申请美国常春藤本科名校的基本条件是什么？
答题前先qualify一下自己。 我是美国人，同时为美国本地学生及国际学生做独立留学咨询。我带数以百计的学生走过美国大学的申请过程，经年下来成立一套破解美国大学admission奥秘的体系。我可以做全程的私人定制一对一咨询，也可提供小时制咨询，这里是我的网站https://www.worldawaits.net/。如果是DIY的学生可以参考我的12周DIY申请教程。你也可以直接联系我随意提问。总之，如有需要，欢迎联系。 首先要明确的是，申请美国的大学是个非常，非常头疼的过程——没错，就算对于美国学生来说这都是件极其纠结的事情……要知道他们可是土生土长在这个体系里，自小就自然而然熟知各类要求，还有父母老师学校counselor在后撑腰…… 题主问的主要是关于文书，不过我想在这里把申请的基本要求都梳理一遍，当然文书部分是重点，因为对非文书的部分的要求事实上有助于你更深地理解文书所应起到的作用。另外本科申请和研究生申请有重叠部分，所以我先从本科申请讲起，最后会解释研究生申请的一些区别之处。 本科申请要求（Undergraduate Requirements) 中国学生都熟知标准化考试（SAT/ACT）以及学校成绩（GPA）是占据申请非常大的比重的，这些成绩就是你的门槛，是学校admission们的第一把筛子。或者直接点说，如果你的在校成绩以及SAT/ACT没能达到某个标准，你很有可能在第一轮就直接出局（对于成绩的要求也有可能会有exception，比如如果你因为病假或类似突发状况而缺了很多课） 。对，没错，这个标准是存在的。不要对着学校官网上宣称的没有最低申请GPA线之类想入非非——对我说的就是芝大之类——除非你在某方面有惊人的成就，比如是奥运冠军或出过书。一定不要认为一篇好的文书能够补足你的成绩。 中国学生一般标准化考试的成绩非常高，这一方面来说当然是个bonus，但另一方面，传说学校admission会压低中国学生这一块成绩所占的比重，因为刷题和套路实在太普遍，这个成绩已经很难真正代表学生的水平了，同时，好吧，也有对作弊的戒备心理的作用。公平吗？并不。但你必须考虑这一点，因为这意味着对课外活动以及文书更高的要求，这个我们下面会专门提到。 接下来是学校成绩以及课业量，或者说你的高中成绩单。 中国学生一般把高中时间放在高考上，这就导致： 我可以负责任地说对方大学知道这些情况并正在采取措施，其结果就是你会发现越来越多的学校在要求成绩单的第三方公证，当然更多的是admission们在阅览你的申请时就已心怀警惕。。 这又意味着什么呢？ 这只意味着提交真实成绩的重要性。在美国一旦被发现造伪后果不堪设想，几乎是literally直接影响你下半辈子在美国可能的发展。同时这也意味着你需要集中一切力量投入到你的申请中qualitative的部分才可补上之前所说成绩单第一点中的缺失信息——而你所付出的努力在这一点上要比美国学生们更甚。 所以——在你的申请中，你需要尽全力利用好每个qualitative的部分（并注意每份不同的文书所应展示你的不同维度），把每个地方都当作展示自己的最后一块战场：你作为你自己，作为一个人，是怎样的面貌？是什么引导着你走到今天？什么曾经点燃过你的好奇心？除了学术方面的成就，你还有哪些令你骄傲的本领？ 那么接下来我们就来看一下这些qualitative的部分。 简历 (Reseme or Curriculum Vitae (CV) 虽然一般来说简历只有研究生申请时才会有要求，但是通常本科申请也有提交简历的选项。你当然可以自行选择交与否，但是无论如何制作简历是必备技能，这对很多场合都很有用，不只是找工作——比如说把你的简历发给你的推荐人作推荐信的参考（划重点，这非常关键）；或者在学校一些活动或见面会或答辩上塞给potential的引荐人；还有如果你的申请包括面试的话你可以提前把简历发给你的面试官，当面给也可以；当然你也可以只是拿它来复查你的申请材料。再说了，反正你这辈子都得用到简历，从现在做起并不算太亏。 我给一份我一般给我的学生们用的最基础底板，当然我会给他们做因人而异的调整，这里只是给大家大致了解一下一份正规简历最基本的应该包括哪些东西。至于具体的内容该怎么安排、每一类活动里哪些信息是必加的、以及格式要求通常我会对我的学生做专门的指导。据传一份简历一般只会在对方眼里停留17秒，你要这每一秒钟都能帮你说话，正规且清晰的格式以及精简（但绝不能太简）的内容是关键，你不会希望admission们一眼下去找不到所要的东西。这里关于格式稍微多说两句，大学申请用的简历有很严谨的格式要求，并且与求职简历不相同。我知道中国的简历格式可能与我们不一样或者没有严格的规定，但是你要做一份英文简历的时候这是必须要注意的事情。另外，网上（建议使用谷歌）的简历格式良莠不齐，有些简直就是胡来，所以请确保你找的是合适的资源，尤其不要用自动生成的模板。 文书 （Essay / Personal Statement) 先弄清文书的意义何在：让你的录取官们更好地了解你——作为独一无二的个体的你。与你竞争的其他人会有和你差不多的学术表现，而只有文书能让你从茫茫背景中浮现出来。很多情况下，文书定生死（但是要明确这句话的前提是“你和其他竞争者学术表现差不多”）。 谈内容前，我先说说文书的几种主要类型。 最常见的一种本科申请的文书类型是个人陈述（PS）。这种类型的文书要求你表现你是谁。你什么地方比较特别？你可以为你的学校带来什么？ 你应该肯定会碰上Common Application七道题目中至少一道。Common App是最常用的美国大学网申系统，你把你所有信息提交到这个系统上，只填一遍，可以提交给全国用Common App的七百多所院校。你需要写一份Common App essay，这一篇是包括在你提交给任何院校的申请中的；但不同院校会要求university-specific prompts或者短答案，即supplemental，是每所院校都不同的。 你可以在Common App的网站上找到2017-18的Common App essay。 其他一些网申系统，比如Universal College Application还有加州系统，也会有它们各自要求的文书。还有些学校会通过官网而非网申系统给你文书的题目。题目一定一定要仔细读！！网申的通用文书和university-specific文书之间确实会存在一定程度的重叠，但也会有微妙的区别。而你一定得对每个点都回答到位。 常见的一种supplemental是“Why Us”型，这一种文书要求你具体陈述你为什么想要申请这所院校。各种大学很喜欢这类essay，因为它能很好地表现出你对这所学校有多感兴趣，以及这所学校有多“适合”你（这一点我在下面会详细说到）。因为学校排名有一部分在于录取人数与实际毕业人数之差，admission们会想要尽可能确定把你招进来之后你不会半路转学或退学，换句话说，你是不是真心想来并且想待下来。 现在来说说文书要怎么写。 首先，留出好好准备、打几遍草稿、还有重写的时间。文书有人写一年，有人花两天，你随意。反正admission们一眼就能看出哪篇是现场赶出来的，这种essay会被直接扔掉。 写文书是一个非常漫长的过程。我一般会和我的学生一起在上面花几个月的时间。我会从聊天开始细致挖掘学生的经历性格思想，帮助他们理解文书题目，再讨论哪些经历、如何写法，才可以最精确地对题目作出回应；再深入筛选哪些足够独特，哪些可以写出创造性，哪些可以触动人心。有些经历可能你觉得挺不错，但要注意什么支教啊志愿者啊第一次上台什么的是完全已经被写烂了的，如果你一定要写，写法必须出众。 下面给一个我的workshop的例子，如何准备第一步。 我通常教我的学生在完成第一张worksheet之后每天留出半小时到一小时的时间对这些框架进行填充。想到什么就写什么，让想法任意碰撞。这个过程可以帮你精简下来你的选项。我也会帮你对已有选项进行思路拓展，包括补充哪些东西能够有用，哪些部分值得深入挖掘，哪些东西应该换个角度继续探索，哪些素材需要进一步提炼，等等。 在这之后，你就需要开始正式写作了。开头最难，不要太苛求完美。我们会用很长时间进行讨论、修整、以及打磨。 我的Top 7 tips: 当然真正写起来事情可比这点tip复杂得多，但抓住它们你的方向至少会是对的。 推荐信（Letter of Recommendation) 通常情况下推荐信是申请的必备组成，无论如何应当提交至少一份，就算学校没有要求也是一样。它告诉录取委员会你思考和学习的方式，你能为你的学校及群体做什么，以及你对于你的老师来说是怎样的人（这很关键，因为录取委员会希望你的每份材料都能somehow展现一个新的维度和视角（不然你全套材料翻来覆去只有一套形容词看着也烦了），所以理想情况下，推荐信的角度和个人陈述应当是有不同的，就像你老师所见的你和你自己所认为的你一定存在区别，这个下面细说）。由于推荐信来自相对客观的第三方视角，如果有强烈的溢美之词，会为你的申请大大加分（但当然，赞美也有限度，下面会说到）。 美国的学生的推荐信来自老师，学校counselor，还有其他一些对该学生有了解的人（这是个微妙的点，哪些人会更合适是一个因人而异的事情，以后补充）。但是当然啦，我们现在谈的是中国……这就出现问题了。首先很多学校根本没有设置counselor/advisor这种东西，其次老师们也不乐意写，这又不算在工作范畴内，再说他们本身很忙，而且还存在英语的问题。。 我带我的学生完成从选择合适的推荐人开始的索要推荐信的全套过程，包括索要推荐信时应整理的信息，以及对推荐信具体写作内容的建议。我们仍然通过聊天及讨论完成对你个人信息的整理以及相关一系列homework，以确保你的推荐人能够顺利地按美国标准完成一份推荐信并突出你合适的亮点。这里给一些建议： 首先，我还是认为尽可能不要伪造推荐信。事实上，即使在美国，自己写推荐信然后要推荐者签个名认个证也是常事。然而，就算先不提诚实的问题，主要是，你的admission是会看穿的。 自己写的推荐信有很多可辨识的特点，比如说：容易格外强调个人成就。对你来说这很顺理成章地呼应了你的个人陈述，但你想想，一般来说哪个推荐人会这么细致无疏漏地一一把所有admission想看到的东西都列举出来。。还有比如说自己写的推荐信会和你的其他文书长得很像……行文、风格、手法，还有内容。事实上，你自己写的推荐信还会很神奇地和其他某些学生自己写的推荐信长得很像（对此我的解释是，学生是不会学到怎么写推荐信的，所以也许有人会谷歌一下怎么写或就是同一中介的代笔，于是总有一部分人会用到同一套模板，或至少内容和手法会相似。而这些辨识度都确实非常高，尤其经中介处理的，因为中文写英文的再加上套路化的行文非常容易辨识）。同时，录取委员会也对写得完美无暇的推荐信怀有戒心，因为他们知道大多数的老师不会写出这么无可挑剔的英语，而且他们也知道中文和英文的行文是不同的。还有一些其他很明显的特征，这里不一一列举。 所以，我想再强调，如果不是走投无路，不要伪造你的推荐信。 我确实明白大多数中国学生面对的情况，但我也有成功找老师要到推荐信的中国学生（非国际高中，非外教）。所以请不要理所当然地认为正规途径的推荐信一定是不可能的，至少你应该按以下方法试一遍： 先找张纸列张名单，首选与你比较亲近，足够了解你，且能够并乐意在以下某几个方面帮你说话的： 然后挑出一批首选，礼貌地问他们可否考虑一下为你写推荐信。告诉他们你想要申请哪里，解释你想去的原因，告诉他们你需要一份推荐信并解释其重要性，还有你现在并不急着要答复，请他们再考虑一下，还有（如果他们有松动）你会在某段时间（两星期，一个月，或者任何你自己安排得开的时间）后再联系他们（注意，一定是说定时间后你主动联系，不要像尽了义务一样等你的老师回你的话）。 如果你的推荐人同意了，要继续出击，有可能的话约一个时间跟他们讨论你的经历、履历、想法、目标，等等。赴约的时候带上你的简历，另外（重点！！）准备一到两页的打印文件，上面详细列举出你的一切对申请有价值的信息并加入尽可能多的细节。这是个非常重要的过程，我一般亲自和学生一起花至少2-4小时来做这个单子。 你还需要强调一下典型的美国推荐信里通常会包括哪些内容。中美推荐信会突出的重点很有区别，所以一定要指出这点。我一般会给我的学生几份sample来给推荐人看。 以下是推荐信里一般会出现的： 而哪些不该出现呢： “Student X is a hard worker who leads by example” “Student X is a respectful and diligent learner” “……” 这种话最为无意义，偏偏也最常见。 尊重他人的时间，预留充足的时间，不要在ddl前两天跑去要推荐信。事实上我会建议我的学生尽可能在暑假前就去要推荐信。最后，不要忘了给你的推荐人写张感谢卡或感谢信。 如果你想找的推荐人拒绝了你，继续找你的名单的下一个。你最终应该需要3-4封推荐信。 几个额外的点…… 关于门当户对之必要 （Having the “right” background） 说实在的，整个美国院校的招生流程之核心，就是“匹配”。这点对于中国学生来说尤为重要，因为太多中国孩子和家长眼里满满只看“排名”。但是！！如果你进到一所排名不错但“性格”与你格格不入的学校，这四年你会生不如死。不止是你身边所有人气场都与你合不来（因为别人大都是根据学校的性格选的校啊）导致的社交艰难，学术方面也会对你造成极大的影响，因为整体学术气氛、院系和课程设置、教授授课方式以及布置作业方式都可能与你期望的大相迳庭。物以类聚，美国每一所院校都有其独特的文化，特有的学生类型和教授类型，特有的群体、理念、资源，等等。你在整个申请过程中最核心的任务事实上就在于找对那么几所能够切合你的性格、学术背景、以及所追求的目标的学校。 要做到这一点，首先你要了解自己：你喜欢的，不喜欢的，你追求的，你需要的，你的长处，你的短板。诚实地面对当下的你，你才会找到适合你的学校，你的背景也会自然而然地贴合上admission所想要找的，然后你要做的就只是告诉admission们：看，我们多合适。 如果你不确定自己想要什么样的学校，可以试试这个quiz https://www.worldawaits.net/universitypersonalityquiz.html，这是我的一个免费的学校性格小测试，你会对你大致可能适合什么类型的学校有一点概念。 如果你想寻求专业的选校帮助，但还不确定要不要做全套的留学咨询，可以试一下Match Me https://www.worldawaits.net/matchmenow.html，这是一份对你当下条件的评估，包括你的各种成绩、背景、以及你自己对想要的院校的期望。我会根据你的反馈为你量身定做选校建议，包括对reach，match，和保底的建议。如果你想要节省时间，这是非常方便的。当然，如果你已经有了草拟好的选校单子，也可以来double-check一下。 选校还有一个重要意义在于——它是你写出必胜文书的关键。所以在联系到文书前，我再详细解释一下选校的问题。 我发现中国学生很容易误解所谓“合适”，有人会觉得“学校而已——能有多大区别？” 只要不是野鸡大学就肯定没问题了…… 千万千万，切记切记，这是大忌。 去年我带一个大一学生从Eastern New Mexico University转学。在上该校之前她对该校并没有什么了解，从而就是一个悲伤的故事。ENMU偏保守，规模小，地处偏远，很村；和我的学生之前所生活的上海截然不同。我问她当初为什么选了这所学校，她说她之前想，大学就是大学嘛，能相差多少……还有她觉得待在“狂野的西部”会很浪漫。。这倒霉孩子在她所不喜欢的环境里浪费了多少时间和金钱，而这本来完全可以避免——如果她之前能多考虑一下她对大学的期望如何，并下点功夫去了解一下她的选择的话。 就算你可以不在乎环境和生活条件，校园文化则是即使你一心只读圣贤书也无法回避的，而这和学术水平（也就是排名）却也没有什么直接关系。讲真，找一所学术优秀的学校是很简单的，美国三千多所正规四年制大学里，至少几百所学校都能提供顶尖的program。难的是要找到能够满足你整个身心发展需求的学校。举例，我们现在来比较一下两所同样顶尖的大学：布朗（Brown University）和密歇根（University of Michigan）。 布朗：布朗采用 “open curriculum”，也就是说学生自己安排自己全部的课程，没有任何特定要求。这一点吸引了大批追求自由的学生，他们可能古怪且天马行空（或者直接说比较嬉皮），多参与社会运动，而且与大型狂欢party比起来可能更乐意去参演一出戏剧或者有意思的学校活动。 密歇根：密歇根大学是一所规模庞大且多样性十足的学校，学生们一般会很专心学术，但也非常social。会有不计其数的学校活动，但是各种趴，Greek life，还有sports才是一切的核心。像另外那些Big 10们一样，密歇根的学生相当有凝聚力，支持校队到疯狂——不管是自己亲身参与还是在台下尖叫。 以上只是最基本的随意概括，不过你一眼就能看出你的大学生活在这两所大学会有多么不同——虽然它们的排名相当，入学要求也不相上下。如果你喜欢循序渐进和严整的学业规划，布朗可不会适合你；如果你对比赛什么全不关心，你可能不会爱密歇根。 校园文化、学校规模、地理位置、基础设施、可选的课程、费用、学生组成、交通、宿舍、宗教、实习机会或科研机会……所有这些，你在做决定时都应考虑到。当然还有录取率。 选校很可能占你的申请准备过程中最大块的时间，因为需要筛选的信息量实在太大，即使有了一张选校名单，你仍然需要按个去搜索相关信息，而搜索量仍是惊人的，抛开很多无用的信息，疏漏却仍无处不在。在此，留学咨询的优势就会被凸显出来。我可以为我的学生提供最直接到位的信息；我亲身去过无数学校，对它们有着直观的了解；我与很多不同的院校均有工作上或私人上的联系，可获得准确快速的第一手信息，也可在细节方面作出答疑。 现在我们谈过了选取合适院校的重要性，那就来说说你可以怎样把你有多fit真切地展现给录取官看。 当你确实按照你的fit列出一张选校名单之后，关键一步是根据不同学校对于学生的expectation来对你的整个申请进行量体裁衣。通过你高中选过什么类型的课、对什么样的课外活动感兴趣、做过的leadership、还有文书上展现的你的性格来告诉他们你就是他们想要的人。一个非常有用的tip是看学校的mission statement，透过这些看似冠冕堂皇的话语你其实会发现学校的教学理念宗旨以及侧重点都隐藏其中。 举例：Middlebury College和Cornell招生要求差不多，但是它们的mission statement就展现了各自对于学校以及录取学生的不同愿景。 Middlebury College （摘录）： “Middlebury的学生全身心投入到一个充满活力与多样性的学术群体。佛蒙特州的地理优势能够提供一个鼓舞学习与反思的绝妙环境，更让我们将对自然的承诺同时融入课程设置及校园活动中去。” 康奈尔 （摘录）： “康奈尔人的使命是对于知识的发现、留存、与传播；我们创造前无古人的作品，我们提倡孜孜探求的精神。我们更旨在通过公益服务对康奈尔人、纽约人、以及世界人的生活及生命做出提升。” 所以，当你组装你的各类申请信息以及开始准备面试的时候，要收集了解此类信息。你的文书应当对该学校独特的文化及理念宗旨有所呼应。上面的例子就很明确了：你交给Middleburg的文书的侧重点能和给康奈尔的一样吗？ 研究生申请与本科有何区别（How do graduate applicaitons differ?） 肯定会有区别，但这大部分取决于你所申的学校和program；但是一般来说不变的是这些： 一般会要求三份推荐信。这些推荐信需要来自专业人士，比如教授，行政人员，雇主，或是导师。推荐信需要展现你在某一领域方面的能力（即你修读的program）。比如说你要申某个医学院的话你的推荐信最好能显示你做研究的水平以及临床实力。索要推荐信的时候仍然建议跟你的推荐人做番面谈，这样能够确保他们确实愿意帮你写，同时可以给他们提供一些有用而他们可能并不知道的信息。如前所述，要预留充足的时间，不要觉得你给人家一两星期人家就能乐意帮你写。 虽然这不一定是必需的，但是你在找推荐人要推荐信的时候简历仍然非常有用，其他用途详见前方简历篇。 申请研究生一般会被要求提交一份目标陈述（statement of purpose)或个人陈述（或两者都要）。了解这两种的区别是很重要的。目标陈述类似附信（cover letter），你展示你在学术上和事业上的成就，以及说明这些成就会如何帮助你在未来的学业发展上取得成功。一般目标陈述应当： 个人陈述则在广度上比目标陈述涵盖得要多。你需要说明你的学术及事业方面的经历与你申请的学习领域的关系，但同时也需要加上你的个人经历。在个人陈述中你能更自由地展现你的激情以及独特之处。一份好的个人陈述应当： 重点：一定要认真读学校对文书的要求！！所谓目标陈述和个人陈述其实是可以自由切换的。学校可能说让你写份个人陈述，而具体的题目要求却可能更偏向于目标陈述；也可能是学校说要个人陈述，但要求你提供非常具体的信息。 总结（In conclusion） 请一定记住审阅申请是一个非常主观的过程，你的录取委员会是人组成的，他们也和普通人一样。当然他们关心你学业方面的成绩，但他们也想要知道你的整体情况；他们希望你在他们的学校能够自由成长、闪闪发光，而不是去熬四年的悲惨生活。你要诚实面对他们、面对自己，去选择真正符合你的爱好、能力、以及梦想的学校。 关于我：来自美国的独立留学咨询。全面美国留学申请过程及要求，同样熟悉对国际学生在申请中常遇到的困难及问题。愿在第一步授之以渔，使学生在美国的成功成为可能。提供全程的私人定制一对一咨询，也开设全面的留学申请DIY教程。请联系微信kvanderweert，电邮kvanderweert@worldawaits.net，或网站worldawaits.net。 －－－－－－－－－－以下为原文答案－－－－－－－－ To begin, allow me to qualify my opinion on this matter. I am an independent college counselor from the United States, and I have assisted hundreds of students through the American application process. My clients have been admitted into a myriad of institutions, and over the years I have gained insight into the mysterious world that is US university admissions. You can find my website here. I offer completely personalized assistance through one of my packages and/or hourly support.  I also offer a 12 Week long DIY course called Conquering College Admissions, which can be found here.  Please reach out to me if I can be of assistance. Admittedly, applying to US colleges and universities is an overwhelming process. Even American students who grow up in the system, are intimately familiar with the demands, and have parental, teacher, and counselor support, struggle to grasp all of the intricacies that make up the American college admissions process. In order to discuss the varied requirements schools expect from students, we must look at each element separately. There is a lot of overlap with undergraduate and graduate requirements, so I will start by detailing undergrad expectations. I will then explain how those expectations differ for graduate applicants. Undergraduate Requirements As Chinese students are aware, standardized tests and grades comprise a large (and important) faction of the application. In fact, standardized test scores and grades serve as the minimum benchmark from which admissions counselors make initial cuts. In other words, if a student’s grades and test scores do not meet a certain expectation, the student will (likely) be immediately disqualified. There are exceptions to this (for example if a student was forced to miss a large amount of school due to an illness or emergency), but for the most part grades and test scores serve as the first measure of eligibility for admission. Chinese students tend to have great standardized test scores, which are certainly a bonus in the eyes of American admissions officers. But admissions officers have also been said to minimize Chinese students’ test scores because cheating is understood to be common, and/or because they believe students are heavily coached. Is this fair? No. But it needs to be considered because it indicates an increased need to submit strong extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, essays and personal statements, etc. Next are student grades and course loads, which are presented through high school transcripts. As you know, it is not uncommon for Chinese students to spend the last year or two of their high school careers in preparation for the Gaokao. Because of this, submitted student transcripts may: I can tell you that colleges and universities are catching on to this situation. As a result, some institutions require students to have their transcripts verified by a third party before submission. More frequently, however, institutions are reviewing documents with an eye for falsification. So what does this mean? It means that it is all the more important to submit honest documents. It also means that you must invest a significant amount of time, effort, and strategy into the qualitative elements of your applications - likely even more so than your American counterparts. When putting together your applications, use each of the qualitative requirements to your advantage. Look at each element as an opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are as a person. What drives you? What sparks your curiosity? What traits and skills do you possess beyond academic prowess? Let’s take a look at the qualitative elements of an application. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) Although resumes and CVs are typically only required for admission into graduate school, there is almost always an option to include them in your undergraduate application. Whether or not you decide to is up to you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t create one. There are lots of instances where you will benefit from having a resume or CV. You can hand them to potential recommenders so they have something to reference when writing on your behalf. You can offer them to university representatives you meet at presentations or school fairs. You can email them beforehand or give them out during admissions interviews. You can use them to cross check your college and university applications. And, let’s face it: you are going to need an up-to-date resume or CV throughout your life, so why not start now? There are many free templates online, but here is the initial worksheet I use with all of my clients. Hopefully it will give you an idea as to what should be included in your resume or CV. Essay / Personal Statement The reason for the application essay is simple: to give admissions committees a better idea of who you are as a person. The applicants you are up against will likely have similar academic backgrounds and credentials, so the essay must set you apart from the competition. In many cases, your essay will be the element that makes or breaks your application. Before I get into what goes into an application essay, let’s talk about the different types of essays you may encounter. The most common undergraduate essay you will be required to write is the personal statement, in which you must explain what makes you YOU. How are you interesting? What do you have to offer a campus? You will almost certainly respond to one (or more) of the seven Common Application (Common App) options. The Common App is a centralized application system that allows you to add all of your information to one portal for submission to over 700 institutions. All of these institutions require you to submit a Common App essay, but you can expect to answer university-specific prompts or short-answer questions (called supplementals) as well. You can find the 2017-18 prompts on the Common App website. Other portals, such as the Universal College Application or the University of California system, will have their own essay prompts. And some universities will provide you with prompts through their school websites. It is critical that you read the prompts carefully. While you will notice a lot of overlap between the portals and university-specific essays, there will likely be slight differences. Obviously you must address all elements of the prompt accurately. A common supplemental theme is the “Why Us” essay, which asks you to detail the reason you have chosen to apply to a particular institution. Colleges like these essays because it demonstrates interest and fit (something I talk about later). Because colleges and university rankings are based (partially) on returning students, admissions counselors want to know that you’re committed to their institution. How do go about writing these essays? To begin, give yourself plenty of time to prepare, draft, write, and rewrite your essays. Some students take a full year to write their essays, and some craft them in two days. Guess which ones are better. Admissions officers can see immediately if an essay is rushed, and they will discard it right away. The essay writing process is extensive. I typically work with clients for several months before they have a final essay. To get you started, here is a sample of my writing workshop: Once you have completed the first worksheet, set aside 30 minutes to one hour per day to start fleshing out your ideas. Simply free-write and let the ideas flow. This process will help you narrow down your topics. From there, you will start writing formally. Getting started is the hardest part, so don’t worry about being perfect. You will have plenty of opportunity to modify and improve your essays. My TOP 7 TIPS Of course writing is more complicated than sticking to these few tips, but they will head you in the right direction. Letters of Recommendation (LOR) Even if letters of recommendation are not a requirement for your application (though they usually are) you should consider sending them in. They tell the admissions committee a great deal about who you are, how you think and learn, and how you add to the school community or classroom. And because the information provided in LORs comes from objective third parties, strong endorsements can greatly bolster your application and chances of admission. In the United States, students are expected to get LORs from their teachers, counselors, and other individuals who know them well. But, as you know, this is a problem for Chinese students. Many schools do not have counselors to write such letters. And teachers won’t do it because it’s not part of their job description, they’re overworked, or they aren’t confident with their English. I take my clients through a process in selecting and requesting LORs from appropriate recommenders. We hold frank discussions and complete “homework” to make sure the letters highlight students’ applications and align with US expectations. Here are some guidelines if you are looking to do it on your own: First and foremost, do not falsify your letters of recommendation. It is common practice (in the US as well) to write one’s own LORs and have recommenders simply sign them. Not only is this dishonest, but you run the risk of being denied admission if found out. It is often obvious when a student has written their own LORs. For example, student-written letters tend to overstate accomplishments. And when you think about it, it isn’t likely that a recommender would list off every single university “must have” in one letter. Student-generated LORs also tend to be “suspiciously similar” - meaning the writing style and content is similar to other documents in the student's application, or the letters are oddly similar to LORs submitted by different students. Admissions committees are apprehensive about Chinese LORs that are written perfectly. They know that most teachers do not write with impeccable English, and they know that Chinese and English writing styles are different. So, as I just mentioned, do not falsify your letters of recommendation. Instead, try this: Begin by making a list of recommenders who know you well and would be able to touch upon the following points: Politely ask your first preferred recommender if they would CONSIDER writing an LOR on your behalf. Tell him or her where you want to apply, and explain why those schools interest you. Let your recommender know why you are reaching out to them for an LOR, and why their opinion is important to you and your future success. Tell your recommender that you don’t need an answer from them right away and that, if they want, you will follow up with them in X time (2 weeks, one month, whatever works with your respective timelines). If your recommender says “yes,” request a short meeting with him or her to discuss your experiences, qualifications, goals, etc., as well as what should/should not be included in an LOR. You can find lots of examples online, but briefly, here is what should not be included in a letter of recommendation: When you attend the meeting, bring along your CV and/or a document with helpful information. At this point you can let your recommender know what is typically included in an American letter of recommendation. Recommendations differ between China and the US, and it’s okay to point that out. Consider bringing along sample LORs for your recommender to view. Here’s what should be included in a letter of recommendation: Here’s what shouldn’t be included in a letter of recommendation: “Student X is a hard work who leads by example” or “Student X is a respectful and diligent learner.” These statements don’t actually SAY anything. Adding specific examples and anecdotes will demonstrate how these statements are accurate. Goes above and beyond, great student, excellent worker, go-getter, friend to all Make sure that you are respectful of your recommender’s time. Do not request a letter two days before it is due, but give him or her plenty of time to write a strong recommendation on your behalf. I always suggest that my clients request letters before summer break, if possible. And don’t forget to send your recommender a thank you letter for their time. If your recommender says “no,” move on to another person on your list. You should aim for three or four recommenders in total. A few additional points… Having the “right” background Truly, at the core of the entire US admissions process, is “fit”. Every college and university in the United States has its own culture, typical student and professor, community, ideals, resources, etc. The real trick for you is to find schools that align with your personal goals, characteristics, and academic background.  And to do this, you must first develop an understanding of yourself: your likes, your dislikes, your goals, your needs, your interests, your strengths, and your weaknesses. Having an honest understanding of yourself will help you find the schools that already match YOU, so you your background will naturally line up with the qualities admissions boards are looking for. Then you simply need to show the committees exactly how you fit in! If you are looking for a place to start, I offer an inexpensive Match Me service in which I curate a list of matches, safeties, and reaches based on given preferences and academic background. It is a great way to instantly start narrowing down your options and exploring schools that work for you. I also have a fun college personality quiz you can take for free! I find that Chinese students often misunderstand “fit”. They figure a school is a school - how different can they possibly be? They think they will be happy so long as the school has a great ranking... Well, that thinking couldn’t be further from the truth. Last year I was hired by a client to help her transfer Eastern New Mexico University after her Freshman year. Why? Because she didn’t do any real research on the school ahead of time and was miserable. ENMU is very conservative, small, and remote; the town offers little more than a few restaurants and a grocery store. The culture of this school is extremely different from what my client knew growing up in Shanghai. When I asked this client what drew her to the school, she said she didn’t put much thought into it. She figured university was university, and her experience would be just like what she saw on television or in the movies. She also told me she thought it would be romantic to live in the “wild west”. While she was able to move to a more suitable school after her first year, this client wasted time and money in a situation that was terrible for her. It all could have been avoided if she had put in the effort to thoroughly consider what she wanted in a school and research her options. To be honest, finding a school with great academics is easy. Of the more than 3,000 accredited, four-year institutions in the United States, there are literally hundreds of schools that offer terrific academic programs. It’s finding a school that fits you wholistically that’s difficult. Let’s take a look at two exceptional schools in the US: Brown University and the University of Michigan. Brown University - Brown has an “open curriculum”, which means that students build their entire academic course load; there are no specific requirements that must be met. This attracts students who prefer a lot of freedom in their education. These students are often quirky, liberal (I dare say “hippie”) types who are involved in social action and would rather attend a theatre production or campus activity than a giant party. University of Michigan - UofM is a large and diverse institution. Students are often very academically driven, but also very social. Due to its size, there are a plethora of activities to engage in, but parties, Greek life, and sporting events are a large part of campus life. Like other “Big 10” universities, UofM students have a lot of school spirit and regularly support their sports teams - whether that be attending the games in person or cheering them on at house parties. These are basic school summaries that only briefly address culture, but you can see right away how your experience would be different at Brown vs. UofM - despite the fact that they have similar rankings and academic requirements. If you prefer a structured learning environment, Brown isn’t for you. If you couldn’t care less about school sports, you probably won’t enjoy UofM. Campus culture, size, location, support services, course availability, cost, demographics, transportation, dorm life, spirituality, access to internship or research opportunities...these are all things that need to be a part of your decision. This is where a college counselor can be beneficial. They have knowledge of the various institutions that goes beyond what you can find in a book, and they’ve visited many campuses in person. They have personal and professional connections to different universities, so even if they don’t know a place first-hand, they can get accurate information quickly. Of course, there are ways to find authentic information on your own, but it’s exhaustively time consuming. Now that we’ve covered the importance of fit, let’s talk about how you demonstrate it... Once you have made a list of schools to which you fit and intend to apply, it is in your best interest to tailor your applications to meet the differing expectations of each school. You can show you are an ideal applicant  through the academic courses, extracurricular activities, and leadership roles you have taken on throughout your high school career, and (most importantly) through your application essay. A great tip is to look at the mission statements of your chosen colleges and universities because they serve as a window into a school’s “institutional priorities”. For example, Middlebury College and Cornell University have similar academic requirements, but their mission statements show a different vision for their university and, thus, the students they admit. Middlebury College Mission (excerpt): “At Middlebury College we challenge students to participate fully in a vibrant and diverse academic community. The College's Vermont location offers an inspirational setting for learning and reflection, reinforcing our commitment to integrating environmental stewardship into both our curriculum and our practices on campus.” Cornell University Mission (excerpt): “Cornell's mission is to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge; produce creative work; and promote a culture of broad inquiry throughout and beyond the Cornell community. Cornell also aims, through public service, to enhance the lives and livelihoods of our students, the people of New York, and others around the world.” As you assemble your applications and prepare for interviews, do your homework. Prepare essays and other qualitative documents that sync with schools’ unique cultures. The essay you write for Cornell, for example, needs to be different than the one you write for Middlebury. How do graduate applications differ? To be honest, there are differences depending on the schools and programs to which you are applying, but typically schools require: - A 4 year degree (or higher) with a minimum GPA - Transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended - Standardized exams - TOEFL or IELTS: English language proficiency exams - GRE: Standard graduate school exam - GMAT: Business school exam - LSAT: Law school exam - MCAT: Medical school exam - Letters of recommendation Typically 3 LORs are required. The letters need to be from professionals, such as professors, administrators, employers, or supervisors. The LORs should demonstrate a range of skills, which will depend on your program. If you are applying for medical school, for example, you will want letters of recommendation that show off your research and clinical skills. When requesting LORs, you should try to arrange a time to meet with your recommenders. This way you can make sure they are comfortable writing on your behalf, and you can provide them with important information they may not know about you. As always, give your recommenders plenty of time to complete your letters; don’t assume they are willing to write them in a week or two. - Resumes or CVs Though not always required by graduate schools, you you will want to give them to your recommenders so they have something to reference when writing on your behalf. - Statement of purpose and/or personal statement Graduate schools will require either a statement of purpose or a personal statement (and sometimes they require both). It is important to understand the difference between the two. A statement of purpose is similar to a cover letter. It is an opportunity to present your professional and academic accomplishments and to explain how they will support you in you pursuing your intellectual goals. An SOP should: A personal statement is much wider in scope than a statement of purpose. You are required to discuss how your academic and career experiences are related to your field of study, but you should also expound upon your personal experiences. A personal statement affords the freedom to discuss how you are passionate about your field of study and how you stand out from your peers. A PS should: 1) Include your personal, professional, and academic background 2) Discuss experiences that have shaped you as a whole 3) Explain why this particular institution is the right fit for you 4) Explain how your background will contribute to your program of study Make sure that you read each school’s requirements carefully. The terms “statement of purpose” and “personal statement” are often used interchangeably. One school might ask for a PS, while the actual prompt is more in line with an SOP. Or schools might ask for a PS that requires very specific information. In conclusion Always remember that the admissions process is subjective. Committees are made up of people, and they act like people. Of course they care about your academic achievements, but they also care about you as a whole. They want you to grow and thrive in their institutions, not struggle or be miserable for four years. You must be honest, be yourself, and apply to schools that align with your preferences, skills, and aspirations. Kimberly VanderWeert is an independent college counselor from the United States. She fully understands the US application process and expectations, as well as the struggles international students face in meeting US university requirements. She is passionately guides students through the application process, toward academic and career success in the United States. She offers complete, one-on-one counseling services, as well as a comprehensive DIY course. You can find her on WeChat at kvanderweert, through email at kvanderweert@worldawaits.net, or you can contact her through her website.