申请大学：作文篇

[StudyinUS]

美国的大学入学申请，要写不少命题作文。这篇 Princeton Review 文章所例举的命题，prompts，就是一些常见的命题：虽然不是一成不变，但这些基本上就是大学希望通过学生的自我介绍来了解这个学生是一个什么样的个人，有什么样的个性、爱好，有些什么解决问题的能力，有怎样的人生观，对未来有什么设想，等等，以此来了解这个学生是不是与学校所想要的学生相符。

写这些作文，其实是没有特定之规，很难说怎么写就一定好。然而一些似乎空泛之言，其实是有道理的。比如说，写文章要有原创性，要有新意，这些当然是说着容易，做起来难。个人的能力都是有限的，如何才能把这些“老生常谈”的命题写出新意来，确实不是一件容易的事。常被人提到的还有一个方面，就是要诚实，用你自己的语言，讲述你自己的故事，不要做作，忌空泛。比如我们接触过一位中国学生，要写“一带一路”这样的宏大题目，除非他是确实有亲身经历参与过中国在某个国家的项目，我们建议不要写这样的东西。你再有本事遣词造句，写出来的也不可能是你自己的故事。

下面是 2023-24 学年大学申请作文命题，大家可以看到与上面链接的那片文章里所列举的并无不同：

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. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
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.

上面链接的 Princeton Review 文中提到这些是 “Common App Essay prompts”。 Common App 是口头语，也就是 The Common Application，是美国近 700 所大学共同使用的一个入学申请方法，这个我们今后再做详细介绍。