Graduates | 崔啸东：目标明确稳扎稳打，优秀少年斩获斯坦福offer

广以君广东以色列理工学院 2023-04-29

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#广以毕业生专访 40 个

#广以学子风采 50 个

白驹过隙，又一届毕业生即将奔赴各自人生的星辰大海。四年点滴交织闪耀，光亮照向浩瀚征途。广东以色列理工学院2018级本科毕业生系列采访将带大家走进广以学子们的故事，回忆往昔峥嵘岁月，共盼未来似锦前程。

- 崔啸东 2018级化学工程专业 -

毕业高中：山东省潍坊第一中学

获得奖项：

广以校长奖学金（2019-2021）

广以学业优秀奖学金（2019-2021）

录取院校：

斯坦福大学、加州大学洛杉矶分校、约翰斯·霍普金斯大学、密歇根大学安娜堡分校、莱斯大学、宾夕法尼亚大学、瓦格宁根大学

回顾在广以的四年生活，崔啸东笑称自己像读了一个“高四“。繁重的课业加上疫情影响，让他的大三生活变得非常忙碌。熬夜做项目写报告，在实验室呆到半夜的情况也时有发生。“但这一切都是值得的，我从未后悔选择广以。”在大四这年，他收获了来自斯坦福大学、加州大学洛杉矶分校、约翰斯·霍普金斯大学等多家世界知名学府的录取通知书，让一切努力都有了回报。

厚积薄发，笃行致远

“我从高中起就有了出国留学深造的想法。当年的高考成绩虽能去一些211大学，但广以国际化的氛围无疑是最适合我的。”啸东认为，学校虽处在汕头，但高比例的外籍教师，国际化的培养模式，丰富的科研机会为他此后申研打下了坚实基础。

“充实“是啸东大学四年的主旋律，早在入学前他就对大学四年的生活进行了规划。大一是适应和体验阶段。这一年，他完全适应了学校的学习节奏和全英教学的环境，体验了丰富多彩的社团活动，并最终选择棋社和篮球社作为未来三年忙碌学习的调剂。大二到大四，他将重心转移到学习和研究生申请上，这种分阶段的规划让他一直保持着GPA90分以上的好成绩。

崔啸东（左二）与棋社好友聚餐

崔啸东（左二）参加棋类比赛

“我觉得不能单纯为了考试而学习，学习的目的是掌握知识。”谈到取得高分的秘籍，他这样说道。“专业课有大课（Lecture）和习题课（Tutorial）两种课程，为了应试而侧重习题课是不可取的。”在他看来，大课注重对知识点的梳理。认真听讲，跟着老师的节奏进行思考才能真正掌握。如果老师有板书的话，一定要注意做好笔记。而习题课是对大课的辅助，用练习巩固大课的知识点，切忌本末倒置。“在此基础上，把老师布置的每一份作业认真完成，错题理解透彻，考试一定不会差。”

“我原计划大二进行语言考试，但疫情打乱了一整年的计划，只能将语言考试放到本来就学习紧张的大三。”啸东有些遗憾地说道。但靠着稳扎稳打的学习态度，啸东在兼顾语言考试并保持优异成绩的同时，他还成功加入了教授的课题组。

综合考虑，运筹帷幄

“在大三，我主要做的是金属锂回收和提取。因为课题组仪器每次开启都需要经费，实验所需耗材暴露在空气中后也有一定的使用寿命，所以实验只能争分夺秒地进行。为了提高效率，有时候会从中午一直做到晚上，连晚饭也顾不上吃。”啸东说那段日子忙碌且充实，在磨练中，他的科研水平得到了极大提升。

繁忙的科研生活并没有打击啸东对科研的热情，反而让他真正对这个领域产生了浓厚兴趣。在大四那年，他加入高希老师的课题组，进行单一非球型颗粒在滚筒中运动情况的研究。“这是计算机模拟领域的项目，和大三侧重实验的课题刚好覆盖了化工专业的两个领域。在研究生申请阶段，如果同时具备这两种能力，会更有优势。”

在广以，除了丰富的科研机会，众多良师也让啸东受益颇多。“有一次在课题组模拟的时候，我有些参数不是很确定，就通过微信求助高希老师，没想到他直接从办公室赶了过来。在给我当面讲解后担心我不明白，还专门又拿了几个案例，当场演示给我看。”啸东回忆道，这里的老师对学生都特别好，无论是生活中的问题还是学业上的问题，他们都会耐心解答。“有一次我写邮件给课程老师请教一个小问题，但他回复了一封两页的邮件，从头到尾都进行了解释。”

崔啸东（右一）与高希老师合影

在老师们的影响下，崔啸东也养成了严谨谦虚的做事态度，为课题组的研究做出了很多贡献，科研能力得到课题组老师们的一致认可。当他申请研究生时，课题组的老师们也给他提供了很多实用建议，并欣然为他撰写推荐信。

目标明确，未来可期

“我一直有个名校梦，想要去世界顶尖学府看一看。”在这种想法的驱使下，崔啸东认真查阅了斯坦福化工系的录取标准，发现自己的硬件条件与之相符。录取的不确定因素很多，啸东坦言在申请过程中也曾有过犹豫。最终做出申请的决定，除了碰运气的想法，更多的是对自己身份的自信。“如果不申请我肯定会后悔，并且作为广以的毕业生，我很相信以色列理工学院的知名度和实力，事实也正是如此。”

崔啸东（右一）与舍友

“太开心了，那天晚上我都没怎么睡着。但奇怪的是，隔天上课的时候也不困，可能真的太兴奋了吧。”回忆起收到斯坦福大学录取信息的那天，崔啸东至今记忆犹新。“虽然我最终放弃了这个offer，但它对我来说依然意义非凡，代表着我大学四年的努力得到了外界的极大认可。”

做出放弃这个选择并不容易，在深思熟虑后，啸东觉得适合自己的才是最重要的。“虽同为化工领域，斯坦福这个专业培养的是硕士后直接就业的人才，而我想继续走科研道路。”虽未踏出校园，这个年轻的男生对未来已经有了清晰的规划。“我将去往加州大学洛杉矶分校，相比于斯坦福的化工专业，它的培养方向会更适合我。我已经提前确认好了导师，将跟随化工专业的杰出教授进行非线性控制的研究。这是一个涉及化工和电子电气工程两个专业的领域，导师在领域内属于大牛级科学家，如果顺利的话我也希望在那里完成我的博士学习。”

崔啸东在毕业典礼上与龚校长合影

啸东也结合自身的经历给在校师弟师妹提出了一些建议。“在广以，学业很难，但一定不能轻言放弃。”在和以色列理工学院本部同样严格的教学要求和评分体系下，很多课程取得高分并不容易。GPA当然是越高越有优势，但80分以上配合丰富的科研经历也能申请到很不错的学校。“我身边就有很多这样的例子，所以千万不要因为成绩不够好就放弃努力。“

“提前准备，合理安排时间”也是崔啸东想要告诉师弟师妹的。“大三准备语言成绩太过匆忙，因为大三侧重专业课的学习，所以科研和课业都会很繁忙。语言成绩的有效期是两年，大二暑期准备正好合适。提前计划更能让后续申请变得游刃有余。“

Time flies and the second cohort of students are going to graduate from Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) this year. We will present a series of interviews with the graduates from the Class of 2022, to show their stories at GTIIT over the last four years.

Here is the story of Cui Xiaodong, a student of the Class of 2022 from the Chemical Engineering Program.

- Cui Xiaodong-

High School：

Weifang No.1 Middle School

Awards:

GTIIT Chancellor’s Scholarship (2019-2021)

Academic Excellent Scholarship (2019-2021)

Received offers from:

Stanford University, University of California, Los Angeles, Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Rice University, University of Pennsylvania, Wageningen University & Research

Looking back on the four-year life at GTIIT, Cui Xiaodong said it was like the senior year of high school. Heavy study and the impact of the epidemic made his life very busy. Staying up late to work on projects and write reports, as well as staying in the lab until midnight, happens from time to time. "But it's all worth it. I have never regretted choosing GTIIT." In his senior year, he has gained offers from Stanford University, UCLA, Johns Hopkins University and many other world-renowned institutions. This made his hard work finally pay off.

Accumulate and Make Progress

"I have had the idea of studying abroad since high school. Although my Gaokao results allow me to apply to universities of Project 211 , the international atmosphere of GTIIT is undoubtedly the most suitable for me." Xiaodong believes that despite the university is located in Shantou, its high proportion of foreign teachers, international training model, and abundant scientific research opportunities have laid a solid foundation for him to apply for a master’s degree in the future.

"Enrichment" is the main theme of Xiaodong’s university life, and he made a clear plan of his four years here. Freshman year is the adaptation and experience stage. This year, he fully adapted to the university's learning rhythm and the English teaching environment, experienced a variety of club activities, and finally chose the chess club and basketball club as the pastimes for his busy study in the following three years. From sophomore year to senior year, he shifted his focus to study and graduate application. This phased planning allowed him to maintain his GPA above 90.

Cui Xiaodong（left2）with friends from Chess Club

Cui Xiaodong（left2）in Chess Competition

"I don't think study is just for exams. The purpose of study is to acquire knowledge." When it comes to the secrets of getting high scores, he said. "Specialized courses here have two parts: Lecture and Tutorial. It is not advisable to only focus on Tutorial just for exam preparation." In his view, Lecture focuses on analyzing knowledge. You should listen carefully and follow the teacher to think in order to truly master it. The Tutorial is an aid to the Lecture, in which you use exercises to consolidate the knowledge you’ve learned. Do not put the cart before the horse. "On this basis, you should also finish the coursework carefully and revise mistakes you made, so that you will get good grades."

"I planned to take the language test in the second year of my university, but the epidemic disrupted my whole schedule, so I could only defer the test to the third year when I was already busy," Xiaodong said with some regrets. However, with a steady learning attitude, he still got good grades and also successfully joined the professors’ research groups.

Comprehensive Consideration

Map Out a Strategy

"In my junior year, I mainly focused on the recovery and extraction of lithium metal. The research group's instruments cost money every time when we used them, and the experiment material has a limited service life after being exposed to the air, so the experiment can only be carried out against the time. In order to improve efficiency, sometimes I stay here from noon to evening, and even forget my dinner." Xiaodong said that those days were busy and fulfilling. His scientific research ability has been greatly improved during these training.

The busy scientific research did not dampen Xiaodong's enthusiasm, but made him have a strong interest in this field. In his senior year, he joined Dr. Gao Xi's research group to study the movement of a single non-spherical particle in a drum. "This is a project about computer simulation. This project and the research group that I joined in the junior year covers two fields (computer simulation and experiment) of chemical engineering. When you apply for a master’s degree, it will be more advantageous if you have both at the same time."

At GTIIT, in addition to abundant scientific research opportunities, its teaching strength has also benefited Xiaodong a lot. "Once when I was simulating in the research group, I was not sure about some parameters, so I asked Dr. Gao Xi for help through WeChat. He came directly from the office. After explaining it to me face to face, he worried that I didn't understand, so he chose some related cases and showed to me again.” Teachers here are very kind to the students, and they would like to answer any questions about academics and life. "Once I emailed the course teacher with a small question, but he responded with a two-page email just to make sure that I could understand."

Cui Xiaodong（Right1）with Prof. Gao Xi

Under the influence of the teachers, Cui Xiaodong has also cultivated a rigorous and humble attitude, and has made a lot of contributions to the research group. His scientific research ability has been recognized by the teachers. When he applied for the master’s degree, the teachers in the research group also provided him with a lot of practical advice, and were happy to write recommendation letters for him.

Clear Goal, Bright Future

"I have a dream about going to the top universities in the world." Driven by this idea, Cui Xiaodong carefully checked the admission criteria of Stanford's Department of Chemical Engineering and found that his hardware conditions were consistent with it. There are many uncertain factors in admissions, and thus Xiaodong admitted that he was hesitant before the application. He finally made the decision to apply, not only because he wants to try his luck, but more about his self-confidence in his identity. "If I don't apply, I will definitely regret it, and as a graduate of GTIIT, I believe in the reputation and strength of the Technion."

Cui Xiaodong（Right1）with roomates

"I was so happy. I didn't sleep much that night, but I wasn't sleepy in class the next day. Maybe I was overjoyed." Cui Xiaodong still remembered the day he received the offer from Stanford University. "Although I finally declined the offer, it still means a lot to me. It represents that my four-year university efforts have been greatly recognized by the outside world."

It is not easy to give up. After careful consideration, Xiaodong feels that what suits him is the most important. " Stanford's program trains talents who will be directly employed after the master's degree, while I want to continue to do research." Although he has not yet stepped out of the campus, this young boy already has a clear plan for the future. "I will go to the University of California, Los Angeles. Compared with Stanford's chemical engineering program, its training direction is more suitable for me. I have confirmed with my supervisor and will follow an outstanding professor of chemical engineering to conduct research on nonlinear control. This is a field involving two majors of chemical engineering as well as electrical and electronic engineering. The professor is famous in this field. If it goes well, I hope to complete my doctoral study there."

Cui Xiaodong with GTIIT Chancellor Prof. Gong Xingao on the graduation ceremony

Xiaodong also gave some suggestions to the students based on his own experience. "At GTIIT, the coursework is difficult, but you should never give up." Under the same strict teaching requirements and scoring system as Technion, it is not easy to obtain high scores in many courses. Of course, you should work hard on your GPA, but with a score of 80 or above and rich scientific research experience, you can also apply to very good universities. "There are many examples like this around me, so don't give up your efforts."

"Prepare in advance and arrange time reasonably" is also what Cui Xiaodong wanted to tell GTIIT students. "Preparing language test in the junior year is too hasty, because you will have many specialized courses and also need to focus on scientific research. The validity period of the language score is two years, so it is better to prepare it in the summer break of the sophomore year. Scheduling ahead will make your application much easier."

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