摘要：我们不会再要中国的博士生了，因为他们拿到master就退学跑去工作了。
letter from a professor majored in ME,U OF MICHIGAN,US
I would like to inform you of the situation relevant to Chinese graduatestud
ents here, at least at our department, which makes it very difficult for us
to accept graduate students from China in the future.
Over about one year period, we have had 6 Chinese Ph.D. students quit their
RAship and Ph.D. studies. The reason for them to leave was not that they cou
ld not continue, it was rather because they want to have a job now (a higher
salary, with a hope that the companies will apply for their green
card status). They came with thier promises to pursue their Ph.D. degrees, w
e paid tuition for them to take courses for their Master degree, and we taug
ht and helped them in their research capabilities. Once they got their M.S.
degree in Mechanical Engeering, because of the excellent job market in
the U.S. at this time, it is relatively easy for them to find a job. In a wa
y we felt that we were used as a step for those Chinese students to come her
e, and get their master's degree, then get their jobs. We pay approximately
$45-50 K/year for each Ph.D. student, including the tuition,health insurance
, various fees, lab and computer fees, and monthly salary,we also put a lot
of time and efforts for them. They (most of them) also did good research wor
k as assistants. However, we don't get credit because we don't produce PH.D'
s, which is one of our major purposes as an institution of high education. O
n the other hand, they have their particular interests which are also unders
tandable, for example, financial pressure, and wishes to have their green ca
rd applications on the way asap.
This situation also happened to my Chinese Ph.D.student. He is very talented
and did a good job in research. However, after he got his M.S. in M.E., he
resigned very recently. We still let him stay here presently (with salary) f
or one more month, otherwise he will have to repay his tuition, which is ove
r $10K. Although we are very considerate for those students, the
consequencies are obvious:
(1) It greatly degraded the reputation of Chinese graduate students who appl
y for admission. Some professors address those as "very unethical", "you rea
lly cannot trust them when they promise you to pursue their Ph.D. degrees un
der your supervision", " you feel you are so stupid as cheated by your own s
tudent". It really created some resentment. Actually, I know, as of this tim
e, there are a couple of more students looking for a job or already got a jo
b offer, but not telling their advisors. They will quit at the last minute b
efore they leave. This situation will certainly get backfired, and the
damadge will mostly be transferred onto the future applicants from China.
(2) Some professors or research scientists have already made their decisions
not to consider Chinese student applications. Although it should not and ca
nnot be a policy, it is the individual's decision in selecting future Ph.D.
students with preference, and in my opinion, with good reasons. It will make
it much more difficult for us to bring in Ph.D. students from
China. For example, as you know, I was looking for one or two Ph.D. students
later this year, and I have a vacancy for a Ph.D. student now. But I will n
ot consider Chinese applicants. At the same time I feel truely sorry, for I
know, especially many graduate students from Tsinghua University of very
high qualifications sent email applications to me (and to other professors),
including yourself. Now I have to inform you that please try your applicatio
ns elsewhere, or other professors.
In our department, many Chinese graduate students know me and we have a very
friendly relationships. The faculty members know that too. One told me: "Yo
u try to help them, then they screw you up!"
I spent time to write this email message, for your information and considera
tions, as to how this situation may be somehow alleviated. You may discuss t
his with your close friends and classmates, I am not sure you should broadly
propagate this message. But I did present a fact and an opinion
letter from a professor majored in ME,U OF MICHIGAN,US
I would like to inform you of the situation relevant to Chinese graduatestud
ents here, at least at our department, which makes it very difficult for us
to accept graduate students from China in the future.
Over about one year period, we have had 6 Chinese Ph.D. students quit their
RAship and Ph.D. studies. The reason for them to leave was not that they cou
ld not continue, it was rather because they want to have a job now (a higher
salary, with a hope that the companies will apply for their green
card status). They came with thier promises to pursue their Ph.D. degrees, w
e paid tuition for them to take courses for their Master degree, and we taug
ht and helped them in their research capabilities. Once they got their M.S.
degree in Mechanical Engeering, because of the excellent job market in
the U.S. at this time, it is relatively easy for them to find a job. In a wa
y we felt that we were used as a step for those Chinese students to come her
e, and get their master's degree, then get their jobs. We pay approximately
$45-50 K/year for each Ph.D. student, including the tuition,health insurance
, various fees, lab and computer fees, and monthly salary,we also put a lot
of time and efforts for them. They (most of them) also did good research wor
k as assistants. However, we don't get credit because we don't produce PH.D'
s, which is one of our major purposes as an institution of high education. O
n the other hand, they have their particular interests which are also unders
tandable, for example, financial pressure, and wishes to have their green ca
rd applications on the way asap.
This situation also happened to my Chinese Ph.D.student. He is very talented
and did a good job in research. However, after he got his M.S. in M.E., he
resigned very recently. We still let him stay here presently (with salary) f
or one more month, otherwise he will have to repay his tuition, which is ove
r $10K. Although we are very considerate for those students, the
consequencies are obvious:
(1) It greatly degraded the reputation of Chinese graduate students who appl
y for admission. Some professors address those as "very unethical", "you rea
lly cannot trust them when they promise you to pursue their Ph.D. degrees un
der your supervision", " you feel you are so stupid as cheated by your own s
tudent". It really created some resentment. Actually, I know, as of this tim
e, there are a couple of more students looking for a job or already got a jo
b offer, but not telling their advisors. They will quit at the last minute b
efore they leave. This situation will certainly get backfired, and the
damadge will mostly be transferred onto the future applicants from China.
(2) Some professors or research scientists have already made their decisions
not to consider Chinese student applications. Although it should not and ca
nnot be a policy, it is the individual's decision in selecting future Ph.D.
students with preference, and in my opinion, with good reasons. It will make
it much more difficult for us to bring in Ph.D. students from
China. For example, as you know, I was looking for one or two Ph.D. students
later this year, and I have a vacancy for a Ph.D. student now. But I will n
ot consider Chinese applicants. At the same time I feel truely sorry, for I
know, especially many graduate students from Tsinghua University of very
high qualifications sent email applications to me (and to other professors),
including yourself. Now I have to inform you that please try your applicatio
ns elsewhere, or other professors.
In our department, many Chinese graduate students know me and we have a very
friendly relationships. The faculty members know that too. One told me: "Yo
u try to help them, then they screw you up!"
I spent time to write this email message, for your information and considera
tions, as to how this situation may be somehow alleviated. You may discuss t
his with your close friends and classmates, I am not sure you should broadly
propagate this message. But I did present a fact and an opinion
