美帝开学两个月的tough生活

CinbladyyuUID: 2957697

marjoriedong 发表于 2013-10-8 11:21
现在正在申请途中，我想可能这是整个留学过程中相对轻松的一个阶段了吧，我有一些同学在美国，感觉他们真的 ...

哈哈谢谢，也祝你申请顺利

crazyrobinUID: 2368627

今天才看完这个帖子。我没经历过phd的日子，我是美国本科，那些作业, reading, exam也是够吃一壶。
前面有个学长的建议非常中肯，就是讨论时候如果一旦没听懂立刻打断对方。

我还有一个建议就是上课对提问，多利用office hour， get to know your professor really well. 这样不光你学术上可以更加如鱼得水，对你的交际能力也有好处。

另外白妹子？没有福气享受啊

CinbladyyuUID: 2957697

crazyrobin 发表于 2013-10-9 00:25
今天才看完这个帖子。我没经历过phd的日子，我是美国本科，那些作业, reading, exam也是够吃一壶。
前面有 ...

嗯嗯谢谢建议~不过白妹子就这么就放弃了咩……

H1BMatch2012UID: 2790388

Well, this recalls my first year many years ago.
Most times, I use disaster or nightmare to descibe it to others. But I did learn a lot from it.
I almost got depression and also had relationship problems.
But as I was so tired and no time nor energy to worry about additional things, I just focused on survive. Well, I barely survied, got a B at last and got a nice lab in the last rotation, got my girfriend back in the summer. But I almost lost my life. And, off course, cost me hunderds of sleepless nights.
On the other hand everything will be all right at last. You guys sure can do better than me. My English is still so poor right now. However good enough for a science presentaion and communication about research areas.

After you survived a number of presentations, likely after 1 years of time, things will be just acceptable. For group discussions, it is not really that important. Later you will find that besides for credits in courses, most time you will have your own time to talk about your own stuff in your life as a scientist. Unless you are going to do a elevator presentation, which is also interesting ,too.

Everything will be all right after you survive the first year.
As you know, we are Chinese, actually we are not expected to be perfect in presentation and communication at the beginning. 75% of Chinese could not ace those. At my time, 90% could not. But we are expected to ace the work and/or study in long term, and 99% of Chinese PhD students can do it.

So, focus on surviving the presentation as it is so important in your life. Give it some try but not focus on group presentation (you will need to speak up about what you need).
Make sure you get a B, and you know what that means = you survived.

For rotation, you have one whole year, and you can start with talking with other Chinese about which boss and lab is nice. Try your best avoid Asian boss labs or labs with a significant amount of Indian post-docs.

For me, I also try avoid Chinese boss labs, too, now. Just because I can make good friendship with Chinese bosses and we can help each other a lot. However, being a emplyee of them means no more close friends. I just do not want that. Though, if you focus on work, and you know the boss is nice to Chinese, sure people can do really nice research there.

Maybe you do not need to try those bars. Not a good way for a triditional Chinese student nor shcolarship. But you will need to know how to social and some American culture when you will have the time and background for that. Probably now now.

Anyway, sounds like you are on the right track all ready, just 1 more year. For others peoples, too, start with the survival, and then you will know how much we are trained and how to do a nice job in US. Do not expect to be the best on everything, focus on the most important things and learn others better slowly.

For the girfriend part. If you two had good relationship for years, try take her to US. A good wife will help you really really a lot. A man's success can be determined by his wife. Fighting alone in US is somewhat terrible.

All in all, you said your life is tough now. This is expect to be tough like hell, actually. Later you could face some even tougher time and people. So, use this time to get youself  a tough guy. Then you can face anything and say "just bring it on, you know nothing about how I survived earlier".

CinbladyyuUID: 2957697

H1BMatch2012 发表于 2013-10-9 01:39
Well, this recalls my first year many years ago.
Most times, I use disaster or nightmare to descib ...

I'm really touched by the whole comment, especially the last part. Survival is essential to all PhD students, actually, I think all PhD life is built upon continuous survival.
Thank you for all suggestions you brought to me in this comment, from which I understand that confidence and courage would be required in these days. You've always been half friend, half mentor to me in GTer forum.
Be tough--I will never forget this.

Evam~UID: 2758438

H1BMatch2012 发表于 2013-10-9 01:39
Well, this recalls my first year many years ago.
Most times, I use disaster or nightmare to descib ...

I like your comment on last paragraph! good one!

tracywlzUID: 2522388

我觉得如果course有问题，不仅要好好利用office hour，还可以找其他同学一起group meeting. 有时候你发现自己不懂的东西别人也不懂，心里会好受很多。
PS： 我tough的生活一年多了，鼓励自己的话一直是，如果可以survive，我会崇拜自己的.哈哈。

ylhchdUID: 3055726

坚持吧，一样！

CinbladyyuUID: 2957697

ylhchd 发表于 2013-10-10 08:22
坚持吧，一样！

嗯嗯，加油！

CinbladyyuUID: 2957697

tracywlz 发表于 2013-10-9 04:40
我觉得如果course有问题，不仅要好好利用office hour，还可以找其他同学一起group meeting. 有时候你发现自 ...

哈哈，也是，最近我才知道小伙伴们私下里已经组成study group了，这次我就join进去跟上大家的步伐

tracywlzUID: 2522388

Cinbladyyu 发表于 2013-10-10 10:28
哈哈，也是，最近我才知道小伙伴们私下里已经组成study group了，这次我就join进去跟上大家的步伐

我也想参加...哈哈。

sksojuUID: 3363990

楼主加油↖(^ω^)↗，楼主一定能适应并最终找到合适自己的lab的O(∩_∩)O

songfuzhiUID: 3477890

在外打拼真的挺不容易的，请继续努力！我们相信你可以的

superlv6UID: 3504106

H1BMatch2012 发表于 2013-10-9 01:39
Well, this recalls my first year many years ago.
Most times, I use disaster or nightmare to descib ...

''Fighting alone in US is somewhat terrible''

i will keep this in mind!

pandaliUID: 3428740

今天看到微信推送的这篇文章，深有感触。。。
PhD都是一样的。