Job Discussion Forums

[Bud Powell]

I am not at all familiar with agents. I do know that some Chinese grad schools are lax in their requirements for the submittal process. I have written about 9 or so letters to students who went to study and teach in Lanzhou University as well as the University of Yangzhou.

After they were accepted for an interview (before even being accepted to study there) they gathered their letters of recommendation, letter of application, sealed transcripts (which were already sent to the school along with the initial application to the school). When they arrived, they stood (or sat) before a board comprised of department members and were peppered with questions (in English) about themselves, their interests, and their anticipated futures.

I agree, though that I may not have the experience in China as others, and I may not have enough experience in the country to understand all of it. I have not lived everywhere in China. Nine years isn't nearly long enough to fully understand any culture, even when one is immersed in it.

Whether or not I have the experience to judge some of the Chinese AND western teachers may be debatable, but after nine years, I think I've known a wide range of abilities and personalities to be found among FTs.

[wonderingjoesmith]

[Bud Powell]

This isn't about letters to Chinese institutions but from them to western ones. I guess reading this topic from NY may be confusing.

I've addressed both issues. May I be of further help?

[wonderingjoesmith]

There are all kinds of helpfulness. I asked for views of others on the topic. On the contrary, your first two posts indicate that you have not addressed the issue from the right part of the world; you have muddled it. Moreover, you have indirectly attempted to discredit some experienced messengers to this board.

[Bud Powell]

Her recent indications that I should speak about her letter with the director, to me, raise worries she may have been asked to supply the recommendation from me for other purposes than her own application too.

If you're concerned that the letter will be used for someone else's application, be sure to supply only a hard copy. Even then, there's not much that you can do about a forged signature, so there's no effective way of thwarting such behavior unless you provide the letter in a sealed envelope with your signature across it. In your letter, you can write that the letter is invalid if presented separate from a sealed envelope with your signature across the sealed flap. State the same thing in your letter.

Even then, there's really nothing you can do about someone who is determined to subvert your efforts to prevent misuse.

[wonderingjoesmith]

Dear Bud Powell,

Even though you have not confirmed you have returned to China, I am pleased to have read your useful suggestion.

The above precaution advised is a fine attempt to prevent the abuse and I will follow up accordingly.

Whether I am uneasy about supplying Chinese students with the recommendation letters or not ought not to be the issue here; raising awareness and sharing our experiences, however, ought to.

There will always be people, who are determined to cheat and who succeed, although I do believe in their lower success rates, if we try.

I look forward to reading more of your enlightening posts about China and on working in the country.

Sincerely yours,
Joe

[BizLiz]

[Bud Powell]

The last letter that I wrote for a student was sent to the university with the recommendations from Chinese teachers. It was SENT BY THE STUDENT with her application, fees, and transcripts. This is pretty standard procedure at large universities around the world (though obviously not universal given the differing anecdotes from other respondents). This allows for everything pertaining to one student to arrive at the right place at one time. There is a lot more paperwork involved in applying to a graduate school in China than there is when a student applies to a university as an incoming freshman. That too is pretty common among universities around the world.

One student brought her personal statement letter with her as well as her letters of recommendation when she went for an interview after she applied to the university. (I'm proud of this child. I mentored her for four years. She is now working on her Ph.D).

Others may have different experiences with different schools. Get over it.

[wonderingjoesmith]

[wonderingjoesmith]

I’d like to get over this topic but I am worried.

The time, when the university applications are submitted, is approaching and my students seem to be having issues to provide me with the addresses of educational institutions abroad that they intend to apply to. Although they want the letters, they don’t know where or what to study.

Despite the fact that I have made it clear with my students that I need to know where and what they want to study, their continuous requests to hand the letter over via email (without address of school or major), to write what they want (character reference), or to write the recommendations on the school’s local director’s supplied letterhead are causing me more concerns than before.

Although no information was provided, one student suggested I emailed the letter to the university. Have any of you supplied such letters via email to the admission offices of universities before?

Since one of my students suggested character reference which I declined, I would be interested to know what a professional recommendation letter for a student to an American university should have today.

Here is what my letter has;
1)An introductory sentence about the student and the place where s/he is applying to
2)A brief description of the school’s program in China
3)The student’s academic performance and capabilities to cope with the subjects to be studied abroad
4)The student’s character and how it would assist his studies further
5)Conclusion with invitation to inquiries

Lastly, I am curious about schools’ official letterheads

I look forward to the input of anyone in or out of China that has knowledge on the topic.

[dean_a_jones]