目前是美國簽證的高峰期，很多學生都在準備F1簽證。
下面是一些F1簽證經常問到的一些問題及答案參考，希望對于正在準備簽證的學生有所幫助。
Q:What will you study in USA?
What’s your major, what aspect of your major will you study?
What will you do in USA? Are you going to study in USA?
A: I’m going to study XXX(major) in XXX University. My research program will concentrate on the relationship between architectural design and culture, environment, human behavior, psychology. That is, how architectural design can create cheerful environment and living condition for people. Also I will do some research on the advanced method and techniques for architectural design under some complicated conditions.
Q: Why do you want to study in US?
A: Because the architectural design and research in US is at the leading position in the world. Many famous architects work there. Meanwhile, the prospect of architecture design in China is very promising. I’d like to do my advanced research in architecture and get a Master’s degree in US. This will help me to achieve higher entry status when I come back to China, and is helpful for me to achieve my personal plan of development.
In 1998, we had a international design competition for the China National Grand Theater, I was assigned by XXX University as an assistant of the proprietor’s committee of the theater. Right in this competition, I found our designs, including the design by XXX, cannot compete with the foreign ones at all. We still have a long way to go, and there must be some breakthrough in our architectural design and education. The best way I think, is to learn advanced theory and method from abroad. Thus I decided to study in US.
Q: Why did you choose XXX university?
How did you know this university?
Have you any scholarship?
Why did you receive scholarship from this university?
A: (Many former student graduated from XXX had gone to this university. They said it is an excellent university with very good academic condition. I also visited its website and got some introduction materials from their graduate school. I found it is really a good university whose research program well caters to my research interests.)
As I know, the graduate program of architecture in XXX University is special. Its program is intentionally small and flexible, thus can meet the individual needs and goals of a small number of students. This is very important for me to accomplish my academic research.
I think my outstanding academic record in XXX, together with my excellent GRE and Toefl scores and other documents such as portfolio and statement of intent had impressed the admission committee. Based on these, they granted me their most prestigious graduate award -- the university graduate fellowship. With this fellowship, there’s no RA or TA duties for me, and it’s renewable for the next years. Thus I can be more concentrated on my graduate studies and research.
(I know that XXX University isn’t as famous as Yale, Upenn, but you can’t judge a university only by its ranking. Yale and Upenn also gave me scholarship, but XXX university gave me a very warm welcome. Their dean interviewed me on telephone several times. It is obvious that XXX university pays much more attention on me than Yale and Upenn do. This is very important for one who wish to achieve academic success.)
In their letters, they told me they can provide sufficient funds to assist me in research. Many former student graduated from my university went to XXX university, they said the research condition there is pretty good. They had a perfect CAD Lab. These students have already made great progress in XXX university.
Q: Why do you want to pursue a M.S, while you already had a M.E in China?
A: I do want to get higher academic achievement as possible as I can. But you know, most US universities don’t offer Ph.D. program in architecture.
The master’s degree I already had is in Building Science and Technology, mainly in the building acoustic design. But currently in China, people don’t pay much attention on this field. We can only work as acoustics consultants, while the future is not good. When I made the decision 4 years ago, I didn’t realize it. And later, I found that I still interest in architectural design, and I have the potential. In China, excellent architect, or designer is in great desire, especially those who learned advanced design method from US. So I hope I can get a M.S in US, therefore I can make great development in China.
Also as you know, there’s too many people have master’s degree in China, they don’t have as much advantage as they once had. While a US degree is different. People come back from US can get much higher status and payment.
Q:Will you come back to China?
What do you do with your work for M.S? What’s your plan? What will you do after graduation?
Give me three reasons that you will come back to China?
A: I’ll definitely come back to China after graduation. I have my own goal, and why I choose to study abroad is to create condition for achieving my goal.
First, I would like to set up my own architectural design firm in China. Currently, I don’t have enough ability and condition. After I get master’s degree in US, I can fulfill my dream. And I can promise you, after ten years in China, you will see great buildings designed by me.
Secondly, there is news from Chinese government recently. It said during the next 15 years, China is going to build 1000 cities, thus the urban population will make up more than 50% in the total population. This is an exciting information for our architects. As you can see, this news means sufficient project for us to do in the next 20 years.
Third, China is applying for holding the 2008 Olympic Games. If China succeed in this campaign, there will be lot of gymnasiums, hotels and other facilities to be built. This is also a great opportunity for us. And I can just catch up the construction right after graduation from XXX university.
On the other hand, the future in this field is limited in US. Too many excellent architects work there, almost no place for us foreigners. You know, if you get a job in US after graduation, you can only do as a draftsman, with a salary of no more than $30,000 a year. They can never become what are called real architects, or masters. But in China the situation is totally different. Architects with master’s degrees in US can preside very large project, and has high social status and income, probably more than 100,000 RMB a year. I firmly believe that I can have a much prospective future in China as an architect.
In China, we have a famous architect named Zhang Kaiji, his son, Zhang Yonghe studied in US and stayed there for 10 years. He didn’t receive any project there and can only work as a teacher in an university. When he came back, he set up his firm and made many excellent designs in China.
Q: Can you explain why 90% China student didn’t come back?
A: The fact that 95% of Chinese students didn’t come back is not a reasonable logic that I will not come back either. Even 99% Chinese students stay in USA, I will be the other 1%. It’s necessary for me to return to China to pursue my dream and ambition, which is very difficult for a foreigner to do in USA. I agree that USA is a great country, but not every one wants to stay there, since it’s difficult to achieve my goal in USA, which include a high social position and respectable social status.
I think it’s mainly because of their major. For some major, the prospect in China isn’t promising. They want to stay in US to continue their research because the condition and equipment there are much better. But things have changed. A recent investigation showed that, with the fast development of China, 80% of the students studying abroad are intending to come back.
Actually most of the scholars who came back to China are very successful.
Q: Why do you like your major?
A: It’s a kind of field that has close relationship with art and culture. It calls for both imagination, craftsmanship, art inspiration and a deep understanding of cultures. I love such kind of work.
Q: Why are you special?
A: In fact, I myself don’t think I’m really special although others often think I am. I think it’s because I’m a kind of perfectionist. I’ve always wanted to be the best in whatever I chose to do. I always use my energy on proper time and place, never waste it. And I’m a person who likes to challenge myself. Applying for US university is also a kind of challenge. I would like to pursue my highest achievement as possible as I can.
