When Po-Hao Wu left his home at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan, he was following a path that hundreds of students before him had taken -- one that would lead him across the ocean to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After learning about the 3+2 program offered by the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering, Wu joined a unique community of students pursuing their dreams of advanced engineering education.
The 3+2 program, just one of many Illinois Grainger Engineering international partnerships, offers students from 12 universities in Taiwan and China a carefully structured path: three years at their home institution, followed by two additional years at Illinois. Each of the partner schools in these countries hand-pick the students they want to take part.
Immediately after transferring to Illinois, a 3+2 student works to finish their bachelor’s degree requirements. At the same time, they begin their graduate program studies. The end result is a coveted Master of Science degree from one of the top-ranked graduate materials science programs in America.
Why students chose Illinois
Wu heard advertisements about the program while he was an underclassman at NYCU, but personal connections also helped to educate him about the value he could find by taking a leap and pursuing an international path.
“Three or four of my friends had already come to Illinois and they just suggested to me that this is a really good program,” Wu recalled.
Wu and two other current 3+2 students, Yunpei Duan and Claudia Chen, all said opportunity was a key role in motivating them to come to Illinois. Not only does the program fast-track a student to an M.S. diploma by shaving a year from a normal six-year bachelor’s plus master’s degree track, but it also gives them a chance to pursue additional types of coursework they may not have had the chance to at their original university.
“I feel like I learned more in one year here than in the past three years combined,” said Duan. “I took a lot of physics courses, like mathematical physics, condensed matter physics and classical physics. I never would have been able to do that in China because we had a really rigid core schedule.”
Chen, who first studied at NYCU and is now an Illinois M.S. student, said she has enjoyed the chance to take on research opportunities at Illinois Grainger Engineering. She knew she wanted to continue her studies abroad and factored the cost of a U. of I. education into choosing which school to attend, noting UCLA and other schools in California she considered would have involved much more expensive tuition.
Change in culture
Almost everyone who makes a move to a different part of the world experiences culture shock. Fundamental differences exist in how society operates and how people behave in America versus China or Taiwan. Wu experienced the phenomenon firsthand in the classroom setting.
“Students here always raise their hand to ask questions,” he said. “But in Taiwan, that doesn’t (usually happen). They always take notes and listen to what the teacher said. That’s it.”
“Students in the United States are really open,” Duan agreed. “They want to say everything, and they are not shy.”
In everyday life, stark differences exist as well. Wu said he feels there is less air pollution in Illinois compared to Taiwan, which at home sometimes made him allergic at home. Chen had a different experience and noticed an increase in personal space.
“Everything’s so crowded and fast-paced in Taiwan,” she noted. “I like the difference in America.”
Changes aren't all positive, however. Challenges exist, sometimes in the form of a language barrier. Students sometimes experience difficulties in understanding the accents of some native English speakers, which Chen said happened to her.
Wu noted concerns also exist in preparing for careers, as international students may need additional time to prepare for job interviews and locate opportunities that can support them properly in a professional setting.
Illinois makes a strong effort to combat challenges in ways that help students adjust to campus life and assist with their development. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) offers high-quality resources and services meant to foster a successful educational, personal and professional experience. Services include programming, advising, immigration services and more.
Chen said ISSS held an orientation that helped her learn about obtaining a legal visa. They also held activities where she learned about the best ways to adjust to life in the United States.
Career ambitions
Chen supported the notion that campus resources make a difference in career preparation. She believes the 3+2 program has helped give her the proper tools to land a strong job. This is critical, as she hopes to pursue an industry career in engineering, preferably in the Silicon Valley area of California.
“The first path I like is maybe fabrications, like for silicon wafers, microchips or something like that,” she said. “The other thing I want to do is research, like at a national lab.”
Wu has similar goals. He even has previous professional experience, as he completed a process engineer R&D internship in Taiwan. He wants to find similar work that could keep him in the United States for the long haul.
“(I’m thinking about) Intel or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) Arizona,” he noted.
And what about an academic track? That’s the path Duan wants to take, and he has built relationships with faculty in the materials department toward that end. The 3+2 program offers an independent study opportunity to students, which Duan took advantage of when he contacted Willett Faculty Scholar and Professor Moonsub Shim for assistance. Shim agreed, and the two began work on a project that would translate to four hours of independent study credit.
Building on the success of this experience, Duan wants to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering. Shim, who also serves as Duan’s advisor, is helping him weigh all options for his next steps, whether he stays at Illinois or moves to a different university.
“I want to continue my current research direction,” he noted. “I’m working on colloidal quantum dots, nanorod heterostructures and optoelectronics.”
No matter what career direction each 3+2 transfer student might want to pursue, the tools to help them achieve their goals are plentiful. For these three scholars, 3+2 has served as a springboard into a prosperous tomorrow.
Grainger Engineering Affiliations
Moonsub Shim is an Illinois Grainger Engineering professor of materials science and engineering. He holds the Willett Faculty Scholar appointment.