Sharing session review-top British and American university students' tips on overseas study life

 

As the eighth salon event, we invited top students from the London School of Economics (LSE) and Columbia University to share their valuable experiences on "How International Students Can Quickly Adapt to Academic Life Abroad". Through practical insights and firsthand accounts, these accomplished scholars helped students and parents better understand how newcomers can adapt to unfamiliar environments, adjust to overseas academic and social rhythms, and build meaningful friendships. The session proved highly beneficial for all participants.

 

Highlights review

 

01

 

Laura, who brings abundant practical insights and embodies grace and elegance

 

After a brief self-introduction, Laura shared with you three aspects: studying in England, studying life and applying for "top school secrets".

At the fork in the road of studying abroad, I chose to study in England

During her junior high school years, Laura enrolled at Concord College in the UK to pursue GCSEs. She believes language proficiency forms the foundation of learning, and studying abroad during this period offers significant advantages. It greatly enhances her language skills, vocabulary expansion, and lays a solid groundwork for A-Level studies. Additionally, it improves self-adaptability. Children naturally develop strong adaptability – being away from parental care fosters greater independence and accountability for their decisions.

Study abroad life, "start with the end in mind"

"Start with the end in mind, with thinking and knowing your purpose," he says. "That is, knowing where you're going will give you a clearer idea of where you are now, so that you can take steps in the right direction."

This is Laura's sharing of Stephen R. Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. She suggests that before embarking on any endeavor, one should first ask three questions: Who am I? Who do I want to become? What preparations have I made for this goal? Clarifying these three questions serves as an excellent starting point for personal growth. Additionally, she introduced the "40 Million" theory to the audience.

 

Apply for "Elite School Secrets"

When applying to her dream university, Laura emphasized the importance of the Personal Statement (PS). She shared that many high-achieving students around her had excellent standardized test scores and outstanding performance in various professional entrance exams or extracurricular activities. However, some missed opportunities arose because they didn't put enough effort into crafting their PS. Remember, the PS is how universities "get to know" students, so it's crucial to create something that makes them "sit up and take notice".

 

Finally, Laura shared her core competencies.

Independent learning ability —— Through studying abroad, I will gradually develop my self-discipline and responsibility, know how to jump out of the comfort zone, and be able to deal with difficulties calmly.

Expression —— Whether in daily communication or in campus learning, good expression is a bridge of communication and one of the important criteria to reflect self-logic.

Immunity —— Learn to take care of yourself, because physical health is always the first priority.

 

02

 

Monika, who loves art and is optimistic

 

At the beginning of her sharing, Monika mentioned that during her master's program in the U.S., each course evaluated students based on 50% class participation. In other words, even if you submitted assignments weekly and scored full marks, your total score would still be capped at 30-40 points. This made it crucial to impress professors through active participation in class. However, this very evaluation system became Monika's biggest challenge when she first arrived in the U.S.

 

Undoubtedly, for Chinese students learning in a "harmonious atmosphere", common concerns include whether they can articulate their own perspectives clearly among peers, whether their language skills can be demonstrated effectively, and whether professors will endorse their ideas. However, these are all challenges that need to be overcome by themselves.

 

So how do you score those 50 points?

 

Prepare in advance —— know to do your homework in advance, so that you can be confident to present your ideas on the podium.

 

Step out of your comfort zone —— The class will have group discussions, where you can try and bravely communicate with students from different countries. Make a positive impression on the mentor during the class by expressing your interest in the major.

 

Self-knowledge —— is the insight and understanding of oneself, such as exploring one's interests, abilities and personal characteristics, so as to give full play to one's advantages and cultivate one's abilities in all aspects.

 

American job-hunting tips

50. First decide whether you want to return home or stay in the US
50. Job/Internship needs to start when you enter school
50. Start with substitute teachers and school career centers to avoid many detours
50. Ask senior students for advice
50. Take the initiative to contact alumni from your target company through alumni handbooks/LinkedIn and arrange interviews
50. Multiple interviews

The Q&A session was even more exciting. Students and parents raised many questions about studying abroad, and the two excellent students gave detailed answers to all of them, so that everyone benefited a lot and "returned home with full load".

 

The eighth session of the "Meet You in Education" series of salons ended with a lot of laughter. Everyone had a fruitful morning through the full content and constructive learning suggestions from two excellent girls.