研@XJTLU |赵宇屹：计划之外，我在西浦读了五年半
赵宇屹
城市设计专业2015级硕士研究生
本科毕业于西交利物浦大学
其实当初高考后报考到西浦真的是纯属偶然。之所以最终报考到这所学校也是基于多方因素的考量，只不过高昂的学费是我当时最大的顾忌。但是最后在平衡自己喜欢的专业、苏州这个城市、以及自己的家庭情况，还是决定来到这所看起来十分与众不同的大学。
没想到，在这里我不光没有按照计划出国读书，反而留在西浦，本硕连着待了五年半。
I finish my undergraduate and master degree in the same place: XJTLU which a veryspecial and unique university in China. I really gain many academic and socialexperiences in past five years, and improve myself in comprehensive aspects. I will introduce my undergroundand master life experiences briefly in the next following parts.
自己的本科四年生活，现在来看真的是过的很充实。相较于高中的生活，我可不敢说自己大学四年期间有多么的“勤奋努力”。因为在西浦，学习生活相较于高中来说，可以说轻松的太多了。但是这种在西浦看起来轻松的环境并不意味着这四年可以轻轻松松的混过去。相反，在这里想要顺利的毕业，的确是需要一番技巧和能力的，而不仅是靠应试教育下的那种认真和勤奋了。从入学开始，席校长就不断的给大家渗透年轻的成年人这一概念：一切全部都要靠自己，自己管理好自己的生活和学习。下面简单给学弟学妹们回顾一下自己的四年的本科生活吧。
大一的时候，首要的目标就是要让自己尽快的适应全英文的学习环境。还好，从初中开始英语就是我相较来说比较擅长和喜欢的科目，所以这个熟悉环境的过程对我来说相对较短。此外，为了让自己可以为大二之后的大量阅读做准备，我在大一的时候，基本上把图书馆里所有的分级读物（Gradedreading）都读完了，这个过程，既锻炼了自己的阅读速度又扩大了自己的词汇量。同时，通过大一的两类英文课（EAP& Skill），我尽快的将高中应试类型的英语习惯转变成学术英语，尤其是在写作方面。同时，我加强了自己在做英文汇报演讲方面的能力。
学术英语习惯和英文汇报能力是在西浦学习的基本能力，这在大二之后的专业学习作业之中都充当了极为重要的地位。说实话，整个大一阶段，大部分的精力都奉献给了英语课。至于数学、中国国情、计算机、体育课基本上都靠吃老本了,剩余精力也都献给了社团以及学生会。在这些活动经历中，我主要是锻炼了自己的组织领导能力，还有结交了更多的朋友。
从大二开始上专业课，相较于大一来说我不得不把大部分的时间投入专业课程学习当中。由于正式进入全英文专业课程授课阶段，我一开始确实是很不习惯，因此在这个阶段的首要任务就是要在课上课下及时的跟上老师所讲的内容，同时培养自己鉴别文献质量以及筛选他们的能力，要在最快的时间之内选择出有价值的资源。在大二阶段，最最重要的任务就是要开始了解自己所学的专业，以及自己相对来说比较喜欢的方面，这些对于大三以及以后的申研有很大关系。
大二的时候是承上启下的阶段，无论是在社团里还是学生会。当然，对于不选择2+2的学生来说，这要是比较悲伤的离别季，不得不告别曾经的同学还有朋友。
讲道理，大三大四这两年基本上只有一件事：好好学习，努力刷分。由于申请英国的研究生对于大三之前的成绩不是很强调，因此这两年的分数变得尤为重要。城规在大三时候的团队作业是比较多的，因此一定要平衡好团体与个人的多种利益以及知道如何去与他人相处合作，以此来避免不必要的意外对自己的成绩造成过多的影响。从专业角度来讲，大三大四的专业课相较于大二都要深入很多。因此，大家需要投入大量的精力来解决多种的任务。城规的作业主要是三种类型：论文，设计以及汇报演讲。可以说对于英文的四项能力（听说读写）都是全面的考验，尤其是写作与口语。从个人的职业规划角度来讲，大三也是时候开始了解自己到底是喜欢做规划还是做设计，因为在大四的时候需要进行分流。两条路不同，进而对于自己申研会有直接的影响。我当初大三的时候选择的是中介帮忙申请研究生，按照正常的规划，我在大四上半年的中期就收到了8封offer其中包括了自己最想去的牛津布鲁克斯的城市设计专业。
虽然如此，我最终还是选择留校读研，这也确实是基于了多重的考虑之后所作出的决定。当然，其中最为重要的就是我喜欢做设计，而不是做理论研究。
To be honest, it is a really relax and comfortable atmosphere to study in XJTLU,especially, compared with study in senior high school. However, it does notmean you can pass all examines and tests easily to graduate. The academicstandard and regulation is quite strict and you have to follow some rules inorder to meet various requirements for each coursework. In Y1, the majorchallenge and mission is to suit the basic full-time English learningenvironment and most effective way is to attend EAP and Skill class. EAP andSkill class is a very good opportunity for you to turn your English style fromEnglish for testing to academic English, and practice your presentation skill. In Y2, professional modules are majorchallenge and you have to adapt to all the academic contents are inEnglish. The initial mission is tofollow and catch up what tutors have taught. The second one is to develop askill which to distinguish which academic paper is useful and which parts arenecessary for your own essay. It is a huge workload for you to read all therecommendations word by word within limited time. That is also an effective wayto increase learning efficiency.
In the next two years, there is only one thing to do: try your best to gain atleast 60 marks. If you want to apply for master degree in UK, it means your Y3and Y4 marks become quite significant. At same time, you should start to think a general academic plan for yourown major and career development. Because you will choose urban planning orurban design in your Y4, that is can be effect your future development routine.Therefore, you must have a very clear mind to decide your own plan. Listening,speaking, reading and writing will become your major English ability to use tomeet future module coursework. Report/essay, presentation and design poster arethree major outcomes of urban planning and design, and each outcome emphasizesdifferent English performance aspects. In addition, for the students who wantto study in UK, it is time for you to prepare your own PS, CV and portfolio inY3. You can apply for your master degree by yourself or find agency to help youdeal with these things. The key thing is to get 2.1 (60) marks in your Y3, andyou will receive your offer in Y4 easier. For example, I received 8 offers from different universities in my firstsemester of Y4.
四个重要的原因让我决定留在西浦读研：个人专业偏好，个人职业规划，社会资源以及家庭因素。
个人专业偏好：在前面提过，我个人比较喜欢做设计，而相较于出国所学习的设计，国内的设计可以更加紧密的贴合国内的情况，更加的接地气。同时可以第一时间知道国内的设计趋势以及相关课题的进度。
个人职业规划：我从大二的暑假开始实习，直到现在大大小小的实习兼职做了五六个地方。其中规划设计院有三个，其他的设计室也是有相关的设计工作。因此，在我大二的时候就逐渐开始了解这个专业到底在以后的工作会是什么样子，更重要的是自己到底喜不喜欢这样的状态。因为自己喜欢，所以从大三开始便将自己的中心放在了苏州当地的设计公司并且进一步的去了解这个行业内部的情况。
社会资源：因为自己的规划在苏州，因此从大三开始便将自己的重心从学校转移到了社会上的多样参与。而这其中最具有代表性的便是在大四上半年加入了TEDxSuzhou的市场部进行相关的设计工作。在TEDxSuzhou将近两年的时间，无论是从个人的能力锻炼还是社会人脉都得到了很大的提升。这对于让自己未来可以立足于一个异地来说尤为重要。
家庭原因：其实家庭原因更多考虑的还是性价比的问题。简单的说对于我个人的情况，出国留学对于我来说不划算（就是穷 0 。0|||）因为这个海归的头衔对于自己来说到底能有多大的加分项，其实是很难去说。
读研期间的课程可以说是本科阶段的进一步的深化。同时从另一个不同的角度与更高的评判标准来学习这个专业。另外，也可以和自己的导师进行更直接的交流，无论是个人导师（AA）还是论文导师（supervisor）都可以给自己很多的引导与职业规划的建议。学校在导师的分配上会尽力的配合学生自己的论文主题。我的毕业论文是关于老龄化社区设计导则方面，而我的导师Dr.Bing.Chen也是十分擅长这个课题的老师，因此在整个论文的形成，构思的过程中可以提供很多相关的有益的帮助和指导。
AlthoughI got 8 foreign offers, I still decided to study in China and stay in XJTLU formy next study career.
Therefour major factors which effect my final decision:
1. Myown preference: I choose urban design in my Y4, and I really like drawing andmake urban design compared with some theoretical work. Also, I can gain latestinformation about major development progress.
2. Personalcareer plan: I started to do internship in my Y2, and I know what I want andwhat kind of work that I will do in the future. Fortunately, I really like thisatmosphere and career life. In addition, I also want to live in Suzhou, and paymuch attention to local companies and design institution.
3. Socialnetwork: Since Y4, I started to join many social activities to develop mypersonal network and social recourse. Especially volunteer experiences inTEDxSuzhou really contribute my major social network. Within past two years, Ihave developed many social network and relationship in local Suzhou. These arereally important for me to live in Suzhou in the future.
4. Familyconsideration: for my final concerned factor is cost and benefits analysis. Iwill spend about 300 thousands to finish my one year master degree. However,how long will I earn these money back is another question. More importantly,the ‘foreign master degree’ title has not so popular compared with many yearsago, and it does not regard as one competitive factor with others. Consider myown major; these two factors are really obviously.
During master learning process, we have to face muchdeeper learn compared with underground level. We will learn and know morecontents of each module. In addition, we can keep a good balance betweenadvanced foreign experience and local Chinese context. In terms of final yearpaper, the department will try to allocate each tutor according to your topic.For instance, my final year project is about ageing-friendly community designframework, and my supervisor: Dr. Bing. Chen is quite professional in thisfield with rich experiences. During the whole process, he really provides memany useful and necessary guidance and suggestion to assist my paper.
大学不再是高中，综合的能力会无形的展示在各个的方面，而这些终将从某种形式上反映到自己的成绩。大学也是提升自己综合能力最好的地方。
尽快的规划好自己的道路以及知道自己希望走的路。虽然计划没有变化快，但是没有计划的情况下，在未来的应对上会显得紧张。
西浦的大一，大二两年个人觉得可以将精力相对的多投入到社团和多种活动当中。因为学业压力并不是很大的情况下，多参与活动是提升自己综合能力，结交更多的朋友的好时机。同时，在前两年的时候尽快让自己的英语能力提升，根据自己的专业需求不同，可以有各自的侧重。从规划专业来说，大一大二的时候，改变写作风格，锻炼学术写作能力，提升演讲技巧与汇报能力，提高出图可视化能力都是十分有必要的。而这些完全是可以用两年的时间来学习和提升的。这样到了大三便可以游刃有余。大三大四，读研或者是直接工作，都要做好前期的准备和相关的铺垫，根据自己的计划来，一步步的走便好。
Finally here are some my personal advice for you:
1. Youshould try your best to develop and improve your ability during your universitylife, different from senior high school; grade is only an outcome and a number,it cannot present everything any more.
2. Developa future plan as soon as possible. You should know what will you do in thefuture and whether this major fit you. You can change your plan as differentperiods, but as least, you should have one to guide your life.
3. Developyour English skill, social network, make friends and ability in your Y1 and Y2,and improve your academic performance and skill in your Y3 and Y4. Try toachieve your final goal according to your plan.
通过在西浦相对自由而又宽松的学习环境之下，找到自己的喜好以及对未来的规划才是最重要的事情。
I wish every XJTLUers can have a good, fruitful andsuccessful learning and life experiences in XJTLU.