One thing which we can learn from this example is also to see how he pitch himself. He is in Oxford and Princeton doing East Asian stuff, Chinese studies at Oxford and East Asian Studies in Princeton. That is a good positioning … his chance is likely to be more diminished if he is attempting to study English Literature or Shakespeare studies in Oxford
( ... )
But you're not quite right there. I don't think Oxton (since I'm lazy to type Oxford & Princeton out) is a measure of success in its own right (ie: getting into Oxton means attaining godhood or something).
Rather, I see it as a measure of success for LWG in his own right, an honor that is finally conferred upon him and something that recognizes the sheer genius of his mind.
Where IL schools (Ivy League) are concerned for me, it definitely isn't a love-hate relationship, it's about trying to see things in perspective. It's about understanding the limitations and possibly dangers of going into one (I still expect my kids to go to IL schools in future :p The issue for me then is - what can I then do as a parent to teach my child to 'top up' to the experience he/she will have that an IL school cannot prepare adequately for).
Another thing I disagree with is this "what so great about a Chinese educated Chinese (he do Higher level in "A" level) doing well in Oxford in Chinese studies??" - I think
( ... )
Eh... regarding the Chinese thingy... I think penguin is making a very valid point.
You see similar things happening in the field of academia. Asians go Oxford, even if they're better than the ang mohs at say, 18C English Lit, they won't get positions, the ang mohs will get. But talk about postcolonialism, Asian literature -- we rule the field! More or less anyway.
So I missed this point the first time round, actually -- Wah Guan's doing Chinese studies, and as penguin points out it's really good *positioning* on his part. Doesn't necessarily take away from any evaluation of his talent, but I think we have to recognize, it's actually to be expected that he'd outperform the ang mohs *in this particular well-chosen field*.
It's all ang mohs doing grad studies in Princeton meh?
But even so it doesn't make the earlier points we discussed less valid. But OK even if WG pwned the ang mohs cos he's Wah Guan, not William Graham, the fact that he could still get into Oxton is still a feat in itself.
I mean, I'm sure other Chinese educated folks have applied to Oxton as well but didn't get in?
The point, which you missed when you say "I'm sure other Chinese educated folks have applied to Oxton as well but didn't get in?" is the "Chinese educated" is in relation to the course he is applying to. It would be an incredible feat for him to be above-average among Princton grads student for ENGLISH LITERATURE or EUROPEAN STUDIES. But he is there for CHINESE STUDIES (Oxford) and EAST ASIANS STUDIES. Honestly, he is more of an achievement to be an above average grad student in the National Taiwan University for East Asisan Studies or Chinese Studies.
He could well competing with people who cannot even speak Chinese in the Princeton classes of East Asian Studies (in US, they study these East Asian studies in English, which means if you can understand the East Asian languages, you have a tremendous edge with access to much more research materials and resources)
You say "Apparently he is better than the average grad student at Princeton, it definitely takes more than just being "Chinese educated" to be among that elite few
( ... )
Firstly, dude I'm quoting from the article about being "a part of the elite few"
Secondly, you're getting personal.
Thirdly, you're muddling things up and seem to want to see things in a black/white dichotomy.
While it's true that not everyone in an IL school is necessarily talented, does it mean that people who get in must get in by some stroke of luck and hence IL schools are poor gauges of one's ability? You should know how competitive getting into an IL school is. NUS on the other hand isn't really that hard to get in. This alone is some basis of comparison for academic ability (a major part includes test taking skills) at least
( ... )
Reply
But you're not quite right there. I don't think Oxton (since I'm lazy to type Oxford & Princeton out) is a measure of success in its own right (ie: getting into Oxton means attaining godhood or something).
Rather, I see it as a measure of success for LWG in his own right, an honor that is finally conferred upon him and something that recognizes the sheer genius of his mind.
Where IL schools (Ivy League) are concerned for me, it definitely isn't a love-hate relationship, it's about trying to see things in perspective. It's about understanding the limitations and possibly dangers of going into one (I still expect my kids to go to IL schools in future :p The issue for me then is - what can I then do as a parent to teach my child to 'top up' to the experience he/she will have that an IL school cannot prepare adequately for).
Another thing I disagree with is this "what so great about a Chinese educated Chinese (he do Higher level in "A" level) doing well in Oxford in Chinese studies??" - I think ( ... )
Reply
You see similar things happening in the field of academia. Asians go Oxford, even if they're better than the ang mohs at say, 18C English Lit, they won't get positions, the ang mohs will get. But talk about postcolonialism, Asian literature -- we rule the field! More or less anyway.
So I missed this point the first time round, actually -- Wah Guan's doing Chinese studies, and as penguin points out it's really good *positioning* on his part. Doesn't necessarily take away from any evaluation of his talent, but I think we have to recognize, it's actually to be expected that he'd outperform the ang mohs *in this particular well-chosen field*.
Reply
But even so it doesn't make the earlier points we discussed less valid. But OK even if WG pwned the ang mohs cos he's Wah Guan, not William Graham, the fact that he could still get into Oxton is still a feat in itself.
I mean, I'm sure other Chinese educated folks have applied to Oxton as well but didn't get in?
Reply
The point, which you missed when you say "I'm sure other Chinese educated folks have applied to Oxton as well but didn't get in?" is the "Chinese educated" is in relation to the course he is applying to. It would be an incredible feat for him to be above-average among Princton grads student for ENGLISH LITERATURE or EUROPEAN STUDIES. But he is there for CHINESE STUDIES (Oxford) and EAST ASIANS STUDIES. Honestly, he is more of an achievement to be an above average grad student in the National Taiwan University for East Asisan Studies or Chinese Studies.
He could well competing with people who cannot even speak Chinese in the Princeton classes of East Asian Studies (in US, they study these East Asian studies in English, which means if you can understand the East Asian languages, you have a tremendous edge with access to much more research materials and resources)
Reply
Reply
Secondly, you're getting personal.
Thirdly, you're muddling things up and seem to want to see things in a black/white dichotomy.
While it's true that not everyone in an IL school is necessarily talented, does it mean that people who get in must get in by some stroke of luck and hence IL schools are poor gauges of one's ability? You should know how competitive getting into an IL school is. NUS on the other hand isn't really that hard to get in. This alone is some basis of comparison for academic ability (a major part includes test taking skills) at least ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment