棕榈发布｜加州大学UC申请系统迎来文书题目改革
棕榈大道的本意是通往斯坦福大学校园一条长达一英里的路,路两边植有166棵棕榈树。以这条笔直和壮观的路来命名学业之路寓意着: 通往理想之路。
最新消息！今天加州大学UC系统（共9所学校，包括UCB, UCLA等）延续了十年的申请文书格式终于迎来了改革。
在此之前，UC申请系统的Personal Statement一直是固定题目的两篇，转学或新生申请都是如此，学生没有任何选择余地。而根据今天加州大学官网公布的消息来看，新生申请和转学生申请的文书都发生了改变。
新生将从8个题目中自由选择4个进行回答，每篇回答的essay 不超过350个词。官网强调每一个问题都是平等的，招生官不会因为学生选择不同题目而对申请有任何差别对待。同时，每个问题没有对或错的答案，问题的目的在于让招生官更好得了解学生的个性，背景和兴趣。但是，UC推荐每个人选择与自己的经历最相关的问题回答，这样可以更好地反映每个人的不同的闪光点。UC 官方不断强调，文书最重要的是要表达你自己是谁，你最看重的是什么，你最希望和UC 分享什么。
对转学生来说，他们需要回答固定的1个问题，并从7个问题中挑选3个问题回答，同样不超过350词。所以一共是回答4个问题。个性的表达依然是UC强调的重中之重。
资深留美导师，斯坦佛教育学硕士、棕榈导师Chelsea认为，UC题目的变是“机遇和挑战并存”：
“8篇选4篇相比以前更加灵活，学生选择适合自己的题目，给了学生更多的自由从不同角度展示自己，同时每一篇字数350字相比以前下降了。有利于UC全方位地考察学生在标化成绩之外的方方面面。并且，UC给出了针对每个题目比较详细的指导，从侧面反映出他们从每一个题目想要看到学生的哪一点。比如，第一个题目是要求学生介绍领导力方面的经历，第二题是考察创新能力，了解学生如何用创新的，充满艺术感的方式解决问题。第三题关注的是特别的才能，展示学生与众不同的一面。第四题是商学院喜欢的题目：困难时如何克服。对于高中生来说，可能主要是学习上教育上遇到的困难。与此同时，题目的增加不仅代理了选择的自由，也带来了准备上的挑战。相比以前的2篇，4篇文章更加考验大家积累素材和认识自己的能力。并且，如何选择题目，如何着手下笔的似乎也变得更加困难。”
Chelsea老师特别提醒各位同学，文章的增多意味着同学们一定要提早准备，千万不能拖到最后一刻。提前准备更多的素材与例子，思考自己四个不同的故事，尽力展现自己各个方面的才能。
美国高中面试官、大学资深升学顾问、斯坦福教育学硕士、棕榈导师Tina对UC申请系统文书改变的解读：
“原先申请系统文章要求为两个大主题写1000字，现在4篇只要350字。现在可以展示不同的方面，变的更加灵活和个性化了。
8个小文书题目，UC对文章有了更加细致的要求。8个题目说明了大学在选择学生最看重的三个要素：第一你的学术能力，以及对哪一个academic subject感兴趣； 第二是你的community sense，如何contribute你的社区，如何变成更好的community member；第三是你的personal sight，有四个题目都围绕这一块，你是如何突破自我，如何解决困难，如何变成更好的人，有过哪些challenge。非常specific的东西，对学生写出来的内容要求更高。”
以下为官网发布的最新8个选答问题（针对新生）和对于问题的指导建议：
（原文网址：http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/personal-questions/freshman/index.html）
Questions & Guidance
Remember, the personal questions are just that — personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who are you, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC.
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or a taking lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about your accomplishments and what you learned from the experience.What were your responsibilities?
Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?
2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?
How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?
Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you — just to name a few.
If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strived to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who are you today?
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?
If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, “How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends, or with my family?”
6. Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.
Things to consider: Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom — such as volunteer work, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or activities — and what you have gained from your involvement.Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)?
7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place – like your high school, hometown, or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?
8. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?
Things to consider: Don’t be afraid to brag a little. Even if you don’t think you’re unique, you are — remember, there’s only one of you in the world. From your point of view, what do you feel makes you belong on one of UC’s campuses? When looking at your life, what does a stranger need to understand in order to know you?
What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge, or opportunity that you think will help us know you better? We’re not necessarily looking for what makes you unique compared to others, but what makes you, YOU.
对于考生而言，丰富我们的课外经历、锻炼写作能力、挖掘更丰富的素材才是申请文书的根本。接下来希望大家继续关注棕榈大道本科留学，我们还会针对UC申请文章的变更推出专题讲座，帮助大家积极应对申请变化，变挑战为机遇。
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