Chapter 18 Part Two: Reflections on the "Prestige School Complex" Reflections on "Self-funded Study Abroad"

Email may be the most common way for students studying and living abroad to contact relatives and friends in China.Colleges in Cambridge provide each student with an e-mail address, and they can access the Internet in the dormitory, which is very convenient.Every morning when I wake up, I drink milk and read letters from my friends.One day, a reporter friend from the Jinling Evening News sent an email titled "Is it worth the money to go to Cambridge?" ", the content of the email is as follows: There is now a boom in Cambridge in China. Cambridge entrusts Nanjing Ansheng Foundation to directly recruit high school graduates in China.Going to Cambridge as an undergraduate, but after four years, it will cost at least 800,000 yuan, which is an astronomical figure. Moreover, there is no scholarship during the undergraduate period.From what you know and your own experience, do you think studying abroad at your own expense is worth it?Looking forward to answer.

I think this issue should be of great concern to many peers who are planning to go abroad and their parents.Because of this, I cannot answer lightly.For young people living in this increasingly competitive society, every step involves our life (life), future (future) and investment (investment) and the dialectical relationship between them.Therefore, careful consideration is required before each step is taken. After serious thinking, I typed the following words on the computer based on my experience and feelings in the process of studying abroad. My thinking may not be mature, but I just hope to provide a perspective for my peers when they choose a growth path. A reference opinion.

For many young people in China today, whether to study abroad has become an unavoidable choice in life.According to data from UNESCO, China has rapidly become the world's largest sending country of overseas students.An official from the Ministry of Human Resources of China also revealed that the total number of Chinese students studying abroad currently amounts to 460,000, distributed in at least 103 countries and regions around the world.I personally decided to go abroad for further study after graduating from university. The desire to experience another culture first-hand was probably the strongest motivation behind my decision to go abroad.I have always agreed with Mr. Russell's point of view: "Knowledge of diversity is the root of happiness." In today's globalization, it has always been a desire in my heart to go to another country to experience a different culture shock .I was lucky, because of some opportunities, I traveled a lot at a young age, including South America, Europe, and working in Hong Kong.There is a saying that goes well: "Travel is an education for the young, and an experience for the adult" (travel is an education for the young, and an experience for the adult) .Whether attending an international conference as a representative of Chinese youth, visiting abroad as an exchange student, or participating in a short-term internship in an overseas company, I have experienced another way of thinking, another system, and another culture. This became a very important part of my education and experience.The impact of new environment, new culture and new thinking has always prompted me to constantly think, grow and mature.However, since the time spent in other countries and regions is not long each time, many perceptions and thoughts only stay on the superficial layer.In order to truly "immerse" in another cultural environment, after graduating from university, I resolutely decided to give up the opportunity of direct admission to graduate school at Fudan University, and applied to excellent universities abroad.

To be honest, when I received the admission letter from Cambridge, my surprise was far greater than my joy.When I first decided to study abroad, I targeted American universities because American universities tend to offer scholarships to outstanding applicants, while the chances of getting a scholarship for a master's degree in the UK are slim to none.At that time, considering the possible risks of a US visa, I applied to a British school—London School of Economics (LSE) symbolically, because I happened to be watching Fei Xiaotong's "Homeland China" at that time. I admire the old scholar's attitude very much, and after learning that he is a graduate of LSE, I fell in love with that school.And Cambridge is not in my application plan.It wasn't until I sent the study report, recommendation letter, and GRE TOEFL scores to each school that I found out that there was an extra application material.At that time, I suddenly thought of an old British man who graduated from Cambridge University that I met on a trip abroad, and remembered the various places in Cambridge that he had described to me.Just thinking of giving it a try, I put the extra material in a kraft paper envelope and threw it into the mailbox.Interestingly speaking, in order to ensure the safe and timely arrival of application materials, I used Fedex express to send application letters to American universities and LSE, but the one sent to Cambridge was only an ordinary letter that was not even registered.And among all the schools I applied to, Cambridge was the only school that did not charge me an application fee (the application fee for American universities is generally between US$50 and US$100, and the application fee for LSE is also 40 pounds).

One day in the early spring of 2003, I received a congratulatory letter from Cambridge Graduate School, telling me that I had been formally admitted to the major I applied for.It is impossible for me not to be tempted to be favored by this world-famous ancient school.But despite this, I quickly replied to Cambridge with a letter, politely rejecting its offer.The reason is simple. At that time, I had been admitted by more than a dozen colleges and universities including the University of California, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan, New York University, University of Maryland, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. Scholarships are more or less offered.However, the Cambridge admission did not mention that I should be given a scholarship, which means that I have to spend about RMB 300,000 to complete my one-year study in Cambridge.

Should I study abroad at my own expense without a scholarship?Whether it is worth it or not, everyone can have their own subjective trade-offs, and there is no standard answer.But whether they are able to afford a huge cost of studying abroad is the objective reality that every person who plans to study abroad must face.As far as I am concerned, I am neither a little rich woman nor the daughter of a big rich woman. 300,000 yuan is really not a small amount.Of course, if it is really "smashing iron", it may not be impossible to go, but after all, a diploma is not a matter of life and death, and there is no need to make life difficult for myself and my family, so I declined the admission to Cambridge.In my opinion, higher education in modern society is actually a commodity. You can buy whatever you want with as much money as you have.Of course Cambridge is good, but she is not the only commodity after all, you have cheaper options, it depends on personal preference, and there are many people who borrow money to buy luxury goods, and they are also very fashionable.Besides, if you can't afford it now, you may not be able to afford it in the future. If you have money, you can buy it again.Later, when I arrived in Cambridge, I realized that there were many undergraduates in their 30s and 40s. After working for many years, they had accumulated funds and experience before returning to school.

Someone wants to call me vulgar, how can education be measured by money?But apart from compulsory education, higher education is charged, otherwise how can the university live?The inability of British universities to provide students with high scholarships like American schools is also due to severe financial shortage pressure.In the past, the UK used state funds to invest in the construction of universities. Now, as the number of students continues to increase, the national treasury is tightened, and universities are unable to make ends meet, resulting in the loss of many excellent teachers and talents.Especially in economics, management, electronic engineering, computer and other professional fields, elite talents have flowed to multinational companies and large enterprises instead of staying in schools.Under the British education system, schools cannot significantly increase the tuition fees of domestic students, so expanding the enrollment of foreign students in large numbers has become an important way for British universities to collect funds.Even a world-class prestigious university like Cambridge is also facing the pressure of survival. Under such circumstances, she is really unable to provide high scholarships for many students.More than 90% of the foreign students around me came to Cambridge to study at their own expense.

In June 2003, I chose an American university that gave me a full scholarship—the University of Maryland, and started to prepare for the visa and other procedures for going abroad.One afternoon, out of the blue, I got a call from the British Council asking me to interview for a scholarship.I was a little confused at the time - I had never applied for any British government scholarships!It was with this confusion and curiosity that I attended the interview as scheduled.There are three examiners: one is an official of the British Consulate in Shanghai, one is an official of the British Council, and the other is a human resources manager of Shell Oil Company (I later learned that the scholarship I finally got was from the British government. co-financed with Shell).As soon as I sat down, the three examiners began to ask questions in turn, generally about the study abroad plan and their views on current political and economic issues in China, etc., without giving them any time to think.But because I didn't have much mind of gains and losses, I calmly answered them one by one in English based on my usual knowledge accumulation.Gradually, satisfied smiles appeared on their faces.

"Do you have any questions for us?" At the end of the interview, the British Council female examiner asked me with a smile. So I asked a question that surprised them: "Can you tell us about your scholarship program?" "Haven't you heard of the Fenzhiling Scholarship?" My confusion obviously made them feel incredible.Probably no one in an interview will ask such a question anymore. I shook my head honestly: "I didn't apply for your scholarship." The three examiners looked at each other. They didn't give a detailed introduction, but just gave me a website about this scholarship project, and told me that Cambridge University will send my materials. forwarded to them.

When I walked out of the interview room, I raised my wrist and looked at my watch. The whole process took only 25 minutes.After I went back that day, I checked the details of the scholarship online.It turns out that the Chevening Scholarship project was established by the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). There are two kinds of full prize and half prize.I carefully read the application qualifications and selection criteria. Applicants must: ? Be a permanent citizen of the People's Republic of China and reside in China during the application period; ? Aged between 26 and 45 years;

? Applicants must be in-service personnel (at least three years of work experience), engaged in management, have decision-making power or have an influence on policy formulation; ? Possess the following qualities required by the Chevening program: 1. Must have ambition and courage 2. Possess leadership potential 3. Committed to organizational change and development 4. Flexible and adaptable 5. Be innovative and creative 6. Ability to adapt to the rapidly changing environment, able to adapt to new technical, professional and cultural environments ? It is essential to have good practical English application ability, which is assessed by the A-category IELTS score.Applicants are required to have a category A IELTS total score of at least 6.5, with no individual score lower than 6.0. ? No experience of studying in the UK ? No other scholarship accepted during the academic year ? Possess an undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline After reading it, I told myself: no play!Not only am I underage, but I have almost no full-time work experience, let alone any influence on policy making. All I can decide in this day and age are my own little things.But just three or four days later, I received an email from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, informing me that they had decided to sponsor me to study in Cambridge with a full scholarship, providing all expenses including tuition, living expenses, and round-trip air tickets.Moreover, the procedures for my passport and visa to go to the UK will also be handled by the British side.Later, according to Ms. Yang Youling, the person in charge of the British Council's Fenzhiling project, they agreed to hold an interview for me only at the insistence of the admission committee of Cambridge University.And my performance in the interview made them finally decide to make an exception to fund me, a "less qualified" applicant, "what we value is your potential". Looking back, I was able to come to Cambridge because of too many accidents and luck.If it weren't for this full award, I don't think I would have chosen Cambridge.Of course, I don't want to choose to study abroad at my own expense because of the limitation of economic strength and my own value orientation, and I am by no means opposed to studying abroad at my own expense.In the "2004 Study Abroad Work Yearbook" published by the Ministry of Education, I read the following two figures: In 2003, the number of various types of students studying abroad reached 117,300, of which 93.05% were studying abroad at their own expense.Nowadays, studying abroad is no longer a national behavior, but a personal life choice.In the words of Qian Ning, the author of the book "Study in the United States", it is: "China's international students continue to change from the selection of elites to a process of exercising public rights." , the embodiment of people's continuous openness of concept. As self-financed study abroad continues to heat up, there have been many negative reports on overseas self-financed students in the domestic media, especially questions about minors' self-financed study abroad.In addition to the accusations of their ability to take care of themselves, they also enumerate their various "bad deeds": eating, drinking and having fun, getting richer than the rich, spending money; Suspected of murder.I admit that it is necessary to reflect on the excessive self-funded study abroad craze, but it cannot be generalized and completely denied.I met a lot of self-funded study abroad friends in Cambridge (including adult postgraduates, young undergraduates, and underage children who are studying in language schools here). They all work very hard in their studies and are very self-disciplined in life .Most of them did not have a "rich dad" or "golden mother", but came to Cambridge to study on their own or their family's savings.In order to cope with the pressure of life, they often use their spare time to work - go to institutions of higher learning during the day, and work in bars, restaurants, and supermarkets in British society at night.They have been exposed to various teachings and nine streams, and their ability to make a living independently has been continuously enhanced in the process.After one or two years, these experiences have become precious wealth in their lives.When I first arrived in Cambridge, I met a girl who was going to Guangzhou to study as an undergraduate. She had only been in the UK for more than a year and could speak English very quickly with slang and vernacular.She enthusiastically solves any problems encountered by Chinese students in terms of basic necessities of life, food, housing and transportation, just like a "British hand".She told me proudly: "I don't have a scholarship, but now I earn every penny of my life, and the family only needs to bear the tuition fees." He has worked in the company and the British Consulate. In order to further improve himself, he used all his savings from working for three years to study.When he was in Cambridge, whenever there was a suitable job opportunity, he would try it: as a Chinese tutor, to work in a supermarket, to invigilate undergraduate students.He told me: "Because I have to run around for a living, I have the opportunity to have a deeper understanding of the details of British society. This is called 'It's a blessing in disguise'." Some parents and classmates may have another concern, worrying that self-funded international students will appear "inferior" compared with students who receive scholarships.In fact, being able to get a scholarship depends on strength, but also luck to a large extent.The award of the scholarship is only a recognition of the applicant's past achievements and an expectation of his future potential. It definitely does not mean that his IQ is much higher than those compatriots sponsored by his parents, relatives and friends, nor does it mean that he will Can achieve greater achievements than self-financed students.Whether it is self-financed or awarded, the key lies in the attitude towards studies after admission and the personal struggle after graduation.Americans call the graduation ceremony Commencement, which is very meaningful, because graduation does not mean the end, but the beginning of a new life.All the embarrassments and tribulations of the school days will be a thing of the past. Students with all A's and C's, students who receive scholarships and students who study at their own expense will stand on the same starting line again and accept the selection and challenges of the society. Whether to choose to study abroad at your own expense, in short, I think we must do what we can.Studying abroad is an important decision in life, and money is not the only cost involved in it, there are also time and emotional sacrifices.Deciding to go abroad means that you have to give up your sense of security, give up your achievements, give up your comfortable nest, experience struggles, and finally go to a completely strange world.To go out requires courage; to take this step well requires considerable wisdom.I remember that Mr. Qian Zhongshu once said: "Study abroad is to get pimples, and you will have a kind of immunity after you get out." Today, the phenomenon of self-financed study abroad continues to heat up, when you see friends and classmates around you are busy taking TOTO G When running to the other side of the ocean, it is inevitable that the heart will be moved.But after being tempted, you must make a plan for studying abroad for yourself. The most important thing is to clarify the purpose of studying abroad.On the plane to the UK, I asked myself: What will this year in the UK leave for my life?It is true that there are some things that cannot be planned, and fate is sometimes inevitable on a whim.However, knowing what you want is a must.At that time, I thought that I was not only going to get a master's degree from Cambridge, but more importantly, I wanted to have a comprehensive insight into the methods of learning and deeply understand the culture of Western society. Although education needs to be purchased with money, the return of education cannot be measured with money.Because such returns do not depend entirely on where you are educated, but more on what attitude you take to receive education.Compared with that diploma, what is really valuable is experience, accumulation, and improvement after thinking.Whether Cambridge is worth 800,000 yuan depends not only on Cambridge, but also on the person who intends to experience or is experiencing her.If it is a sponge, it will be enriched in the absorption; if it is a plastic sheet, even if it is soaked in the vast ocean, it will still be impermeable.Cambridge is broad and open, and how much can be taken away depends on each individual. In fact, studying abroad is a question that varies from person to person and from situation to situation.Many people see a person's success and easily connect it with his study abroad experience. In fact, there is no necessary relationship between the two.I chose the path of studying abroad, but I also believe that cultivating the ability to survive and develop in different cultures does not have to be obtained through studying abroad. There are many successful people in China who do not have a diploma from a foreign university. One's own efforts create a world.It's just that the special environment abroad will force you to be independent faster, think more, and adapt to social changes better.In addition, in the exotic and diverse cultural atmosphere, the contemporary only children from China can encounter many people who are completely different from themselves, which also helps to cultivate a global perspective and an understanding of tolerance.If studying abroad completely changes people, it is better to say that what really changes us is the courage and perseverance to adapt to social changes through our own efforts, and the insight and wisdom to enrich life through continuous thinking. One thing I want to emphasize is that under the influence of the trend of studying abroad at their own expense, more and more Chinese young people will have the experience of studying abroad. Even if international students from world famous universities return to China, they must not think too highly of themselves; secondly, With the development of economy and modernization, the gap between China and foreign countries is becoming smaller and smaller, and the gap in the quality of education between my country and Western countries is also narrowing. Ordinary minds do extraordinary things.”Studying abroad is not just about taking a few courses, getting a relatively good grade in the test, and traveling around in various foreign countries.The road ahead is really long, long, and studying abroad is just to let us go further.