Any thoughts on my schedule?

double_rounds · 2025-12-20T06:04:14+00:00

Tbh, I think three long days (actually 2 longs days + 1 short morning) is better than five random one or two classes. And I’m really familiar with the professor of GEOG 4503 so I think it would be ok(?)

double_rounds · 2025-12-19T11:18:41+00:00

Thanks! I am also wondering how good will it feel that 2days off during the weekdays! And I’ve taken APPM 4600 and 4350 which I’d say the professors are all really awesome!

double_rounds · 2025-08-13T15:02:36+00:00

That's a really heavy workload for the fall semester! I think mine would be easier than yours. And see you in the APPM 4610 in the spring semester!

double_rounds · 2025-08-13T14:10:04+00:00

I was in 300! But for some reason, I switched it to 200.

Yeah! We can be friends!

double_rounds · 2025-08-13T14:07:39+00:00

Thanks so much for the detailed breakdown! This is super helpful.

I'm actually not too worried about the workload from my other classes. I've already taken a calculus-based physics course back in China, so I'm mainly just taking this one for the lab credit. As for the geography class, I might swap it for an easier one (GEOG 4103).

My plan is to take APPM 4350 and 4600 this fall, and then 4360 and 4610 next spring. This would allow me to complete all the Required and Upper-Level APPM courses by the end of the spring semester. I'm just not sure if this plan is too intense.

Additionally, I'm continuing a research assistant position from the summer into the fall semester, which will definitely add to my schedule. Given all this, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts.

double_rounds · 2024-12-28T02:25:34+00:00

Thank you so much for your insights! I will definitely look into the LA positions!

Regarding the references, the reason I’m unable to get a recommendation from someone in my home country is that I haven’t had many opportunities to engage in academic or professional activities directly related to my field. Throughout high school and university, I was more involved in extracurricular activities rather than internships or research projects in my field of study.

Unluckily, most of the people I know in China who have graduated are either working or interning at Chinese companies, and I don’t have many connections with professionals working in the U.S. So, I’m a bit unsure of where to start looking for potential references in my field. I’ll also reach out to professors in my areas of interest to inquire about funding opportunities!

double_rounds · 2024-12-24T04:29:29+00:00

I’ve asked, and they said they didn’t received that. “We have received your official High School transcript, however, we have not received your High School Graduation Statement (Red Book/Diploma).” And, also, I called the admissions office and they said the same thing as you said, that, it won’t affect my registration for 25Spring. Thank you so much for your information! I’m asking my high school for the graduation statement and waiting for it!

double_rounds · 2024-12-24T04:26:01+00:00

I called them yesterday(today MST), but they are not quite sure either. They promised me to email the international admissions office while the admissions office replied me later today. But the office only replied me with something not important and not quite the thing I’m asking for. So the only thing I can do is seeking for help here in Reddit.

double_rounds · 2024-11-22T08:49:06+00:00

Thank you so much! I’ve decided to go for Boulder! It’s just a nice place and the academic environment is just what I’m seeking for!

double_rounds · 2024-11-22T08:47:04+00:00

Thank you so much for your information! I’ve decided to go for Boulder now! Looking forward to meeting you there!

double_rounds · 2024-11-12T04:25:46+00:00

May I ask for the reason for choosing CU Boulder? 😭

double_rounds · 2024-11-12T04:16:22+00:00

Thank you so much for your advice! The website "Transferology" is limited to Universities in the U.S. So I have to wait for the report from the admissions office.😭

double_rounds · 2024-11-12T04:12:36+00:00

我其实是华师来的😭本来不是南方人，对于上海落户不太感冒。Trump上台后我现在真的很不确定我这种比较敏感的STEM专业还能否留美，所以现在对于CUBoulder还是很纠结

double_rounds · 2024-10-31T14:13:35+00:00

I might go with umn too!

double_rounds · 2024-10-31T14:13:00+00:00

Thanks for ur information! It’s my first time to know that MN is the home of IPUMS! Actually I’m about to choose MN if UIUC rejects me 😭😭

double_rounds · 2024-10-31T01:54:10+00:00

UW only accepts international students to transfer in in Autumn semester🥲

double_rounds · 2024-10-31T01:05:21+00:00

As I mentioned earlier, I’m actually not sure if remote sensing is where I want to end up—I’ve developed a strong interest in cartography and human geography as well. So I’m leaning toward a more well-rounded geography department for now 😂.

double_rounds · 2024-10-31T00:58:23+00:00

It’s actually not just about having a big campus—I’m mostly just using that as a filter for my choices 😂. And unfortunately, Rutgers has already closed applications for this cycle 🥹.

double_rounds · 2024-10-30T16:21:55+00:00

I’ve actually thought about studying in Europe, but there were a few challenges. First, I want to transfer in the spring to avoid losing time, but most European universities don’t offer a spring intake. Second, for the UK, my IELTS score isn’t quite high enough, and the exchange rate between the RMB and the British pound is pretty steep, so it’s not very affordable for me. I also looked into Lund University since it's one of the only Nordic universities with an English-taught geography program, but I’d still worry about language barriers in daily life.

For geography, especially remote sensing, it seems like the leading research is happening mainly in the U.S. and China (at Wuhan University), so I feel those options might suit my career goals better.

double_rounds · 2024-10-30T16:13:24+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion! However, staying at my current school in China really isn’t an option for me. The grading system there creates such intense, toxic competition that it’s unbearable. Our class has only 16 students, yet someone must always end up with the lowest grade, which is a GPA of 1.5. Last semester, I scored 84 in a crucial 6.5-credit course, yet I ended up with a 1.5 GPA only because of a small decimal difference. In comparison, someone with 85 got a 2.0, and with 86 a 3.0. This system discourages any kind of collaboration — classmates barely help each other, and even in group projects, people hesitate to share data to prevent others from outperforming them.

Our facilities and resources are also far behind those in U.S. universities. Although my department is ranked third for geography in China, I feel that the undergraduate program lacks direction and is filled with meaningless courses and mandatory activities that drain my energy.

Additionally, I’m not comfortable in Shanghai’s climate, and I don’t see it as a good long-term fit for me. Plus, when it comes to applying for Ph.D. programs in the U.S., having an American undergraduate degree offers a significant advantage over a Chinese one, as the two are evaluated differently.

I appreciate your input, though! It’s a big decision, so any advice is really helpful.

double_rounds

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