I am Ningqi Lu, a student in Finance at Soochow University in 2014 and in Economics at University of Victoria in 2016. In 2018, during my last semester at University of Victoria, I was fortunate to receive a conditional offer for a Master's degree in Applied Economics from the City University of Hong Kong.

Throughout the entire process of applying for graduate studies, the GPA of my two years’ studying at University of Victoria , and recommendation letters from professors at the UVic are the two most important factors that play a decisive role. (Some Australian and British universities do not require recommendation letters for master's applications, but most universities in North American and Hong Kong require at least 3-4 recommendation letters.)

Let’s start with the basic tasks that everyone needs to accomplish over two years at Soochow University. Firstly, the IELTS score is of utmost importance. The academic pressure at Soochow University is not very high, and everyone sufficient energy to brush up IELTS score above 6.5. This score not only exempts you from taking a foundation course at University of Victoria, but it is also a basic requirement for many graduate school applications. The two years at University of Victoria are hectic, and if you can achieve this score before coming to Victoria, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary troubles. Regarding the grades at Soochow University, we should strive to maintain an average score of 90 or above in all subjects. Although graduate schools place more emphasis on the GPA from University of Victoria during the application process, good grades at Soochow University are still a necessary guarantee for the success of the application.

The two years at University of Victoria are the most important. Students with intentions of applying to graduate schools should make it clear in the first year that the schools they wish to apply to, the basic requirements they need to meet, and the application deadlines. Then, they should systematically achieve these objectives in their subsequent studies. First, let start with GPA. The GPA in compulsory courses listed on the course selection form is extremely important. In the compulsory courses of levels of 100-200, everyone should try to achieve grades of A to A+. Based on the experiences of the previous alumni and our batch, this is relatively easy to accomplish. However, compulsory courses at levels of 300-400 are relatively more challenging, and high grades may not be easy to get, so ensuring good grades in lower-level courses is crucial. Furthermore, among those selective compulsory courses, capable students can choose some "standard courses for graduate school application." These courses are relatively difficult, but they can also be helpful in the application stage later. The choice of elective courses is also important. Ultimately, when applying for graduate school, what matters is the overall GPA of compulsory and elective courses. Everyone should remember not to focus on the required courses and neglect the elective courses. Assuming your overall GPA is dragged down by elective courses, even if your compulsory courses’ grades are excellent, schools may directly eliminate you. Generally, when the graduate school is satisfied with your overall GPA, they will then closely examine to ensure your grades in compulsory subjects are good, and your GPA is not pulled up by good grades of elective courses. When choosing electives, try to select courses like statistics, mathematics, business law, or programming, which are more persuasive than courses of art or music, even if the grades are slightly lower.

Regarding how to ask for recommendation letters from professors, each professor has different standards. You can first consult TAs or senior students who took the course about what conditions that a professor need to write a recommendation letter, and communicate with the professor later. Typically, if you have taken two courses with a professor and received grades of A or above in both courses, there is a high chance that the professor will help to with the recommendation letter for you. Some professors may have high requirements, such as only writing recommendation letters for honor students in their final year. Generally speaking, recommendation letters from professors are more convincing in your graduate applications. However, getting those professors’ references usually requires advance booking, as the professors only write a limited number of letter of recommendation each semester and don’t write more. If the time is a step late, you may face a ruthless rejection, even with excellent course grades.

During the application process, it is important to ensure that the overall GPA submitted at the time of application roughly matches the requirements of the school to which you are applying. Make sure to handle all necessary requirements at least half a month before the application start date, and use the last half month to refine and enrich the content.

In addition to the GPA and recommendation letters from professors, other qualifications are the icing on the cake. Once you have completed the first two tasks, you can slowly work on the rest without rushing, as missing out on important details may lead to significant consequences.

I hope everyone can make full use of your time at Soochow University and University of Victoria by studying diligently. Remember, anything is possible, so take each course seriously.