岳麓书院门生左宗棠联“发上等愿结中等缘享下等福，择高处立就平处坐向宽处行”(图片取自网络，无商业用途)(网络上，有两种版本，另外一个版本是，下句中的就平处坐为寻平处住，据说挂在李嘉诚办公室里的对联为后者。但是，就平仄论，上联结为平声，下联就为仄声，而寻为平声，故而应该是就平处坐。)

每近新年年关，就是美国大学研究生院接受来年秋季入学申请的季节。

多年来，很多美国大学，共用一个网络申请系统。而他们似乎有若干这样的系统。如果他们愿意，可以轻松查阅近年来，中国最热心推荐教授、最成功推荐教授、最杰出学生推荐教授等等。

在湖南大学，我在非实体“李达学院”讲授《普通物理》十年整，一直鼓吹学生到美国去留学。成功地把30位左右湖南大学同学“贩卖”到美国大学去了。

不过，从来都是我主动推荐，除了个别师弟礼貌性地要我推荐学生到他那里读博士外，从来没有收到来自美国大学要我推荐学生的邀请。

不过今年例外了。居然有非常好的美国大学举动和我联系，要去推荐学生去美国，两封来信见附录。

我不知道美国大学今年态度改变的真正原因。一个可能是，近年来我成功地推荐到美国去的湖南大学学生，表现还不错! 这些邀请难道不是美国大学给我发放的“奖状”吗?

您说呢?

————————

附录(两封邀请信)

第一份封信，不涉及任何秘密，全文公开!

第二封信，涉及到我国留学基金委和美国这所大学的协议 (We have an agreement with the China Scholarship Council (CSC)to fund doctoral students from China. The government has offered us 20 guaranteed fellowships.)，我没有核对留学基金委方面的讯息。有需要全文者，请email: qhliu@hnu.edu.cn，或站内私信。

Dear Prof. Liu Quanhui,

We would like to bring to your attention to the growing Biophysics Graduate Program started in 2009 atthe University of Maryland College Park (UMD). One of our students, R. B., suggested that you may know of students suitable for our selective program.  Would you please forward this information topotentially interested students or post the attached pdf file?

The Biophysics Graduate Program at the University of Maryland College Park is administered by the interdisciplinary Institute for Physical Science and Technology (IPST). Itoffers opportunities for research in biophysics with well known faculty fromtop ranked departments, including Applied Math, Bioengineering, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Materials Science and Physics. In addition to theopportunities for research with faculty at Maryland, we also offer possibilities to carry out collaborative research projects with nearby federallaboratories, in particular NIH and NIST.

A unique feature of ourprogram is mentoring of students of three interdisciplinary faculty from thestart of their studies. This mentoring committee helps develop a customized program of courses and laboratory rotations for each student, and later monitors their research progress.

For more information,please visit our website, marylandbiophysics.umd.edu. We hope your studentswill decide to apply.

If you have anyquestions, please do not hesitate to write to me Star Jackson starj@umd.edu or to the Program Director, Wolfgang Losert wlosert@umd.edu. We look forward tohearing from you.

With regards,

Star Jackson

Star Jackson

Biophysics Program Coordinator

Institute for Physical Science and Technology

University of Maryland
(301)405-9307

____

Dear Professor Quanhui Liu,

Thank you for submitting your letter of recommendation for Y. S..

We are continually seeking to attract top studentsto our programs. If you are aware of any other students who may be considering graduateschool, I encourage you to have them contact me. I am here to assist students learnabout our programs and campus, and connect with our faculty and graduate studentsin their departments of interest. I may be reached by phone at (5xx) xxx-xxxx or by email at nm@XXXX.edu.

Additionally, we write to inform of an agreement between The University of XXXXand The China Scholarship Council.We have an agreement with the China Scholarship Council (CSC)to fund doctoral students from China. The government has offered us 20 guaranteed fellowships. The fellowships would provide four years' worth of stipends. XXXX would be required to cover the tuition for all five years and provide a stipend in year five.

Please use this link to the XXXX Graduate Schoolif you would like further information to share with students and faculty. In thisbrochure, you will find that students who are admitted to our graduate programstypically receive extremely generous financial assistance in a community where thecost of living is below the national average. Further information about our financial assistance can be found at the link to the Graduate School brochure above or atour website.

Thank you for your support of XXXX graduate studies. I look forward to recieving more letters of recommendation from you in the future.

Sincerely,

N. M, Ph.D.

Associate Dean Recruitment and Admissions