October 30, 2013
A new book published by MEM staffer Bridget Fletcher charts a course for success for Chinese students embarking on a US graduate program
Bridget Fletcher, Assistant Director of Student Services for Pratt Professional Masters Students, and head of Pratt Professional Masters English Programs, now adds Author to her credentials with the release of Jiao Shi to Classroom: A Guidebook for Chinese Students Preparing for Graduate School in the US, available as a free iPad or iTunes download in the Apple iBookstore.
“Since joining MEMP in 2007, the energy and insight that our international students bring to campus has inspired me greatly,” says Fletcher. “My work with the student services team to design and lead programs to support the transition into US graduate school classrooms led to my research into the specific cultural dynamics at play for Chinese students. This book is the first of what I hope will be a series of guides designed to assist students from all over the world in achieving their academic and professional goals through the US graduate school system.”
Several trips to Asia to meet with MEMP alumni and incoming students help to inform Fletcher’s work, which includes commentary on US social, educational and professional norms, as well as practical exercises to prepare students for a variety of scenarios that may be unfamiliar or challenging upon their arrival.
“The content of the book is based largely on my first-hand experiences with Pratt students over the last six years,” Fletcher notes. “I’m excited to now be able to provide a comprehensive reference for our incoming Chinese students.”