Important Tips to ensure you will receive your Certificate after completing your studies.

For some students who are finishing up their Fall semester and new students about to enter for Spring semester, here are a few tips on increasing the chances of you getting your certificate from the Tsinghua Chinese Language Program. These tips come from personal experience. I was supposed to have received my certificate by July/August of 2007 and I am writitng this today in January 2008.

Read on for the tips...

To-date, I have still not received my certificate though I have finished 2 semesters of 401B and 501. I am STILL calling and asking/reminding them to send me my certificate. Some of my classmates have already received theirs. 

1. Make sure that you submit your photo (properly) by the deadline.
• The office at Tsinghua is "VERY" particular about the photo printed on your certificate. Be sure to cover AS MUCH SKIN AS POSSIBLE. They will reject photos that reveal shoulders, collarbone, or anything else that is not deemed conservatively prim and proper.
• The other problem is they will not tell you your photo is rejected until after they have printed out everyone else's certificates and you must wait 6 months later (minimum) for the next batch of certificate printing before they will print yours (if they remember).
2. If you will not be physically in Beijing to pick up your certificate, you must provide them with a self-addressed stamp envelope to mail your certificate to you.

• The other problem is if they are waiting to print your certificate later, they will probably lose your self-addressed stamped envelope and... your education at Tsinghua just never ends. :p

3. Finally, if you are having problems getting your certificate. Make sure to call the office during office hours and follow-up on your certificate. The office phone number is +86 10 62772058.

Mine had the problem with the photo, in that I submitted a photo that showed a bit of my shoulders.

1. I was not informed my photo didn't adhere to their guidelines when I physically submitted it at the office well before the deadline.
   
2. They never contacted me afterwards to inform me of the problem with my photo. It wasn't until one day many months later that I called to check on the status of my certificate did they feel kind enough to tell me my photo wasn't within their guidelines.
   
3. I resubmitted my photo via email back on September 21st, 2007. It is now January and still no sign of my certificate.

Hope that helps everyone else who is still patiently or about to give up on ever seeing their certificate. Wish me luck on receiving my certificate and hopefully no one else has to go through what I am going through right now.

 Happy New Year!

Comments (3)

Got my Certificate Written by Jean , on 18-04-2008 12:36 Well, I finally got my certificate. My mom faxed me a copy of it on February 20th. Whew! I was worried that they were going to indefinitely forget about me.    So... kids.. .remember not to make the same mistakes I did. I know it's hard for us Californian girls to suffocate ourselves with clothing, believe me, I'm not a fan of bundling up, but make sure you do so for these photos.    Watch your shoulders & neckline. Heck, just wear a turtleneck. Report

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