New University year begins
The new students of Tsinghua University queue for registering on August 26, 2009. They will start their new life here. Tshinghua University has totally
enrolled 3337 new students this year.(Xinhua Photo)
As
students find themselves confronted with making choices at aged 19, or
upon graduation, we have condensed, updated and presented new
information to help you make those important decisions. Our dedicated
team of advisers will treat enquiries as a matter of priority until the
end of October, 2010.
E-mail: enjoyingenglishinfo@yahoo.com here, or through the above link.
Back to College...Starting Out. 2010.08.18.
Although
this article was originally intended to offer information to students
arriving at college or university for the first time, much of it
applies equally to those who are embarking on their first job, or taking the initial steps towards your future career.
There are 8 areas to consider.
1. Getting there.
Arriving at a strange and unfamiliar city is often a daunting and
bewildering experience. Trains, buses and roads are crowded. It is
often wise to travel with a minimum of luggage, keeping to the
essentials. Carry with you a minimum of cash, it is safer in a bank.
Take care of bank cards, and check before you leave home that they
operate in other regions and in ATM machines.
Parents
often want to accompany their children to a new location, to be sure
that they settle in, and that all is well. I'm not so sure that's a
good idea. You will have to fend for yourself, perhaps for the first
time. My feeling is, that it is best to say your 'Good-byes'
at home, and plunge in at the deep end. After all, when you think
about it, most other new-comers are in the same situation, and have the
same anxieties.
2. Accommodation.
Most accommodation for students is shared in one way or another, often
in a dormitory with several other people of more or less the same age.
That in itself causes its own problems; creating your own space with
little privacy, getting along with your new room-mates, and being
mindful and considerate of their situation. A common concern is that
you may never have undressed in front of someone else before, or feel
embarrassed in communal showers. You needn't worry. In a short time
it will be as much of your routine as brushing your teeth.
In
a city starting work, living on your own in a rented room or small
apartment, can be very lonely. You have no one to share experiences
with, or to talk to. Just you, and the television. Try to find a
colleague in a similar situation. Even if you're not completely
compatible, at least there is someone else around on a daily basis.
3. Orientation - getting to know the campus and city.
It's
well worth the time and effort to find out as much as possible about
your environment in advance. Search the Internet for information e.g.
Google Earth. a local map and bus time-table is often helpful. Spend
some time during your first week exploring the city to find facilities
and local markets. In my experience, markets are great! Apart from
the fact that they are cheaper, often they are a good place to meet
with local people, who will usually be pleased to welcome you into
their community, and show you the best places to go.
4. Eating.
I don't think that there is anything more tedious than preparing food
for yourself and eating it on your own. It is usually not practical to
eat out every meal, although in China, there is a magnificent range of
food available on the streets and in markets, from early morning to
late at night.
Canteen
food on campus is often bland, unappetizing and generally poor.
Planning, shopping and eating together with friends is a pleasure.
Indirectly,it has a beneficial effect on study and work. People who
eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, perform better, look better and feel
better. Developing basic cooking skills is, in my opinion, essential.
Lunch or dinner provides an excellent opportunity for communication or
companionship, providing a focal point for social or business
interaction.
5. Your Schedule.
Getting a practical, workable schedule is a priority. Make certain
that you are on the correct courses for your chosen area of study and
that you are at the level that suits you. If they are wrong, then
change, or talk to someone who can help.
English
courses in the First Grade are often mandatory, which means that you
have to attend classes whether you want to or not. It doesn't follow
that your skill level in a subject, necessary equates to your level of
academic ability, for a number of reasons. Most commonly is that many
students have not had an environment with suitably experienced
teachers. There are many resources listed in World Wide Webs and on
the Ed Webs pages that can help. In short... don't skip or miss
lessons. If there is a problem, talk to your teacher or tutor.
6. Social Life
is as important as study. Mutual support and friendships are earned or
created through relationships, co-operation and attitude. They are
made with your room-mates, class-mates and others that you 'hang-out'
with on a day to day basis, through sports, activities and clubs. It
is important to achieve a balance between study/work and play, for you
to be able to develop into a 'rounded person'. Employers are usually
looking for interests which you do on your own and in groups both in
and out of doors. As the expression says, ' All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy!'
7. Finances.
For most moving away from home, or starting work, handling personal
finances is a first-time experience. Look after your money and keep it
safe. Budget (plan) for the amount you have available, divided by the
number of weeks it has to last.
In
the beginning, it is worth keeping a notebook of everything you spend.
It's very easy, especially when you have a lot of money for the first
time, to lose track of what you have spent, and where you spent it.
First,make
allowances for essentials such as; travel, rent, food, and books,
making sure that you keep enough money in reserve to get home at the
end of the semester / term. If you need to, or want to, find a
part-time job that doesn't interfere with your study time or disrupt
too much, the time you have for social activities.
Beware
of wonderful...spend now...pay later offers of credit from banks, and
don't borrow long-term from other students. They probably are facing
similar problems to you. Above all else, remember... that loans have
to be repaid.
8. And finally...
moving to a new study or working environment is in the top 3 most
stress factors, along with divorce/marriage break-up and a visit to the
dentist.
Most
students worry about 3 things. They are, in order of importance;
money, their grades and their family at home. Many students keep
worries to themselves, without realising that more than 90% of the
people they are with, are experiencing exactly the same thing.
To
draw these points together, one thing is certain. It is that, whether
you are continuing studies away from home, or looking forward to
launching your career or moving jobs - your life, and that of your
family and friends, will never be the same again. You will survive,
because you have to. You will be successful, because it drives you.
However old you are, life, like language, is constantly changing.
Get organised...get going! Smile...and be happy!
