Pathway reflection

Experiences During Pathway Program

Till now, I have been studying in GMU pathway program for about 2 semesters. During this period, too much experience has been acquired, not only about the professional knowledge, but also in regard to how to be a competent graduate student in an international university. And I think these experience serve an important function in my future study when I enter the real graduate program. Thus, I want to list some cases impressing me a lot.

In the first semester, it is really a hard time for me, because I had to learn how to adapt the new environment in the United Stated and overcome the language barrier. Therefore, a lot of time should be allocated in language studying. Fortunately, in pathway program, it provided me a lot of chance to communicate with professors during the class. And I think these experience helped me a lot at the beginning of my studying in America. What is more, the EAP and PROV introduced a lot rules which may be ignored in the past, but it is becoming very important and severe in an American university, such as plagiarism issue and citation format. Therefore, I know: no matter how difficult the dilemma is, I should remain honest towards to my work, and plagiarism is strictly prohibited. Besides, I should also respect for others, achievement which I quoted in my own paper. Thus, correct citation format is also required.

In the second semester, the EAP course help me to be familiar with my major. In these two semesters, I have read a lot of articles in my field; this is a hard process but really worth. Because, based on this experience, I could know more hot issue and I can feel which one am I interested in. Thus, according to my research and analyze, I can write my own synthesis article and design a poster at the end of the semester. What is more, I also learn some knowledge about how to apply a job or a program in America in the PROV course. I know how to design PS and CV, how to ask the professors to write a recommendation for me. I think I can also meet the same problem after I graduate. Thus, this experience is extremely precious.

I will utilize the knowledge which I learn from pathway program in the future study and try to be a successful graduate student in international commerce and policy field at George Mason university.