2015 Common Application Essay Prompts

2015 Common Application Essay Prompts

虽然推迟了半个月,但是Common Application还是在昨天公布了 2015 Common Application Essay Prompts. 由于每次Common Application文书题目的变化都会从录取委员和Counselors处收集建议,所以题目的变化会对申请起一定的指向作用。那么今年的题目和去年有何变化,对申请人来说意味着什么呢?

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.

这篇题目来自于上一版本的Common Application,当时的题目是:

Some students have a background or story that is so central to their identity that they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

区别就是加上了identity, interest, or talent – 比之前的Story更为具体的限定了内容。但是我们建议尽量不要涉及interest和talent的内容,否则可能会和School Supplement Writing的内容冲突

 

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

这个题目就是在之前版本的题目前加了一句话,之前的题目是:

Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure.  How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?

加上的一句话限定了你可以写的方向,这个failure一定要是产生正面影响的,而且在文书中一定要提及到对later success的帮助。

 

3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?

和之前版本的题目完全一致,可见这道题收到了录取委员会广泛的认可。这道题在处理的时候很容易忘记最后一个Part,这里需要给大家提一个醒哦。

 

4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

全新的一个问题。要求你描述一个已经解决的问题,或者是你想要解决的一个问题。和第一题一样,这道题很有可能会和School Supplement产生冲突。在准备的时候尽量不要和自己的Academic Issue相关,否则可能会出现Supplement无内容可写的窘境。当然另外一种可能出现的情况就是今年大学会取消类似的Supplement问题,让我们拭目以待吧。

此外,不幸被这道题替代的题目是:

Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?

实际上这是一道非常灵活的题目,可惜未来申请的同学不能再使用了。

 

5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.

第二个没有任何变化的题目。这个题目的价值也得到了充分的肯定。这道题的范围实际上非常大,不仅仅在于传统意义上community和family,也可以存在于culture这个概念,所以同学们的思维应该更加扩展一些!

51UStudy申请主管 作为51UStudy申请主管,Julia对英美名校本科及研究生申请有着深入的研究和了解,并且能结合澳洲同学的背景给出最适合的申请方案,确保每位同学都能收到心仪的offer。她的学生里不少从9年级就开始进行名校留学规划,她以细致入微的服务获得了大家的一致肯定。