1.      What is your plan? What will you do after graduation?
Give me three reasons that you will come back to China. You can also make more of this kind of money in US, why don’t you want to earn more? Why you come back to China instead of finding a job in America?

Of course I will come back to unit with my parents and pursue a job in my hometown in the booming Chinese finance industry. I plan to find a job in the Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone in New Pudong District, such as the investment department in China International Capital Corporation, Shanghai Branch. With an increase in Chinese investors’ investment power and international companies who seek to enter the more dynamic Chinese marketplace, Finance Researchers with the expertise in analyzing specific financial markets and in modifying existing investment strategies are really needed so I can both realize my life dream which is to be a financial analyst and earn a decent salary in my hometown Shanghai. In view of my in-depth knowledge of the Chinese culture and finely honed investment analytical skills learned during the Tulsa MSFINANCE program, I believe I could get a suitable position in Chinese booming finance industry as soon as I complete my Master’s degree. I am really very excited about the outlook of my future study life in Tulsa and career life in my hometown Shanghai.

2.      Who will sponsor your studies in USA? Dose your family sponsor your studies in USA?
Have you any scholarship? Why do you receive financial aid from this University?
Your assistantship is for one year, then how about the following years? What if you do not have financial award for the sixth years?

一定要简单、清楚，将相关材料一份份拿给签证官

股票交割单： stock delivery order

bank statement 和affidavit of support或support declaration（用于父母资助）

这段大家根据自己家庭经济情况准备（可单独在论坛发贴询问）

3.      Why do you want to study in USA? Why do you choose USA?

Well, United States is the mother country of finance. So USA Universities’ Finance programs are of course the most in line with the modern financial trends and practices. They emphasize more on experiential learning and practical skills. With the increases in Chinese investors’ investment power and international companies who seek to enter the more dynamic Chinese marketplace, there emerged great needs for people with a solid foundation of financial knowledge of the global picture, a mastery of foreign languages and a good ability in cross-cultural communication.

4.      What is your major? In what aspect of your major will you study? Can you briefly explain what you will learn?
What is it all about? What is it for? (major)　
Can you talk something about the course ***？Courses description

My major in USA will be finance and my specialized option is Investments and Portfolio management. It is a two-year program so I can seek very in-depth study of financial markets and an understanding of the market’s role in developing the financial assets of corporations, mutual funds, and private investors, such as the market transactions that drive financial innovation, these knowledge and practical skills are badly needed in the Chinese booming finance industry.

5.      Why do you choose this University?

Well, first, the Tulsa MSFINANCE program has international reputation in the research in finance and focuses on training students with finely-honed quantitative skills and practical investment problems solving ability, which are badly needed in Chinese financial industry, and is also my academic and career interest. Also, my specialized research option is Investments and Portfolio Management, this industry is very promising and valued in China, especially in Shanghai. So the Tulsa FINANCE master degree will really benefit my future career in Shanghai.

6.       Why do you like your major?

Well, Finance has very great prospects in China. With an increase in Chinese investors’ investment power and international companies who seek to enter the more dynamic Chinese marketplace, Finance Researchers with the expertise in analyzing specific financial markets and in modifying existing investment strategies and layout of personal investors are really needed. That’s why I devote myself to this booming industry.

7.      How do you know this University?

Well, my professor in Fudan University, Xiyou He, recommended me to apply the University of Tulsa under the consideration of my academic performance and research interest. And then I browsed the university’s net and find the Tulsa MSFINANCE program emphasizes a lot on experiential learning and practical operation, really aligns with my academic background, personal philosophy, and career goals.

8.       How much will you earn when you come back? Salary in the U.S.?

Well, Chinese companies will pay more attention to how well I do in the program I come from and the more diligent I will study, the higher salary I will get, it is reported that in the known finance corporation, investment bank department in China International Capital Corporation, Shanghai Branch, an ordinary financial analyst can earn more than one hundred and twenty thousands RMB one year, containing the year-end bonus, things may be higher when I come back two years later. You know, I will of course study hard to give myself more added-values and have a decent salary according to the promising development of Chinese finance industry. The salary in the U.S, I do not know in details.

9.      What’s the difference between your major now and the major in US?

Well, my major here is journalism and my minor major is International Economics and Trade in Fudan University. My major which is finance in US will combine the two disciplines crossed, and impart me with a more sophisticated and analytical techniques and market transactions that drive financial innovation which will be very helpful for my future career in Shanghai.

10.       Have you any work experiences?

Well, I am now a senior student. But I have many internship working experiences, such as an intern journalist in Finance and Economics Department, Shanghai Youth Daily Newspaper, these experiences all informed me that the finance research arena in China is under-developed at best, with rampant challenges such as fabricated data and unstandardized procedures. So there emerged great needs for people with a solid foundation of financial knowledge of the global picture, a mastery of foreign languages and a good ability in cross-cultural communication.

11.       Why not you won’t go to industry? Why do you think it is time to pursue a degree now?

Well, the length of my minor major which is International economics and trade in Fudan University is two years, based the limited time, I have just learned the basic business theories such as international settlement or stock arbitrage but not the advanced knowledge such as how to ensure the risk return trade-off by using certain valuation methods practically. I thereby recognized the educational gap I would need to fill in order to enter a career that matches my interest. In order to successfully cope with the challenges I will meet in my future career such as a finance analyst in the finance corporation, I do feel now is a good time for me to pursue a graduate study abroad to refresh and enrich myself before moving on to the next stage of my life.

附：本人zhangxiaofff当时的签经（网站上也有，呵呵）

大家好，终于也能来发一次签经了，我的情况是自费，学费一年$24738，I-20上写36months，实际长度是2年到2年半，去University of Tulsa读Master of Science in Finance，好了，接下来说签证经验，都快忘记了。。。汗

先是梅龙镇广场，然后排队，做电梯，继续排队，交护照，安检，再坐着等，顺便聊天，因为貌似F1很少，我约的是9点半，但是7点多就去了，观察VO，哈利波特还和我擦肩而过，他是后来才走进去的，一共六个窗口，四男两女，女的拒人，男的水过，好多探亲，上海领事馆的窗口和位置很近，大堂挺小，你站在那签证，身后就是位置，不要怕别人会影响你，你一看到签证官，就灵魂出壳，其他人都看不见了，相信我，后来我那个VO是另一个男的，不是之前坐在窗口上，估计换人了，然后当我和旁边阿姨聊了正尽兴，后来走时没和她打招呼，真是很不好意思，：)，正聊了起劲，突然发觉我的号码在叫了，晕，赶快抱着一堆材料过去，一字型摊开，发现周围的人材料都很少，我最多，昏。。。

VO: Hi, good morning, how are you today?

Me: How are you today? 当时是突然跑过去，所以语无伦次，然后狂说要去University of Tulsa，my specialized option is Investments and Portfolio.

VO: 停，先验指纹，笑。然后开始不笑，严肃地问问题

VO: 你的第一专业是新闻，第二专业是国际经济与贸易，为什么要读金融？

(注意了，这就是陷阱，其实就是想问你为什么读金融，这个问题我被了滚光烂熟，可是听他这么问，我一紧张就忘记了，只是方式变了，就把思维给转换了，而且之前中国MM预审材料时就问我怎么可以同时读两个专业，辅修呀，真是，那个中国MM还很拽，说你不用解释给我听，一会自己给签证官解释。。。汗，果然签证官就问了，估计预审的MM和他说了，所以大家157表要好好填，当时我就取消了文档保护，硬把International Economics and Trade给写下了，后来签证官就指着表盯着我问)

Me: 一下焖了，冒出来两句，我的学术背景比较广泛，兴趣也广泛，金融有前景，我喜欢金融(其中最重要的就是金融有前景那句，Finance has great prospects in China)，之前准备了一堆，全忘了，其他都没说了，下面是我准备的，供大家参考，大家一定要事先把答案背熟，然后自然地看着别人的脸讲出来)呵呵

(Well, Finance has very great prospects in China. With an increase in Chinese investors’ investment power and international companies who seek to enter the more dynamic Chinese marketplace, Finance Researchers with the expertise in analyzing specific financial markets and in modifying existing investment strategies and layout of personal investors are really needed. That’s why I devote myself to this booming industry.)

VO: OK，几个学校录取了你(美音其实挺难听清楚的)

Me: What?

VO: 。。。

Me: 我很自信，只申请了两个，blablabla.

VO: 为什么申请这两个？

Me: 老师根据我的课堂表现和研究兴趣推荐我的。。。其实也准备了很多，也忘记了，所以现场讲和自己准备还是有一定距离的

VO: Financial things.

Me: 听不懂。。。

VO: 指着我的存款证明

Me: Ok, 顺带递上家庭资产表，房产证

(这里要说的是大家喜欢用风琴包，我签证前也买了个，但是用不惯，VO面前的桌子很大，你可以放很多东西，所以我后来改成开口式的几个文件袋，一是拿东西方便，二是VO一眼看到我有什么，比如这里，他直接指就行。。。汗)呵呵

VO: OK

Me: Do you want to see many materials，比如工资单啥的，扯废话，不知道自己在说什么，他也示意我不要说

VO: 你妈工作

Me: 扯，拼命说My mother has a decent salary.

VO: 什么department？(又是美音，听不懂)

Me: 说了一个，问对吗

VO: 不对

Me: 那是这个吗

VO: 不对

Me: 昏，再重复了下Statistical and Planning Department

VO: Statistics

Me: 估计他也没听懂，装傻说Yes, Yes，外加拼命笑

VO: 打电脑，让我别说话

Me: 对着玻璃傻笑，怕他突然抬头，呵呵(此办法适用于像我这样梳两个辫子，看起来比较憨的女生，很有作用)

VO: 过了，OK，you pass，绿卡(不是条子，呵呵)

Me: 笑，理东西

VO: Tulsa是个好学校

Me: Thank you for your recommendation.闪

最后的感想时，其实文中也都括号了，大家一定不要放过任何一个细节，比如VO看了我那个International Economics and Trade，就有点点头的意思，但是一开始我因为格子小，只写了Economics and Trade，后来才用取消文档保护修改的，每一个细节都可能成为面试的关键，其实当你回答问题时，哪怕像我这样有点糊里糊涂的，也能感觉出哪个是关键问题，他会盯着你的眼睛，仿佛要看穿你，坚定你的眼神，告诉他，我喜欢金融，呵呵：)大家加油，呵呵。

16.      What if I don’t give you the Visa? If the VO wants to refuse you.

Ha. Of course I will apply again because it’s really necessary for me at this time. And I do believe you won’t reject me, such a confident, lovely and ambitious girl.

17.      Why you applied another major in University of Alabama?

Well, as you know, my minor major is international economics and trade so my academic interest is a little wider at that time, finance and marketing both contain investigating stories behind numbers and conducting research, that’s my academic interest. After in-depth consideration, I think finance is much more professional and analytical, also this industry has great prospects and challenges in China and to be a financial analyst in my hometown, Shanghai is my life dream now. So Tulsa’s MSFINANCE program is more suitable and will provide me with the foundation that I need to get in order to enter a career that matches my interest.

12.       Why the normal length in I-20 is 36 months and you do intend to stay for 2 years?

Well, actually, the Tulsa MEFINANCE program is between two years and two years and a half. Maybe some students don’t study that hard so they need to extend the length of study. But I will study very diligent so I can curtail the times and come back soon to devote myself in the promising Chinese finance industry. I just want to minimize the opportunity cost while make the highest return on my investment into education. HaHa…

13.      To how many institutions have you applied, and who are they? Any other school admits you?

I am very confident so I only applied two universities, University of Tulsa and University of Alabama. Both the two universities admitted me. But I found the Tulsa MSFINANCE program aligns most closely with my academic background and career goals. I have taken University of Alabama’s admission letter. Here it is.

14.       Have you applied and Chinese University? Why?

I have considered to but finally choose the USA with an in-depth consideration. As you see, United States is the mother country of finance. So USA Universities’ Finance programs are of course the most in line with the modern financial trends and practices. They emphasize more on experiential learning and practical skills and let students make informed, justifiable business decisions in the face of changing economic conditions, which are badly needed in Chinese booming financial industry. So, of course, USA is the best choice.

15.      Why do you choose US but not Europe?

I choose US because the US MSFINANCE program is more experiential and dynamic than the Europe one. There are several pacemakers in business fields in University of Tulsa such as John H. Williams, Charles C. Stephenson. They are outstanding businessman and entrepreneur. And with more advanced lifelike laboratory and long financial market history, USA’s finance programs are of course the most in line with the modern financial trends and practices. I believe I have made a very advisable choice.