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I love traveling and I was thinking of getting my Master’s degree in mathematics abroad (I got my bachelors in the USA). I know that I can get funding if I go to China for my Master’s.

My question will it be viewed negatively if I try to apply for a PhD in the United States?

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I have some experience with Asian Universities, particularly Japanese.

First, take into account that having a Masters might boost a bit your application to PhD a bit, as long as you publish something over there. Also, if the profesor you are going with is unknown, it might not help you at all.

Second, many people think that studying abroad and traveling are similar things, when they are really not. You'll have to deal with the hardships of asian Academic culture, which are very different from the American ones.

You'll also have to deal with the hardships of life, be sure to know the language at least to communicate basic thoughts and deal with the fact that you might not like food there (Protip: Chinese American Food is somewhat different of real Chinese Food)

I would put more, but I would be edging on ranting, which I'm probably already are.

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I have traveled to other countries before and I understand what it means to live in another country, was just thinking china wouldn't be so bad, because most of the good students come from China in my undergrad program, plus the cost of living there is not as great as Europe. Plus, I am not looking for the top schools, just need to get a PHD to help out in getting a job. – MaoYiyi Nov 2 '12 at 15:56
Most of the good students of China are good because they went to the chinese elementary and secondary school system, which is very demanding, University education is a bit more laxed compared with USA, specially graduate programs. – Leon palafox Nov 2 '12 at 17:28
So its harder than USA programs? Then why are not Chinese math programs ranked higher? Are you talking from personal experience? – MaoYiyi Nov 3 '12 at 1:37
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Ranks aren't everything. A lot of chinese universities are now publishing as much as American universities and have Professors who have moved back from US to teach in China. Ph D programs were always about the fit between you and your advisor, not really going to miss anything with regards to ranks. – Naresh Nov 3 '12 at 11:17
That's not what I said, in my personal experience, Westerners Graduate students are usually better prepared than Asiatic students in term of high order math, Asiatic students are crazy good with the calculations, but the foundations they should have gotten in Undergrad are clearly not there. – Leon palafox Nov 6 '12 at 3:53

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