1, personal education
Undergraduate and master students are both sociology majors in two different 985 universities.
Due to various reasons, during the undergraduate period, my grades were very average, and there were not a few courses above 60% and 70%, and some failed. But what courses are you interested in and professional courses that are in line with your research direction? Urban sociology? 、? Development sociology? Good grades. Never won a scholarship. My English scores are relatively stable. Pass CET-4 and CET-6 once in one year, and pass CET-4 and CET-6 oral test. Publicly published papers 1 article. My poor grades during my undergraduate course are probably an important reason for my unsuccessful application.
During the master's degree, the results were stable, and only one course was below 80 points. I took several courses related to my research direction across departments. Won ***5 university-level outstanding postgraduate honors and scholarships. Published 7 papers. Participate in teacher-level academic forums, submit papers and make PPT reports.
2. English test
IELTS test in September 2009, 7 points.
3. Source of application
My girlfriend has suggested to me many times to apply for studying abroad. I know a little, but I haven't read the relevant information carefully. Once I paid attention to the resume of a professor who interested me, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and suddenly I felt that I should seriously consider going out to study for a doctorate. But I do have a certain understanding of the difficulty of studying abroad, so I set my goal in Hong Kong. In addition, I learned the news that my classmates and sisters who graduated early applied for Hong Kong successfully, and gradually strengthened my confidence in applying in the communication with my roommates.
Naturally, the application first requires English scores, Hong Kong's British colonial status, and a classmate's suggestion, so I chose IELTS with two other students in my roommate. In April, the registration was officially prepared, and the exam in September had half a year to fully prepare. I stayed at school all month in August and studied English hard. Studying with classmates and encouraging each other are also helpful.
4. Get to know universities in Hong Kong directly.
In July, I participated in the summer camp organized by the Hong Kong Federation of Students and spent a week in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. During this period, I visited City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Shue Yan University, and held lectures and other activities. In particular, HKUST's lectures were very helpful. Have an intuitive understanding of urban life and higher education in Hong Kong.
5. School choice
Before applying, the Chinese University of Hong Kong knew the University of Hong Kong best, and it was always my favorite school during the application process. However, the old school HKU must also consider it. Other schools don't know much about it. First, their reputation is a bit poor. Second, their professional settings don't quite meet my interests. Finally, only CUHK and HKU were selected. In fact, it was later discovered that both City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology could try it.
My major also has a selection process. Before, Kaobo always planned to cross the major, so he also wanted to cross this major when applying. However, in the process of contacting CUHK, it is really difficult to find cross-majors. In addition, in June, 2009, 5438+065438+ 10, the cross-disciplinary examination was limited to failure due to a single subject difference of 3 points. Although there is another opportunity for cross-disciplinary examination, confidence is greatly affected, so the goal is still locked in sociology of this major.
6. Research plan
After I took the IELTS test in September, I focused on preparing for the cross-disciplinary test 1 1 in June, so I basically didn't prepare a research plan during this period. But I read a lot of books in the process of preparing for the exam, and two books were written by a teacher, which inspired me a lot. I think I have found a very good theoretical framework for my related research. Because there are often questions about what research I did during my Ph.D., I have carefully prepared relevant answers. These are the preliminary framework of my research plan.
At the beginning of February, before the end of the exam results, I began to write my research plan seriously. At first, I translated what I had written before into English, and then I began to add and modify the contents directly in English. The writing framework used is provided by the University of Hong Kong. In a short period of time, it is necessary to read many books and papers to expand the content, especially English materials, which is very brain-consuming, and writing a summary also requires a comprehensive grasp of relevant research. Although it took a lot of effort, I'm afraid it's still missing. The original English version alone is missing a lot.
After writing the first edition, I showed it to a professor in my department, who is also my tutor's favorite student. But I feel that the professors in this department are very busy and difficult to contact, so I only talked to him once in person and asked him to write me a letter of recommendation. But the dialogue is still very enlightening. Before, my research plan was a theoretical summary, lacking detailed design for field research. At the suggestion of the professor, I chose another case and wrote down the research design in detail, including the basic situation of the case, data collection methods, analysis methods and possible results. It's like a complete research plan. Finally wrote 25 pages.
It should be noted that although it is intended to be interdisciplinary, there are actually many intersections between the two majors, so the basic topics of the research plan have not changed. I just want to apply for sociology, so I have to deliberately join the research results and theories of many sociologists. And I haven't seen it for a long time Very? Orthodox? Social studies, so I did encounter some difficulties. Later, the professor in our department also said that he lacked the classical theory of sociology.
7. Transcripts and degree certificates
Undergraduate report card, degree certificate and graduation certificate are all sent to me by students in the school where the undergraduate is located in the school file. Transcripts are printed and stamped directly in Chinese, translated into English according to the template and sent for printing and stamping. Graduation certificate and degree certificate are all taken by camera, then filled in the WORD document template and sent to be stamped. School envelopes that need to be stamped when sealed.
The master's report card is copied and stamped in Chinese in the department, then translated into English according to the template, and then stamped in the graduate school. However, I really don't agree with handwritten Chinese transcripts. Some courses have no registration scores and credits, which made me run several times to do well. In addition, open a graduate certificate.
8. Letter of recommendation
Two letters of recommendation from HKU and CUHK, one letter and four letters. Find your own tutor and a professor in the department who helps me look at the research plan. The tutor is a veteran figure in the field of sociology in China, and the professor is an active western social theory scholar in the field of sociology at present, so they are still relatively heavy. HKU's recommendation letter is in WORD format, so I printed it all out for the teacher to sign. Cuhk's recommendation letter is in PDF format. It's strange to type with ACROBAT. Please trouble the teacher to copy it.
9. Registration and payment
Online registration, I feel that HKU's registration system is better and it is convenient to check the status. It is more economical and convenient to apply for a youth card at China Merchants Bank and pay the application fee online than to use a draft. I feel that the service of China Merchants Bank is good.
10, resume
I found the template on the Internet and wrote two pages carefully. Including contact information, education, experience, individuals, publications and awards.
1 1, material delivery
SF Express, the materials are all within one kilogram from 30 yuan, and usually arrive in Hongkong the next day, which is very good.
Materials include research plan, undergraduate master's report card, undergraduate degree certificate, master's study certificate, copy of IELTS test report, resume, copy of published papers and copy of scholarship certificate.
65438+ At the end of 10, it was sent to HKU on the same day as the deadline. Because there was a snowstorm, the whole city was buried by heavy snow, the expressway was closed, and the courier company could not deliver anything. I was going crazy at that time. Fortunately, it cleared up on the 29th, and the materials were distributed in the afternoon. The number 3 1 finally reached HKU.
Send it to cuhk in late February. Because I want to make continuous progress, I made changes at home during the winter vacation.
12, contact the tutor.
Before, because I wanted to cross-major, I had several email contacts with Professor CUHK who was interested in me. Later, after I decided to apply for sociology, I quickly collected all the teachers' mailboxes on HKU and CUHK's websites, briefly described the topics of my research plan, and then sent them one by one. Most teachers answered, but most said they were not familiar with my research direction. Several people said that the description was too general and wanted to elaborate on the research plan. But I haven't finished it yet. I can't take it out. So overall, I basically didn't contact my tutor.
13, etc.
All the materials were sent in mid-February, and an interview notice was received from HKU in early March. To tell you the truth, I have no idea about applying to a school in Hong Kong. After all, I have never taken it seriously as a career like many people, but regarded it as an amateur activity. The main goal is always the exam, and there are always other things in the middle.
At the beginning of 20 10, I also want to prepare for the second exam, which is interdisciplinary in our school and has been preparing. I am still very confident. However, when I registered at the end of 2009, I suddenly found that the examination subjects had changed. At that time, I was very confused and made do with signing up first. It was not until I formally prepared for the exam that I realized that it was too difficult to re-prepare a new exam subject that I didn't like and didn't understand in a short time. So I became more and more nervous. So from 20 10, I'm actually doing three things at the same time: applying for a Hong Kong school, preparing for a doctoral exam, and looking for a job. I submitted a lot of resumes and participated in several interviews. Because I have done part-time real estate planning before, I know this better, so I want to work hard in this respect. As a result, when I was at home during the winter vacation, a decent company informed me that I was hired.
After careful consideration, I finally gave up the hopeless second interview and chose to practice in the company, so in the next two months, I worked as an intern in two cities. When I entered the company, I found that it was good to make a little money occasionally with real estate planning as my hobby. If I work full-time, I really can't accept it, because in my heart, I still think I should be an academic. And found that the company's system construction is not standardized, the work content is not my favorite planning, but biased towards data analysis, not satisfactory. Therefore, I have been entangled in my heart and become more and more negative about the internship.
14, telephone interview
At the beginning of March, when I received a phone call from the Department of Sociology of the University of Hong Kong informing me of a telephone interview, my heart could be described as ecstasy, as if my prospects were suddenly enlightened. So I began to look up all kinds of relevant information, including professional knowledge and interview skills, and also mobilized my girlfriend to help me collect information. Because I was an intern in a foreign country, I asked for leave from the company two days before the interview. I went to the local relatives' home to make full preparations, read the materials carefully, practice English listening and speaking, and interview my girlfriend through QQ voice simulation.
The interview started on time, and HKU called my mobile phone directly for 24 minutes, which was a long time. I don't remember the teacher who interviewed, but I feel that the examiner's English is very standard, which should be British and American. These questions include a brief description of your research plan, what methods you used to conduct specific research on your case, and what other schools you applied to. All the questions were in English and I answered them fluently.
Cuhk informed me by email at the end of March that the telephone interview would be held in early April. The preparation process is similar to last time, with more time. The first question is to introduce yourself in English, and then other questions are professional questions asked in Mandarin, including what the research method is, how to define the time period for selecting your research data, whether to make quantitative analysis or qualitative analysis of the data, and so on. These are all very detailed, and I also asked if you applied to other schools. Asking questions in Mandarin makes me feel relaxed. One * * * takes 10 minutes.
The two interviews should be the second batch in their respective schools, probably because I delivered the materials late.
15, waiting list
HKU informed me by email that the application result was searched online and the result was WL. Cuhk didn't give any notice. I sent an email and only got a very vague answer. Later, I found this is WL on the Internet. I'm really disappointed to learn that this is the result. I feel that all my application efforts have been in vain, and my dream of studying for a doctorate has been completely shattered. I really don't want to stay in that real estate company. It was another chance to change my job and be hired by a university to do administrative work. I found the atmosphere of the university attracted me.
After that, until graduation, I only checked the application status online once, or WL, and I completely gave up my extravagant hopes. My plan is to do administrative work in that university first, while not giving up studying, and then take another inter-school and inter-professional doctoral exam at the end of 20 10.
Before graduation, I heard that many students succeeded in taking the doctoral exam, which made me feel even worse. I feel a little ashamed. Originally, my goal of studying for a doctorate was the most clear, but the result was like this.
16, conditional quotation
On the second day of working in that university, on July 2, I saw an email from HKU, saying that I was currently writing my conditional admission notice and asked me to confirm my address. Before I came to my senses, I went back to my address and asked nothing else. I was very excited that afternoon. Find out what con offer is first, and then ask HKU to send me the electronic version in advance. Know that the main content is to master's report card, and the average score is above 80 points, as well as master's diploma and degree certificate. By the way, I checked the application of CUHK, and it has been explicitly rejected.
Because I have been working in other places, I asked my classmates who are still studying for a master's degree to help me. It's still the old way. Both sociology department and graduate school have templates. But the poor report card management method hurt me again. After finishing, HKU received a report saying that the report card was incomplete because there was no record for the third year. In fact, I didn't take any classes in my third year of high school, but there was no explanation on my report card. The key point is that I have passed the defense, and the place on the report card about graduation defense is still blank, and there is no relevant record.
At this time, the school has been on holiday, so I specially contacted the academic staff in the department to ask her to supplement the report card and write another one, and then contacted the graduate school to ask them to go back to school to help me at their convenience. Finally, July 2 1.
17, apply for permission to enter Hong Kong
Because I heard that the processing was very slow, I prepared the application materials immediately after I got con offer, and specially applied for admission on June 5438+00 to avoid insufficient time. Fill in the ID(C)936 form, HKU guarantee, credit card payment authorization, prepare the copy of household registration book, ID card, Hong Kong and Macao pass, offer, resume and credit card, and send it to CEDARS. The account stayed in the unit collective account, so I went to the police station. They gave me a stamped household registration form to fill out by myself.
18, unconditional quotation
On July 23rd, I received the electronic offer and applied for the dormitory with the university number HKU. I applied for all four dormitories: Graduate School, Ma Lixun Hall, PRH and St. John's? S. It's getting late. I forgot to send the offer after I applied online, and I didn't send the scanned file of the offer by email until mid-August. But fortunately, I saw Morrison Hall's email on August 20th and sent me an offer, a double room. So I quickly signed it and faxed it to you, and soon I got Hall's confirmation and a series of notices. It is still very important to get a dormitory in the first year. It is very hard for strangers in the province to rent a house.
Tuition is really troublesome, because it is more troublesome to buy foreign exchange and handle money orders. Finally, I emailed CEDARS to apply for an extension, which was quickly approved.
After receiving the package, sign the letter of appointment and the grant, fill in the personal record form, and then send it back to HKU. August fifth. The application status is changed to "accepted".
19, apply for stay endorsement
The entry permit was processed faster than I expected, and it was received on August 5. Then take the household registration book, ID card, Hong Kong and Macao pass, entry certificate and passport photo, and go to the district public security bureau where the unit is located to apply for a stay endorsement. The household registration form sent to Hong Kong won't do. You have to print a household registration certificate at the police station. I found that Hong Kong actually didn't care much about mainland hukou, so there was no problem with the humble hukou registration form last time.
Because the pass was held at the location of the master's school before going to Hong Kong in 2009, it said that it would take time to investigate, so it would take one more week, three weeks a week. The processing speed has been accelerated, but I feel compelled to send it by EMS, because I only paid 40 yuan for postage. In fact, I received the endorsement within one week.
20, account and file hook problem
I asked the talent market in the city where my unit is located that my account and file would not be accepted under such circumstances, so I decided to move back home.
First, print a household registration certificate in the unit where the unit collective account is located and send it to my home. My family will help me go to the police station. It's amazing that it will take a long time. In fact, it is said that it will take 20 days at the earliest to get the permit. Still waiting. After doing it well, take the birth permit to the police station where the unit collective account is located, and apply for a permit to move, so that you can get it back to the police station where your home is located, and the account will be completely completed.
The file should be hung in the talent market of your city. The unit sealed the file with a sealing strip and gave it to me. There is also a receipt for document transfer, which I took home. After I left my account at home, I took the file to the talent market, asked the talent market to fill out the receipt, stamp it and send it back to the unit, indicating that the file transfer was successful.
2 1, network resources
I didn't make full use of it. In addition to the graduate school websites of HKU and CUHK, I mainly rely on forums and school BBS.
There is a lot of information on it, which helps me a lot. But I think the posting settings are unreasonable, and the posts are too heavy, so it is not easy for me to get replies from others, because I generally don't support myself.
School BBS information is not much, most of them are information about going abroad. However, posting will not sink for a certain period of time, so generally you can get a good answer.
22. thanks
The most important thing to thank is my girlfriend, who has contributed to every step of my application process. She has always given me selfless care and help, especially careful data collection, constant encouragement, reasonable suggestions and simulated telephone interviews.
Then I want to thank my parents. Although they can't help me directly, their consistent support and encouragement for my study is very important.
Then I want to thank two students, an undergraduate and a master, for helping me with my report card. They ran many times before they did it completely. Thank you very much for their help. I don't have to run around to deal with it myself.
Then I would like to thank several classmates and sisters who often answer my questions. They all applied successfully before me, so I often asked them for advice during the application process and thanked them for their detailed answers.
Of course, I would like to thank my tutor and the professors in my department for their guidance on my research plan. They helped me to write letters of recommendation and put forward suggestions for my research plan. Their help is irreplaceable.
I also want to thank the students who took the IELTS test with me. The process of preparing for the exam together creates an atmosphere for learning English, which is very beneficial.
Thanks to the two universities where I got my bachelor's degree and master's degree, seven years' study experience is my life wealth.
Finally, I resigned after receiving the entry permit from Hong Kong in mid-August, and I am still on probation. The unit didn't embarrass me, and quickly went through the resignation procedures for me. I want to thank my unit. This is the first university in China with an international background, with very standardized management and a very good environment. Their work itself is a very good choice.