美国本科网申系统新旧题目对比分析
上海前途出国美国本科部 刘展老师 原创
首先,旧题目六个问题之间有重合,新题目问题间相互独立。
例如旧题目1,3,5,6 基本上可以使用同一个素材。
旧题目1 是evaluate a significant experience
旧题目3是让写一个人并写出此人对你的影响。一个人对另一个人的影响不可能是凭空来的,大都是通过“事情”, 所以写“人”,归根到底还是写 “事” (experience),这样的话和旧题目1的重合就显而易见了。
旧题目5 虽然重点是在diversity,但要求仍旧是describe an experience
所以旧题目1 和题目 3, 5 之前的关系不是平等的,基本可以理解成包含和被包含的关系了。而新题目很难找到这样的重合之处。
其次,旧题目1 限制性太小,写什么都可以。新题目1 2 3 5 可以看作是旧题目1的分解,比旧题目1在深度上更进一步。
我想,如果做个统计的话应该有超过50% 的学生会选择这个题目,因为似乎是只要写“一件事”,都是满足题目要求的。也许是common app也意识到了这个问题,新的5个题目之间独立性更加强了。经过这样的分解后,题目间达到了一种平衡状态。
再次,新题目在表述上更加清晰明了。
题目的最大作用应该是引导学生怎么想,从而怎么写。好的题目应该表述十分清晰,申请者一目了然知道是在问什么。首先在长度上,新题目5个问题的字数基本相同,不再有过长的题目 (旧问题第5个字数较长)。然后在词汇层次上,5个问题没有出现一个难度较高的词汇,而之前的educational mix 和 ethical dilemma 会让一部分学生感到迷惑,从而放弃选择该题目。最后,取消了topic of your choice, 写作要求更加明确。
最后,新题目对学生写作的内容也有了很好的引导。
比如旧题目 3和4, 分别让写“a person”和“a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work”。可能学生家庭中有个亲戚自己很崇拜,就花大量篇幅写这个人的事情;也有可能是特别喜欢某个小说中的人物,就去详细讲述这个人的故事。而题目的真实意图是想让学生讲这些现实中和小说中的人物对“我”的影响,是否激励了我?是否让我能够更看清自己?是否给予了我某种品质?等等。我们实际申请中也确实有学生犯这样的错误。这样的话其实是脱离了personal essay 的主旨的,那就是“我”。写出一份完美的产品说明书可能算是好的个人作品,但不能算是好的college application essay。学生要想驾驭好这些题目,需要的是批判性思维能力。通过自我反省达到自我认知,最终获得一种思辨力。这也应该是common 换题最大的启示:美国院校会更加注重申请人的感悟,反思,成长!
附新旧common app 题目
旧1 Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
旧2 Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
旧3 Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
旧4 Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
旧5 A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
旧6 Topic of your choice
新1 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.
新2 Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what lessons did you learn?
新3 Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
新 4 Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?
新 5 Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.