[Reprint] Princeton Professor: how to select Chinese students (refraction China education ills _ Yue Ma

Original address: Princeton Professor: how to select Chinese students (refraction China education ills author: zhangbing love English editor's Note: Princeton University Professor of molecular biology, Kang Yi bin has come to Shanghai lectures. He is responsible for the system of recruitment in China, so contact with a variety of Chinese students (where most of the Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, the University and other famous in the school's top student). "The Chinese student smart, hard-working, but also lost, utilitarian heart is heavy, impeded their long-term development. "Kang Yi bin in the Sunday News morning visit. What kind of students to be eliminated at the end of each year a?, Kang Yi bin will hold from the Department to a large package information look �� there is all for Princeton biomolecules of Chinese students. Each year, the Department annually enrolled 25 undergraduate students studying for PhD, the Department to Kang Yi bin "China line" 3-4, and he receives about 1970. 4 per cent of the "success rate". Each "application package" are these materials: undergraduate subjects transcripts, TOEFL and GRE score, personal statements and letters of recommendation. Kang Yi bin put them into the "quantitative" and "non-quantitative". Score he very carefully, but those "non-quantitative" thing but it can tell him more. Dimanche Matin (Sunday): "personal statement"? Kang Yi bin: that said why do you want to become a molecular biologist, why want Princeton. Sunday: have you seen the hundreds of "personal statement", from the inside to see what Kang Yi bin: Chinese students study of GRE can very well, but I can see, they wrote the "statement" is often the same, the lack of features. Sunday: they give you what impression? Kang Yi bin: it's not clear why to Princeton, or excessive demand perfection, not afraid to show the true self. There are some "personal statement" are empty verbiage, nonsense, like yourself how to love science, Princeton guys, appreciate this opportunity ... Flowery rhetoric, but I do not see a real, live person. Sunday: real live's "statement"? Kang Yi bin: one student was so wrote: his previous professional is in electrical engineering, then slowly discover truly interested in biology. His application to the Department, while the vast majority against it, because there is no basis for reading a little difficult, but he was very happy. Because each semester will progress over the previous term. His "statement," I was more impressed, because it shows a man looking for and achieve their dreams of perplexity and joy. Last year, we also offer a student, she was in the "statement" Frank pointed out that the problem of the Alma Mater: she regretted the undergraduate four years did not accept the more comprehensive education. You can see her desire. First round screening, from 80 applications materials singling out 10-15 or so of "candidates". Early February, Kang Yi bin start phone interview. Although not directly and students face to face, but the ocean of sound, will tell him the other is a kind of students. Sunday: what will you ask? Kang Yi bin: mainly look at the English spoken, research experience, the ability of the ear, as well as some of the background of the students. Sunday: students receiving phone, be very nervous? Kang Yi bin: phone interview about an hour, 45 minutes to speak English, 15 minutes in Chinese. Even if English is not particularly good, students can express themselves completely. However, most Chinese students will see it as an "examination", rather than a "dialogue", so some will be very nervous. Sunday: have you heard what? Kang Yi bin: some students hear out of his or her prior written on paper, read over the answer, or back up. There is the "excessive," said rehearsing very, like speech, but there is no response to my question. Sunday: they will give you what impression? Kang Yi bin: student who was asked, I may not have their own done truly independent research, or on its own not confidence. I want to show the student is yourself, and not an excessive packaging, lost the authenticity of the "machining production". Sunday: or is our education did not tell them the truth is the best answer. Kang Yi bin: we want to choose is really love science, and honest person. Last year, I was applying fotax attorney irsr F P B before the deadline would! last minute received a student's material, the condition is very good, I'll give him a call. He honestly, told me that although he very early on in the laboratory, oklahoma injury lawyer
work hard, but don't know why, always is not very smooth. But he can clearly describes his experiment problems and to solve the problem of the various attempts made. On the surface, his scientific research does not succeed, but I can feel his serious, honest, hard, which already have a scientist, one of the most important quality. Telephone interviews are not the final. After Kandy Yi bin to candidates weigh, again and again. In this process, the score is often not the deciding factor, but from small office to see non-intelligence. Sunday: score is not important? Kang Yi bin: score is important, but is not an absolute. Apply for Princeton students are top domestic famous universities, too highly select, intelligence is no problem. I will take a close look at each door, but not the score high can selected, on the contrary, I think the first name and first name of the strength of seven is not too far away. Admit it or not, other than the factors of intelligence is important. We have a Department matriculating students in Henan, House in the countryside, junior high school in town resident alone, eat a lot of reading. In the phone and email, I feel she is humble, there's always been favorite top students of tall and proud. There is also a student, he and the teacher "set of porcelain", but is not a compliment, familiar, but they really do a study on the teacher has a real understanding, asking very professional, very in-depth. Such students, not Jive talk, feel responsible to know and respect the opportunity. But some of the students too confident, or even some arrogant and think tlos angeles tax lawyerhat they are not going to go to Princeton, Harvard, a pair of imperial way, it is difficult to give a good impression. Enter springsAfter the meal, they encounter what? to Shanghai, Hong-Yi bin in the Fukien for more than 10 days. Every day with his father, the nephew to climb. Read the fifth grade nephew told him, in their school, the teacher let each student to find a class "adversaries". Each exam, winning many students praised, much to be criticized. In such an atmosphere, class learning good students are reluctant to take the time to help score is not good for the students. Let Kang Yi bin alarmed at present, China's basic education everywhere that the "incentive" means. Princeton is the pyramid of elite schools, but was eventually admitted students at Princeton, and said to have climbed to a pyramid as genuine competition has just started. Sunday: Chinese students to Princeton, encounter problems? Kang Yi bin: some students enter Princeton, sharp mind, enjoy the joy of scientific research and experimental! as a "piece of labor", so that once the disappointments, the dumps. Some students came in and found that its hard to read so many books admitted to, but it's not your favorite, good, very confused. Also, they often encounter problems on interpersonal relations, feel unwelcome, alone. Sunday: why? Kang Yi bin: Princeton believe learning is a process of exploration, is an awareness of self, find yourself, to find what you want, and love what process, but the domestic education system, students are often another mentality: best entered the school, it was assigned to him or her a subject, and is a guarantee that the results can be done. Just like the solution of a math problem, will have the answer, as it can get high marks. Then, they wish to rely on this topic to find a decent job. Their Foundation is solid, diligent, self-motivated, results-oriented ability, excellent, but a lack of exploration spirit, independent thinking and creativity is relatively weak compared to the strong, utilitarian mind. Sunday: in fact, this is a typical attitude of adults. Kang Yi bin: our Department had a Chinese student to Princeton soon, I found that he does not really like to study. Later he told me, in fact, long before she found herself does not love the scientific research, from primary school to University, he is the first place, all the people expect him to pass the United States top universities. He is to other people's expectations of Princeton. In fact, the students were very interested in the biological, but later adult world took his experiment success prematurely and fame, and career focus. But in this industry really successful people, often not to get ahead as purpose (if only to these, there are other much more simple way out), but enjoy the exploration of the process, including the many failures and hard-won success. Sunday: you said earlier that the Chinese students in trouble on interpersonal relationships, what led to the shore of Hong-Yi:?, you see, my nephew was brought up to be so "education", from such thinking out of the student's understanding of the competition can be very narrow and think someone stepped on foot to victory and put pressure on others is successful. The laboratory is a team work, and others that was everybody happy, but some Chinese students often some Moody, seems to be someone else's success means that his failure. Sometimes the research projects in eight character didn't look like "separation", so count on my own results ... Some Chinese students particularly want quick fame. Such a mentality, school and family education to bear a great responsibility. In the United States, is a person's privacy, and will not be published, score does not cause so much stress. They advocate team cooperation and aid to improve. Sunday: two sense of competition, there is a contradiction. For more information please visit: http://www.24en.com/Kang Yi bin: such a strong sense of competition, a lack of team spirit, self-centered, easy to work and live in tension and others. For example, an old student weekend with new car shopping, late for a few minutes will be blamed, but students can naturally in supermarket slowly shop around, let an old student waiting outside for hours. Have the students asked me, why did he go home last year invited to festivals in the United States who this year are no longer invited him ... ... Sometimes I think, I am afraid that they themselves did not realize that this is a problem. From small to large, playing out of toys, meal of chopsticks, change down dirty clothes ... Mother, father, grandparents have helped them deal better, where grew up, natural feel taken for granted. While most United States students is more a "public awareness". Laboratory of junk usually they handle more. Biology Department has many do logistics staff, including the mouse House responsible for daily feeding experiment of workers, transportation and delivery Maid of porters, clean the laboratory of the sanitation workers, etc. Each year the Christmas, my laboratory together with the United States Student Association lead whip-round each person find a five to ten block, buy a small gift for those workers to express their usual work. This seemingly trivial things, often reflect a student from childhood, education, and the future of his career to go.