A week ago I posted a link to an article alleging systematic cheating on college applications from Chinese students applying to US universities.

Now, reports are surfacing that record numbers of international students are first coming to the US for high school, thereby increasing their chances of acceptance to US universities.

Mary Beth Marklein of USA Today has the story:

International students flock to U.S. high schools

Tens of thousands of students from foreign countries are enrolling in U.S. high schools, in most cases as a first step toward applying to U.S. colleges and universities, a study out Tuesday says. Most are from China.

Last year, more than 73,000 international students enrolled in U.S. high schools, federal data show. About two thirds, nearly 49,000, received visas enabling them to pursue a U.S. high school diploma. That’s more than triple the number since 2004, when just under 16,000 foreign students held such visas, says the study by the Institute of International Education, a non-profit organization.

About a third, 25,387, received visas for shorter-term high school exchange programs. That’s up 15% over the same period, the report says.

Cultural exchange programs, which have traditionally run for an academic year or less and emphasize mutual understanding, remain popular, particularly among European students.

The more recent influx of international students, driven primarily by Asians, is motivated for academic reasons.