加州大学申请文书写作指导!

加州大学的申请文书，是需要学生从学校给出的8个问题中，自由选择四个问题进行回答，从不同角度对自己进行多方位的描述。这对于平时写一篇文书都很吃力的学生来说，加州大学的申请文书写起来无意是有难度的。来看看外籍导师David怎么说?

加州大学的「个人观点问题」解读

什么是「个人观点问题」?你在说什么?加州大学不接受普通形式的申请文书?!这是真的，但也你不必灰心丧气。你还是可以用同一篇文书来申请加州系统中的9所学校，我会尽力帮你。
But what’s that? What did you say? UC doesn’t accept the Common App?! Yes, it’s true, but don’t eat your shirt. You can use the same UC app for any of the nine UC undergrad programs, and I’m here to help.

那么我们有哪些需要解决的问题呢?加州大学的申请系统提出了8个问题，你需要从中选择4题作答，而且每一题的答案要控制在350个单词。答案要求的字数确实不多，但也没有想象中那么少。正常情况写文书，当你写了200多个单词，你就会想要把答案分成2-3段。

So what are we dealing with? The UC App gives us eight lovely prompts. We must choose four prompts to answer with a limit of 350 words for each. These are short answers, but not that short. If you write over 200 words, you will still want to break your response into two or three paragraphs.

这比普通的申请文书也简单了许多(普通申请文书的字数要求是650个单词)，而且简短的文书更加注重内容而非写作技巧。但于此同时，你也需要构思四个观点，而不是一个。这对于部分考生来说倒还好，但对于另一部分考生来说，就是件头疼的事情了。

This is EASIER than the Common App essay (650 words) because the shorter essays focus more on content than writing skill. But you need four essay ideas instead of one, which is fine for some students, but painful for others.

“需要表达的重点有三项：你是谁?你认为什么是重要的?你想和加州大学分享些什么?”这是加州大学招生部门给出的说法。要求你的答案具体明确，独树一帜。这就像情侣约会一样，加州大学想要更多的了解你。明白吗?加州大学甚至还写了指南，用来帮助你回答他们所提出的问题。多么善解人意，快去阅读吧!
 

参考网站
复制下方链接到浏览器，或点击文章底部的「阅读原文」查看《加州大学官网-申请指南》
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/files/uc-personal-questions-guide-freshman.pdf
 

8大问题的分析与应对

有两种方式：
Two ways：

第一种，拿出一张纸，并标上从1到8这8个数字。然后依次阅读问题，审题的同时，在对应的题号后面写下脑海中的观点或想法。看看哪些题目令你灵感突现?哪些题目令你激动不已?或者说，哪些题目至少没有令你无可奈何，痛苦不堪?迅速下笔，相信你的直觉。
First, get a sheet of paper and number it 1) through 8). Then read through the 8 UC prompts. When you read each prompt, write down any ideas or thoughts that pop into your head. Which prompts did you have immediate ideas about? Which prompts did you feel excited to write about? Or, at least, which prompts didn’t make you groan? Do this fast and trust your instincts.
第二种，想清楚你要在申请文书中呈现的个人经历或品质。然后选择一个能够最大程度的让你表达你的经历或品质的问题。
Second, think about the experiences or qualities you want to demonstrate in your application. Then choose the prompts that will give you the best opportunity to write about those experiences and qualities.

接下来我们来看下这些问题。
Now let’s look at the prompts.
1、描述一次表现你领导力的经历，包括你积极正面地影响他人、帮助集体解决争论或你为集体作出的贡献。
Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
你是否有可以展示出你领导力的经历?你是否可以用讲故事的方式来进行表达?如果有，就选择这个问题;如果没有，就继续思考。体现领导力的经历可以涵盖方方面面：比如组织社会活动，或者成为竞技运动队伍的领袖。
Do you have a moment of leadership you could tell a story about? Then chose this prompt! If you think you don’t, then think again. Leadership experiences could include anything from organizing social events being the captain of a competitive e Sports team.
作答关键在于选择一个具体的经历，并通过讲故事的方式呈现出来。不要盲目地列举自己的简历。相反，展示出其中的一个时刻，以此来展现出自己性格当中一些全新的东西。
The key is to choose a specific experience and tell it like a story. Don’t get lost listing your resume. Instead, show us a moment. Reveal something new about your character.

2、每个人都有创造性的一面，并且通过不同的方式体现出来：比如解决问题的能力、创新思维、甚至艺术方面等等。描述一下你是如何表现自己的创造性的?
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.
如果你是一个充满艺术细胞的人，那选择这一题就是明智之举。但这一题几乎对于任何人来说都是一个优势。尽量描写出你在解决一个困境时所采取的充满创造力的方法，或者展示你是如何解决一个工程或科学难题的。
If you’re an artistic person, this is a winning choice. But this question can be great for almost anyone. Try describing a creative way you resolved a tough social situation, or explain your solution to an engineering or science problem.
再次强调，最佳答案不是去讲述创造力而是去展示它。例如：
Again, the best answers to this question won’t just TELL about creativity; instead they will SHOW that creativity. For example:
发动机在运转，车轮也在转动，但汽车却还一动不动。已经晚上9点了，我们却还陷在距离市区数英里的泥地中。为了远足，我和朋友们筹划了整整一周，但现在我们沾满烂泥，筋疲力尽，无比沮丧。我们已经竭尽全力 ...(接下来作者就将描述，他是如何运用充满创造力的方式把汽车移出泥潭的)。
The engine revved, the wheels spun, but the car didn’t move. It was 9:00 at night, we were miles from the city, and we were stuck in deep mud. My friends and I had planned all week to go hiking that night, but now we were muddy, tired, and frustrated. We tried everything . . . [The writer would continue to describe his creative solution to moving the car out of the mud].

3、你认为自己最大的才能或技能是什么?一直以来你是如何培养和表现这一能力的?
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
有些才能是显而易见的，例如唱歌。但还有很多其他的才能。你是否擅长组织活动，社交，追逐时尚或者会修手机?
Some talents are obvious, for example, if you sing on television. But there are MANY other talents. Are you good at organization, networking, fashion, or fixing cell phones?
我想再强调一下这个问题的第二部分。它甚至比前半部分还要重要。这个问题目的是让你描述自己是如何培养才能的，也就是展示你的自律、毅力以及学习的意愿。
I want to emphasize the second part of this question. It may be MORE important than the first part. This question wants you to describe how you have developed talent, meaning they want you to demonstrate your discipline, perseverance, and willingness to learn.
因此不要仅仅罗列出你的才能和成就，要重点描述你为了获得某个才能而战胜的挑战。
So DON’T just list your talents and accomplishments. DO describe the challenges you overcame to acquire your talent.

4、描述你是如何利用一次重要的教育机会，或者如何努力克服你面对的教育障碍的?
Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
注意，你可以描述机会或者障碍，这个问题比较大众化。如果你想谈论机会或障碍对你的激励，那这个问题是一个不错的选择。
Note that you can write about opportunities OR barriers, so this question should apply to everyone. If talking about your opportunities/barriers inspires you, this question is a good choice.
不要过多地关注障碍或者机会本身，要关注你自己以及自己克服障碍或者抓住机会的具体方式。学校想要知道你对学习充满热情，并懂得如何充分利用资源。回答这一问题的方式之一，便是展示自己将如何充分利用加州大学所提供的资源。
Don’t focus too much on the barrier or opportunity itself. Focus on yourself and some specific ways you overcame or took advantage of it. Schools want to know that you are passionate about learning and that you know how to make the most of resources. A good way to conclude this essay is by explaining how you will take advantage of some specific opportunities offered by UC.

5、描述你面临的最重要的挑战以及你为克服这个挑战做了哪些努力? 这个挑战对你的学业成绩产生了怎样的影响?
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?
这一问题和上面的问题非常类似。再次强调，不要关注挑战，而要关注自己克服挑战的方式。如果你曾经克服过一个巨大的挑战，比如糟糕的家庭境遇，重大疾病，或者至亲之人的离世，那么你可以描述出来。但如果你写的是一个戏剧性的事情，要小心掉进“赘述事情本身”这一陷阱。
This question is very similar to the previous question. Again, don’t focus on the challenge, focus on your response to it. If you are someone who has overcome a major challenge, such as a bad family situation, an illness, or the death of a loved one, then this is the place to write about that. But if you do write about a dramatic event, be careful to avoid the trap of writing more about the event than yourself.

6、描述你最喜欢的学科以及它是如何影响你的?
Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.
这是我最喜欢的问题。如果你对某一学科充满热情，无论是学校里的课程还是自学的科目，你都应该选择这个问题。这个问题有利于展示你的求知欲望和个人观念。
This is my favorite UC question. If you feel passionate about an academic subject, whether it is one you studied in school or on your own, then choose this prompt. This question is excellent for demonstrating intellectual curiosity and personal perspective.
明智的回答便是描写细节，以此来证明你对于某一学科的热爱。如果你喜爱生物学，那就描述这样高雅美观的内容：只有当钙离子释放时，肌肉才会收缩;而且它会根据我们的意图来活动。如果你热爱文学，那就描述出你最喜欢的莎士比亚的诗句。
A great response will mention specific details that prove your passion for a subject. If you like biology, describe how it so elegant and beautiful that muscles only contract when calcium ions are released, thereby allowing actin and myosin to bind when we want them to. If you love literature, describe your favorite puns from Shakespeare.
接下来描述对这一学科的热爱，是如何塑造了你的观念。如果是生物学，就描述当你在体育馆时，大脑是如何给肌肉发送信号的。如果是文学的话，就描述当你的一位朋友深深迷恋上了乐队里的一个女孩，他梦幻般的眼神紧紧盯着乐团建筑时，你想到了盖茨比凝视着黛西码头尽头的绿灯。
Then demonstrate how this has shaped your perspective. For biology, describe how, when you work out at the gym, you imagine your brain sending signals to sarcomeres. For literature, describe how your friend has a crush on a girl in the orchestra, and when he stares dreamily at the orchestra building, you imagine Gatsby gazing at the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock.

7、为了你所在的学校和社团变得更好，你做了哪些贡献?
What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
不要列举简历里的那些无趣的个人经历。要谈论那些你感兴趣的集体话题。
DON’T just list some boring things you did to add to your resume. DO talk about community issues that you are passionate about.
例如，说说你喜欢艺术的原因，并解释一下艺术是高中教育中一个至关重要的部分。紧接着谈论一下你为什么要在一个教室里设立学生艺术馆，以及你为此战胜的挑战。最后，给出一些具体的成果，比如提供艺术作品的学生人数，或者是学校社团给出的一些积极的回应。
For example, explain why you love the arts and why you think they are such an essential part of a high school education. Then explain why you chose to set up a student art gallery in one of your school’s classrooms, and how you overcame challenges to achieve that. In the end, give some specific results, such as the number of students who contributed artworks, or some of the positive responses from the school community.

8、列举一件能够让你区别于其他加州大学申请者的事。
What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?
这是最开放的一个问题，可能也是最重要的一个。即使你没有选择这个问题，我也建议你试着去回答一下。因为让一个学校接受你的申请(或者是在求职过程中)，最重要的部分就是让你和你的竞争者区别开来。把这个问题当作回答其他问题的参考。
This is the most open-ended question and maybe the most important. Even if you don’t use this question, I recommend you try to answer it. Because an essential part of convincing a college to accept you (or an essential part of applying for a job) is differentiating yourself from your competition. Use this prompt as a way to prepare to answer the other prompts.
你的回答应该展示出自己的个性、观点以及自我意识。事实上，这个问题和普通的申请文书很相似。如果你已经准备好了一篇很棒的申请文书，那就试着从中摘取一些内容来回答这个问题。
Your answer should demonstrate personality, perspective, and self-awareness. In fact, this is pretty similar to the essay you might write for the Common Application. If you have already written a good Common App essay, see if you can cut some words and use it here.
重点在于：选择关于你自己的有趣的事情。谈论你的兴趣、古怪的家人，或者你早晨一定会做的事。如果是展现你的个性，那么就谈一下你的才能或者成就。
Important: Choose something interesting about your personal identity. Talk about a hobby, your strange family, or your morning routine. Only talk about a talent or achievement if it reveals something about your personality.
无论你选择哪些问题，都要记住，回答要具体明确，娓娓道来。确保你的回答能够涵盖你的四个不同的方面。不要写两个表现领导力的答案，这太浪费了。
Whichever prompts you choose, remember to tell a story and be specific! And make sure your four responses show four different sides of you. Don’t write two responses that only demonstrate leadership. That’s a waste.
祝你好运!放轻松!答题愉快!
Good luck, relax, and happy writing.