本人是楼主，我曾经给好像是SCBE管research招生的一个人TAN Lay Yen发了如下两封
信，现在看来，估计很可能是它们断送了我的命运，What's your opinion?：
date： Mon, Mar 28, 2011 at 4:08 PM
subject： The reasons why I would choose NTU rather than a school in
the USA :
Greetings!
Dear Mr. TAN Lay Yen
I am an applicant of the 2011 Fall admission of Chemical Engineering PHD in
NTU. I finished my undergraduate study in Xiamen University in China,and I
am currently doing my Master study in New Jersey Institute of Technology in
the USA.I will finish my Master Thesis and graduate in May this year.
For the following reasons,if I receive offers from both the USA and
Singapore,instead of the schools in the USA,I will choose NTU to continue my
PHD study in Chemical Engineering:
First, as a globally top 100 university, it enjoys excellence both in
teaching and research.At the same time it's much easier for me to be
admitted to enjoy such grace and excellence compared to a school in the USA
with a similar global rank.
Second,USA is going down and decaying.The future economic center,I believe
will be the Asia-Pacific area.I strongly want to go back to China to work.I
have to learn to generate creative ideas through integration of Oriental and
Occidental ideas,and know more about the working environment in Asia and
China.Also,such combination can help me generate innovative ideas required
as a PHD researcher.
Third,most professors in your department are young and energetic.Although
they're a bit less than ten years older than me,they can teach me new and
innovative ideas helpful in my academic and professional development.And
there should not be much gap between me and my adviser in NTU,which is also
probably because both of us are from Asia.
Fourth,as the economic situation in the USA still shows minor trend of
recovery from the recession,most schools including my current school are
suffering from lack of required funding for research.Due to this,many PHD
students,though still unable to meet the degree requirements,have been urged
by their academic departments to graduate immediately. After all,the
department has to try all effort to reduce their costs by declining the
tuition and assistanceships to their PHD students. At the same time, the
economic situation in Singapore is coming up with exciting rate,providing me
much less worry about my PHD financial sources.
Fifth,the official language of Singapore is also English,and like the
schools in the USA, NTU's only instructing language is also English.So NTU
enjoys all advantages provided by a top school in the USA.
Sixth,if I have got experience of studying abroad in two countries
completely different from each other,I would enjoy stronger competence in
job market.
Last,Singapore has convenient,quick-paced and dynamic atmosphere as a modern
International city.It's safe to study in.Also it's near to my home in
Guangzhou, Guangdong.It would be convenient for me to go back to China to
see my parents and my friends when feeling lonely or frustrated.
Therefore,unlike most applicants from China Mainland,I am not treating NTU
merely as a guarantee,nor do I just to save money or enjoy comfortable life.
Instead,I believe I have used my best effort to apply to NTU,and I have
already been treating NTU as the best school I should try to apply to.
After all,from a Master degree in the USA,what I have gained most is
confidence,together with belief in my personal decisions. It's because I am
sure I have developed my critical thinking and discerning to the public
ideas from other people,which is essentially required in my research work
and publishing innovative papers.
Thanks very much for your keen attention,and best wishes!
在收到拒信之前的第二天，我又发了另外一封信：
Greetings!
Dear Ms. TAN Lay Yen
I am the Chinese guy with a Bachelor degree from Xiamen U. in China,and
currently a Master student in NJIT in New Jersey in the USA.
Last week I have heard from one of my friends,a current PHD student in NTU,
that if all my financial supports are from the fundings of my PHD advisor,I
would not require interview.But if some of my financial supports are from
NTU research scholarship,I would have to take an interview by the department
.Here I am wondering about the main source of financial supports for a PHD
student in SCBE.
Then,I have already been rejected by all the top schools that I have applied
in the USA,or accepted without any financial aid.After all,most schools has
greatly shrieked PHD enrollment due to financial crises.At the same time,
due to the still high unemployment in the USA,the total amount of applicants
are much more than ever.So the government requires the PHD enrollment also
give the USA residents and citizens priority.
Also,due to severe depletion of required fundings to support a PHD student,
my current department will not accept any new PHD student this year.Although
I have already been admitted by two schools ranked by USNEWS to be about
200 in the USA,I don't want to waste 4 years of my valuable young time in a
pedestrian school.So if given me an offer to NTU,I would surely give NTU a
priority!
Best wishes
