据说现在可以开始准备博士复试了

Original 小白老师医学博士英语 2020-02-23

小白老师说：医学博士英语统考刚刚落下帷幕，成绩尚未公布，但是已经有不少同学在公众号后台求复数攻略了！有咨询政策的，也有求英文自我介绍模板的，小白老师特撰此文，一并回答，还模拟了博士复试可能的英文提问和回答，献给考博的你。

第 1 问：初试和复试哪个更重要？

初试成绩是敲门砖，对最终是否被录取有一定的参考价值，但即使在初试中考出高分也是属于过去，导师还要结合复试成绩来作出最终决定（这个是显而易见的，不然还要复试干嘛）。换言之，初试成绩决定不了录取，对录取的影响有限，但是话又说回来，前提是你要有复试机会！

第 2 问：自我介绍要说些什么？

一般需要简要介绍你的教育背景（从大学开始介绍就可以了，中学及以前就不用了，导师不 care）、详细介绍你的学术基础、未来的研究方向和职业目标，别忘了谈一下你为什么要考博、为什么要考这位导师的博士（此处可充分表达对导师的崇拜和敬仰之情）。简而言之，你的自我介绍一定要能让导师了解你过去干了什么，现在在干什么，将来想干什么。

第 3 问：复试中英语重要吗？

重要！大部分导师对英语好的学生青眼有加，尤其是海外回来或者搞科研的导师，如果英语分数很高、听说能力强，会大大增加被录取的机会！尤其英语口语和专业相关的英语是很重要的一个部分。英语提问时，最好能无障碍听懂。如果你一口标准的牛津腔，我觉得没有哪个的导师会不喜欢你。

第 4 问：是否录取是学校说了算还是导师说了算？

导师！招生的是导师，不是学校。每个导师都想找个能干的学生，这很容易理解。在这里，所谓 “能力” 是个综合的指标，包括交流能力、科研、英语、甚至师生是否 “对眼” 等等，平时的积累很重要。

第 5 问：复试考什么？

复试的内容每个学校大同小异，详见每个学校的复试通知。面试很重要，作为医学博士，一定要知道本专业的常见病多发病的诊疗指南和推荐意见，这是专业素质的体现。有些导师喜欢提问最新的指南有什么内容，建议提前做好功课。

然后几乎一定会问到的就是你博士期间的研究计划。博士期间的的研究计划当然是越详细越好了，说明你对导师与研究方向极为熟悉，专业功底越扎实，攻读过程中导师就越省心啊！

复试中导师提问没有固定的章程，也很难预测。可能会问你一些很有深度的问题，也看能会问一些貌似不相关的、甚至有些“白痴”的问题，小白老师提醒大家要注意判断导师的言外之意，也要掌握一些回答问题的基本技巧，不要太呆板，太就事论事了。

比如一度闹得沸沸扬扬的北大初试第一名被淘汰的事情。当时，导师们问那位考生 “你最喜欢的一本书是什么”，显然问题绝不像看上去的那么简单，导师问这个问题其实是想让你说一下对专业的认识。可那位倒霉孩纸张口就说 “我喜欢费孝通的某一名著”，显然没有 get 到问题的点！这一方面可以看出他反应能力不够，没搞懂导师问这个问题的真实意图；另一方面，也失去了阐述自己对专业认识的大好机会。

第 6 问：复试前要准备些什么？

提前做好功课很重要。建议熟悉你报考的导师所做过的研究，事先研读导师发表的重要文章（尤其是近期的文章），最起码也起码要读一下摘要，如能在你的自我介绍中“不经意” 地提及，导师会非常愉快。

第 7 问：有问题实在答不出来怎么办？

对实在不会的问题，就老老实实说不会。如果知道一点，那就答慢一点，好好想想，但一定不要乱说，会就是会，不会就是不会。你可以直接说目前没有考虑到这方面的因素，我以后会改进。诚实的态度很重要。

第 8 问：面试的时候穿成什么样？

考博复试是大事，相信大家都会 dress up，比平时穿得正式一点。小白老师觉得不修边幅固然不可取，但也不要穿的过于正式。破洞牛仔、须边T恤肯定是不能穿去见导师的，男生没有必要西装革履搞得跟新郎官似的，女生也没有必要打扮得太时尚。

外在形象只能为你带来第一印象分，仅此而已。就怕面试时候一看，人家导师穿得挺随意的，考生却穿得像全球 500 强 CEO，让导师情何以堪。你要做的是，保持谦逊有礼的积极态度，干净得体的着装风格，然后用你的实力和现场表现来赢得高分。

最得体的是 Smart Casual，嗯，我们讲究的是 “得体”。深色裤子（或及膝裙）配浅色衬衫，男生不要打领带，女生不要环佩叮当，最好的饰品是你自信的微笑。

好了，下面要划重点了，小白老师总结了博士复试中常见的英文提问，给大家作一个示范的回答（以及建议尽量避免的回答）。这个资源非常强大，懂的来。且看且珍惜。

注意，下文的“Do say”意思就是建议您一定要这么回答；“Don't say”意思就是千万不要这么说。

Question 1：Tell us more about yourself.

Do say:

I’ve always been interested in discovering how things work, but my time as an undergraduate opened my eyes to the excitement and wider benefit of science. I had the chance to do some original research on my Masters and that’s inspired me to take up the challenge of a PhD. I’m also a keen hiker and amateur naturalist, so I’d love to combine my studies here with the chance to visit the local area.

Don't say:

I was born in a small countryside city of Jiangsu Province. My first dog was called Wangcai. At school my best friend was Liming. I like reading and listening to music in my spare time. My favourite colour is blue.

Question 2：What made you choose to do a PhD?

Do say:

I’ve enjoyed my academic work so far, but I really feel I’ve got more to offer as an independent researcher. I’m also passionate about this subject and don’t feel enough attention has been paid to the questions I’m looking to address.

Don't say:

I can’t think of anything to do with my Masters, but my current tutor says I’m clever enough for a PhD.

Question 3：What do you plan to do after you complete your PhD?

Do say:

I feel my PhD project can open up new lines of inquiry for this field and want to use it as the foundation for a fruitful research career. But, I’m also interested in the wider development opportunities included in this doctoral programme. I want to be an academic, but I’m happy to keep other options open.

Don't say:

I expect someone will give me a job doing more research. That’s what PhDs do, right?

Question 4：What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Do say:

I feel that I’m a good written communicator. My existing academic and professional work demonstrates an ability to put forward ideas clearly and concisely. I think this will help me manage the weight of information my PhD research needs to cover and the challenge of producing an effective thesis. But, I’m not always as organised as I’d like to be. I want to address this as part of my postgraduate training and hope to take advantage of classes and development opportunities early in my doctorate.

Don't say:

My greatest strength is that I have no weaknesses! And my only weakness is that I have no strengths. Hang on...

Question 5：Are there any training needs you can identify ahead of your PhD?

Do say:

I’m really interested in communicating my research to a wider audience, but don’t know how best to go about doing this. I think the training module on public engagement will be a big help to me, both academically and more generally.

Don't say:

I’m really bad at interviews. Do you have a class for that?

Question 6：What makes you the right candidate for this PhD?

Do say:

I’ve been interested in this topic since the final year of my undergraduate degree. This lead to my choice of Masters and helped me pick my dissertation topic, which I really enjoyed. I’m really excited to now go on and do some sustained research in this area as a PhD student.

Don't say:

Well, it's quite difficult to find a good job without a doctor's degree...

Question 7：What difficulties do you expect to encounter during this project?

Do say:

I can see that some of the archival material I’ll need to examine for this project may be difficult to access. My first task will be to request permissions, arrange visits and develop a system for recording my findings. I’m hoping to undertake training in archival practices and seek advice from my supervisor as I develop these key skills early in my project.

Don't say:

Yeah, I know a PhD is hard, but I’m just going to see how I get on.

Question 8：Why have you chosen to study a PhD at this university?

Do say:

I’ve looked at lots of opportunities in this area. I feel that this project is the best of its kind, combining a unique research angle with a training programme that will meet my professional needs. I was already familiar with the work of my prospective supervisor and their research has greatly informed my own development as a scholar. I’m eager to combine my work with theirs and make use of the facilities the university has put together for this project.

Don't say:

I did my Masters here and already have a flat in the city.

Question 9：What can you bring to this research group?

Do say:

I’m eager to take advantage of the facilities and expertise this university has to offer. But I also want to contribute with my own expertise and enthusiasm. My previous work has given me the skills to make the most of the material involved in this project and I’m motivated to take up new training opportunities as relevant. I’ll be proud to be a part of this department and would actively seek to represent it through my own publications and other research outputs.

Don't say: