2017加州大学申请文书变化解析

　　2017年加州大学申请的文书题目却出现了重大变革，由原来的两大主题写1000字，改为8选4，每篇不超过350字，这意味着学校更希望看到申请者全方位地展示自己。
 

　　UC：文书由长变短 全方位了解学生

　　自2016年秋季开始(申请2017年秋季入学)，本科新生和转学申请启用新的文书题目。原先UC系统申请文书要求为两个大主题写1000字，现在是8选4，每篇不超过350字。这也是加州大学首次将长文章改成短文题。

　　· 8篇选4篇，比以前更加灵活、更个性化，学生可根据自身背景选择合适的题目，可以多方面多角度的展示自己。

　　· 每一篇字数降为350，有利于UC全方位考察学生在标化成绩之外的“软件”。

　　· UC针对每个题目给出了比较详细的指导， 从侧面反映出大学从每一个题目想要看到学生的哪一点。第一题要求学生介绍领导力方面的经历，第二题是考察创新能力，第三题关注的是特别的才能，展示学生的才华和天赋。第四题：遇到挑战(主要是学习上的)怎么克服。这些题目的设计，说明加州大学想招有领导力，能给他人带来好的影响，有创新思维，有天赋有才华，能突破自我的学生。

　　· 题目由2增加为4，说明大学对学生写出来的内容要求高，学校希望更全面的了解你，申请学生挑战也因此加大，需要积累的素材更多，认识挖掘自己的能力也要提高。
 

　　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.(描述你的领导力经历，你如何影响他人，在团队中的较长时间的贡献)

　　Things to consider: A leadership 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 a taking lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about your accomplishments and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

　　Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?

　　领导者不仅仅是一个头衔。它可以意味着指导他人，负责具体一项任务，或者在组织活动中发挥领导作用。想一下你从这个经历中获得了什么成就以及学到了什么?你的职责是什么?

　　你曾经领导过一个团队吗?你的经历是否改变了你对领导力的看法?你是否在学校、社区教堂或社团组织中帮助他人解决过重要纠纷?同时，领导力也不一定局限在学校内的活动。比如说，你是否曾帮助照顾过你的家庭成员?
 

　　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.(展现你有创造力的一面，可以体现在问题解决能力、创新思维、艺术创造等方面)

　　Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

　　How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

　　创造力对你来说意味着什么?你是否有一项很重要的创新技能?你能用这项技能做什么?如果你曾经用创造力解决过问题，你当时的解决办法是什么?你采取了哪些步骤来解决这个问题?

　　你的创造力在课堂内外是如何影响你的决策的?它跟你的专业或者未来职业有联系吗?
 

　　3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?(大意：描述你的天赋和能力，你是如何发展它们的)

　　Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

　　Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?

　　如果你有一项引以为豪的天赋或能力，现在是时间与我们分享一下了。你不必通过奖项和获得的殊荣来证明你的才能(当然，如果你确实获得过，也可以在这里分享一下)。为什么这项才能对你来说很重要?

　　这项才能是天生的还是通过你后天的努力慢慢发展的?它是否给你在课堂内外带来了机遇?如果有，那它给你带来了哪些机遇，这些机遇又是怎样融入你的日常生活学习中的?
 

　　4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.(描述如何利用好重要的教育机会或战胜教育相关的困难)

　　Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you —just to name a few.

　　If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strived to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who are you today?

　　一次教育机会可以为你的受教经历增值以及能让为你上大学做更好准备。例如，参加一个荣誉项目，参加职业或专业相关的学会，或者学习一些你感兴趣的提高课程，等等。

　　如果你选择写你遇到的学术困难，那你是怎样克服或者努力克服这些困难的?你是依靠自身的哪些个人特点或技巧来克服这个挑战的?克服困难的过程又是怎样塑造了现在的你?
 

　　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?(描述你遇到的最大挑战，你是如何战胜挑战的，对你的学业表现有何影响)

　　Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

　　If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, “How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends, or with my family?”

　　挑战可以是个人的，也可以是你在社区或学校中遇到的。这次挑战为什么对你来说很重要?这是一个能够让你谈论遇到的任何困难以及你从中学到什么的很好的机会。这个过程有他人帮助吗，还是你独自应对的?

　　如果你现在正在应对一次挑战，那你现在都在做些什么?这有没有影响到你生活的其他方面?例如，问问你自己，“在家里，学校里，与朋友之间，与家人之间，我的生活都发生了怎样的变化?”
 

　　6. Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.(描述你最喜欢的学科、说明该学科对你的影响)

　　Things to consider: Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom — such as volunteer work, summer programs,participation in student organizations and/or activities — and what you have gained from your involvement.

　　Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)?

　　说一下你对这个科目的兴趣是怎样形成的。描述一下你在课堂内外都有哪些经历——比如志愿者工作，暑期课程，学生社团和活动——你在参与的过程中都获得了什么。

　　对这一科目的兴趣有影响到你选择某个专业或职业吗?你是否寻求在这一科目更高水平的学习课程(荣誉课程，AP, IB，大学课程)?
 

　　7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (描述你做过对你的学校和社区有益的事情)

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

　　Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?

　　社区可以是一个小组，团队或者一个地方。比如你的高中，家乡，家庭等。你可以把它定义成任何你觉得合适的内容，谈一下你在这个社区里的角色。在你的社区里是否有一个你想要解决的问题?

　　什么事情激发了你要去行动?你从自己的努力中学到了什么?你的行动是如何让他人或更大的社区受益的?这件事是你一个人发起的还是和其他人一起去进行的?
 

　　8. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?(描述你与其他申请者相比更为突出的地方)

　　Things to consider: Don’t be afraid to brag a little. Even if you don’t think you’re unique, you are — remember, there’s only one of you in the world. From your point of view, what do you feel makes you belong on one of UC’s campuses? When looking at your life, what does a stranger need to understand in order to know you?

　　What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge, or opportunity that you think will help us know you better? We’re not necessarily looking for what makes you unique compared to others, but what makes you, YOU.

　　不要不好意思自夸。即使你不认为自己独特，那也要记住，你是世界上独一无二的。你觉得是什么使你觉得你属于加州大学的一员?回顾你的生活，你觉得陌生人为了了解你需要知道些什么?

　　为了帮助我们更好地了解你，你还有哪些没有提到的，可以突出你的才能，天赋，挑战或机遇的?我们不一定是说了解一下你与其他人相比有哪些独特的地方，但是我们需要知道是什么使你(你!)独一无二。
 

　　CA：文书无变化

　　近日，Common Application开放了2017年的申请系统，而早在1月底的时候，Common App就公布了今年的个人陈述文书题目，和2015-2016年相同。

　　同时Common App还公布了一些今年的申请数据。2015-2016年度，目前超过80万申请者递交了Common App申请，其中47%的申请者选择写他们的背景、身份、兴趣或才能，这也是最常被选的题目;22%的选择写成就;17%的申请者写的是一次教训或失败;10%的申请者选择写解决一个问题;还有4%的写了挑战观念。

　　Common App也有一些新入驻的学校，比如中国学生和家长非常熟悉的Indiana University-Bloomington，University of Wisconsin-Madison，Baylor University等大学，这些原本采用独立系统的学校入驻，方便了想要申请这些大学的申请者。
 

　　1. 有些学生相信，自己的背景、身份、兴趣或天赋有着重要的意义，没有它们申请就会不完整。如果你也是这样认为的，那就请讲述你的故事。

　　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. 我们从失败中得到的经验教训对于以后的成功而言至关重要。讲述你遭遇失败的事件和时间。这一失败经历是如何影响你的，你从中学到了什么?

　　The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
 

　　3. 回忆你在什么时候你挑战过一个想法或观念。什么促使你这样做?你还会做同样的决定吗?

　　Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
 

　　4. 叙述你解决的一个问题或你想要解决的一个问题。这个问题可以是才智方面的挑战，研究方面的疑问，道德困境——任何你认为重要的，无所谓大小。解释为什么它对你重要，你解决或将要这一问题会采取哪些步骤。

　　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. 讨论一项成就或重大事件。这项成就或时间标志着你在你的文化、社区或家庭中从孩童向成年人的转变。

　　Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.