Several months ago I made a post about my intentions here…
After receiving your feedback and deciding on an approach that’ll work for me here is what I am thinking:
Spend a year in school at a Mandarin training center full-time – I’m primarily looking at the university options (with tutoring) because they’re cheaper and it’ll allow me to maximize my length of stay with a visa. After 1 year it sounds like I’d be able to obtain a work permit which may open some other opportunities for me. Then either continue to learn Mandarin for another year, or perhaps go for a masters degree.
Question regarding references/letters of recommendations for schools and the Huayu scholarship:
I don’t have any true academic references but I know my district governor through my local Toastmasters club. Will someone in Taiwan know what Toastmasters is? (Toastmasters is a public speaking organization)
The other reference is the Associate Dean of my department (I work at a university although on the business side of things).
Another possible reference is my friend who has a PhD and I thought having someone with a PhD would look good on a recommendation.
Would you say say these are good references? How much does a title/status really mean?
I’m looking at applying at…
ICLP
MTC
Fo Guang
NYSYSU
NCKU (already applied online through their site but not sure if I have applied too soon or not…)
Questions on my above choices:
Any comments regarding those places? Any suggestions of other places not listed above (smaller the class size the and/or the cheaper price the better, my wallet can only stretch so far…)…
Question regarding university admission times:
Generally, when do Fall admissions open for the schools? I’ve sent some emails but only Fo Guang has been prompt in their reply.
I do have some concern that what if I apply to all these places and no one accepts me for the Fall. Is my concern legitimate? (I have a university degree, 3.3GPA, 30 years old)
Anything you don’t like about my plan that could use improvement?