AWRU, The Academic Ranking of World Universities, is considered as one of the most credible ranking of higher learning, having been cided by the journal Economist. The methodology takes many aspects into account, which is believed to be unbiased. Other rankings have similar results. Since AWRU is one of the most famous ones, we use it as our reference.

In AWRU, Uvic is ranked 203-304 in the world, 99-138 in North America and 8-17 in Canada.

Seems fair to me.

However, I still cannot tell how good Uvic is from the ranking, because I don't have any instinctive sense about the relative ranking in the world. Well, I know Chinese universities a lot. So why don't I just compare Uvic to them?

There are 14 Mainland Chinese universites on the list out of top 500 in the world:

1 of them has higher ranking than Uvic, 151-202 in the world. It's Tsinghua University.

5 of them have the same ranking as Uvic, 203-304 in the world. They are Nanjing University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, University of Science & Technology of China, Zhejiang University.

Other 8 have lower ranking. They are Fudan University, Jilin University, China Agriculture University, Lanzhou University, Nankai University, Shandong University, Tianjin University and Zhongshan University.

Still seems fair to me.

Notice that the effect of size is already under consideration, so large population of students and staff doesn't benifits in AWRU. Furthermore, if you ask, I want to say that Chinese universities are underestimated. By looking into the criterian, we can see that the accomplishment of alumnus weights much. For Chinese universities are newly rising power, they don't have gorgeous past but splendid future.

In this sense, European universties are falling.

I don't think Uvic is as good as the Chinese universities with the same ranking, say Peking University. One of my friend, Jason, is going to have courses in Peking Universty, due to some exchange project. He said he is a bit afraid, because he heard that students there are really smart. Yes, compared to those in Uvic, they really are. Sometimes the rumor is true.

It makes perfect sense. Suppose all races are equally intelligent. Assume Uvic is of top 13 universities in Canada, and Peking U is the top 5 out of 500 universities in China. Canada has population of 30 million? Maybe Uvic gets the top 20% students. On the other hand, China has 1.3 billion population. Peking U takes 1% the most qualified kids in China. Top 1% in 1.3 billion, which means geniuses.

This goes to a long controversial question that the factor makes people great is innate or postnatal. Frankly, I suggest both, 50 to 50. Uvic, comparing to my previous university in China, does have better management and courses. That helps for some extent but not for all. Speaking for the truth, some people are more talented than others in this world. If you are as tall as Yao Ming, you can be a good basketball player. It's not that obvious in intelligence, but it does exist. I'm tutoring students in Uvic. Sometimes I think, gosh, if these kids were in China, they would never make it to a university like Peking U.

If you believe that people are born differently intelligent, then it's no denying that Chinese universities have the best. And now the rising China has the economy can back them up. More and more scientists select to go back China not only because patriotism, but also profit. In the years to come, Chinese universities will be going up dramatically.

The last exam is over. There is one whole month before the next semester. I didn't know I would have such a long break. I should take the advantage for homecoming.

Well. First, I didn't plan for this trip, so I don't wanna hustle. Second, other things are coming, so China can wait. Anyway, I didn't expect I can actually rest during "break". My response is more like the 3rd year student below.

It's only one course left now, and it doesn't matter. "Take the easiest course," My professor said. "now you should focus on your research." He gave me a bunch of fancy gadgets as well as tasks during break. 

They are programmable sensors I should work on. I think it's cool. I'm looking forward. And It's something practical that helps in career. I'm tired doing research only on my labtop. The world is bigger than that.

My former research, the shortest path problem assigned by my supervisor, was too theoretical that nobody would never pay me to do. We have theory group in our department. They do math. So why don't we just leave those Big O Notations and Inequalities to them?

When I first came to this grad school, I wanted to do something with AI. Now I don't take it serious anymore. Survey shows that AI is the field that most scientists want to work on. AI is cool but it doesn't pay that much in career. We can draw this conclusion from I couldn't get any fund when I applied to study AI as a grad student, so I had to change it to my current supervisor.

Let's be realistic. I don't even register the course "Artificial Intelligence" this summer.

This is from one of my a presentation of a course project. I don't even bother to add a background to the slide. About the figure, I drew it in MS Paint within 3 minutes.

As illustrated in the phd comics: I'm not lazy. I'm an effort minimalist. Course is just the least important thing to a grad student once you are not planning for another degree anymore. In that case, you need good grade for fellowship.

At least it's easier to get A here than that in my Chinese grad school.

1. In Engineering, only 12.3% are female.

You don't say.

2. In Earning, male PhD $82,619 outperforms MSc $64,533

I don't understand, because I don't think education makes people better. Educated people are more qualified because you need to be qualified to get education, like you've to be richer and smarter to go to better university. So, conversely, the rich family and intelligence are the real reason supports you in future career market, not the courses taken in university. Schools teach nothing.

Whatever, I'm still hang in there with my MSc. $64,533 times the exchange rate, that is... much better than what I can get in China. Although it must be much lesser in Canada.

3. In Marriage, Grads 24.7% single rate outperforms 28.7% general population.

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about, more likely to have normal family.

But I suppose those extra 4% people are too bored so that they get married in grad school.

Today, a German guy told me I looked tired.

Did I?

I feel OK though. But, it's hard to say. Maybe I'm just too anxious to feel tired. If so, that's not a good news. Pressure makes you running faster, but also burns you out. And I don't wanna be burned out. Diligence is harmful when frantic, is not when organized. I should be like Winston Churchill said:

"In difficult moments, behave like a duck. Keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but keep paddling away underneath."

Anyway, I do need a mirror in my office.