成都2000过,超级罗嗦的签经+留学的感悟

annflyhighUID: 188748

一. 开头语
终于终于,我有了资格坐在电脑前,静静地享受和分享成功的喜悦了.从去年12月份准备GRE开始,整整已经1年半了.而从打算出国开始,已经整整两年了.刚才看见大家有人说我一路顺利,呵呵.顺利不顺利,看下文吧.
此时百感交集.一时不知道从何说起.


－－－－－－－－－写签经风格和我比较类似，狂赞叹
但是我这里指出一点：108问少数问题过时了，但是绝大部分不过时的。过时的问题不要花太多时间就行了。 还有回答问题很多点是很多问题可以share的，主要是有一条好的线索。为何出国＋必要性         去干什么        是否回来，为何会回来                 这个是轴心线，再用理性的解释去充实它。       问题回答的好坏不在于准备的是25问还是108问还是只是些要点，重点是要理性的说明你的人生规划。我个人还是继续推荐108问。上面无聊的问题不是太多，顶多多花30min准备而已

太傻我几年都没有去了，现在不知道怎么样了。不过本版有太傻工作的同志在帮忙回帖，还是对他表示感谢 希望他已经帮忙把你的帖子贴过去了

[ 本帖最后由 chris song 于 2006-5-28 06:22 编辑 ]

annflyhighUID: 188748

二.申请学校
还是从申请学校开始说吧.大家别怪我罗嗦. 想毕大家还记得考G时的种种艰辛吧.就不多说了.但在这里值得一说的是,因为考G不得到老师的理解,考G不得不翘课被学校记了过.并威胁说要留在档案里.并把我的期末成绩打得很低很低.我的GPA直线下降.一时间,我就从老师眼里的乖学生,变成自大,没有组织纪律的人.我的排名也从年级前10变到??我也不知道,因为已经排不上我的名了.

…郁闷.但又能怎样?咬咬牙,拼下去!!

考完GRE,TOEFL,TSE,以为这下可轻松了,哪里知道,我在留美的路上,才刚刚出走出第一步.

于是,又一头栽进申请的烦琐工作中…寄完材料,啊!全部搞定!!

…

搞定???天真!!!

漫长漫长漫长漫长…漫长的等待…焦急焦急焦急焦急,无法用语言来形容…

终于终于,在3月里一个明媚的早上,我收到了OFFER.相信很多人都知道我的故事,我就是那个好不容易文科英语专业转专业哼哧哼哧才拿到全奖的又在几天后被学校通知OFFER被收回的MM.后来事情是怎么样的呢?

看到学校发来的收回OFFER的邮件,我呆坐了半个小时.告诉父母.父亲只是沉默,妈妈则心疼的哭了.难道我的一切努力,只是一常儿戏???

我在亲爱的太傻上发了一通牢骚,引来同情无数…

一个小时后,我开始奋笔疾书.

4个小时后,写了洋洋洒洒1000字.

再拿给外国朋友改, 全文如下,

I’m very disappointed to hear that at the present time you must withdraw the offer. I perfectly understand that due to the limited fundings available to offer for the 2006-07 year, only those applicants who seem to be the most competitive and who match the program best can get an offer.

However, I sincerely hope that you could reconsider it because I do think I am well qualified for the assistantships.

First of all, as you mentioned in your first email, the responsibilities of a graduate assistant include assisting in a course. I believe that in order to fulfill this major task, one basically needs three qualities, namely, communicative skills in lecturing, experience in teaching, and expertise regarding the course being taught.

I am a good communicator, both in the form of oral and written communication. This can be demonstrated by the recommendation letters by my teachers and my supervisor I studied and worked with. Also, I got 50 out of 60 in TSE (test of spoken English). Beyond this, I received the highest mark in oral communication course, twice. I have been hostess for several English Salons and an English news announcer in my University. I have been an English news announcer for Sichuan Television Station. I was the best representative in Model United Nations and prize winner of several English speech contests held in my university.

Furthermore, I believe my past experience as a teaching assistant will definitely be valuable for my future responsibility as a TA at Albany. I taught several classes including coherence, rhetorical devices, and diction; I participated in strategy decision for teaching and helped evaluate students’ assignments.

As for my education background, it is not unfairly to argue that an applicant whose major is English might be less competitive. However, as far as I am concerned, communication is a very interdisciplinary field and thus my background in linguistics would definitely help to add diversity to the program which in turn would bright fresh insights into the understanding of this field. Moreover, it is not like that I know nothing of this field. I had courses in intercultural communication and oral communication and did very well in them. Most importantly, I am working on Knapp's Handbook of Interpersonal Communication and John S. Caputo’s Interpersonal Communication and other undergraduate text books available, which I think are a good place to prepare myself for the future study and research. And I am also willing to take extra courses after I come to study at Albany. All these efforts are just made to pursue the study that interests me most and to do some contribution to your program.

Though I do not know the specifics of other applicants' records, I believe I am one of the best. (I think it is possible that you either, because it is very hard to do so based on the limitation of application materials and communications between professors and these applicants.)  

Now please allow me to tell you what happened in my family before you sent me the last email and after.

After I told my Mum and Dad that, “I made it. I got the offer, all by my won efforts.” They are so proud of me that they could not sleep. They told me afterwards that that night they stole to the guestroom and opened a bottle champagne and celebrated all in complete silence but with huge delight, at 4 a.m. (they don’t want to wake me up). Next morning, they called every of my relatives about this piece of great news, choking their words because of excitement from time to time and got a lot of blessings and congratulations.

I called my boyfriend, and he was ecstatic about this, too. He asked me to close my eyes and did a prayer to God. (He is a Christian)

…

All the happiness came to a abrupt halt when I got your email this morning. I just could not bring myself to tell my parents about it.

I did not write back to you until today is because I was busy withdrawing my applications to other universities which admitted me and writing thanks letters to them for careful consideration and admission. I also called my interviewer at Price WaterHouse Cooper (PWC) to inform them that I would withdraw my application.

Therefore, as you may already see, though this withdrawal might be an easy decision for you to make, it is never easy for me and my family to accept. As you have got my email regarding my financial situation, you can also tell the significance of the withdrawal of the offer.

To be honest with you, I can hardly believe that such an irresponsible decision would be made by Albany, a prestigious university. I cannot help but doubt the credibility of Albany. Even, my boyfriend, as a lawyer, doubts the possibility of black-box operation and racial discrimination.

Finally, please allow me to say that I am writing this email with absolute respect to Albany and the admission committee. But I do think I justify reconsideration about this decision and a clarification about what is going on at least. And as an applicant to communication studies, I firmly believe that successful communication is based on mutual understanding. And in order to understand each other, we both should always enter other’s mindset and put oneself into other’s situation and forgo one’s own assumptions.

I am looking forward to your reply.
Have a nice day!

Sincerely yours,,
….

现在面对那段经历,已经平静.不过大家想想,如果, 你也是个烂校的英语专业小本,转专业拿到了全奖, 唯一的,全奖!!然后在3天后又被收回.那是怎样的心情.

也许你可能可以体会到一点点我当时的感受吧.

2天以后,又是一个明媚的早晨,接到了学校的电子邮件，说,考虑再三,还是给我全奖.

妈妈又哭了.

…申请落幕.我再一次以为,搞定了.

搞定了???幼稚!!!!

[ 本帖最后由 annflyhigh 于 2006-5-27 08:03 编辑 ]

annflyhighUID: 188748

三.真正的挑战,VISA.
1. 1000
相信看到这里,大家已经等不及了吧.那么,请看1000.

从申版意气风发的转到签版,马上傻眼…乱!!然后看签经无数,材料准备无数..多得自己都数不清了,有的还不直看了一遍,觉得开始慢慢的自己理解签证.

在这里,我尤其想提醒大家是,
1.        在准备签证的初步阶段,一定要抓住重点.108问太繁杂,太容易让人分心.我就是基本上108问每个问题都准备了,然后就沉醉在一种自己制造的虚无的满足感和成就感中,再加上一直引以为傲的口语.签证,唾手可得!!傻得可以!!
2.        签版上发签经的,往往是过了的人去发的,而被句的人,都躲在一角舔舐伤口去了.比如我,1000被句以后,基本就没来太傻,因为怕自己伤心.所谓形势,比谣言好不了多少.签证的艺术上有一句话,让我感触非常深, “签过了,很可能是运气好,签不过,一定不是运气不好.”大家一定要好好准备,不要有侥幸心里.

1000也许没有太多值得大家借鉴的,因为我当时紧张得根本脑袋里一片空白.不知道怎么回答,就乱答了.我对这样的压力比较没有抵抗力…再加上职业规划根本没有深入思考…这里只说说成都签官的情况

我是1号窗口的瘦高眼睛签的.他十分严格,非常不喜欢你的长篇大论,一但觉得长,马上打断,让人非常紧张.而且句的人也最多.在我签的那天,我前面4个F1他句了3个.所以我一发现是他签我,心理上就输了非常多. 今天2000的时候,还听说一个关于他的事情: 一个签商务签证的1000被他句了,然后2000的时候非常倒霉,当时只有他一个人在签.轮到他时,1号问他,你要不要改天换个人签.谁知那人…唉…也不知道怎么想的,说, “就你签”.然后1号说,那我还是句你…然后就句了…汗…

2号窗口是哈里波特.没有仔细观察,唯一知道的就是问的很详细,时间比较长.

3号是齐达内,是最水的一个.我知道的几乎所有成都签过的F1,都是他手下过的.他会很仔细听你说,很少打断,而且看资料的时候比较长.一般在签之前就有个初步的定论了.

1000SB紧张版签经:

1．VO: Which school will you go to?
ME: XXXX
2．VO: How many universities have you applied to?
ME: 8
3．VO: How many accepted you?
ME: Two gave me an offer.
4．VO: What is the other school?
ME: University of XXX; University of XX(被打断) (我以为要问申请了哪些学校)
5．VO: You said two have accepted you. What is the other school?
ME: University of Denver.
6．VO: Why do you choose this school?
ME: My academic background…(被打断) (他以为我要说些不针对问题的话)
太冗长的话容易让人觉得偏题。要说的简单明了！！！
7．VO: Just tell me why you choose this school.
ME: （…停了一下，因为头脑里一片空白）This school enrolls more than 1000 international students each year. This ethnic diversity will help my study: Interpersonal and intercultural communication.
太紧张了，以至于只想到这个不很重要的原因。而且让人觉得在背。
8．VO: You got a stipend.
ME: Yes.
9．VO: What are you going to study?
ME: I will specialize in interpersonal and intercultural communication. I chose this because of my personal experience. Do you want to hear the story?
换个说法，VO就会接受得多。谁有时间听你说你编好的故事？
10．VO: No… What are you going to do after graduation?
ME: I want to become a communication counselor. There are two options. I can work as self-employed communication counselor. The other choice is to work in corporations.
11．VO: What is communication counselor?
ME: It’s just like mental therapist.
这个解释完全失败。这是最应该准备的。结果却被忽略了。从这里开始，VO应该就开始考虑拒我了。
12．VO: What will you do 9 to 5 as a communication counselor?
ME: I will spot people’s communication problems and help them solve it.
说得不具体，彻底决定句我了
13．VO: 开始打电脑
14．VO: What will you do if you do not go to US?(2000准备的时候总结其他签经发现,一般1号决定要句你了,就问这句话了)
ME: If I cannot go to US, the only possibility is that you don’t issue me the VISA. But I think I am well qualified …(被打断)
15．VO: What will you do if you do not go to US?
ME: I am English major and therefore I have some deficiencies in interpersonal and intercultural communication. If I cannot go, I will read more books on this to make it up and apply again. I will not give up.
16．VO: Have you considered other possibilities like other countries like European countries?
ME: No.
17．VO: So that means US is the only country you want to go?
ME: I am a perseverant person. And I like to concentrate on one thing at a time…(被打断)
18．VO: Do you know that is a bad answer to a visa officer? That means you don’t have a clear plan for your future. I am sorry I cannot give you the visa. I hope you can understand.(我已经没办法思考了.心里不知道是什么滋味…出了使馆,爸妈在等着我…而且更倒霉的是,一出门,天就下起了雨…就差没播点凄惨的背景音乐了…)

自己确实对未来规划不清晰，直接导致了去签证的时候心里没底，然后就紧张，就乱说话。
语速太快了，慢下来，想一想的回答。不要神经病的以为说得快人家就觉得你英语好！

－－－－恭喜2000过了 我刚才看贴一直以为你是1000过的，边看签经边奇怪这种回答方式你怎么会1000过呢，运气实在不错啊。 结果 看了下一楼才知道，唉:L

[ 本帖最后由 chris song 于 2006-5-28 06:12 编辑 ]

星星草UID: 160662

GXGX
要加精啊~~~

annflyhighUID: 188748

2. 2000.
逃避似的从成都回了学校.因为没办法面对父母.然后约了第2次面签.
这次,我扔开了108问…直接思考最核心的几个问题:

为什么去美国
这个专业学什么
为什么这个专业
为什么这个学校
毕业后打算做什么
还申请了其他学校没有
打算去美国的同时有没有其他的打算
如果去不成美国有没有其他打算

经过深入的思考,初步拟订的如下:
Do you know why you did not get the visa last time?
Yes. When I saw almost all the F1 applicants before me got rejected, I started to panic. Therefore, though I have a clear picture, in my mind, of what I want to do, who I want to be, I did not successfully convey these messages effectively to the consulate officer.

In fact, this experience further convinced me the usefulness of interpersonal and intercultural communication--No matter how qualified a VISA applicant is, if he cannot effective communicate his situation to the consulate officer, he will get rejected.

What’s new that you bring this time?
Psychologically, I am more prepared this time. More importantly, I seriously considered other possibilities open for me.

Why US?
It is logical decision for me. I am very into this field of study. American universities are the most advanced in this field. And I can get the education I want for free. In China, there are no such programs. Most program focus on mass communication.

My foreign teacher in intercultural communication suggested me American universities are the most advanced in this field. As a matter of fact, Interpersonal communication as a separate study began to emerge first in US.

What is your major about?
It analyzes the process and effects of communication. For example, how a message is conveyed? What is the relationship between culture and communication? How can communication theories be applied to practice? What are the elements of communication? How communication sustains a relationship?

I will take core courses
Communication Theory and Practice
Interpersonal Interaction
Culture and Communication
Message Design
Social Influence
Communication Research Methods
Why this major?
It is useful. What we are doing now is a perfect example. No matter how qualified a VISA applicant is, if he cannot effectively explain his situation to the consulate officer, he will get rejected. My personal experience also makes me realize our quality of life depends on effective communication.

Why do you choose this Univ.?
Again, it is a logical decision.
1. It is better match with my interest, my academic background and my career.
2. The program is more professional oriented.
(I don’t believe that empty theories only will get me anywhere. As a matter of fact, the program features an internship practicum for students to bridge theory and practice.)
3. University of Albany enrolls over 1,000 international students every year. Its ethnic diversity can provides me with firsthand experience to understand interpersonal and intercultural communication.
4. It is free. The school offered me full scholarship.
What will do in the future?

Simply put, I will provide communication tools for people to solve conflicts in their relationship. By tools I mean communication principles and concepts. In this way, they can test out those tools that work best for them. Therefore, it is necessary for me to master these principle and concepts through scientific and systematic study in US in the first place.

Last time the gentleman visa officer asked me what I will do 9 to 5 as a communication counselor.
It will be like this: First, through my clients’ detailed description or live demonstration communicate styles, I will find out where it goes wrong. Then, I will select principles specifically related to these problems. Then, explain to my clients how these principles related to their problems.
Why come back?
1.        Cultural knowledge plays a significant role in communication. Communication guidelines change when we engage with culturally different people. Social norms determine what interaction is appropriate. Not familiar with the culture will put me in a great disadvantage.

What other plans?
an oral English teacher
a translator
English new announcer.

What will you do if you don’t go to the US?
I will have the privilege to see to you again.
There a few options open to me
I can start teaching English somewhere
I can be a news announcer in TV station.
I can apply to universities in other countries

在这期间,看了一本专业的书,对专业也了解了许多,给了我很多问题的答法的灵感.当然,上面的准备只是初步的…后来还和男朋友练了很多很多次,也争吵了很多次,定下最好的说法,想到所有可能的提问方式和顺序.后来到了一个程度就我基本知道他要问什么…他还专门叫了另一个朋友帮我练…

谢谢你,亲爱的.

好啦,废话不多说,这历史最长签经改收收尾了…奉上2000签经,这次是齐达内签的,这次有个小花絮,也直接影响了我后来签证不到2分钟就过了.我一进去就看见一个和我去同一个学校同一个系的女生签过了,她出使馆的时候和她打了招呼,我挺激动,声音挺大,弄的齐也看见了,不过事实证明,这在后来帮助了我:
ME: Good morning!(挺严肃的)
VO: Good morning! Which school will you go to?(转头看电脑去了)
ME:XXXX
VO: Which school will you go to?(晕,怎么又问了一遍,不是刚问了吗?他肯定也晕了)
ME:XXXX
VO: Why do you choose this University?
ME: There are many good reasons. The most important reason is it is good match. What the program has to offer is exactly what I need and want.
The other reason is University of XXX enrolls over 1,000 international students each year. I firmly believe I can benefit a lot this cultural diversity. It can provides me with firsthand experience to understand interpersonal and intercultural communication. (这时候1号杀手转过头对齐达内说话,妈妈呀!!吓我啊,该不会是说我坏话不要我过吧!!,说完话,他又开始看电脑.不管,老娘豁出去了)
Oh, and the school offered me full scholarship.(他点了点头,偶见有戏唱,偶又接着说) I saw a girl get the VISA just now. She is going to the same university. We decided to go to US together. But I will have to get your approval first.(他仔细在听,然后开始打电脑,然后收拾我的材料,留下了护照,呵呵,成了!!)
VO: How did you know her?
ME: It was such a coinsidence! I met her online and we started to talk. Then we found out we are both going to US and to the same university!
VO: (撕白条)Enjoy your journey in the US!
ME: Thank you!
然后一蹦一跳的出了门,工作人员都在笑我…

1.        齐在喊人的时候,很多时候都会把放在头上的眼睛摘下来,看人是怎么走过去的,所以大家一定要注意自己的MANNER.
2.        在交了材料之后,不要坐这傻等，可以对着每个签证官心里默默练习一遍,这样效果很好.相当于实战了一次.
3.        女生穿着,当然要端庄整洁,但是一定一定要选一套自己要感觉comfortable的.而且我觉得去念MA,PHD的穿得稍微成熟点比较好.
4.        自信比任何东西都重要!!!!!这可以说是最重要的东西.但是没有充分的准备,自信从何而来???所以,归根到底,还是充分的准备,思考,准备,再思考!!!!然后自信取VISA!!!

(太傻上不去,这里来发发,相信很多傻友也会来这...)
手都写酸了…但是心里是开心的.
最后,祝大家走好.
加油,珍重.
我去混留学俱乐部了.

[ 本帖最后由 annflyhigh 于 2006-5-27 01:03 编辑 ]

yumiaouniqueUID: 205450

写的太好了。。

kevinhrmUID: 2158364

thanks for sharing~ 非常不错！

lukesUID: 2176853

“好事”多磨，在楼主的身上看到了，非常感谢签经。

clausiusUID: 147331

我早上听你说你是2签就猜是不是你, 果然... 我是那个比你后签的F1...

annflyhighUID: 188748

呵呵就是那个MM?戴眼镜的?

clausiusUID: 147331

是那个戴眼镜的GG... 坐在那跟你大谈哪个VO是杀手的.........

fishwater00UID: 182063

gxgx

人模狗样UID: 165422

GXGX

jay2933UID: 2180435

gxgx~~

meishenUID: 189284

写的真好！谢谢分享！