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重大!Common App Essay 2021-2022換題啦!美本申請(qǐng)必經(jīng)之路,你真的了解嗎?

作者:VA藝術(shù)留學(xué)2021/03/03點(diǎn)擊:5448次

VA國(guó)際藝術(shù)教育

      眾所周知,美本的申請(qǐng)猶如西天取經(jīng),要沖破重重關(guān)卡才能獲得心儀Offer。在申請(qǐng)過程中,學(xué)生需要完成一個(gè)叫做Common App Essay的論文寫作。

      它具體是什么?重不重要?藝術(shù)方向的學(xué)生如何才能實(shí)現(xiàn)有效的寫作,抓住審核官的眼球?

      想要獲得答案?那就快快下滑!看起來吧!

Common App Essay

Source: https://www.hawkherald.com/2019/09/common-app-for-dummies/

      01 What is Common

      App Essay 簡(jiǎn)介

      如果曾經(jīng)申請(qǐng)過美本,或?qū)γ辣旧暾?qǐng)做過研究,你一定對(duì)Common App 不陌生,這個(gè)網(wǎng)站一舉整合了美國(guó)超700所大學(xué)的入學(xué)申請(qǐng)流程。操作簡(jiǎn)單、管理方便、申請(qǐng)一鍵式的特征讓它大受歡迎,幾乎每個(gè)學(xué)生都會(huì)選擇它進(jìn)行申請(qǐng)的投遞。值得注意的是,在該網(wǎng)站提交了標(biāo)化成績(jī)、作品集、語言成績(jī)等常規(guī)文件后,學(xué)生還需上傳一份叫做Common App Essay的文書才能正式提交申請(qǐng)。

      申請(qǐng)者需在官方給出的7個(gè)命題中自選出最能展現(xiàn)自身個(gè)性與價(jià)值的一個(gè),并創(chuàng)作一篇250-650詞的文章。

      命題如下

      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.

      一些學(xué)生具有獨(dú)特的背景、身份、興趣或才能。它們極具意義,很有必要在申請(qǐng)過程中提及。如果這聽起來像你,那么請(qǐng)分享你的故事。

      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?

      那些我們?cè)?span style="background-color:#FFCA00;">挫折中學(xué)習(xí)的教訓(xùn)將成為今后成功的基石。描述一次你面對(duì)挑戰(zhàn)、困境或失敗的經(jīng)歷,它是如何影響你的?你能從中學(xué)到什么?

      3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

      回憶一次你挑戰(zhàn)或質(zhì)疑某種觀念或想法的時(shí)刻,是什么啟發(fā)了你的想法,結(jié)果如何?

      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?

      回憶一些他人通過出人意料的方式讓你感到喜悅或開心的事,那種感激之情是如何影響或鼓舞你的?

      5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

      描述某個(gè)成就、事件或認(rèn)知,它激發(fā)了個(gè)人成長(zhǎng)并促使你對(duì)自身和他人產(chǎn)生了新的見解。

      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?

      描述某個(gè)能讓你全神貫注的有趣的話題、觀點(diǎn)或概念,它為何如此吸引你?當(dāng)你想深入了解時(shí)會(huì)向誰或什么尋求幫助?

      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.

      自選主題,它可以是你已經(jīng)寫好的文章,也可以是自由發(fā)揮

      其中第四題是今年的新題,其余題目維持不變。事實(shí)上,這也是Common app近五年來第一次變換題目,原因有二:

      1)淘汰被寫作次數(shù)較少的題目

      據(jù)官方數(shù)據(jù)統(tǒng)計(jì),在所有命題中最受學(xué)生喜歡的是Prompt 7(Any topic),占據(jù)了總數(shù)的24.1%,緊跟其后的是Prompt 5 (23.7%) 以及 Prompt 2 (21.1%)。共計(jì)有68.9%的學(xué)生選擇了這三類題目,被選擇較少的題目也就被更新?lián)Q代了。

      2)疫情時(shí)代下的人文關(guān)懷

      大疫情時(shí)代背景下,人類在這共同的災(zāi)難面前,展現(xiàn)出了巨大的善意。Common App此次換題,也是“想啟發(fā)學(xué)生對(duì)生活中積極和真誠(chéng)的事情有所思考”


美國(guó)藝術(shù)留學(xué)

Source: https://www.commonapp.org/blog/2021-2022-common-app-essay-prompts

      由此可見,美國(guó)大學(xué)想要的絕不局限于學(xué)術(shù)和背景兼優(yōu)的學(xué)生,而是能夠感恩周遭,具有人文關(guān)懷精神的全面型人才。

美國(guó)本科留學(xué)

(圖源:網(wǎng)絡(luò))

看到這里,可能有小伙伴會(huì)疑惑,既然它所占篇幅不多,也并非學(xué)術(shù)嚴(yán)謹(jǐn)型的論文,那我還要不要上心?答案是肯定的!

      02 Importance of Common App Essay 重要性


美國(guó)本科藝術(shù)留學(xué)

(圖源:網(wǎng)絡(luò))


      A:競(jìng)爭(zhēng)利器、脫穎而出

      2020年以來,美國(guó)受疫情重創(chuàng),專家曾預(yù)測(cè)本土總體入學(xué)人數(shù)會(huì)縮減5%-16%,然而隨著申請(qǐng)季的到來,美本TOP30的院校申請(qǐng)態(tài)勢(shì)卻絲毫沒有疲態(tài),不降反升。由此可見,優(yōu)質(zhì)的教育資源是目光長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)的家長(zhǎng)和學(xué)生們永恒的追求。

      在標(biāo)化成績(jī)已日漸趨同,競(jìng)爭(zhēng)壓力卻屢升不降的環(huán)境下,如何展示自己的特點(diǎn)、觀念與價(jià)值就變得尤為重要。審核官想要在論文中看到的,是申請(qǐng)人在其他常規(guī)要求中都沒有展示的另一面,他們希望據(jù)此來判斷申請(qǐng)者能夠加入與否。

      著名的寫作指導(dǎo)Elizabeth Benedict曾說過:“用平庸的標(biāo)化成績(jī)和出色的論文申請(qǐng)名校不一定讓你成功,但頂級(jí)的成績(jī)、出色的背景和平庸的論文卻會(huì)讓你的申請(qǐng)石沉大海?!庇纱?,Common app essay的重要性可見一斑。

      B:逆風(fēng)翻盤、名校重視

      根據(jù)美國(guó)大學(xué)招生咨詢協(xié)會(huì)(National Association for College Admission Counseling)2019年的報(bào)告指出,56.4%的大學(xué)認(rèn)為論文“比較重要”或相當(dāng)重要,越是好的學(xué)校就越重視這一部分。

美國(guó)本科藝術(shù)留學(xué)

(Source:https://www.nacacnet.org/globalassets/documents/publications/research/2019_soca/soca2019_ch3.pdf)

      同時(shí),從各個(gè)大學(xué)對(duì)各申請(qǐng)材料重要性的配比也不難看出,除了最為重要的標(biāo)化成績(jī)外,文書占據(jù)了20-30%的比重,說明它確實(shí)是大學(xué)審核時(shí)的重要維度之一。

美國(guó)藝術(shù)留學(xué)作品集

(Source:https://www.nacacnet.org/globalassets/documents/publications/research/2019_soca/soca2019_ch3.pdf)

      既然它這么重要,那到底怎樣才能寫出優(yōu)質(zhì)的文章呢?

      03 Writing Instruction 寫作指導(dǎo)

      Common App Essay 5年不換題,想必審核官們?cè)缫岩娮R(shí)過了各路“神仙打架”“牛鬼蛇神”。義務(wù)勞動(dòng)、爺爺奶奶、籃球比賽等被各大機(jī)構(gòu)流水線式推出的話題已經(jīng)很難再吸引他們的興趣。

      而實(shí)際上,官方給出的7個(gè)命題是極具概括性的,也就是說,學(xué)生可以發(fā)揮的空間彈性非常大,作為藝術(shù)方向的學(xué)生,我們不妨跳脫出固有思維,將論文主題與藝術(shù)相結(jié)合,看會(huì)碰撞出怎樣的火花。

      在進(jìn)行逐題分析之前,

      先來思考幾個(gè)問題 

      Q1:選題越大就越好嗎?

      Q2:以藝術(shù)為主題,我的重心應(yīng)該放在技巧和概念上?還是我對(duì)藝術(shù)的熱愛?

      Q3:只描述事件就夠了嗎?

      相信大家都有了自己的答案

      選題方面,中國(guó)學(xué)生很容易犯的一個(gè)錯(cuò)誤就是過度空泛和宏大,到最后自身的知識(shí)儲(chǔ)備和表達(dá)能力卻兜不住,反而弄巧成拙。實(shí)際上,哪怕是一件很小的事情,只要能夠有聲有色地描繪出來,最后以小見大“上價(jià)值”,也能受到審核官的青睞。

      而第二個(gè)問題,請(qǐng)大家注意不要過分執(zhí)著于藝術(shù)的技巧和概念,Common App Essay真正想考察的是你到底是什么樣的人,你看重什么,熱愛什么,是否真正適合所申請(qǐng)的專業(yè)。而其余偏學(xué)術(shù)的東西可以在作品集中展現(xiàn)。

      第三個(gè)問題想必大家都很清楚,只描述事件是絕對(duì)不夠的,審核官希望在你的文章中看到內(nèi)省和思考,體現(xiàn)你的獨(dú)特和靈動(dòng),而不僅是機(jī)械地描述事實(shí)。

弄清這三個(gè)基本準(zhǔn)則后

就讓我們開始逐題分析吧!

      Prompt 1:

      Some students have a bckground, 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.

      遇到一道題目前,首先要做的是思考應(yīng)當(dāng)寫一個(gè)怎樣的主題。 這里的關(guān)鍵詞有四個(gè):背景(Background), 身份 (Identity), 興趣(Interest)和天分(Talent)。 

      以興趣為例,很多小伙伴可能知道自己喜歡什么,卻不清楚用哪件事情去表達(dá)和體現(xiàn),或者壓根就不清楚自己的興趣所在。

      不用著急,讓我們先來做一次頭腦風(fēng)暴:

      Step 1: 畫一張九宮格,不要經(jīng)過思考,隨機(jī)在每個(gè)格子里填下自己感興趣的事情(與藝術(shù)相關(guān))

      小V這里先示范一張:

美國(guó)藝術(shù)留學(xué)

      Step2: 在這九個(gè)選項(xiàng)中挑選出自己最感興趣的一種,這里小V以攝影為例。選好之后,再畫一張九宮格,仍然憑直覺寫出九項(xiàng)你覺得攝影有意思的地方:

美國(guó)藝術(shù)留學(xué)

      這樣你就獲得了九個(gè)能寫的點(diǎn),再回想自身的經(jīng)歷,挑選出能和自己的故事結(jié)合得最好,以及最有表達(dá)欲2-3個(gè)點(diǎn),這樣一篇小論文就能保證你有東西可寫,不會(huì)空洞啦!

藝術(shù)留學(xué)作品集

(圖源:網(wǎng)絡(luò))


      確定好內(nèi)容后,大家需要做的就是列大綱,寫結(jié)構(gòu),最后不要忘了進(jìn)行反復(fù)地跟進(jìn)與修改。

      這里小V先拋磚引玉,小小地示范一段,大家私底下也要多多練手哦:

      I used to have an old-fashioned camera coated with cliche metal colour. Every time I took it out, trying to capture precious moments in my life, such as the smile wore on my grandmother’s face  or the sun’s sinking to horizon, my family would ask me: “why do you still carry such a sturdy camera, mobile phone alone has realized the function of photography and it is far more convenient ”. While I always shake my head, saying that there were plenty of things only camera can achieve.......

      Prompt 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?

      事實(shí)上,寫成功比寫失敗要讓人自在得多,但是并不代表這個(gè)話題就一定不好寫。如果你能在文章中突出自己是如何用特殊而新穎的方法去解決問題,并從中獲得了哪些對(duì)將來有益的經(jīng)驗(yàn)教訓(xùn),審核官也會(huì)對(duì)你眼前一亮。注意這里雖然讓你寫失敗,但千萬不要寫一些三觀不正,或者有爭(zhēng)議的內(nèi)容,例如考試掛科、作品抄襲被發(fā)現(xiàn)等。

      建議沒有頭緒的同學(xué)可以去登錄自己夢(mèng)校的官網(wǎng),了解清楚他們想要的到底是擁有何種品質(zhì)的人,他們希望自己的學(xué)生能夠在困境中獲得什么。

      以帕森斯設(shè)計(jì)學(xué)院交互設(shè)計(jì)專業(yè)為例,校方在官網(wǎng)就詳細(xì)地指出學(xué)生應(yīng)學(xué)會(huì)發(fā)展創(chuàng)新的解決問題的能力,能夠通過融合設(shè)計(jì)想法、審美與技巧來重組信息、符號(hào)和觀點(diǎn)。

藝術(shù)留學(xué)作品集

Source:https://www.newschool.edu/parsons/mps-communication-design/

      那么大家寫作的時(shí)候,就盡量要從腦海調(diào)出一些符合這類要求的經(jīng)歷,而不是生搬硬湊。

美國(guó)藝術(shù)留學(xué)作品集

(圖源:網(wǎng)絡(luò))

      Prompt 3:

      Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

      這道題曾“榮獲”2016年最少選擇獎(jiǎng),僅有4%的申請(qǐng)者選擇了這道題,但它真的就如想象中這么令人畏懼嗎?光看題面,很多人會(huì)想到一些非常宏觀的東西,比如說宗教信仰、政治理念等等,但這些主題一旦寫不好,就很容易成為敏感話題,甚至觸到面試官的眉頭。因此,這里我們建議盡量選擇一些比較小的觀念:個(gè)體的觀念、或某個(gè)家庭的觀念。

      同時(shí)要記住,這道題審核官最想看到的,是你個(gè)人價(jià)值觀的表達(dá),如果你沒有給出一道窗口讓他人理解你的個(gè)性,這篇文章便是不太成功的。

      那么,這樣的題目,到底該如何與藝術(shù)相結(jié)合呢?

      上面我們提到,挑戰(zhàn)的觀點(diǎn)最好是來自于個(gè)體或家庭的,那我們可以從身邊的朋友和家人對(duì)藝術(shù)的觀念上下文章。

      比如說在中國(guó),大部分家長(zhǎng)對(duì)待藝術(shù)的態(tài)度是比較輕視的,首先是因?yàn)槲覈?guó)還處在重工業(yè)商業(yè)崛起的階段,家長(zhǎng)會(huì)認(rèn)為理工科商科是最有前途和保障的,從而忽視了對(duì)藝術(shù)素養(yǎng)的培養(yǎng)。再來是長(zhǎng)久以來藝術(shù)教育的不完備甚至是缺失。相信曾經(jīng)堅(jiān)定地選擇藝術(shù)道路的你,或多或少收到過旁人的不理解和非議,那么你是如何挑戰(zhàn)的呢?

      小V示范:

      Meeting relatives in traditional festivals used to be a rather horrible thing for me, since I would be interrogated about almost every aspect of my life, especially my dream school and major. They showed puzzled expressions every time I told them about my dream of enrolling in art schools. In their opinion, pursuing the academic path of art could not bring any tangible benefits at all, a degree of art is certainly less competitive than that of mechanics in the labour markets. In order to refute their old-fashioned idea, I decided to enter an art competition, the recognition of which could ensure a promising career path....

出國(guó)藝術(shù)留學(xué)作品集

圖源:網(wǎng)絡(luò)

      Prompt 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?

      這道題要求你進(jìn)行一項(xiàng)敘事,在此過程中你需要解釋這件事的前因后果、這件驚喜是如何引發(fā)了你個(gè)人的啟示或改變。這篇文章的寫作目的不是簡(jiǎn)單地展現(xiàn)你的喜悅和驚喜,而是你對(duì)自身、他人、社區(qū)以及人道主義有了什么新的認(rèn)知,這些認(rèn)知又是如何正面作用于你的。

      以最具代表性的大背景:新冠疫情為例,大家可以從自己的親身經(jīng)歷出挖掘出一些印象深刻的事情,或者通過社交網(wǎng)絡(luò)和相冊(cè)的記錄來尋找靈感,再將這些事情與藝術(shù)相結(jié)合。比如在隔離期間,朋友為你送來親手繪制的Q版小畫來緩解焦慮,從而體現(xiàn)一種藝術(shù)撫慰人心的內(nèi)涵。

      小V示范

      Looking back to the very beginning of last year, I can easily recall those terrifying scenes: news about covid-19 virus rolling on screen; bleak and empty street with every door shut, gloomy expressions wore on passengers’ faces. All of these came in a sudden, my parents working in other cities failed to get on a plane before all flights were canceled, so I had to spend the quarantine on my own. I had tried to kill the time through soap operas and online games , however, in day 7, I could not tolerate the endless solitude and boredom anymore. It was exactly when I was about to cry that I heard someone called me downstairs, reaching head out of the window, I suprisingly found my friend was holding a piece of painting, on which there was my favourite cartoon character, wearing masks and say hello to me. I could not help bursting into tears...

美國(guó)本科留學(xué)

圖源:網(wǎng)絡(luò)

      Prompt 5:

      Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

      這個(gè)話題對(duì)于中國(guó)學(xué)生來說是較好上手的,申請(qǐng)者可以寫自身經(jīng)歷中的任何事:參加比賽、當(dāng)志愿者、克服某種恐懼等等,無論大小。但要注意內(nèi)容應(yīng)盡量避免與背提重合

      故事固然重要,但你從這其中學(xué)到什么,如何將所學(xué)運(yùn)用到現(xiàn)在和將來則更為重要。你應(yīng)在文章中表明自己還有很多學(xué)習(xí)和探索的空間,因?yàn)閷徍斯傧M吹侥阋源髮W(xué)為媒介不斷精進(jìn)成長(zhǎng)。語氣方面應(yīng)謙遜有禮,不要一味吹噓

      小V示范:

      My face went flushed when referees offered their compliments to my work, a strong sense of accomplishment rose in my heart, it was not only because of the prize, but also the fact that I eventually become more patient and mature as a painter.

      In order to realize a peticuliar texture of rocks or branches, most painters are willing to take days or even weeks of endevour, repeating the trials and errors. In the past, I could not understand their ‘stubburn’, I mean, why not just simply apply some brushes and give it a sensational story? However, my opinion sheerly changed after entering this art competition where I burned the night oil with my teamates just for a slightly better visual effects and good comments from audiences....

      Prompt 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?

      這個(gè)命題的主要目的是讓審核官知道你的熱忱在哪里,什么給予了你啟發(fā)。因此,你毫無疑問要選擇自己真正熱愛的東西。主題可以是某個(gè)學(xué)術(shù)話題:例如藝術(shù)流派、藝術(shù)技巧,亦或是某個(gè)你很欣賞的藝術(shù)家、藝術(shù)電影、等等。

      但是請(qǐng)注意,不要自作聰明地去選擇一些過于學(xué)術(shù)的話題,除非你對(duì)它已經(jīng)有過充足的調(diào)研或了解,否則很可能會(huì)弄巧成拙。

      小V示范:

      Since the first day I “fell in love with” art, I have wondered how an artist’s style can be affected by the experience he or she had in their early life stages, since the exsiting researhes and investigations tend to lay more emphasize on the external factors, such as a movement or a certain school, when it comes to the style of an artist. But these factors could never explain why those beheaded men in Caravaggio’s painting looks so much like himself, it was just because of his eccentricity? Driven by a strong curiosity, I searched out every documentary about him, trying to figure out the actual reason behind it....

美國(guó)藝術(shù)留學(xué)

Source:https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/21-facts-about-caravaggio

美國(guó)本科留學(xué)

Source:https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/21-facts-about-caravaggio

      最后,小V為大家總結(jié)出了

      寫作中的Do和Don’t

美國(guó)本科留學(xué)

      另外插播一條小消息:關(guān)于Covid-19 Epidemic 的可選論文今年繼續(xù)保留,位于Additional Information一欄,大家可根據(jù)時(shí)間安排和實(shí)際水平選擇。


美國(guó)藝術(shù)留學(xué)機(jī)構(gòu)

(Source: https://apply.commonapp.org/common/6/35)

看到這里,

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文章標(biāo)簽:Common App Essay,美本申請(qǐng)