美本招生角度解讀：為什么要寫文書？

No.1 理解招生官標準

你可能聽說過或是見到過大學的Admission頁面里的“holisticreview（綜合評估)”，許多大學遵循這個模式。 這意味著，不是只靠 SAT/ACT 或是某項硬性條件去決定申請者是否被錄取，相反，學校試圖去把申請人當做一個全面的人來認識和了解。 所以，需要申請者自己去完成相應的申請文書，從而向學校講述自己在分數之外是一個什么樣的人，我有哪些性格/品質/背景里的閃光點比其它申請者優秀。 另一方面，申請排名越是靠前的學校，申請者的硬實力，包括分數和Honors(甚至是活動)，越是相近。

 在這種情況下，學校只能通過分數之外的條件 一 即文書和面試來評估申請者的其它方面，比如:為什么要做這些活動，為什么要選這個專業，為什么花了這么多時間去比賽?除了分數和簡歷上寫的那些 “結果” ，你還有什么優點和故事嗎?

但很多學校是沒有面試的，即使有面試的學校很多也是 先看了學生的網申材料再去擇優發面試 。這樣一來，文書的重要性就不言而喻了。

需要注意的是，在文書材料中，招生官絕不僅僅是要考察申請者的寫作能力如何，而是需要看申謂者如何在字里行間體現 Ta 的 世界觀、價值觀、批判性思維能力、個人 特質等等 。因此，文書的重點是傳遞一個 亮點“人設“，而不是花大量時間精力在糾結選用高大上的詞匯、華麗的修辭，或者如何在全篇引經據典來展示自己的學富五車。 

No.2 招生官怎么看待文書

圣母大學的招生官說：

"The essay portion of both the Common Application and the Notre Dame Supplement to the CommonApplicatlon gives out admisslon committee the opportunity to get to know you. Whether 475 words, 537words, or 500 words on the dot, we find your essays to be the most enjoyable part of the applicationreading process. Why? Because we learn about important decision you've made, adventures you'vesurvived, lessons you've learned, family traditions you've experienced, challenges you've faced.embarrassing moments you've overcome. We do not offer an intervlew as part of the admisslonprocess, so it is through your essays that we are able to hear your volce, learn your sense of humor.empathize with your struggles. We get to know you, beyond lists of courses, numbers, and actlvities.Refilect. Have fun. Share yourself with us."

 威廉瑪麗學院招生官說:

'So why do we require an essay?

To get to know you better - more three -dimensionally so to speak. What makes you tick? What makesyou unlque? Who are you as a person? Why would i want to share a classroom or a residence hall with you?

Write about you; you're what you know. And you are in fact unique. There is something about you thatisn't commonplace. Find that thing and write about it. if it's something blg like growing up in a forelgrcountry, write about it. If it's something small like you always wear socks with strlpes for a particularreason, write about it. if it's something in between like your life-long hobby of collecting McDonaldsHappy Meal toys, write about it. The key is to find a topic that few others can write about.'

No.3 寫文書很可怕？換個角度看！

雖然寫文書從工作量上來說是我們申請季的重中之重，每一位回學也確實面臨著級盡腦汁地回憶、琢磨、開腦洞等種種苦楚(平均每個申請者的主文書修改次數在10-20次，有的甚至高達50-100次)。
 但請相信，由于每個申請者的個性都是獨特的，所以我們不妨轉換一個心態: 文書是你與學校溝通的途徑，同時也是一個你發現和認識自我的過程 。不但招生官需要去全面充分地了解你是一個什么樣的人，你自己也是一樣。

有了深刻的反思和對自我過去、現在、未來明確的認識，才能寫出令招生官信服的文章，才能讓文書這個部分成為你申請中的加分項。