Lunch Time Thinking

At lunch today, I heard the real story from Derek, I’m surprised by the real feeling of American people on “9.11”. Frankly speaking, at that time, I was not deeply moved by the events happened in far-away America and I didn’t figure out what the people in America are suffering with. Now I understood that the reason why so many people were deeply influenced both in physical and psychological aspects by the tragedy in US. It is not the damage of the building and the terrible large number of death; in fact, it was the challenge of confidence and trust from the deepest thinking of lives. You know, everyday people living here enjoy the beautiful sun-shine and the happy lives. The terrorist attacks crashed people’s believing and confidence about the peace and happiness, it is just like something happened and then suddenly all the things you totally believed before had been crashed down and you might be confused about the futures and worried about the uncertain possibilities.  Therefore, the negative influence of “9.11” is much more than I thought before; I learnt from it that we don’t know what will happen next, there are uncertain in the future, but what we could do is that enjoying the wonderful days from now on, every day and every minutes. 

Introduction of myself

This is my introduction of myself.My name is Sherry and my Chinese name is 何捷晓,I am a junior student next year and my major is Information Security.Thanks to Gina telling me how to use this blog,or I will have no chance to using it myself.Okay,let's start with my name first,Sherry means I want to share everything with you.I come from Tianjin City,as you can see one of the four city provinces in China.I find happiness to know all of you here,and I know you are all excellent.
Well,I hope all of you have a good time in OHIO.

Sherry Britannia at Mike's house

The first american modern dance I have seen

Yesterday I watched a professional modern dancing proformed by the columbus moving company.The things impressed me most is the idea about puzzle and open meaning.The dancing wanted to show the audience some elements instead of tell them  a story or something else.They trid to tell the audience nothing，in purpose.And what they wanted to do were leting the audience feel it by theirselves.They are the meaning producer.This sounds interesting for me cause I'm accustomed to the things which are always educational.
Now I have changed my mind towards dancing.

This will be your research and Presentation topic for the East Coast trip

I think that most of you realize now you will do your Presentations with no technology.  You can only use one notecard and I expect you will not be reading much from it at all.  You will give this presentation when we arrive at this attraction, and you will teach us what you think we need to know about this subject, and you will offer us your analysis and interpretation of this subject's importance or meaning.   Learning is fun, and the best way to learn is to master some information and then have to teach and interpret it. 

Presentation topics and groups

·      Angel and Fay: The Statue of Liberty

·      Karen and Loretta: The World Trade Center and 9/11 Memorial

·      Icy and Jacky: Times Square and the NY Times Building

·      Gina and Katherine: Bethesda Fountain and one more attraction of your choice in Central Park

·      Alan and Jeff: The Brooklyn Bridge

·      Cindy and Ann: The Liberty Bell

·      Mike and Kobe: The Empire State Building

·      Jane and Lilith: The Majestic Theater in NYC

·      Nova and Sharon: Elfreth’s Alley in Philly

·      Simon and Darryl: Arlington National Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

·      Younger and Vivid: The Washington Monument

·      Hedy and Shelly: Benjamin Franklin’s grave

·      Lee and Kylin: The White House

·      Sherry and Hans: Freedom Trail in Boston

·      Changhui and Mr. Yang and Ms. Ding: Independence Hall (only if they want to do a topic!)

Different ruling idea in political systeem between United States and China

   As we all know that,America and China is now the two greatest power in the world.So why they become the world's greatest power is a interesting question.Out of my interest, I am going to investgate the difference on some areas between America and China.I believe that throughout that way,I may be able to find out the answer.And the Politicy systeem is the point. 
   After visiting the village Habron , Columbus city hall and Ohio State Hall，I get to know something about the United State’s political systeem.Luckily I am quiet familiar with China’s ‘authentic’ political systeem，So I just want to say something about the difference between them.
 These two government have similar construction on department,but because of the difference between ruling idea,they work absolutely different.  Ruling Idea distinguishes the two government: Being people's parent or Being people's servant.
   The idea that being people's parent has always be believed by great governors and officers for a long history over 2,000 years in China.So it's not strange that PRC government succeeds this ruling idea.In china's culture,though parents always like to be authority at home,it's no doubt that parents really care about their children.That means:People have no direct right to vote to express their feelings,but actually there is a person who works hard to satisfy people's demand.It will be his great honor if he does well.
   But after visitng,I found that in US, each level of government is found on the belief that power should be seperated.So each member of the council is in charge of a certain area.Officers become servant of people.
  Though these two governments hold different ruling ideas,It's difficult to judge which one is better.and I will not make comment either.
  This is just my simple thought on the political systeem.I feel sad that I can not express fully since I am not very good at English.I just want to let more Americans to know something about the real chinese government by contrast method.
  I am happy that I can be a small bridge  between China and America,

The Dancing Show

The dancing show tonight was amazing.
Actually I couldn't figure out anything that could be told as a story from the whole performance. But what they danced made me feel a lot. The confusion, the aimless and the despair all came to my mind. The dancer behaved so weirdly that I just couldn't understand. Maybe this was exactly the reflection of our life . There are too many pressures flooding  our mind, which makes us do many a foolish thing and make wrong decisions. We need the knock at our doors to wake us up from all these difficulties and distractions to realize what we should do.
Pity for not taking photos.

Using Google in English to search for official school web sites - key words

If you are going to study in the US and work in the Western World then you will be using Google in English.  Google in Chinese isn't bad but it is filtered by the Chinese government and doesn't have all the web sites catalogued like the English or European versions.

(school name) (program name) (international admissions)

My search words

Ohio State MBA international admissions

My result:

http://fisher.osu.edu/ftmba/admissions/international-applicants/


If I just change the university I can get another school's info to compare


Arizona State MBA international admissions

http://wpcarey.asu.edu/mba/Full-Time/


See! Easy!

OR

Ohio State School of Dentistry Contact Us

My result (it appeared second)

http://dent.osu.edu/Contact_Us.php


That way you are connected directly to the people you need to talk to.  Happy searching!

Emailing American Schools - templates

You will all have to directly contact your targeted schools, because as we said in class on Monday every school is different in regards to academic culture and admission requirements.  As such, using your English ability as a tool will help answer the important questions you need to help make your grad school decisions.  Don't rely on friends for answers!

Professional Email Address

Remember you want to communicate a professional air to these people from the first moment you contact them.  You should have an email name and address that reflects this.

First, I would recommend using a gmail, hotmail or yahoo email addresses because those are the most common ones used in the US.  I think most of you have a gmail address right now so that's a good start.

Second, I would use a username that is a bit more professional.  Let's look at a couple to compare:

As you know my Chinese name is 安睿和, pinyin An Rui He.  A good example of a professional email address would be:

anruihe@gmail.com
arh@gmail.com
erican@gmail.com
arh104@gmail.com

These are not good ones in my opinion:

happyboywuhan@126.com
sunnyxyj12345678@qq.com
19294958@qq.com
iloveyouforevergirl@gmail.com

Notice the difference?  The first set resemble a "professional" student, while last few look like an anonymous, personal email address.

Writing the Email - Subject Line

Remember that people in admissions offices get at least HUNDREDS of emails a day and I'm sure it's not very exciting.  You can increase your chances of your email being read quicker by being very clear in your email subject line.  Be professional.  Use capital letters and good grammar.

Examples

Chinese student with question about GPA requirements

Prospective international student with question about XX

Prospective international student following up about application status

Question about XX

International student admission criteria question

As you can see there are a number of ways to phrase it but be sure to generalize what you are going to talk/ask about.  And if you reply back to this person again they will know the subject.

DO NOT LEAVE THEM LIKE THIS:

RE:

RE:RE:RE:RE

(blank)

FW:RE:

Hi!

How are you?

HowRU?

Writing the Email - The Body 

It's always useful to address the person you are writing to in a respectful manner, especially if you've found their name on the university's web site.  For example, if you were going to email Jill Heath from our class on Monday you could address her by:

Dear Jill,

Hi Jill,

Dear Ms. Heath,

Jill,

If you do not have a specific name and it's a general email admissions address (ex. info@osuadmissions.com) then you could do the following:

Dear Admissions Officer,

To Whom It May Concern,

Introduction Paragraph

Begin forming an impression immediately.  Always introduce yourself, whether you are writing to them for the first time or the 5th time.

Example

My name is Eric An (An Rui He), a Chinese student from Wuhan, China who is interested in your MBA program for Fall 2014.  After looking at the school's web site I have a couple questions and was hoping to take a couple minutes of your time to answer them.

Notice I did not say "sorry to bother you", but rather I might take a couple minutes of your time.  Americans are more concerned about time so it's more like the Chinese equivalent of 一下 rather than 麻烦 or 打扰.

Also notice I said "After looking at the web site."  You have better searched the site first because if you just contacted them and didn't look you will probably get an answer like "look at our web site" and shows you haven't done your share of the work.  Be a motivated candidate.  Look on the web site first.  Then don't be afraid to ask.

Emailing a Professor/Graduate Student at a Particular School

Same rules apply, but a little different.

My name is Eric An (An Rui He), a Chinese student from Wuhan, China who is interested in your MBA program for Fall 2014.  I looked at your bio on the school web site and have similar interests in XX (accounting, management, etc).  I was hoping to take a few minutes of your time to ask about XX.

OR

My name is Eric An (An Rui He), a Chinese student from Wuhan, China who is interested in your MBA program for Fall 2014.  I want to learn a little more about the school and was hoping you could connect me to a graduate student or two so I can ask a few questions about the program.  

American professors and teachers, like Chinese ones, can be difficult to contact, though I would say most will reply within a week or two.

Then ask whatever you want to ask, but KEEP IT TO ONLY A QUESTION OR TWO, NOT MORE THAN THAT.  That way they won't feel overwhelmed about your email, AND you can ask more in the next email.  :)   Remember you are building a relationship.

Closing

Thank you very much for your time.  I really appreciate it.  Looking forward to your reply.

Best,

Eric An 

American Email Etiquette - Waiting Times 

If you wrote an email using the template above I would wait 5-7 days for a reply.  For example, if you send it Monday morning I would wait till that Friday or the following Monday. If you don't get a reply, first check your spam email folder to make sure a reply didn't go there.  If not, you can send the same email again but with some small changes.


To: osuadmissions@osu.edu
From: erican@gmail.com
Subject:  International student admissions question follow up

To Whom It May Concern,

My name is Eric An (An Rui He), a Chinese student from Wuhan, China who is interested in your MBA program for Fall 2014.  I wrote your office at the beginning of last week regarding a few questions and wanted to follow up that conversation.  

Then ask the same questions you did before with the same ending.  Usually you will get a rather quick reply with a "sorry, really busy" etc.  They probably didn't mean to do it so give some face to them, Chinese style.  Remember, they are dealing with hundreds and hundreds of emails so it's hard to get to everyone in a quick fashion.

If you don't receive a reply after a second week I would do the same thing one more time, BUT CC another person in the school's office (got it from the web site) or email someone completely new.  Or, if you have the ability, call the school.

And think about this:  the more the email the more replies you have the chance of receiving.  Don't just email one school at a time - if you have 3-5 schools on your dream list then you can use the templates above to email them all at the same time and see which ones reply and which ones don't.  That will help you decided which schools are better at communication than others.

Happy Communicating!