夏季院校展会之“美本申请文书写作指南”

上面这句话是不是看起来hin有道理？

如果你的答案是yes，恭喜你，你已经领会了美本申请体现软实力的重中之重：

文书！文书！文书！

       2020年美国大学申请季即将到来，很多准留学的宝宝们都在摩拳擦掌，做好全力冲刺的准备了。接下来的几个月，除了刷标化，文书这件事情你真的不能掉以轻心，不论你是已经有个好老师给你指导文书，还是准备找个好老师给你指导文书，又或者其实你就是宇宙超强的DIY全能选手，这篇发货地源自资深美本申请导师的超强干货，你值得收藏！

活动列表/简历

01作用

      本科申请一般不需要简历，但活动和获奖是绝大部分学校网申系统的重要构成部分，是学校评估申请者学习以外综合能力的重要途径，所以对申请成败至关重要。在申请季一开始，就需要首先梳理9-12年级的课外活动，制作Activity List或者简历，为递交申请做准备。

梳理方法

1. 按照时间顺序：按照由近及远的顺序指导学生回忆9-12年级参加的各项活动，并加以整理。

2. 按照活动重要性顺序：我们在填写网申里边的活动部分时，最好按照重要性从高到低的顺序，这样便于突出重点。

3. 按照活动类别：课外活动可分为七大模块，因为9-12年级参与的活动通常比较零散，所以可以通过分类的方式梳理整合学生的活动，以免遗漏。

填写方式

       活动梳理好以后，需要按照网申系统里边的具体要求填写，通常网申系统会有字数要求，所以要提前确认如何通过有限的字数最大限度展示活动的内容和成果。

包含信息

1. 活动名称

2. 社团名称

3. 担任职位

4. 参与时间

5. 参与频率

6. 活动内容

推荐信

02推荐人选择

       数量：本科申请一般需要2-3位推荐人，包括班主任（Guiance Counselor）和1-2位学术任课老师。

      要求：推荐人必须要非常了解学生的学习情况和个人品质，能够对学生的表现作出全面的评价，不能找所谓“大牛”却跟学生没有较多接触的推荐人。

推荐信结构和内容

第一部分：通常介绍推荐人的身份，和申请者的关系，什么时候认识的，以及对申请者的整体印象。

第二部分：通常从学术方面来评价申请者，例如学生在本学科的学习情况，学生的课堂表现，课下表现，小组作业，考试成绩等。

第三部分：通常从学生的个人品质方面来评价申请者，例如学生的领导力，创新能力，科研能力，团队协作能力，志愿者精神等。

第四部分：对上述内容作出总结，表达自己对申请者的强烈推荐。

推荐信提交

方式1：网推，绝大部分学校现在使用网推，即由推荐人通过学校指定系统在线上传电子版推荐信并填写相关内容。

方式2：纸推，传统的推荐信提交方式，即将推荐信用学校信签纸打印出来落款处签字，然后装入学校官方信封，在封口处签字，然后与其他申请材料一起寄送给学校。

推荐信写作原则

       推荐信是推荐人提供的从第三方的角度对申请者作出的评价，是学校评估申请时考虑的重要因素。推荐人在写作推荐信时，需要遵循真实客观的原则，做到有理有据，对学生的每个特点的评价都需要提供具体的实例做支撑。

Common Application主文书写作

03头脑风暴流程

步骤1. 准确理解文书题目

作用：准确理解文书题目是文书写作的第一步，否则文书不能紧扣主题，会对申请产生负面影响。

方法：找出并分析关键词和关键句，明白该文书题目想要让学生做哪些方面的展示。

步骤2. 全面了解自己的成长经历

作用：美国本科申请文书素材主要来源于自己的成长经历，所以在做文书头脑风暴的时候，需要在深刻理解文书题目的基础上展开广泛的回忆和联想，找出自己成长过程中与文书题目相关的故事，以此作为文书写作素材。

方法：以聊天的形式，跟申请老师将自己的故事一一讲出来，然后分析哪些故事适合作为文书素材。

步骤3. 选定文书素材，展开深入挖掘，确定文章主题

作用：一篇好的文书不仅需要确定一个新颖的，符合自己个性的主题，还需要诸多细节的支撑，所以在确定文书素材以后需要深入挖掘，完善细节。

方法：用聊天的形式，跟申请老师回忆此次经历的细节，然后加以完善和进行主题升华。

步骤4. 明确文书写作思路，整理文书大纲

作用：一篇逻辑清晰，有理有据的文书才能够打动招生管，通过头脑风暴，需要首先梳理写作思路，整理出文书大纲，然后在此基础上完成文书初稿。

方法：一篇文章就像一棵大树，文章的主题（论点）是树干，文章的细节是树枝。文书主题确定以后，需要提出论点来做支撑，从而构成文书写作大纲。

2017-2018

Common Application Essay Prompts

• 题目1

      Some stuents have a backgroun, ientity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application woul be incomplete without it. If this souns like you, then please share your story. 有些学生的背景，特质，兴趣或者天赋对他们意义重大，以至于他们觉得如果不能在申请中体现这些信息，他们的申请将不完整。如果你觉得这听起来像你自己，请跟我们分享。

解析

关键词：ientity

      Ientity是这个题目的核心，即What is it that makes you?这是一个很开放的prompt，你的“backgroun or story”就是你ientity的载体。而你的背景可以是对你的成长产生重要帮助的一些环境因素，比如说，生长在一个军人家庭;是一个American Born Chinese;或者你生活在一个有趣的地方;或者你有着不同寻常的家庭情况或背景，比如单亲家庭等等。同样，你的故事可以是对你ientity的形成有着深远影响的一个单独事件，也可以是一系列事件。

• 题目2

      The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be funamental to later success. Recount a time when you face a challenge, setback or failure. How i it affect you, an what i you learn from the experience? 我们从遇到的困境或阻碍中获得的经验教训是我们之后成功的基础。回忆你曾经面对过的一次挑战、一场阻碍、一种失败，它是如何影响你的?你又从中学到了什么?

解析

关键词：obstacles

       成功很重要，失败也很重要，实际上对待失败的态度和处理失败的方法更能体现一个人的品质和能力。在申请中歌颂成功，成就远比探讨失败让人觉得舒服得多，自然得多。但是，如果你能展现从失败和错误中吸取教训的能力，那么你的文书将会十分吸引招生官的注意力。而我们在写作这个prompt的时候也应将写作的重心放在问题的后半部分——你对失败的反应是什么，你从这个失败的经历中怎么去学习和成长的?自我反省和诚实在回答这个prompt时十分关键。

• 题目3

      Reflect on a time when you questione or challenge a belief or iea. What prompte your thinking? What was the outcome? 回忆你曾经质疑或者挑战一个信仰或想法的时刻，什么影响了你的思维?你又获得了什么?

解析

关键词：questione or challenge a belief or iea

    “Belief or iea”可以是你自己的，也可以是别人的，或者一个群体的。回答这个问题的时候，首先你的文书应该表现出你的personal value。如果the belief or iea you challenge oesn’t give the amission folks a winow into your personality，那么你就没有成功回答好这个prompt。其次，要讲清楚这件事情的结果是什么。“belief or iea”提供给我们写作的点是非常广泛的。你可以写任何一件你曾经质疑过的事。比如学校的规章制度，或者国家的方针政策等。

• 题目4

      Describe a problem you’ve solve or a problem you’ like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical ilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you an what steps you took or coul be taken to ientify a solution. 描述一个你解决过的或者你想要解决的问题。问题可以是一个智力方面的挑战，一个研究性的问题，或者道德困境——任何你觉得对你个人很重要的大事小情都可以。解释一下为什么这个事情对你来说很重要，你做了哪些工作或者你想做哪些工作去解决它。

解析

关键词：problem, solve

      完成这个prompt，首先要确定一个你已经解决的或者打算解决的问题，这个问题本身的难度大小可以从侧面反映申请者的能力，所以选择素材时一定要谨慎，比如学习考试或者标化成绩考试之类的素材就要避免。这个prompt写作的重点是申请者如何解决这个问题，所以过程的描述要尽量细致，充分展现申请者各方面的能力。

• 题目5

      Discuss an accomplishment, event or realization that sparke a perio of personal growth an a new unerstaning of yourself or others.讨论某一次成就，事件或者领悟，它标志着你的一段个人成长和关于你对你自己或者他人的一次新的理解。

解析

关键词：spark

       一方面，在你成长的过程当中，可能会遇到一些让自己瞬间成长的事情，比如家庭的变故，一次失败的经历，或一次成功的经历。另一方面，你对别人的了解在某个时间段可能是有限的甚至不正确的，随着跟别人的接触增多，你可能就会对别人有新的理解。这个prompt需要你回想自己的成长过程中的一些比较重要的事件，然后选择有亮点的素材。

• 题目6

       Describe a topic, iea or concept you fin so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why oes it captivate you? What or who o you turn to when you want to learn more? 描述一个话题、观点或者理念，你发现它很有趣以至于让你忘了时间。为什么它能吸引你?当你想要再深入了解的时候，你想要寻求什么或者谁帮忙?

解析

关键词：engaging

       这个prompt是讲一个你非常感兴趣的topic, iea or concept，写作的重点是阐述它为什么吸引你，可以通过一件事情或者一系列事情证明你确实对它很感兴趣。

• 题目7

       Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve alreay written, one that respons to a ifferent prompt, or one of your own esign.分享一个你自选的话题。可以是你之前已经写过的，一个对不同问题的回应，或者是你自创的问题。

解析

      开放式话题，如果你觉得自己有一个很棒的经历跟上述6个prompt都不匹配，则可以选择这个prompt。

加州系统文书题目及解析

04

Directions

● You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respon to only 4 of the 8 questions.

● Each response is limite to a maximum of 350 wors.

● Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you: But you shoul select questions that are most relevant to your experience an that best reflect your iniviual circumstances.

• 题目1

      Describe an example of your leaership experience in which you have positively influence others, helpe resolve isputes or contribute to group efforts over time.

解析

Things to consier:

      A leaership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lea role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplishe an what you learne from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

      Di you lea a team? How i your experience change your perspective on leaing others? Di you help to resolve an important ispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? An your leaership role oesn’t necessarily have to be limite to school activities. For example, o you help out or take care of your family?

• 题目2

       Every person has a creative sie, an it can be expresse in many ways: problem solving, original an innovative thinking, an artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative sie.

解析

Things to consier:

      What oes creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to o with that skill? If you use creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How oes your creativity influence your ecisions insie or outsie the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

• 题目3

      What woul you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you evelope an emonstrate that talent over time?

解析

Things to consier:

      If there’s a talent or skill that you’re prou of, this is the time to share it. You on’t necessarily have to be recognize or have receive awars for your talent (although if you i an you want to talk about it, feel free to o so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

      Does the talent come naturally or have you worke har to evelop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outsie the classroom? If so, what are they an how o they fit into your scheule?

• 题目4

      Describe how you have taken avantage of a significant eucational opportunity or worke to overcome an eucational barrier you have face.

解析

Things to consier:

       An eucational opportunity can be anything that has ae value to your eucational experience an better prepare you for college. For example, participation in an honors or acaemic enrichment program, or enrollment in an acaemy that’s geare towar an occupation or a major, or taking avance courses that interest you — just to name a few.

      If you choose to write about eucational barriers you’ve face, how i you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills i you call on to overcome this challenge? How i overcoming this barrier help shape who are you toay?

• 题目5

      Describe the most significant challenge you have face an the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affecte your acaemic achievement?

解析

Things to consier:

       A challenge coul be personal, or something you have face in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a goo opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve face an what you’ve learne from the experience. Di you have support from someone else or i you hanle it alone?

      If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you oing now, an oes that affect ifferent aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, “How has my life change at home, at my school, with my friens or with my family?”

• 题目6

      Think about an acaemic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthere this interest insie an/or outsie of the classroom.

解析

Things to consier:

      Many stuents have a passion for one specific acaemic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you one to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject evelope an escribe any experience you have ha insie an outsie the classroom — such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in stuent organizations an/or clubs — an what you have gaine from your involvement.

      Has your interest in the subject influence you in choosing a major an/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspire to pursue this subject further at UC, an how might you o that?

• 题目7

      What have you one to make your school or your community a better place?

解析

Things to consier:

       Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place — like your high school, hometown or home. You can efine community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wante to fix in your community?

       Why were you inspire to act? What i you learn from your effort? How i your actions benefit others, the wier community or both? Di you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?

• 题目8

       Beyon what has alreay been share in your application, what o you believe makes you stan out as a strong caniate for amissions to the University of California?

解析

Things to consier:

       If there’s anything you want us to know about you, but in’t fin a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not share with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

       From your point of view, what o you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t be afrai to brag a little.

       如果看完了如此详细的美国本科申请文书写作指导，还是觉得有些困惑，或者需要更专业的指导，也可以来找夏老师进行一对一文书写作专项辅导哦。

或者我们预约夏展：

       金吉列第58届世界名校招生面试会将于2019年6月29日（周六）上午9点至下午4点举行，届时会有近40所美国高校及知名教育集团到访。同时我们还邀请到美国5所世界顶级名校（ 耶鲁大学、普林斯顿大学、布朗大学、乔治城大学 、欧柏林文理学院）教授以及我们金吉列独家教育参赞到访与我们广大家长与学生进行互动您不仅可以与校方零距离咨询与面试。