages them to be more experimental and to question the different aspects of life. Additionally, critical thinking has been known to lead to prudence and reasonability that most employers find valuable. This is why Chinese students who show critical thinking capabilities are likely to land better jobs in the US.
