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04月11日

12条留学文书写作攻略

作者 : admin | 分类 : 留学文书 | 超过 3428 人围观 | 已有 0 人发表了看法

  提到美国本科留学申请,除了语言考试、GPA,相信最让大家烧脑的部分,应该是Personal Statement(个人陈述)的构思和创作。或许大家心中都有疑问,每个申请者都是独一无二的,那么我的文书如何在众多文书中脱颖而出呢?是否有统一的标准呢?

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  College Board在其出版的关于文书写作的辅导书籍The College Application Essay(P28)中,指出:

  “There is not set combination of items that every applicant must have to gain acceptance at a certain college.You,your essay,and your application profile do not have to match a single narrow standard.”

  就是说:要拿到大学录取并没有一套固定的因素组合。你个人,你的申请文书,以及你的全套申请文件都不必特意迎合某种狭隘的所谓标准。

  那么今天小编为大家梳理下,对于大学申请文书PS,有哪些意见和建议值得我们深思和采用。大家可以在闲暇之余,对照文章中的建议,并结合自己的亲身经历,开始探索在接下来的申请季中该如何开始准备自己的文书,学会分享故事~~

  WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE OF ADVICE ABOUT WRITING A COLLEGE ESSAY?

  COLLEGE ESSAY TIPS FROM UNIVERSITY ADMISSION ADMINISTRATORS

  1.Know that the best ideas for your essay—the perfect opener,a great twist,a brilliant insight—often come when you least expect them.

  (你要明白,你文章中出现的最好的想法—完美的开场白、一次巨大的转折以及一个绝妙的见解,往往会在你最意想不到的时候出现。)

  That’s why it’s a good practice to keep a reliable collection system with you at all times as you’re preparing to write your essay.It could be your phone.It could be index cards.It could be a Moleskine notebook(if you really want to do it with panache).Just don’t store it in your own brain thinking that you’ll remember it later.Your mind may be a magnificently wonderful idea-making machine,but it’s a lousy filing cabinet.Store those ideas in one place outside your brain so that when inspiration hits you in the bathroom,in the car,on a hike—wherever—you’ll have a place to capture it and come back to it later when you need it.

  This college essay tip is by Ken Anselment,Marquette University graduate and Vice President for Enrollment&Communication at Lawrence University.

  人的大脑就好比是一个庞大的“思维储存库”,但它并不是一个毫无疏漏的储存空间。因此,我们在构思文书的时候,需要一个更加可靠和完善的信息收集系统,比如你可以把自己的想法记录到手机、笔记本或者建立索引。这样更加便于我们把随时随地有可能产生的灵感记录下来,并且转化成文书的素材。

  2.Do not feel pressure to share every detail of challenging experiences,but also do not feel that you need to have a happy ending or solution.

  (尽可能多的去描述每个富有挑战性的细节和经历,不用刻意为每个故事设置一个美好的结局或解决一切难题。)

  Your writing should provide a context within which the reader learns about who you are and what has brought you to this stage in your life.Try to tie your account into how this has made you develop as a person,friend,family member or leader(or any role in your life that is important to you).You may also want to make a connection to how this has inspired some part of your educational journey or your future aspirations.

  This college essay tip is by Jaclyn Robins,Assistant Director of admissions at the University of Southern California.The tip below is paraphrased from a post on the USC admissions blog.

  我们在留学文书写作中需要提供一个场景,让招生官了解到你是谁?是什么因素塑造了现在的你。尝试从你自己、你朋友眼中的你、家人眼中的你以及作为leader的你,这些不同的角色,如何影响你的性格、个性以及未来的发展规划。

  3.We want to learn about growth.

  (我们想要了解你的成长)

  Some students spend a lot of time summarizing plot or describing their work and the"in what way"part of the essay winds up being one sentence.The part that is about you is the most important part.If you feel you need to include a description,make it one or two lines.Remember that admission offices have Google,too,so if we feel we need to hear the song or see the work of art,we'll look it up.The majority of the essay should be about your response and reaction to the work.How did it affect or change you?

  This college essay tip is by Dean J,admissions officer and blogger from University of Virginia.The tip below is paraphrased from a post on the University of Virginia Admission blog.

  很多学生花大量的时间来描述情节和作品,但“你以何种形式”获得现在的成果,却是寥寥几笔结束。这里划重点啦,你需要始终牢记文章中关于“你”的部分才是最最重要的,招生官希望看到你在这个活动、或者完成某项任务中经历了哪些,是否有所启发?是否遇到难题?你是如何解决的?如果作品或者成果需要描述,简单几句就好。但关于这个自我成长的过程,我们不能完全不涉及。

  4.Be specific.

  (再详细,也不为过。)

  我们来看下面两个例子:

  Consider these two hypothetical introductory paragraphs for a master's program in library science.

  “I am honored to apply for the Master of Library Science program at the University of Okoboji because as long as I can remember I have had a love affair with books.Since I was eleven I have known I wanted to be a librarian.”

  VS.

  “When I was eleven,my great-aunt Gretchen passed away and left me something that changed my life:a library of about five thousand books.Some of my best days were spent arranging and reading her books.Since then,I have wanted to be a librarian.”

  This college essay tip is by Chris Peterson,Assistant Director at MIT Admissions.The tip below is paraphrased from the post“How To Write A College Essay”on the MIT blog.

  我们来看下,上面两段文字,每一个段落包含45个词,内容基本相同(一个小姑娘想成为一名图书管理员的梦想)但阅读后发现这两段文字,给读者带来的吸引力,截然不同。很明显,第一段的描述比较一般,而第二段更加具体。我们在PS的写作中,同样需要这些specific的描述来丰富我们的topic,尽量使我们的文书看起来有血有肉,更加丰满。

  5.Tell a good story.

  (要把故事讲得精彩~)

  Most people prefer reading a good story over anything else.So...tell a great story in your essay.Worry less about providing as many details about you as possible and more about captivating the reader's attention inside of a great narrative.I read a great essay this year where an applicant walked me through the steps of meditation and how your body responds to it.Loved it.(Yes,I'll admit I'm a predisposed meditation fan.)

  This college essay tip is by Jeff Schiffman,Director of Admissions at Tulane University and health and fitness nut.

  大多数人喜欢精彩的故事。所以,尽量让你的故事引人入胜,不要吝啬提供各种关于你的细节来吸引读者的注意力。要让读者有代入感,让她or他主动走进你的故事。

  温馨小贴士:

  Eager to write your essay but not sure how to begin?Start with my brainstorming exercise:"Everything I Want Colleges to Know About Me"

  不知道如何开始写essay,让我们从练习头脑风暴开始吧,我想让大学了解我什么呢?

  6.Imagine how the person reading your essay will feel.

  (想象一下读者的感受。)

  No one's idea of a good time is writing a college essay,I know.But if sitting down to write your essay feels like a chore,and you're bored by what you're saying,you can imagine how the person reading your essay will feel.On the other hand,if you're writing about something you love,something that excites you,something that you've thought deeply about,chances are I'm going to set down your application feeling excited,too—and feeling like I've gotten to know you.

  This college essay tip is by Abigail McFee,Admissions Counselor for Tufts University and Tufts‘17 graduate.

  写的是文字,读的是心情。我们在写作的时候,往往会将某种情感寄托于文字。此时,文字不再是简简单单的几行字、几段话,而是肩负着传达作者情感的使命。没有人会将写大学essay的过程作为人生中美好的一段时光。但是,如果你坐下来写你的文书,感觉像是一件苦差事,你对自己的文字感觉到厌烦。你可以想象读到你文章的人,会是什么感受。相反,如果你的文书,描述的是你喜欢的东西,让你充满热情的事情,或者你深入思考和关注的问题,那么阅读到你文章的人,也同样会被这份真挚的情感所吸引,甚至感动。

  我们在写文书的同时,不妨换位思考。把自己当成是读者,给自己的文书评分。

  COLLEGE ESSAY TIPS FROM COLLEGE ADMISSIONS EXPERTS

  1.Just make sure that the story you’re telling is uniquely YOURS.

  (故事讲述的是那个独一无二的你)

  I believe everyone has a story worth telling.Don’t feel like you have to have had a huge,life-changing,drama-filled experience.Sometimes the seemingly smallest moments lead us to the biggest breakthroughs.

  This college essay tip is by Maggie Schuh,a member of the Testive Parent Success team and a high school English teacher in St.Louis.

  相信每个人都有属于自己的故事。这个故事,不一定必须是巨大的,改变你一生的,充满戏剧色彩的经历。有时候,那些看似微不足道的瞬间,却能让我们实现最大的突破。而这种突破,就是属于你的,独一无二的经历。

  2.Keep it simple!

  (简单即可!)

  No one is expecting you to solve the issue of world peace with your essay.Often times,we find students getting hung up with“big ideas”.Remember,this essay is about YOU.What makes you different from the thousands of other applicants and their essays?Be specific.Use vivid imagery.If you’re having trouble,start small and go from there.P.S.make sure the first sentence of your essay is the most interesting one.

  This college essay tip is by Myles Hunter,CEO of TutorMe,an online education platform that provides on-demand tutoring and online courses for thousands of students.

  很多学生在构思essay写作的时候,会眉头紧锁的望着我说:老师,我就是一个普普通通的高中生,我觉得我的人生非常平凡,没有什么“大事”发生,这样会不会显得我特别平庸呢。

  其实,没有人指望你通过一篇文书就变成超级英雄,就有能力去改变世界了。很多学生是被“伟大的思想”这个观点束缚。请记住,这篇文书是围绕你来展开的。你需要知道你和其他人不同的地方在哪里,你的闪光点是什么就好。从小处着手,然后从那个点开始,构思你整个文章的框架,以及你想表达的主题和思想。

  3.Honor your inspiration.

  (尊重你的灵感)

  My parents would have much preferred that I write about sports or youth group,and I probably could have said something interesting about those,but I insisted on writing about a particular fish in the pet store I worked at—one that took much longer than the others to succumb when the whole tank system in the store became diseased.It was a macabre little composition,but it was about exactly what was on my mind at the time I was writing it.I think it gave whoever read it a pretty good view of my 17 year-old self.I'll never know if I got in because of that weird essay or in spite of it,but it remains a point of pride that I did it my way.

  This college essay tip is by Mike McClenathan,founder of PwnTestPrep,which has a funny name but serious resources for helping high school students excel on the standardized tests.

  灵感源自经历,或许在父母眼中有些看似“幼稚”的事情,对于一个高中生来说,恰恰是一次最难忘的经历。文章的主体,始终是你自己。在文书的选材上面,可以适当听从他人的意见。但自己也需要有主见。

  4.Write about things you care about.

  (选择你关心的事情)

  The most obvious things make great topics.What do I mean?Colleges want to learn about who you are,what you value and how you will contribute to their community.I had two students write about their vehicles—one wrote about the experience of purchasing their used truck and one wrote about how her car is an extension of who she is.We learned about their responsibility,creative thinking,teamwork and resilience in a fun and entertaining way.

  This college essay tip is by Mira“Coach Mira”Simon,Independent Educational Consultant and professionally trained coach from the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching(iPEC),who combines her expertise to help high school students find their pathway to college.

  大学想要了解的是,你是谁?你看重什么?你如何对社区做出贡献。即使参加同样一个活动,由于每个人担负的职责不同,对于活动的感悟也不尽相同。

  5.Be yourself.

  (做自己)

  A sneaky thing can happen as you set about writing your essay:you may find yourself guessing what a college admissions committee is looking for and writing to meet that made up criteria rather than standing firm in who you are and sharing your truest self.While you want to share your thoughts in the best possible light(edit please!),avoid the temptation minimize the things that make you who you are.Show your depth.Be honest about what matters to you.Be thoughtful about the experiences you've had that have shaped who you've become.Be your brilliant self.And trust that your perfect-fit college will see you for who truly you are and say"Yes!This is exactly who we've been looking for.”

  This college essay tip is by Lauren Gaggioli,NYU graduate,host of The College Checklist podcast,and founder of Higher Scores Test Prep provides affordable test prep help to college applicants.“

  我就是我,是颜色不一样的烟火。”此处,小编不禁联想到一句略有年代感的歌词。我们在写大学文书的时候,也需要坚持自我。这是什么意思呢?就是我们不要刻意猜测或者迎合大学喜欢的学生模样,强行改变自己的初衷,去搭建一个完全不一样的人设。而需要体现最真实的自己以及自己思想的深度。总会有学校在茫茫人海中,对你念念不忘。并认为你就是他们一直寻找的那个人。

  6.Find a way to showcase yourself without bragging.

  (展示自己的同时避免吹捧)

  Being confident is key,but you don't want to come across as boasting.Next,let them know how college will help you achieve your long-term goals.Help them connect the dots and let them know you are there for a reason.Finally(here’s an extra pro tip),learn how to answer common college interview questions within your essay.This will not only help you stand out from other applicants,but it will also prepare you for the college interview ahead of time as well.

  自信当然是需要的。但不能给招生官留下吹牛的印象。要让大学知道如何帮助你实现长期目标,让他们认为招收你是有原因的。此外,学习如何在文章中回答大学面试常见的一些问题。这不仅能让你从众多申请者中脱颖而出,还能为大学面试做准备。

上一篇:如何从成绩单里挖掘下一次SAT提分要点? 下一篇:Monash必选水课总汇!

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