Job Discussion Forums

[rafterman23]

I have a degree in Engineering from a top US Engineering school, and I would like to continue my Engineering education in graduate school later (I'll be graduating from undergrad in May), however I have a considerable wanderlust. I believe now is the only (and best) time to leave the country for a while before the opportunity closes. I'm broke, and I discovered that teaching English is a great way to fund an international experience.

I'm unsure as to whether I want to stay teaching in China forever (I'll probably decide after seeing it for myself), but I know I want to stay there for 1+ years. I have about 2 years experience studying Mandarin (I'm conversational at the level of a small child). However, I'm concerned as to how it will help/hurt my chances of getting into grad school.

I have a year of tutoring experience and I know I enjoy teaching, I'm looking into TEFL certification and all. Question is, what effect will it have on grad school and how will I know how long I should stay? Also, where should I go to begin (since I have no formal teaching experience, just the degree and most likely TEFL certification? I'm eyeing tier 2 cities at the moment.) Finally, what options would there be in China for an Engineer like myself to possibly continue working there doing something other than English in case TEFL doesn't work out? Thanks~~

[jimpellow]

I would assume since you went to a top undergrad program, you intend to do likewise with your grad program. Hence, I would think they would be pickier about how you used your time before applying.

As I love to talk about myself, I will use my personal experience as it may have some relevance. When I graduated with my BA in 1989, I really wanted to pursue my masters at Johns Hopkins. I got waitlisted(then in but no aid-$$$) so decided to gain some international experience by teaching in China. This made sense as I was going to do International Relations and Hopkins has always had a permanent hard on for all things Sino. There was a program sponsored by the PRC to which I applied and was accepted into. I started to prepare and then Tank Man showed up, so I got a nice letter that the program was being suspended for "revisions".

So I was sort of stuck without a back-up plan and ended up back home working a year in something completely non related. I did get my GRE scores up and took classes in areas I knew they would like, but I got flat out rejected the next year. One never knows the reason, but objectively it most likely dealt with me taking a high paying blue collar union job that my mother was able to secure for me (we're talking Buffalo, NY here).

I don't think it would kill your chances to get into a top school by doing a year of general ESL as schools like international experience these days, and most who have never been to the Middle Kingdom are under the false assumption that this will become the century of the Dragon.

Still, I would try to "spin" the experience as much as possible to meet the kind of experience top engineering programs want. For example, with your background you may want to look into teaching subjects like physics and math in HS prep programs. You may want to look into some online venture to gather experience and show initiative. You could do that along with your teaching.

The PRC does have a two years experience rule now that will limit your options. You can do a "TEFL in China" in some jurisdictions to get around this. You may want to look at that as you are in the process of looking anyways.

There are some threads on this board that discuss the feasibility of working in China these days in a non ESL position. Generally, I think the consensus is that it has become harder. The silver lining though is that a lot of expats are leaving China for various reasons. There was a good Wall Street Journal article about it earlier this year. Hence, you may find companies more willing to hire greenhorns.

[Non Sequitur]

This has come up on another 'Should I, Shouldn't I?' thread in recent times.
I feel that Jim's ideas on usable experience to take away from China are valid.
But my view remains that Chinese language would be the big plus from your sojourn.
Finding schools to provide you with experience teaching maths etc on top of the difficulties related to the 2-year 'rule', will be difficult.
Look for a 'u of tech' post teaching English. You will get engineering students and your resume will look pretty, pretty good.

[nomad soul]

[Shanghai Noon]

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

I'd agree with Jim Pellow. When you apply to grad school, there's usually a section in the application where you list your affiliations, community service, previous employment, etc.. AND your essay gives you an opportunity to reflect upon your experiences. Showing that you have experience in another culture is often a leg up in the humanities. Perhaps not so much if you intend to study engineering unless you can relate it to engineering.

The experience in China may make you more attractive to the graduate school and the engineering department, therefore making you attractive for awarding scholarships.

This may not be so difficult to do in a country in which development is still booming. You may be able to find extra work for an engineering firm teaching English. (I had a gig working for an international property development company as well as a solar panel company, so it's not out of the realm of possibility).

If you visit Zhaopin website, you'll see many jobs that are not classroom related. I've seen jobs for engineers, chemists, and all sorts of technical positions that do not require Chinese language ability. A few years ago, I met two westerners whose sole job was to give onsite orders in English because the company wanted to promote and English-speaking culture.

I say go for it. You're young. Get as many varied, responsible experiences under your belt as you can now.

[rtm]

[nomad soul]

[rafterman23]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I have talked to a few of my professors here at university; they have said that taking gap years / traveling is becoming fairly ubiquitous among recent grads and that grad schools barely notice a year or two off. One of my professors had said though that longer than two years would start to raise some eyebrows.

I have looked into teaching other subjects too, and I've seen what Jim said (usually requirements are much more strict.) I'll keep looking around though.

Thanks for the advice

[isitts]

[rafterman23]

isitts, do you mind if I ask what made you decide to stay instead of return home? Like after the two years, when you reevaluated your situation, what kinds of things made you choose one over the other?

[isitts]

[nomad soul]

[isitts]

[OhBudPowellWhereArtThou]

Why would one or two years between undergraduate school and grad school raise eyebrows? In the States, it is very common for students to work for a few years before going to grad school. Some return for further education for the job, some return for the intellectual stimulation even though they're working in their fields. They love what they're doing and they want to know more or the want to branch out a bit into different areas. Some people wait twenty or more years to go to graduate school. Some even receive scholarships after having received their BA's and BS's twenty (or more) years previously.

I don't understand why it would "raise eyebrows" or "suspicions". Professors usually enjoy students who know something beyond the class room. For a civil engineer, China provides opportunities to observe stark contrasts to what he might see at home whether he's working as an engineer or not (though work as an engineer in China would more greatly enhance the OP's graduate studies upon his return).

It's a hackneyed expression, but it is true that travel broadens one's horizons in many ways. I know an architect who lived in France for three or four years before returning to school for a masters degree.