Today is my last day at Meituan and my final post on this BSS. I never thought I would stay for 2,298 days, but I still want to leave something behind. The work itself might not interest to everyone, but what I can share meaningfully, besides how ordinary people can use ChatGPT which I shared last year, is about learning English and the path to studying abroad.

Recently, many friends have been asking me about the process of returning to school (some even suggested I could charge for consultations, but I think it’s a minor issue and not necessary). I realized that this experience might be useful and valuable. Friends have said it’s worth writing about, as it resonates with ordinary people. So, I consider this my small contribution.

Additionally, it serves as encouragement to those around me. After all, it happened to someone close and is a real experience.

The Most Critical Question —— WHY

When friends ask me about it, I tell them that you only need to answer one question; everything else is just a matter of following the steps.

This crucial question, the one Meituan often asks, is Why? Why do you want to leave (immigrate)?

It’s not necessary to have everything figured out before taking action. Looking back at my own experience (detail below), I didn’t have a clear plan from the start. But I could push myself to the next milestone and then validate my ideas through real action before making a final decision.

(Writing this, I also thought of a recent article I wrote on “data-drive decision-making”. Just writing documents, analyzing data, setting up processes, and conducting reviews isn’t enough. What truly verifies an idea is taking real action.)

My WHY

Here’s my current WHY.

Firstly and most importantly, on a personal level, I want to go out and gain new experiences. After working for 8 years, the experiences from a year abroad will be completely different from another year at Meituan. Personal experiences far outweigh any digital world encounters. Thriving overseas will prove my ability to survive in most mainstream places. More directly, I need a change in my work environment. Compared to domestic work, being overseas will likely enhance my personal skills significantly.

(Although, to be honest, life at Meituan has been quite good. In an alternate timeline where I chose not to leave, I might have worked for 20 years, achieving conventional success. However, due to my past experiences, I have made this choice in the current timeline. 😂)

Secondly, I’m optimistic about technological advancements. AI will bring about significant societal changes, and the future world will be vastly different from today. Instead of continuing along a traditional path, it’s better to venture out and try something new. If AGI or even Superintelligence arrives, all the current competition will become irrelevant.

Lastly, my current circumstances allow it. I am single, have lived and worked alone in Beijing for over eight years, and have no car, house, or loans. My family supports me due to my past experiences, making it easier to make this decision. Despite some challenges, I have managed to pass language exams, get school offers, and secure a study permit.

(Of course, political factors were considered, especially during the 2021-2022 pandemic, which motivated me to learn English. However, when reconsidering my “Why” last year, I decided to exclude or at least not prioritize political reasons. Friends online also gave me solid advice: If you immigrate, make sure it’s to a place with better job opportunities. Don’t compromise your career just for the sake of a visa, so remote areas might not be suitable for you. You have no problem with immigrating; the key is to improve your life and find a good partner.)

There was also a thought during last year’s VPN issues:

It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, so it’s important to have this expectations. Everywhere has its downsides, and it’s hard to get everything you want. Only after experiencing things for yourself can you make a choice. Life isn’t interesting if you can see the end from the beginning. It’s better too experience it, and if it doesn’t work out, you can always come back.

I don’t know what will happen on this path. In terms of convenience, it will definitely be less than in China, and my quality of life will likely decline. From social media, it seems that the employment environment in Canada isn’t great either (youth unemployment for 15-24 year-olds was around 13.5% in June), but at least that’s real data.

So, I jokingly tell my friends that I’m going to endure some hardship and gain experience. If you talk about ROI, this path would be a loss in the short to medium term. However, after saving some money, I’ve gradually realized that money isn’t the most important thing. This could be considered practicing “being patient in the long-term.” Hahaha.

My Goals

My goals are straightforward:

1. Achieve a level of English proficiency sufficient for work and daily life (aim for 8777 next year).
2. Become financially independent, as I was in Beijing, by finding a job I enjoy.
3. Make something wonderful afterward.

Obtaining permanent residency is just part of the process, not the end goal, especially since I don’t have enough funds to simply coast through life. After last week’s draw for Ontario’s Provincial Nominee Program, friends who studied non-STEM subjects are feeling pessimistic. The worst-case scenario might be an expensive life experience.

Pathways for Going Abroad

For someone like me, who isn’t very proficient in English, there are three available options:

At the time, I lacked complete confidence in Option 1, and Option 3 only required signing up and competing at the designated time, so I focused on Option 2.

(Of course, if you’re fluent in French and meet the age, education, and work experience requirements, you could directly apply for Canadian immigration through the France-speaking stream and obtain permanent residency. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply to me.)

School Application Preparation Process

For those who have already graduated and been working for several years, there is really only one step left: achieving a good score on an English language test. Everything else is procedural.

Learing English

In 2019, on my 25th birthday, I set a “five-year plan” to meet the requirements for going abroad by the time I turned 30. The most significant factor was English, which also became the part that consumed the most time in this plan.

I began preparing for English when the idea of “runxue” (the concept if emigrating abroad) was not yet popular. I took the IELTS first and then explored ways to go abroad, so my initial purpose for the exam was unclear. This uncertainty also reflected my lack of confidence. At that time, I thought that if I couldn't pass the IELTS, I probably shouldn’t go abroad at all.

The buzz around “runxue” was particular strong in 2022 and 2023, but it was mostly just heated discussions. Very few people actually took action, and even fewer — perhaps less than one in ten — took the IELTS, let alone proceeded with the rest of the process.

There are now more convenient resource for IETLS preparation compared to when I started 3 years ago. Last year, I even tried the computer-based test with ChatGPT assistant, although it didn’t lead to significant progress. You can read more about this in my article Expectation vs. Reality: A Deep Dive into AI-Assisted Language Learning that I shared last year.

Drawing from my own experience preparing for the IELTS, I created several GPTs for English learning. The one I’m most proud of, and find most valuable, is a fully simulated speaking test call the IELTS Speaking Simulator. I have also made the relevant prompts and creation methods open source and shared the usage instructions on Github. Fell free to check it out.

There are no significant shortcuts in language learning. The key is not in the tools, and rushing won’t help. High scores are achieved through consistent effort over time, not through quick fixes. Even after achieving IELTS score of 8.0, there is still a period of adaption.

This is just the simplest step. The minimum goal for the IELTS is an overall band score of 6.5, with no individual score below 6.0.

School Selection and Application

Preliminary Preparation

You're most likely applying for a taught master's program. This option is often preferred because the immigration policies for master's programs are more favorable, and it allows you to bring your family along. A taught master's program is typically quicker and easier to complete than a research-oriented one. To apply, you need a bachelor's degree with an average score above 80. While relevant work experience can be helpful, academic performance is key. If your average score is below 75, a master's program might not be the best path for you.

(For example, I only requested my transcript after taking the IELTS in 2022. Fortunately, I had studied diligently for my final exams ten years ago…)

Once you have your transcript and the corresponding translated documents, you can get them authenticated through CHESICC or WES, so you can send them directly to the school once you receive the offer, avoiding any additional delays.

Defining Your Needs

The key to studying abroad is clearly identifying your needs. Be clear about what you want. Most likely, you won't find a program that helps with immigration, has a high ranking, is easy to graduate from, and is highly valuable for your future career. You need to make some trade-offs, with the primary goal being to graduate and facilitate immigration.

I was initially confused. Although I ruled out the UK and the US early on (because I knew that staying in the US especially requires not just effort but also luck, with too high an opportunity cost), I still chose schools based on rankings that matched my IELTS score. I found that Australian and New Zealand schools were relatively easy to apply to and had high rankings, which seemed ideal. In contrast, Canadian schools were more complex to apply to and had higher requirements, with some unranked schools even requiring an IELTS score of 7.0.

Choosing the Country and School

If your main goal is immigration, you should start by understanding the immigration policies, then work backward to browse the program information and material requirements on the school websites. As for rankings, if you've been working for several years, you know that real-world work situations are not closely tied to school rankings. Rankings are more about the people than the schools themselves. Besides, you're not going for research, so understand what's essential.

Australia generally requires a longer commitment, with immigration based on occupation, requiring both relevant qualifications and professional certification. You also need to be willing to move to remote states outside Sydney and Melbourne (where job opportunities are scarcer), and tuition fees are relatively high. Friends in Australia have told me that if you're planning to stay, there's no need to attend the top "Group of Eight" universities; schools outside the top tier are cheaper and may even offer better resources.

New Zealand is easier to get into, but product management isn't on the green or long-term skill shortage lists, and with a population of just over 5 million, the country has limited opportunities. I'm not ready to settle just yet.

Besides Australia/New Zealand, I also applied to schools in the Netherlands. European policies are relatively stable, allowing for permanent residency after five years of legal residence, and tuition fees are the lowest. However, after weighing the options, Canada's policies still seemed the most favorable, and being close to the US offered better future prospects. Moreover, in recent years, I've met several friends who have already gone or are planning to go there, and based on their feedback, I finally chose Canada, even though the online information makes it seem less appealing.

For school selection, since my main plan is to pursue the OINP Masters Graduate stream under Ontario's Provincial Nominee Program, I chose schools recognized by the immigration authorities and excluded those in the Greater Toronto Area, then browsed the websites to find suitable programs.

At least for now, pursuing a STEM master's program in Ontario outside the GTA and achieving an IELTS score of 8777 seems a stable option. The most recent draw required scores of 7.5/6.5/6.5/6.5 without additional points, while previously, a 6666 score sufficed. However, it's uncertain how things might change after the upcoming elections. BC's BCPNP program, which allowed direct access to permanent residency for master's and Ph.D. graduates, is also ending early next year.

Indeed, it was relatively easy to get a green card in Canada or elsewhere a few years ago, but now it's getting harder. Complaining doesn't help; you have to try to find a way. Things go in cycles, right?

You might want to prepare a Plan B or even Plan C in case something like visa denial happens. I kept Australia's and New Zealand's Working Holiday Visas as backup options.

Choosing a Major

When it comes to majors, try to choose a STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), as it's more immigration-friendly.

As a product manager, I planned three directions when applying:

1. Data Science: Not too hardcore, with direct relevance to product management.
2. Technology Innovation Management: The most relevant to my background, a STEM integration program.
3. Human-Computer Interaction

When applying, I eliminated option 3 first, because honestly, interaction design has little practical use.

I received offers for both 1 and 2. I hesitated about 1 because I don't have much coding experience and I'm not particularly good at it. Plus, when ChatGPT was launched in late 2022, I decided to continue my career in product management. So in March 2023, after receiving an offer for the Technology Innovation Management program, I gave up on 1.

That said, the major isn't that important. Your job will most likely come from your networking, and it's challenging to get through the traditional resume-interview process, at least for me. Any major can lead to a job, and even the best majors can leave some people jobless. The key is finding what suits you, or at least something you're willing to try.

Application Process

When applying to Canadian schools, besides language scores (which you can skip if you have overseas study experience), you'll usually need a personal statement, recommendation letters, a resume, and different additional requirements for different programs.

A personal statement is essentially an explanation of why you want to study. You must at least convince yourself first. For recommendation letters, you'll typically need at least one academic reference, so contact a professor with an edu email address.

As for the documents, now that we have ChatGPT, just feed the material to it, and these tasks won't be a problem.

It's generally recommended to apply as soon as the application opens, which is around mid-October for admission in the Fall semester of the following year. Some programs may also offer Winter or Summer intake, depending on the location, so check the school's website for details.

After submitting in October, you'll likely start receiving responses between December and March.

Overall, Canada has a more complex application process, stricter admissions, and places more emphasis on undergraduate performance. While I received offers elsewhere, my first round of applications in Canada was unsuccessful. So I turned to the immigration website, reviewed all the master's programs in Canada, and applied to a few more as a backup.

Do You Need an Agent?

Do you need an agent? With ChatGPT, LinkedIn, and Xiaohongshu, it's unnecessary. My view is that if you can't handle these, maybe you shouldn't be relying on yourself to go abroad. Of course, you can pay for some licensed immigration consultants for overall direction, which is fine. But for the specific tasks, it's better to handle them yourself. You could even use the money you'd spend on an agent to travel there and explore in person.

For the various processes, I suggest starting by looking at the official websites instead of social media, and then emailing the relevant contacts if you have questions (after all, we have ChatGPT). It's all about being proactive, not waiting to be spoon-fed.

Visa Application

Next comes applying for a student visa. It's recommended to apply as soon as you receive and confirm your offer (so be prepared in advance). This means you should know which school you're definitely going to attend once you receive the offer. You can gather information about the school and program from various sources, such as finding alumni on LinkedIn, posting on Reddit, or even emailing the school directly.

The most important thing for a student visa application is to convincingly explain, through the documents you provide, that you are going there to study and not to overstay illegally. This can be demonstrated through your financial situation, how you accumulated your funds (e.g., tax records), family ties, etc. In the supplementary materials, you usually include a study plan (which can be seen as a personal statement that includes your financial, family, and future plans) to further explain to the visa officer that you are only going there to study. You can check the required documents on the immigration website.

After submitting, you just have to wait. The Canadian visa process is notorious for being unpredictable in terms of time. Besides rejection, the worst-case scenario is being stuck in the security background check process, which can take six months or more, with some cases taking 2-3 years. There's a relatively complete guide on Xiaohongshu, so I won't elaborate here.

This stage is also where most unexpected problems can arise. If you're rejected or stuck in a long security check, you'll need to apply for a deferral from the school. Whether or not a deferral is possible can be checked by emailing the school. Typically, you can defer for up to a year, but some programs don't allow deferrals, in which case you'll need to reapply.

When it comes to work, it's best to wait until you've secured the visa before resigning from your current job. Make sure your resignation letter outlines your responsibilities according to the NOC list, and consider asking a colleague to write a recommendation letter with a handwritten signature. Then, prepare yourself mentally and get ready for the next steps. If possible, secure tourist visas for both Japan and the U.S., as this can make the fare of air ticket cheaper.

Summary

• First, clarify why you want to move abroad.
• Research the immigration policies of different countries.
• Determine your path carefully (for example, if you’re considering a master’s program in Canada, you’ll need an undergraduate GPA of at least 80, an IELTS score of 6.5 (with no section below 6.0), and around 500,000 RMB).
• Prepare for language exams.
• Start gathering the necessary documents for visa applications well in advance.
• You don’t need to rely on an agency for everything. Investing in a consultation with a licensed advisor can provide valuable direction.

Right now, I feel like I’ve just completed the normal difficulty in Diablo II and am now heading into nightmare mode with only the equipment I gathered during normal difficulty. If I had gone abroad right after graduating eight years ago, it would have been like facing nightmare mode almost unarmed. I might have come back defeated, without the mindset and determination I have now—or without this reflection I’m sharing.

You could say I’m determined, or perhaps just inconsistent. But after postponing for a year, I’m ready to move forward.

Even though I haven’t left yet, I’ve already gained so much. I’ve met many like-minded friends, developed a more open attitude toward the world, and now I’m sharing this experience with you.

For others, the goal isn’t necessarily to move abroad, but to recognize that life isn’t just about work. It’s about pursuing what truly resonates with you, making choices, and validating your path step by step.

At its core, this journey doesn’t need to carry too much meaning—just follow your heart. A friend advised me not to over-plan, and that’s true. I don’t know where this journey will lead, or what I’ll do in the future. But I believe that if I can master the language aspect, I’ll be fine. Plus, if GPT-5 or even GPT-6 brings about significant changes, the future could be very exciting.

I’ll end with my favorite quote, which I’ve been using as my signature: Seeking a reachable future in uncertainty.

这篇文章的中文版本：

从零开始的北美大陆异世界生活之前期准备