专访|被哥大录取的他坚称"爬藤"科研第一重要,布朗历史教授助他迈出学者第一步!

Z同学是一名就读于美国高中的学生。但即便是从小就受到西式教育的他也在申请之际察觉到了自己在课外活动（科研项目）部分的不足。在明确了自己的梦校——哥伦比亚大学之后，他参加了CIS科研项目中McClain教授的日本史课题，向自己的梦校发起了最后的冲刺。Z同学在最后是不负众望，拿到了哥伦比亚大学的录取信。不过他向科研君坦言说自己在McClain教授的课堂上获益良多，直到以后也能受用。而且善于总结的Z同学还在最后分享了自己这一路走来的“爬藤”经验……

学生档案

学生姓名：Z同学

录取学校：哥伦比亚大学 Columbia University

录取专业：East Asian studies

所在学校：纽约附近高中 

标化考试成绩：托福118 SAT1550 GPA：3.9

课题教授及课题名称：James McClain-The History and Culture of Japan 日本历史与文化研究 

参加项目时间：2020暑期 

其他课外活动：AMC 12, USACO, Dance Club

问

哥伦比亚大学是你的梦校吗？得知被录取时心情怎么样？

从我多年前到访哥伦比亚大学后，它就一直是我心目中的梦校了。从学校的教学理念，到纽约这座城市数不尽的机遇，都使得哥大成了我最理想的选择。说实话，当我打开网页看到录取通知的时候可是吃惊坏了，毕竟哥大是我最高的申请目标呢。

Columbia University has been my dream school since I visited it a few years ago. From its teaching philosophy of the core curriculum to the endless opportunities NYC offers, I found Columbia to be my dream institution. I was truly shocked to be honest when I opened my portal and saw an acceptance letter as I considered Columbia to be an ultimate reach.

Z同学录取捷报

问

怎么会和CIS结缘的？是什么吸引了你来参加McClain教授的项目呢？

我是在留学机构的咨询顾问那里知道CIS的。在申请这个项目之前我对McClain教授没有任何的了解，我选择他的课程是因为它完全贴合了我的兴趣。然而在着手项目之后，我便开始阅读他的研究和学术著作。同样，它那种像capstone课程一样，能给予我们足够的空间去阐述研究成果的形式也让我很感兴趣。McClain教授是日本研究业内顶尖的学者，所以对我来讲这是个不能错过的机会。

我花了些时间来阅读教授的学术著作，以此来把握课程大致的脉络。因为我之前修过日本史课，所以这些知识对我来说并不完全陌生。

It was recommended by my counselor from Bonday. I didn’t have any knowledge of Professor McClain before applying to the program, but I started to read into his research and publications after. I chose to do a program under Professor McClain because the course completely matched with my interests, as well as the format of the capstone project which gave us flexibility in how we present our research. The professor was a very accomplished scholar in the field of Japanese studies and I thought it was an opportunity that cannot be missed.

As I answered earlier, I took some time to read the professor’s books in English to get a grasp of what the course would mainly be like. I had learned Japanese history before, so the information was not entirely new for me.

问

那参加了教授的课题之后，你对McClain教授课堂的印象是怎样的？说说你的个人感受。

他是一个经验丰富且有洞见的教授，而且十分平易近人。不过由于今年的特殊原因，我担心过线上授课会不会不如平时参与感那么强。不过，教授的课堂可一点都不无聊。他在授课时使用的材料和图像视频都很容易让人跟上他讲的内容。McClain教授授课的语调往往是恳切和严肃的，不过有时他也会跟我们开一两个玩笑。在讨论环节教授会扮演一个引导者的角色，有时他也会就某人的观点做一些发挥，以此把我们向主题引导。同学们会有机会把自己的经历和想法融入讨论。整体的氛围是很友好的，大家在提问和解释时都不会有所顾忌，教授往往也会做出有深度的解答。

我们的讨论环节并不往往都是顺利的。我们当中有些人在一开始不愿意开口说话，导致了讨论进度的滞后。我们预习的缺乏（或许也对因为线上网课的犹豫）曾一度让教授觉得很失望。我当然知道讨论是集体经验的结合，只有每个人都参与其中才能了解到他人的视角。不过当每个人都能表达更具深度的想法后，课堂就开始变得更加有参与感了。

我的同学们都是我遇见过的最出色的人！他们是课堂不可或缺的一部分，同学们会在教授的课堂上就主题补充自己的经历。我的同学中有中美不同教育背景的，他们的兴趣也十分广泛，从日本的茶道到移民。课堂被分为了三个组，我们会就自己的项目交换意见，而其他同学的意见也很好地帮助了我去拓展延伸我的论题。

点击查看McClain教授往期学员专访：

He truly is an experienced and insightful professor. Also very approachable. As this year was a very unusual one with all courses conducted online, I had some concerns about lacking the engagement of a live classroom. However, the professor’s teachings were the exact opposite of dull and boring, with materials and visuals in the presentation easy to follow. His tone throughout the lectures was mostly sincere and serious, but he occasionally cracked a joke or two. During discussions Professor McClain played the role of a guide to our conversations, occasionally adding or elaborating on someone’s point, and steered us towards the main themes and topics; the students had the opportunity to connect with their personal experiences and thoughts to shape the discussion. The atmosphere was very welcoming and everyone felt at ease to ask questions or clarifications, to which the professor always answered in depth.

The frequent discussions we had as a class did not always go smoothly. Some of us were reluctant to speak up initially, resulting in stagnation of the discussion. Our lack of preparation beforehand (and perhaps our hesitations with online learning) proved to be the cause and the professor pointed out that he had been disappointed. I understood that a discussion was a collective experience where we gain perspectives of others only if everyone contributed. Future discussions turned out to be much more engaging as everyone expressed much deeper thoughts on the materials.

My peers were some of the most brilliant people I have ever met! They were an integral part of the course as they complemented the professor's teachings by adding their personal experiences to every topic. With students attending schools in both China and the United States, their interests were equally diverse, from tea ceremonies to immigrants in Japan. The class was split into three research groups where we exchanged comments on our projects; the other students’ valuable insights to my project helped expand and improve my argument.

问

你觉得在你的这次申请中，CIS项目的经历及收获起到了什么作用？

我认为CIS对我最后收到哥大的录取信有着重大的作用。这不仅仅是因为我对日本文化有了更深的了解——从审美到文化，在这样一个有声望的教授班里做科研给了我作为申请人更好的资质。我也觉得正是他的推荐，使得我在东亚研究的兴趣和科研的能力上更加站得住脚。

我在这体会到了美国本科的研究过程是如何进行的。在capstone项目中，我们每周的讨论会分享我们的进度和相互反馈。我在这当中学会了如何分析其他同学的主题，以及如何给出建设性的意见。在我们进行科研的过程中，寻找和使用素材的能力是必须的。这些天，我在查找精准的素材和把它们融入我的论文过程中获得了大量的经验。

点击图片查看/咨询/报名McClain教授课程

教授的最后评估报告中给我了荣誉称号。教授评价到：“Z并不是班上表达最多的学生，但是他对讨论的贡献往往是有帮助和令人长见识的”。我的presentation和期末项目是“经过仔细构想，展示上十分惊艳，同时观点又是吸引人的”。这很令我开心。

I believe the CIS program contributed to my acceptance at Columbia significantly. Not only did I gain a deeper understanding of Japanese culture — from aesthetics to religion, participating in a course taught by such a renowned professor gave me better qualifications as an applicant. I also think his recommendation provided a strong basis for my interest as an East Asian Studies major as well as my ability to conduct research. 

I was able to experience what an undergraduate-level research session was like. For the capstone project, we had weekly discussions where each of us shared our progress and received feedback. I learned how to analyze other students’ topics as well as how to give constructive advice. As we conducted our own research, the ability to find and use sources was a must. I gained a lot of experience in looking for accurate sources and incorporating them into my thesis throughout the weeks.

I received honors from the professor in my final report. The professor commented, “Z was not the most vocal person in my class, but his contributions to discussions were always informative and helpful”. My presentation and final project were “intellectually conceived, visually stunning, and compelling in its insights”. Which I'm glad about.

问

项目期间是否有一些挑战或困难？如果有，你是怎样去克服或解决的？

“江户时代和现代日本的织品和风尚”是我的主题。在我研究的进行过程中，我发现不少收集到的材料都是图像，这很难在论文中精准体现出来。我在教授的面对面会面时间中和他尝试去找寻一种合适的办法，以此来落实我的研究成果。我提到自己想要把自己的发现放在一个网页上，这样能让人看起来更方便，但我不知道如何把这样一种“视觉博物馆”的效果呈现出来，来展现那些成衣和织品。教授就此提出了一种办法，他让我用一页来放图片，下一页放对那些图片的描述和我的发现。之后我在查找资料时有麻烦的时候我总会去求助于TA，他往往能给我资料的引用上提出有用合理的建议。

“Fashion and textile of Edo and modern period Japan” was the topic for my capstone project; as my research progressed, I found a lot of the sources collected to be visual, which was difficult to incorporate into a paper as written descriptions. I took the one-on-one time with the professor to search for a suitable method to present my findings. I explained how I wanted to present my findings on a website for others to see conveniently, but was stuck with how to construct it as a “virtual museum”, showcasing the garments and textile. The professor offered the idea to construct a page dedicated to the images and consequent pages to add descriptions and my ideas/findings. Later times when I had trouble looking for sources, I would regularly consult my TA, who provided me with a lot of help to what kind of resources I should be using.

问

你有什么申请经验或者心得体会可以分享吗？

对你的意向专业保持高度的、始终如一的兴趣，这能体现出你的热忱和决心。在标化成绩和考试之外，我认为课外活动（特别是科研活动）也是申请过程中一个十分重要的因素。在一个规范的科研项目下学习能够证明，你不仅愿意参加学术活动，而且你还愿意主动地参与和挖掘自己的兴趣所在。

我会建议未来参加CIS科研的同学花尽可能多的时间和教授TA沟通。他们是能够帮助你了解日本文化的最佳人选。你还可以向教授询问推荐书单，并在每次课堂中注意聆听他的观点，再用这些构建你的科研。TA们都是过去参加过这个项目的同学，所以他们能够理解你的疑惑，并在细节上给予你帮助。

McClain教授所著书籍

Having a streamlined and focused interest in your intended major conveys genuine passion and resolution. On top of solid academics and tests, I think that extracurriculars (especially research) are a major factor in applications. Participating in a demanding research program shows that not only are you willing to learn academics, but you are also taking more initiative to dive into your personal interests.

I would recommend future students to use as much time communicating with the professors and TA as much as possible. They are the ultimate resources that can help you appreciate Japanese culture. Ask the professor for book recommendations, hear his opinions on timely events, and take his words on how to how to structure your research. The TA’s are past participants of the program so they also understand your troubles and can help you out with the small things.

文字丨基于CIS Z同学英文采访原稿翻译整理

图片丨Z同学授权

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