On the evening of March 19, 2022, the School of International Studies at Nanjing University held the first online session of the Career Planning Sharing Session series, which provided experience references for students interested in pursuing research or studying abroad. The sharing session invited Zhong Yuwei, a 2017 undergraduate student from the School of International Studies (currently pursuing a master's degree in International Security at Sciences Po, Paris), and Qiu Yixuan, a 2018 undergraduate student (successfully recommended to the Master program of Political and International Studies at Peking University's Yenching Academy) to share their academic experiences.
Zhong Yuwei shared her experience under the theme Pursue Learning and Knowledge, Reflect on Your Journey in two parts: preparation for studying abroad and the study abroad experience. Yuwei believes that academic performance and English proficiency are the hard backgrounds, while polishing one's resume to showcase competitive advantages constitutes the soft background. Both hard and soft backgrounds should be simultaneously considered. She shared her insights on course selection, course content, and interactions with teachers and peers in her academic journey. Yuwei emphasized the importance of language learning, encouraging students to solidify their foreign language foundation, engage in practical exchanges, and step out of their comfort zones. Finally, she expressed warm wishes to the students, hoping they would contribute to the development of their disciplines and help the world better understand China.
Qiu Yixuan introduced her personal educational background, the basic procedures for postgraduate recommendations, a list potential institutions and programs to consider, as well as her experience in the postgraduate recommendation process for Peking University's Yenching Academy and Renmin University's School of International Studies. Yixuan believes that professional ability is the core and suggests students cherish core courses and training opportunities. She emphasized that it is important to improve English proficiency, enrich extracurricular experiences like making rational use of summer and winter vacations during sophomore and junior years, and maintain a balance between coursework and extracurricular activities. Yixuan shared her experience in the interview of applying to schools. She pointed out that students should showcase the standardized training they have received, like quoting theoretical ideas from professional scholars. Lastly, Yixuan said that students should enjoy the process of preparing for postgraduate recommendations, and view each interview as a valuable experience. She encouraged junior students to face the recommendation process with confidence and wished everyone success in their endeavors.
During the Q&A session, students discussed potential conflicts between exchange programs from abroad and qualification for postgraduate recommendations, the roles of TOEFL and IELTS in postgraduate recommendations, and content and layout of resume.
The sharing session ended in a warm atmosphere. The School of International Studies will continue to hold career planning sharing sessions, aiming to resolve students' doubts and help them broaden their horizons, make better plans for career development, and clarify future learning directions through communications with senior students and alumni.
