A recent survey by China Youth Daily reveals more than 80 percent college graduates have regrets about their college days.

A recent survey by China Youth Daily reveals more than 80 percent college graduates have regrets about their college days. Primarily, these are negative - things the respondents didn't do rather than what they actually did.

For example, the number one regret was not having had a boyfriend or a girlfriend followed by not going out enough and fully enjoying campus life by getting involved in groups or clubs. Further down the list: "not doing more crazy things."

This survey strikes me as a fine example of how completely different Western student experience of college life is to that of Eastern counterparts, particularly in China. Most Western students would probably regret having spent too much time worrying about romantic pursuits or going out too much instead of studying more.

Many Western students look back on their college days as involving doing "crazy things," and are wistful about not having spent enough time on their studies.

This kind of survey again highlights the differences in Eastern and Western education. Here in Asia, school is highly regulated and heavily restricted. There is much learning by rote. Independent thinking is not highly prized within the confines of academia.

Students are taught that only through rigorous memorization and total focus on learning can bring academic success. Conversely, in the West, creative problem solving is encouraged from independent learning. Memorization is not stressed, and association learning or well-rounded learning incorporating a formal academic approach with a social and interactive learning environment advocated.

Yet, when we analyze surveys of this nature, both methodologies have their drawbacks.