外教聊申请：如何写出藤校青睐的申请文书
个人陈述
与国际学生的观念相反，美国大学实际上并不喜欢那些选择在个人陈述中单独谈论学业成就的学生。
学生的学业成绩可以通过他们的简历和成绩单反映出来。大学招生官员想要了解的是申请人是谁，有什么想法以及与其他申请人的区别。
申请材料，包括简历，个人陈述，附表文书，成绩单，推荐信和申诉信等，作为招生官评估学生是否适合该大学的依据。
话虽这么说，招生官员更希望听到学生在个人陈述中发声，借以了解学生的个性和独特的特征。其实，文中也可以谈论自己在某一方面的成就，不过建议深入挖掘，并阐述这些经历及成就对自己产生的影响。
申请人毕竟还是高中生，招生官们知道这一点，所以，如果我们从已经被顶级大学录取的学生中找一个共同点的话，那就是具备“可爱”的特质了吧，这个特质包括“责任感”，“幽默”，“独立”，“成熟”，“影响力”，“领导力”和“诚实”等。
在招生官们阅读完申请者的申请材料之后，通常会想“这个孩子具备领导力，而且是个干劲十足的人，适合我们这所大学”，曾任职于哥伦比亚大学和布朗大学招生办公室的Rod Bugarin如是说。
Bugarin说，常春藤盟校负责招生的人员在审核学生材料的时候会比较考虑学生的学校背景，SAT成绩和GPA分数等。“我们希望在教育资源更好的学校中招收到分数更高的学生，最好再拥有一定的社会实践经验“ 他说。
这些院校希望看到“申请者具备领导能力，能在学术领域及社会活动中产生影响力，并能积极地影响他人，拥有别人不具备的一些独特特质。“因此，想要进入美国顶尖大学，学生在起草个人陈述时应该参考以下几条建议。
■尝试包含以下内容：
1. 提供一个有趣且引人注目的引子，让招生官有想要继续阅读的兴趣。
2. 选择最能代表你的独特性的一个或多个特征。
3. 要有创意，真实和个性化。将你的家庭背景，独特身份和自己的信念融入所写的故事中，以便招生官可以更好地了解你。
4. 展示成熟，幽默，拥有深入思考能力的一面，不要展现出“你还是一个需要被照顾的孩子”的一面。
■尽量避免以下内容：
1.想要出国留学或成为优秀学生的陈词滥调。
2.吸食毒品/监禁经历
3.为你未完成的事情找借口
4.成就列表
5. 游记
6.英雄主义
申请文书提示
2019-2020 Common Application Essay Prompts
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
2018-2019 UC Application Essay Prompts
1.Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others , helped resolve disputes , or contributed to group efforts over time .2.Every person has a creative side , and it can be expressed in many ways : problem solving , original and innovative thinking , and artistically , to name a few . Describe how you express your creative side .
3.What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developedand demonstrated that talent over time?4.Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced .5.Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?6.Think about an academic subject that inspires you . Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.7.What have you done to make your school or your community a better place ?8.Beyond what has already been shared in your application , what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California ?
