Although this semester is not the my first semester in a U.S. college, this semester is my first semester in George Mason University and my first time to stay in Middle Atlantic district for a long time. This semester acts as a bridge in connecting my undergraduate study to graduate study. Since my undergraduate major is pharmaceutical sciences and I plan to learn nutrition in graduate school, accelerated pathway prepares me well for my future graduate study in nutrition field by providing basic undergraduate level nutrition course and graduate research introductorily course. My knowledge of nutrition field and necessary graduate college academic skills especially academic writing skill are improved by attending the program. The pathway program also gains me experience in social communication and life skills.
My academic writing skill is improved by working on EAP assignments. A part of EAP 508 class is reading one picked journal and writing an analytic essay each week. Although I got my undergraduate degree from a U.S. university and wrote countless lab reports during my undergraduate study, I was not practiced in writing pages long essays in literature field. The first time to do a new type of assignment is challenging. The whole class got very low score for first week’s homework. I had tried my best in writing the essay, so I thought I need extra help in writing. I scheduled an appointment with EAP 508’s professor to figure out reasons for the low score. He pointed out my essay’s problems and left some strategies for next week’s writing assignment. I got almost full score for second week’s essay. The frequent writing assignments in EAP graduate college preparation class skilled me in academic writing. Academic writing skill is important in graduate-level study. The experience greatly improves my English proficiency which would be helpful for my incoming graduate classes and career in the future.
GMU holds lots activities on campus The culture in D.C. area is also different compared to northern states in U.S. where I lived for several years. People in George Mason University are energetic, passionate and willing to help. The characteristic of people in GMU makes me feel welcome there. I talk to locals, join activities with locals more frequently than before. The school also provided lot activities that help us to fit the campus life better. For example, the freshmen welcome party in Eagle Arena was fantastic. I joined the event with friends from globe center but also some American friends. Though these activities, we became closer friends. I hang out with them, share happiness with them. They taught me U.S. cultures as locals. Joining activities trained my communication skills. I know better how to communicate with people and how to deal with friendship problems. My social communication skill is improved though joining these events.
Climate in D.C. area is much different than the northern New England district. The weather is dry and hot when I first arrived GMU in August. I live in Globe Center for this semester. The room was hotel room before and does not have any window. The transfer of air inside the room depends on the air conditioner only. The room is always very dry. I am not comfortable to these type of no-window rooms. My skin is allergic to the room due to the dryness. I tried a lot ways and I solved this problem finally. I use body lotion to make my skin less exposed to whatever makes me allergy in the environment and this works. A U.S. life requires a person to figure out everything by himself. My strategy is trying more ways and the problems would be solved.
These interesting things I experienced bring me experience in aspects of academy, life and culture. The program is a well connection and preparation for my study in graduate program. Academic writing skill is a general skill which is necessary everywhere. Graduate classes, nutrition research or work all need writing skill. Social skill is important for future career. Communication and networking skill plays an important role in success. In U.S., cooperate is very common and employers looking for these communication skills on their future employees. A job can be done by networking or the job itself is networking in some case. For life skills, every person needs to handle them sooner or later. The studying abroad experience pushes us to learn these skills. The program is a start for everything. During the pathway study, I gain basic skills like writing and communication for my future career. The pathway program prepares me well for the upcoming graduate study.