申请美国大学的文书素材选择（优秀范文5篇）

第一篇：申请美国大学的文书素材选择

申请美国大学的文书素材选择（2016版）

在每个申请季，AADPS的老师们总会发现不少意图申请一流美国大学的中国高中生不知道如何选择写进留学文书里面的素材。虽然他们在国内早已接受过长达数十年的中文作文训练，面对千奇百怪的美国大学留学文书题目仍然力有不逮。有的时候，当他们回忆起自己之前的生活时，感觉脑中一片空白，似乎没有任何东西值得一写。另一些时候，他们想起了过去的种种酸甜苦辣：

「我参加了一次去南极的旅行」

「我在美国的寄宿家庭里度过了很愉快的时光」

「我去云南参加了一次中草药的考察」

「我举办了学校本年度的亚洲文化祭」

「我创立了我们学校第一个滑板社」

面对这一个接一个的成就，他们往往不知道如何取舍，恨不得一股脑儿全部塞到短短的留学文书里去。但是单凭数百英文单词，想把一个故事的来龙去脉说清楚尚且不易，所以最终的结果成了一篇什么都写了一点，但什么都没说清楚的流水账。

另外一个方面来说，留学文书选材的重要性，其实是在逐年提升的。陈欣老师每年都要带着AADPS的老师们把所有重要的美国大学文书题目全部过一遍，也因此发现了一个明显的大趋势：文书题目正在从对空的论述（后面提到的第四象限）转向务实的记叙（后面提到的第一象限，当然再扭过一点就到第二象限去了）。这种变化，据我们推断，也是因为申请人数近年来的稳步增长，让学校意识到之前天马行空式文书的一些弊端——很多人有真才实学，但反而不好在这方面体现；而有些人擅长于在写作上发挥，但是被学校录取之后实际能力却不相匹配。所以用大白话说，学校想踏踏实实的了解：你是谁？从哪里来？到哪里去？

留学申请象限

AADPS的老师们认为，引人入胜的留学文书，首先要构筑在丰满动人的素材基础上。这就是为什么我们提倡每位学生在开始正式的写作前都要有一个从一天到数天不等的头脑风暴过程。通过把自己以往的经历在纸面上充分整理，并尝试利用留学申请象限来进行定位，学生们将能更好的了解自身优势和劣势，在此基础上进行素材的挑选和分配。

对学生而言，他在网申系统里所填写的每一项活动和其他特殊情况都可以在留学申请象限上找到一个相应的点。这个点横轴上越靠右，代表此经历对学生自身的影响越大。与之相对的，纵轴上越向上，说明此经历对学生周围人的影响越大。在两轴交汇的位置，代表整体中国申请者的平均水平。整体上来看，横轴和纵轴将整个平面分成了四个象限，逆时针编号下来分别是第一象限（探索者）、第二象限（领袖）、第三象限（凡人）和第四象限（哲学家）。

横轴（自我影响）刻度

•300: 极为特殊的身份—黄黑混血儿

•250: 父母特殊情况—市级干部、上市公司高管

•150: 特殊的成长环境—父母过世、孤儿、家暴受害者、残疾、非中国籍（发展中国家）•100: 特殊的成长环境—逆境、人生变故、重大疾病、非中国籍（母语非英语的发达国家）•80: 坚持了五年以上的特殊习惯

•70: 父母影响—校友、大学教授、企业家、子承父业 •50: 自身特殊情况—不同的性取向、严重但不致命的错误 •45: 人生感悟及跨文化经历 •20: 坚持了一年以上的特殊习惯 •10: 丰富的日常生活—实习、乐团

•-5: 日常生活—参加SAT考试、学习物理

•-20: 无意义的日常生活—家务劳动、体育运动 •-50: 无意义的日常生活—吃饭、喝水

请注意即便是完全相同的经历，对于不同人的影响可能是截然相反的。学生需要依据自身的主观感受对每一经历的横坐标进行修正。

纵轴（他人影响）刻度

•200: 影响了数万人—少年作家

•100: 影响了万人—正规国际比赛奖项 •60: 影响了五千人—正规国家比赛奖项 •40: 影响了千人—三好学生、校报编辑

•30: 影响了百人—社团创始人、有成果的社区服务、网络意见领袖 •20: 影响了数十人—活动领导

•-5: 影响了十人—帮助同学解答问题、支教、募捐

•-20: 影响了至亲或死党—家务劳动、恋爱、疾病、体育运动 •-50: 私生活—吃饭、喝水

象限

每一个经历的坐标在确定以后，将落在四个象限中的一个，按照逆时针顺序，我们有： 1.探索者(Adventurer)：这是最优先出现在留学文书中的素材。在这样的经历里，学生既对周围的世界产生的巨大影响，自身也同时有了极大转变，因此会非常有话可说。一般的美国大学申请者均需要找出两三个落在此象限中的事例，并优先用在重要性较大的留学文书中（例如Common申请系统的主文书）。绝大部分的文书题目期待的也是这种类型经验的分享。2.领袖(Leader)：在这一类型的素材里学生自身的存在感差了一些，但是他为身边人群所付出的努力已被证明是有充分回报的。一般多元化并强调政治正确的公立大校会希望通过专门的题目来了解申请者在这方面的情况。

3.凡人(Everybody)：普通人在大多数时候的生存状态。无论是作者还是读者都很了解，所以一般没有必要再大肆渲染了。偶尔有留学文书题目会涉及到相关的情况，大多数情况照实回答即可。例外的是对自己留级、违纪或屡次转学等负面情况的解释，这是需要仔细考虑的。4.哲学家(Philosopher)：对于非同寻常的状况，一定有必要解释清楚并体现在自身成长中发生的作用。但即便是私人独有想法和见解，仍不失为一种对核心申请文书的很好补充，能够更加立体的呈现学生形象。强调博雅教育(liberal arts education)精英名校很希望通过留学文书这一途径来考察申请者的思维深度和与学校文化的契合度。

案例

为帮助读者更好的理解如何把自身的经历映射到留学申请象限上，下面给出一些示例素材以及所对应的坐标值：

•(170, 25)：学生的父亲是一名救火队员，后英勇殉职。学生一开始不能理解这种选择，但在随后的数月里逐渐意识到了他父亲所代表的「责任感」的深刻意义，于是身体力行，在学业上、家庭上和社区服务上都有了一定的成就。横轴在150的基础上考虑到父亲的职业背景酌情增加。纵轴依据活动的客观影响力界定在20与30之间。

•(80, 60)：学生组织兴趣社团翻译冷门的时政海外新闻，运营自己的公众号和网站。注意一般情况下纵坐标这块没有这么高，是因为切入点比较讨巧，美国学校会欣赏，无形中加大了活动在他们心中的分量。

•(20, 60)：学生自小参加国家级合唱团，参与过数百场国内外演出，与老师和同学们结下了深厚友情。横轴考虑到是一个长期习惯，本应该在80左右，但合唱本身还是比较常规的活动，而且再加上仅仅是团体活动中的一分子，所以要减小到20。纵轴也是考虑到经历本身的性质也由国际性影响力的80基准值减小到60。

•(80, 40)：学生随研究机构在西部志愿并义务发放药品，意外的发现药品的原材料即是产自当地。本身材料比较中规中矩，但横轴加了20分是因为这个研究机构刚出了中国第一个科研方面的诺贝尔奖。

•(80, 0)：学生在国内上的大学，从计算机换到医学，然后发现不大喜欢就gap然后直接申请转到美国学校学数学。属于乖乖女的类型，唯一能说得上的领导力体现是在高中阶段竞选上了班长。在充分发挥这一点的基础上，我们利用了中美医学院性质的不同，凸显了学生的优秀，把本来可能被认为是负面影响的转专业经历处理成了学生的最大优势。

•(60, 10)：因为家庭投资的缘故，学生要横跨半个美国安排一次搬家，也要代替语言不通的母亲和当地的房东一一沟通租一个满意的house。遇到的逆境在横轴上加分不少，也特别注意了强调对自己家庭责任感和沟通能力的培养，因此纵轴也有一些加成。•(40,-5)：学生处在青春叛逆期，但在去美国首都参观的过程中被国父们的进取精神所感染，最终浪子回头并发奋图强。作为相对重要的人生感悟在横轴上可能有30左右，但是加上国际化视角有一点适当的加分。对他人的影响力基本上就可以忽略不计了。

•(10,-20)：学生小时候在家长的严加管教下练习钢琴，最终考到了业余九级，回头看来非常感谢父母对自己品格的磨炼。横轴考虑到学生现在并未把音乐作为事业，也中断了练习，且申请者中有音乐才能是一件很普遍的事情，最终只能有10左右。纵轴考虑到没有具体例子证明美德后续的发扬，也没有参加任何正规乐团表演，就会落到平均水平以下。

第二篇：美国大学申请文书

Short Answer

Please select three of the following five prompts and provide a response of approximately 150 words to each.Your responses will be read by Notre Dame admissions counselors as we seek to learn more about you.We encourage you to use personal examples, anecdotes, or anything that helps differentiate you from your peers.1.Undergraduates at Notre Dame have the opportunity to engage in original research where they strive to make a professional contribution in their field.A typical summer grant of $5,000 enables students to pursue their passions in a full range of disciplines: from the arts, humanities and architecture to science, engineering and business.If you were given a $5,000 grant to study a topic, what would you choose to research and why?

Doing a research on Iphone4's successful marketing in China must be interesting.The Apple Company has been looking for innovative ways to meet new and existing consumer’s needs.The model before Iphone4 did not sell well in China.However, Iphone4 has achieved a great increase in consumer demand.I can see Iphone4 everywhere in China.It was even sold out immediately after it appeared in the on-line Apple store.There must be some secrets of the new selling model of Iphone4.I would spend the grant to find the answer.2.Notre Dame’s mission statement emphasizes an education should “create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice." Describe an experience that engaged you both intellectually and morally.I had an experience ofbeing a volunteer in a library for two months.I felt proud of myselfdoing the job.I looked for books for readers, and helped the librarians with their work.It was just different to be avolunteer from a reader in the library, for serving the public made me happier and trained me to be more polite.3.Many people form a list of once-in-a-lifetime activities to accomplish.For example, individuals on the admissions staff hope to visit all the national parks, publish a fiction novel or waddle with penguins in Antarctica.What are a few of the items on your list?

I'm interested in many things.Ifthere were some once-in-a-lifetime activities to accomplish, then building a band would be the first choice on my list.I love music and playing the piano.It would be gorgeous to work with several friends sharing the same ambition and dream.The second thing may be travelling abroad.I believe that travelling is a way and part of learning.It would be even moreamazing to have experience living and studying in a different country, even only once, in my lifetime.4.You have 150 words.Take a risk.The willingness to take a risk demonstrates a positive attitude to life.Whatever the result is, the process and mood in taking a risk are more attractive.When I was traveling in Thailand with my parents at the age of five, I decided to take a flight in a special fire balloon linked by a rope to a speedboat.The tour guide said I was the youngest one ever to take that flight.Without any fear or hesitation, I flew into the intoxicating sky.The boat fast moving, the sea breeze swaying, and the golden sunshine setting off the greenish orchid sea constituted a view like paradise.The flying experience was glorious and I was totally immersed in that exciting delight.Growing up, I now understand that only by taking a risk can I see what other people cannot see and enjoy what they cannot enjoy.5.Why are you interested in attending the University of Notre Dame?

The University of Notre Dame first came into my mind when I saw the movie Rudy in my middle school.The fascinating view of the Notre Dame campus and the combatant spirit of the football team were so appealing to me that I decided at once to plan to pursue my academic enthusiasm in this university.The fairy tale about Rudy, the ocean of knowledge and courage it has, the Mendoza College of Business with its traditions and teaching of values and morals, all attract me..I am particularly interested in the business school and I am going to apply to it.As is well known, the lack of moral sense and principles of food producers in China has resulted in food poisoning and the loss of trust from the public.I hope, through my own efforts, I can convert some businessmen’s moral values and thus do something to help the Chinese people.

第三篇：美国大学申请文书1

美国大学申请优秀文书范文

I wake up every morning to its rich scent.My parents cannot start the day with out it.I often wait in line and pay $3.85 to buy it.The senior lodge at my school is littered with empty Starbucks cups containing only the remnants of skim lattes, , and mocha frapuccinos.Coffee is a staple of American life that many take for granted, but few take the time to think about how they get it.In the rural village of Cadillo in the Dominican Republic, the people’s livelihood depends on coffee.Rows of green coffee plants line steep hills and scatter the countryside.The people there pick and sell the coffee beans but receive little profit for their hard work.During the week I spent in Cadilloplaying , I witnessed the poverty these coffee farmers endure.Their homes are small and dark, furnished with only a few wooden chairs, a table and a few beds.There is no lawyers and electricity in Cadillo and I especially remember the emptiness of the village at night, when I could only vaguely see the faces I illuminated with my flashlight.I can still see the shiny metal bowl in which they used to bathe, and Jose, a neighbor who was missing several teeth because like most people in Cadillo, he lacks a toothbrush and could not afford a.These images still burn in my mind, but it was the people of Cadillo more than anything who opened my eyes to the importance of social justice.Before I met them it was just a concept I heard about a few times a year at church when a missionary would come to speak about the poor people in Africa or South America and explain why it was our duty to help them.These people were far removed.A small fraction of my weekly allowance, once a year, and I could remove them from my mind.After living for a week with a family in Cadillo, however, I understood for the first time that it was real people leading these lives.The family I stayed with there took me in as part of their family and gave me a taste of their life.I remember my Dominican father, Barilla’s face as he played guitar and how he laughed kindly when I struggled to play the chords he had taught me.I could feel the warmth and sincerity of my Dominican mother, Marsela, when she sat and talked with me about my home and family after a long day of work.And I will always remember how much fun I had playing catch or blowing bubbles with their two children, Jendi and Andisco.I will not forget the images I saw or the people I encountered.They made me realize that my work does not end with the school I helped build, the holes I helped dig, or the roads I helped widen.They showed me that there are real, wonderful people being treated unjustly and that I cannot sit back and let that happen.I cannot be silent when I know that people are getting rich off the coffee Barilla receives so little for.It is my responsibility to be active, to teach what I have learned, to fight injustices in my community and the world.I am not sure if I will ever visit Cadillo again but I do know that I can continue what I started there.I can tell people what I saw and spread awareness about injustice in the world.I can volunteer in my own

美国大学申请优秀文书范文

community to help make changes at home and fundraise to aid third world countries.And tomorrow, after I wake up to the smell of fresh coffee, I can make a difference.啄木鸟教育编译：我每天早晨在它的浓郁的香气中醒来;没有它，我父母就没办法开始新一天的工作生活;我常常排着队，然后付上3.85美元买到它。我学校的高级旅馆里堆满了空的星巴克杯子，杯子里还有拿铁、摩卡的残留物。咖啡是美国人生活的一部分，许多人理所当然的享受着，很少有人花时间想过咖啡是怎么来的。

在多米尼加共和国有一个农村叫Cadillo，当地居民赖以生计的只有咖啡。一排排绿色的咖啡树长在陡峭的山坡上、围着村子分散开来。人们采摘咖啡豆，然后卖出，这样辛苦的劳作只换来微薄的收入。

我在Cadillo游玩过一个星期，我亲眼目睹了这些种植咖啡的农民们所忍受的贫困。他们的房子小、而且阴暗，里面的家具只有几张木头做的椅子、一张桌子及几张床。这里没有律师，没有电。我尤其记得Cadillo村里晚上的空寂，那些晚上，我只能通过我的手电筒微弱的光看到模糊的脸。我还记得他们洗漱用的磨得发亮的金属盆。Jose是我在村里住的那一家的邻居，他像Cadillo村许多人一样缺了几颗牙齿，他没有牙刷，因为买不起。

这些画面仍然在我的脑海里翻滚，但正是Cadillo村里的人比其他所有更让我见识到社会公平的重要性。在我遇到他们之前，“”社会公平”只是一个概念，每年在教堂里会听到几次，牧师会说非洲及南美的穷苦难民以及我们为什么有义务帮助他们。这些人离我这么遥远，尽管以前我会从每个星期的费用省下一点，每年把省下来的钱捐一次出去。然而，在我同Cadillo的人们生活了一个星期后，我才第一次理解到真有人是这样生活着。

我在Cadillo生活的那家人待我如亲人，让我体验了一番他们的生活是什么样子。我记得我的多米尼加爸爸Barilla。他弹吉他时的模样，他教我学乐器以及看我费劲拉弦时怎么温和地笑我。我能感受到我多米尼加妈妈Marsela的温暖和真诚，在她一天的长时间劳作之后，她坐下来和我唠家常，谈我的家乡、我的家人。我也将永远记得我和他们的两个孩子Jendi、Andisco追逐打闹吹泡泡的乐趣。

我永远不会忘记这些画面，不会忘记我遇到的人。是他们让我意识到我的责任不仅仅是帮助建设学校、挖洞种树和修宽道路。他们让我真实的看到这样一群善良的人受到不平等的对待，而我不能坐视不理。看到有人从咖啡获取暴利而我的多米尼加爸爸却得到很少，我无法沉默。我要积极主动、去教给别人我所学到的，去为我生活在的社区以及世界出现的不平等斗争，这是我的职责。

我不确定我以后是否还会去Cadillo，我能确定的是我会将从那里得到的继续下去。我会把我看到的告诉他人，让大家意识到这世界存在的不平等事实。我会在我生活的周边社区志愿服务，改变家乡，会为第三世界募捐。而当我明天闻着咖啡的香气中醒来，我知道我能为世界变美好做一点贡献

第四篇：申请美国大学入学文书范本

申请美国大学入学文书范本

I guess it was inevitable that I’d be on hockey skates at some point in mylife, but I did not expect that I’d become one of a rare group of female icehockey officials before I even reached high school.Being born into a family ofhockey players and figure skaters, it seemed that my destiny had already beendecided.Right from the beginning, my two older brothers and my father strapped meup and threw me onto the ice.I loved it and, in my mind, I was on my way tobecoming a female Gretzky!But my mom had to think of something fast to drag herlittle girl away from this sport of ruffians.Enter my first hot pink figureskating dress!That was all it took to launch fifteen years of competitivefigure skating.Even though figure skating soon became my passion, I always hadan unsatisfied yearning for ice hockey.It took a great deal of convincing frommy parents that competitive figure skating and ice hockey didn’t mix.My compromise became refereeing ice hockey;little did I know that I wasbeginning an activity that would influence my character and who I am today.WhenI began, I would only work with my dad and brothers.Everyone was friendly andaccepting because I had just started.I soon realized though that to get betterI needed to start refereeing with people I wasn’t related to, and that’s when myexperience drastically changed.An apologetic smile and an “I’m sorry” wasn’tgoing to

get me through games now.As I began officiating higher-level games anddealing with more arrogant coaches, I suddenly entered a new male-dominatedworld, a world I had never experienced before.My confidence was shot, and all Iwanted to do was get through each game and be able to leave.Sometimes I waseven too scared to skate along the teams’ benches because I would get upset bywhat the coaches would yell to me.“Do you have a hot date tonight, ref?” was atypical comment that coaches would spit at me during the course of a game.Intheir eyes, I did not belong on that ice, and they were going to do whateverthey could do to make sure no women wanted to officiate their games.I wasdetermined not to let them chase me off the ice.I made the decision to stand up for myself.I never responded rudely to thecoaches, but I did not let them walk all over me and destroy my confidenceanymore.I started to act and feel more like the 4-year certified AtlanticDistrict Official that I am.There were still a few situations that scared me.One time I called a penalty in a championship game during the third overtime andthe team I penalized ended up losing because they got scored on.I knew I hadmade the right call, even though I was unnerved when I saw the losing teams’parents waiting for me at my locker room;for the moment I wished I hadn’tcalled that penalty.Although it was scary at the time, I stood my ground andovercame my fears.That was an important

stepping-stone in my officiating careerand in my life.After four years of refereeing, I still can’t say it’s easy.Every gamehands me something new and I never know what to expect.Now I have theconfidence and preparation to deal with the unexpected, on and off the ice.Inow also know to take everything with a grain of salt and not let it get to me.I have learned that life is just like being out on the ice;if I am prepared andact with confidence, I will be perceived as confident.These are the littlelessons that I’m grateful to have learned as a woman referee.Things to Notice About This Essay

1.The author tells an interesting story about her experiences as areferee.2.A sense of her personality—determination, flexibility, good humor—comesthrough in the narration.3.Details like “Do you have a hot date tonight, ref?” make the narrationmemorable(we’d love to hear more of these kinds of details).4.The essay needs a faster start.The first paragraph(three sentences)says the same thing in both the first and third sentences—and gives away theessay’s surprise in the second!A good revision would delete all of paragraphone and start at paragraph two.5.There’s too much frame here and not enough picture.The essay needsfurther development, especially about the difficulties of

becoming and being aref, to keep it vivid.6.The author should “dwell” in the meaning of the experience a little moreat the end—“I wonder about…I also think…Sometimes I believe….” Significantexperiences like this one, woven through many years of the author’s life, don’tmean just one thing—there are more insights and lessons to explore here.

第五篇：申请美国大学入学文书范本

申请美国大学入学文书范本

I guess it was inevitable that I’d be on hockey skates at some point in my life, but I did not expect that I’d become one of a rare group of female ice hockey officials before I even reached high school.Being born into a family of hockey players and figure skaters, it seemed that my destiny had already been decided.Right from the beginning, my two older brothers and my father strapped me up and threw me onto the ice.I loved it and, in my mind, I was on my way to becoming a female Gretzky!But my mom had to think of something fast to drag her little girl away from this sport of ruffians.Enter my first hot pink figure skating dress!That was all it took to launch fifteen years of competitive figure skating.Even though figure skating soon became my passion, I always had an unsatisfied yearning for ice hockey.It took a great deal of convincing from my parents that competitive figure skating and ice hockey didn’t mix.My compromise became refereeing ice hockey;little did I know that I was beginning an activity that would influence my character and who I am today.When I began, I would only work with my dad and brothers.Everyone was friendly and accepting because I had just started.I soon realized though that to get better I needed to start refereeing with people I wasn’t related to, and that’s when my experience drastically changed.An apologetic smile and an “I’m sorry” wasn’t going to get me through games now.As I began officiating higher-level games and dealing with more arrogant coaches, I suddenly entered a new male-dominated world, a world I had never experienced before.My confidence was shot, and all I wanted to do was get through each game and be able to leave.Sometimes I was even too scared to skate along the teams’ benches because I would get upset by what the coaches would yell to me.“Do you have a hot date tonight, ref?” was a typical comment that coaches would spit at me during the course of a game.In their eyes, I did not belong on that ice, and they were going to do whatever they could do to make sure no women wanted to officiate their games.I was determined not to let them chase me off the ice.I made the decision to stand up for myself.I never responded rudely to the coaches, but I did not let them walk all over me and destroy my confidence anymore.I started to act and feel more like the 4-year certified Atlantic District Official that I am.There were still a few situations that scared me.One time I called a penalty in a championship game during the third overtime and the team I penalized ended up losing because they got scored on.I knew I had made the right call, even though I was unnerved when I saw the losing teams’

parents waiting for me at my locker room;for the moment I wished I hadn’t called that penalty.Although it was scary at the time, I stood my ground and overcame my fears.That was an important stepping-stone in my officiating career and in my life.After four years of refereeing, I still can’t say it’s easy.Every game hands me something new and I never know what to expect.Now I have the confidence and preparation to deal with the unexpected, on and off the ice.I now also know to take everything with a grain of salt and not let it get to me.I have learned that life is just like being out on the ice;if I am prepared and act with confidence, I will be perceived as confident.These are the little lessons that I’m grateful to have learned as a woman referee.Things to Notice About This Essay

1.The author tells an interesting story about her experiences as a referee.2.A sense of her personality—determination, flexibility, good humor—comes through in the narration.3.Details like “Do you have a hot date tonight, ref?” make the narration memorable(we’d love to hear more of these kinds of details).4.The essay needs a faster start.The first paragraph(three sentences)says the same thing in both the first and third sentences—and gives away the essay’s surprise in the second!A good revision would delete all of paragraph one and start at paragraph two.5.There’s too much frame here and not enough picture.The essay needs further development, especially about the difficulties of becoming and being a ref, to keep it vivid.6.The author should “dwell” in the meaning of the experience a little more at the end—“I wonder about…I also think…Sometimes I believe….” Significant experiences like this one, woven through many years of the author’s life, don’t mean just one thing—there are more insights and lessons to explore here.