今天，8 月 1 日，美国大学网申系统 Common App 正式开放了。
尽管今年的系统有不少改变，但最受关注的，仍然是文书题目。申请者在文书上花的时间和精力，远远超出其他选项的填写。 不出所料，Common App 仍然沿用往年文书题目。
2023-24 申请季，如果使用 Common App，则可以从以下 7 个题目中选取一个，撰写一篇不超出 650 字的申请文书：
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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.
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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?
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Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
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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?
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Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
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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?
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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.
在发给升学顾问的电邮中，Common App 在确认文书题目保持不变之外，还特别说明，他们也在研究，哪些申请者，对某个文书题目更感兴趣；选择哪个文书题目，对于不同学生群体的录取，会有什么差别。
这可能预示，Common App 将在以后的申请季，更改某些文书题目。如果将在 2024-25 申请季做出改动，那 Common App 有足足一年的研究时间。电邮里并没有提到 ChatGPT 等 AI 工具在文书撰写中的应用。
这 7 个文书题目，在受欢迎的程度上，确实有很大差别：
2021-22 申请季（每年数据基本一致），在 Common App 的所有申请者中：
#7 为最受欢迎文书题目，27% 申请者选用。然而很多升学顾问和文书老师并不喜欢这一题。 第二位最受欢迎的题目是，
#2，22% 申请者选用。 紧跟其后的是，
#5 - 21% 申请者选用；#1 - 19% 申请者选用。 申请者最不喜欢的文书题目是：
#6 - 只有 6% 的申请者选取这个题目。这也是被很多升学顾问和文书老师评为非常好、但挑战度很高的题目。
#4 和 #3 并列最不受欢迎题目，各仅有 3% 的申请人选择。
#3 有不少升学顾问和文书老师非常喜欢。如果你的个人故事正好符合其中之一，务必考虑。
从申请规划和策略上来看，至少能让你在选题上就更胜一筹，把自己与大部分申请者区分开来。 不少学校，在 Common App 文书之外，还额外要求申请人，就学校自己出的题目撰写一篇补充文书。
今年，NYU 纽约大学发布了焕然一新的文书题目：
We are looking for peacemakers, changemakers, global citizens, boundary breakers, creatives and innovators – Choose one quote from the following and let us know why it inspires you; or share a short quote and person not on our list who inspires you, and include why.
- “We’re used to people telling us there are no solutions, and then creating our own. So we did what we do best. We reached out to each other, and to our allies, and we mobilized across communities to make change, to benefit and include everyone in society.” Judith Heuman, 2022 NYU Commencement Address
- “I encourage your discomfort, that you must contribute, that you must make your voice heard. That is the essence of good citizenship.” Sherilynn Ifill, 2015 NYU Commencement Address
- “If you know how to fly but you never knew how to walk, wouldn’t that be sad?” Lang Lang, 2015 NYU Honorary Degree Recipient
- “You have the right to want things and to want things to change.” Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland, 2023 NYU Commencement Address
- “It’s hard to fight when the fight ain’t fair.” Taylor Swift, Change, Released 2008, 2022 NYU Commencement Speaker
- Share a short quote and person not on this list, and why the quote inspires you.
- Not answering this optional question.
往年 NYU 文书只有一个题目，而今年，改为从往年 NYU 毕业典礼讲演中摘取 5 句话，让申请人从中选择一个，撰写一篇 250 字的短文。
NYU 特别强调，我们在寻找的是，和平缔造者、变革者、世界公民、打破界限者、创造者，和创新发明者。
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