除了PS以外,小文书的重要性也不容小觑。它们提供了一个机会,让你可以深入讨论你的兴趣和目标,以及你如何计划在所选的学术领域或职业道路上实现它们。
可以说,主文书是一幅细腻的自画像,它旨在勾勒出你的轮廓——你的背景、价值观、成长经历等,让招生官能够一窥你是谁,你生活在何种环境之中,受到了哪些影响,以及你的成长轨迹是如何铺展的。而小文书,则像是一张张生动的行动快照,它聚焦于你的行为和能力。在这里,你需要细致地描绘你在学术和非学术领域的活动,展现你的实际技能和独特才能。
主文书和小文书虽然关注的焦点不同,但它们共同构成了一个完整的你——一个有着丰富内心世界和显著行动能力的个体。
今天就来聊聊大框架上的"Why School"和"Why Major"怎么写。这两个问题几乎是每份申请材料中的必备元素,它们要求你清晰、有说服力地表达自己选择特定学校和专业的动机。
01、WHY SCHOOL
在探索为何选择某所学校时,我们不单要触及那些显而易见的理由,更需从专业深度、校园生活、以及学校独有的气质等方面,和招生官展开一场思想与情感的对话。这是对这些学校所提供的元素如何与你的内心世界和未来规划契合的一次深刻探讨。
💡 Why School写作攻略:
不要一文多套:
在Why School中,切记不能仅仅更换学校名称而重复相同的话语。这会暴露出你对目标学府的了解不够深入。确保你提及的课程、学术资源等都是真实且与学校特色紧密相连的。每个学校的使命、专业和课程设置都有其独特性,一定要先做足学校的功课。最好找一些非常细节的小点,和除了这个学校以外其他所有学校都没有的资源。
做深度的School Research:
在动笔前,对学校进行一番深入的探索。你在research时要找的是把学校和你自己的兴趣爱好以及需求联系起来的特定原因。从Unigo,官网,reddit等平台多看看学校真实的一面和大家对学校的评价,洞察它的专业设置、课程体系、社团活动、资源配置等,寻找与你的兴趣、目标、和申请人设相契合的、“可做文章”且独特的点,然后阐释它们对你的意义所在。
不要光罗列:
不要停留在对学校资源的简单罗列,而应深入探讨这些资源如何让你受益,以及你将如何准备去充分利用它们。用具体的经历和例证来支撑你的论点。
站在招生官角度再看看:
写完后,不妨将其搁置片刻,再以招生官的视角重新审视。设身处地地思考,看看你的文书是否真正展现了你为学校带来的新视角和价值。
避免自我感动:
Why School中应避免过于感性的内容,如对某学校的执念或缘分,可能只能感动你自己。
西北Why School例子
For as long as I can remember, I have seen my parents, both farmers, struggling to produce food because of the challenges presented by the environment. Joining Northwestern’s community, and majoring in Environmental Engineering, will allow me to understand what are the reasons behind climate change and learn how to stop them and/or prevent them from happening.
Having witnessed how plant diseases affect crops, I would like to collaborate in the PLANT-Dx project and in its widespread application. I strongly believe that it will be able to help farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their production, and reduce famine around the world. At some point in my education, I want to take advantage of the study-abroad programs Northwestern has to offer and learn about farming practices in a different part of the world. In addition, I want to conduct research on sustainable alternative farming methods that adapt to the new environmental conditions and that can be practiced in countries with fewer resources.
Apart from having access to outstanding professors, rigorous academics, and cutting-edge research resources, I will be able to be part of a close-knit community genuinely curious about others’ activities, truly passionate about what they do, and not afraid to step out of their comfort zone to make of this world a better place. Being part of Engineers for a Sustainable World at Northwestern will allow me to get to know people that share one of my passions in addition to learning and teaching how to apply sustainable practices in daily life.
I am already looking forward to marching through the Weber Arch.
02、WHY MAJOR
花点时间在Why文书上,确保你的回答能和你个人陈述相辅相成。如果你的个人陈述全是关于商业的,而你的Why major全是关于舞蹈的,招生官可能会想,“啥??”所以,确保它们放在一起讲得通。还有,就算你这篇文书里选了一个专业,这并不意味着你以后百分百不能改,Undecided也无妨。
💡 Why Major写作攻略:
以你的人设/故事为主线:
以你的故事为线索,讲述你如何对所选专业萌生了浓厚的兴趣,以及你在该领域的学术或实践经历。分享那些让你心灵触动的瞬间,以及这些经历如何塑造了你的专业追求。这些事件可以是你在高中的一次科学实验,一次文学讨论,或是一次艺术创作,每一个瞬间都是你专业兴趣的见证。
学校资源的桥梁:
将学校提供的资源和特点与你的个人经历相连接,阐释为何该学校的专业设置能够成为你的最佳选择。描绘学校的课程、项目、实验室设施等,以及它们如何成为支持你学术兴趣的强大后盾。
聊聊未来:
展开你在该专业中的未来规划。讲述你计划如何运用所学的知识和技能,以及你希望解决的问题或实现的目标,让你的专业愿景跃然纸上。
和学校的“最佳fit”:
如果学校的开放课程(如Brown)或教育体系是你选择专业的原因之一,确保在文书中提到这一点,并解释为什么这对你至关重要。Why Major文书虽以专业为主,但也应揭示大学如何助你实现目标。你的理由不应仅停留在排名上,而应深入探讨课程内容、教学方法及特定资源。
精炼表达:
鉴于小文书的字数限制,你需要以精炼的笔触表达自己的想法。用一句话简明扼要地概括你选择该专业的原因,再用具体事件来丰富这一中心句。将个人经历、专业兴趣和学校资源紧密融合,展现你为什么是一个理想的申请者。
布朗Why Major例子
My primary interest is in languages and linguistics, specifically Spanish, Portuguese and the descent of these languages from Latin which I explored in my IB Extended Essay. Thus, something that excites me about the complete freedom of the Brown curriculum is the opportunity to learn about Hispanic and Lusophone culture, literature and language in an intersectional way through a concentration in Latin American studies combined with classes and undergraduate research in Linguistics. I intend to supplement my language acquisition with practical application through study abroad opportunities at PUC-Rio, Brazil and in Santiago, Chile, perhaps through the Engaged Scholars Program which will allow me to forge deeper connections with the communities and cultures I am studying. I am also attracted by the possibility of a 5-year BA/MA course in Linguistics which will permit me to conduct meaningful and extensive research on a topic I am truly passionate about.
However, I also have an interest in Biochemistry and Molecular biology. The Open Curriculum will enable me to pursue this avenue of study and research without detracting from my principal focus on languages. Therefore, perhaps what I am most excited for is interdisciplinary study at Brown and the possibility of forging unforeseen connections between disparate academic areas and weaving them together into a program of study that will engage, thrill, and inspire me towards a lifelong path of academic inquiry. For example, I am interested to explore how languages and sociolinguistics can be used to promote medical research and provision in Latin America.
在这类文书中,以精炼而有力的语言传达你的兴趣、经历和规划。将个人的特点与学校资源以及专业特点相结合,突出你的适合度。最后,不要忘记反复审查你的文书,确保每个词都有其存在的意义,传达出你希望表达的信息。你的文书不能是一堆文字的堆砌,而要是一篇有血有肉、有情感、有思想的故事。