如何写出一篇强有力的Why School文书？
How to Write a Strong “Why This College" Essay
如何写出一篇强有力的 “Why School "的文书
Supplemental essays have been around for generations, and there’s a good reason: they enable admissions officers to see just how serious a candidate is about the target college. That’s particularly important in this test-opolumes, especially to selective colleges and public research universities. tional admissions era characterized by unprecedented application v
附加文书已经存在了几代人，而且有一个很好的理由：它们使招生人员能够看到候选人对目标大学有多认真。这一点在目前的考试垄断中尤为重要，尤其是对于那些选择性的大学和公立研究型大学。
I always tell students to picture an admissions reader at their screen reading hundreds of essays. Yours has to stand out and grab their attention. So get ready to nail those supplemental essays, especially your response to the most common prompt: Why [Name of College]?
我总是告诉学生，想象一个招生人员在他们的屏幕前阅读数以百计的文书。你的文书必须脱颖而出，抓住他们的注意力。因此，请准备好这些附加文书，特别是你对最常见的提示的回应。为什么选择[学院名称]？
How Colleges Use Supplemental Essays
大学如何使用附加文书
According to an article in the Cornell Sun, supplemental essays are reviewed at multiple steps in a complex applicant review process. “The essay is the opportunity for students to demonstrate both their writing skills and that they have taken the time to research and learn about Cornell,” states Pamela Tan, now Deputy Director of Admissions.
根据《康奈尔太阳报》的一篇文章，在复杂的申请审查过程中，附加文书要经过多个步骤的审查。“文书是学生展示他们的写作技巧和他们花时间研究和了解康奈尔大学的机会，"现在的招生副主任Pamela Tan说。
On the Tufts website, Becky Stiles, Associate Director, Tufts Admission, shares:
在塔夫茨大学的网站上，塔夫茨大学招生部副主任贝基-斯蒂尔斯分享说。
“I do want to stress the part about being specific in your Why Tufts? Essay . . . Specificity allows you to show off your knowledge of our community while also helping admissions officers picture you here . . . This year, I will read close to 3,000 supplemental essay questions, and it is surprisingly easy to tell when a student just isn’t excited or honest. Put a lot of hustle into your supplement. Know that the time you take pays off . . . Some students who end up applying to Tufts might not have us at the top of their list or have shown demonstrated interest in the traditional sense. But some of those students will show us through their application that they are quintessential Jumbo.”
“我确实想强调关于在你的《为什么是塔夫茨？...。具体的内容可以让你展示你对我们社区的了解，同时也帮助招生人员想象你在这里的样子。今年，我将阅读近3000个补充文书问题，而且令人惊讶的是，很容易看出一个学生只是不兴奋或不诚实。在你的附加材料中投入大量的精力。要知道，你所花的时间是有回报的。一些最终申请塔夫茨大学的学生可能没有把我们放在他们名单的首位，或者没有表现出传统意义上的兴趣。但其中一些学生会通过他们的申请向我们展示他们是典型的Jumbo。"
How Colleges Present Their Essay Prompt
大学如何提出他们的文书提示
Here are a few “Why [Name of College]?” prompts released for the 2020-21 application cycle.
以下是为2020-21年申请周期发布的一些 “为什么[学院名称]？"的文书题目。
There are thousands of universities and colleges. Why are you interested in attending Chapman? (Chapman, 200 words or fewer)
有成千上万的大学和学院。你为什么对参加查普曼大学感兴趣？(查普曼，200字或更少)
While arguing a Dartmouth-related case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1818, Daniel Webster, Class of 1801, delivered this memorable line:
1818年，1801班的丹尼尔-韦伯斯特在美国最高法院为一个与达特茅斯有关的案件进行辩论时，说出了这句令人难忘的话。
"It is, sir,…a small college, and yet there are those who love it!" As you seek admission to the Class of 2026, what aspects of the College's program, community, or campus environment attract your interest? (Dartmouth, 100 words)
“先生，它是一所小学院，但也有一些人热爱它！" 当你寻求加入2026级时，学院的课程、社区或校园环境的哪些方面吸引你的兴趣？(达特茅斯，100字)
Why are you applying to Occidental? What are your intellectual curiosities and why do you think Occidental is the right place for you to pursue them? (Occidental, 200 words max)
你为什么要申请西方学院？你有哪些智力上的好奇心，为什么你认为西方学院是你追求这些好奇心的正确场所？(西方大学，最多200字)
Tell us why you would like to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition, please include why you are interested in studying the major(s) you have selected. If you selected undecided, please describe your areas of possible academic interest. (Wisconsin, 650 words)
告诉我们你为什么想去威斯康星大学麦迪逊分校。此外，请包括你为什么对学习你所选择的专业感兴趣。如果你选择了未决定的专业，请描述你可能感兴趣的学术领域。(威斯康辛州，650字)
This is just a brief sampling, of course. As you tackle your supplements, you are bound to encounter this very popular prompt, with some colleges allowing more words than others. On the Common App, supplemental essay questions often appear in sections other than Writing, and this year is no exception. So check carefully before assuming that you’re off the hook.
当然，这只是一个简单的样本。当你处理你的补充材料时，你一定会遇到这个非常受欢迎的提示，有些大学允许的字数比其他大学多。在通用申请中，附加文书问题经常出现在写作以外的部分，今年也不例外。因此，在假设你已经脱险之前，请仔细检查
Your Plan of Attack
你的攻击计划
Your response to the prompt is a special opportunity to link your skills, interest and research to that specific college.
你对提示的回应是一个特殊的机会，可以将你的技能、兴趣和研究与该特定学院联系起来。
Try these four techniques:
试试这四个技巧
Take Notes 做笔记
Grid Out Your Ideas 整理你的想法
Focus Foremost on Academics 把重点放在学术上
Write With Style 写得有风格
Be Concise 简洁
Take notes 做好笔记
While I like students to tackle their Personal Essay before writing the supplemental essays, you may want to switch that order if you’re taking a tour soon. Some of my students report that they’ve recently been able to attend formal admissions events; others have gone to campuses and taken self-guided tours. Of course, many have done virtual tours. No matter how you’ve seen a college, jot down your thoughts while they’re fresh in your mind. You don’t want to confuse one college with another. No admissions reader at Michigan wants to read an essay about sitting at the Memorial Union Terrace overlooking Lake Mendota. (That’s Wisconsin, not Michigan.)
虽然我喜欢学生在写附加文书之前处理他们的个人文书，但如果你很快要去参观，你可能想改变这个顺序。我的一些学生报告说，他们最近能够参加正式的招生活动；另一些学生则去了校园，进行自助参观。当然，许多人已经做了虚拟旅游。无论你是如何看待一所大学的，趁着你的想法还在脑海中，把它们记下来。你不想把一所大学和另一所大学搞混。密歇根大学的招生人员不希望读到一篇关于坐在纪念联盟平台上俯瞰门多塔湖的文章。(那是威斯康星州，不是密歇根州）。
Grid out your ideas
划分你的想法
Even if you are a masterful writer, it pays to map out your response writing paragraphs.
即使你是一个高超的作家，也要为你的回应写作段落绘制地图。
Focus foremost on academics
首要关注的是学术
If you’ve been to New Orleans, you know that it’s about as lively a city as possible, including quaint streets, po ’boys, beignets and a classic streetcar. While Tulane Admissions appreciates that you love its unique town, would you really take up too many words writing about eating in New Orleans? After all, Tulane is a major research university located on the opposite side of the famous French Quarter. It embodies community service. Highly qualified students receive offers of special housing and honors programs. So whatever your plans might be should you wind up in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, spare Tulane the details and tell them why you want to join their community.
如果你去过新奥尔良，你知道它是一个尽可能活泼的城市，包括古朴的街道、po 'boy、beignets和经典的有轨电车。虽然杜兰大学招生办感谢你对其独特的城市的热爱，但你真的会占用太多文字来写在新奥尔良的饮食吗？毕竟，杜兰大学是一所主要的研究型大学，位于著名的法国区的对面。它体现了社区服务。高素质的学生可以得到特殊的住房和荣誉课程。因此，无论你的计划是什么，如果你在狂欢节期间出现在新奥尔良，请不要告诉杜兰大学这些细节，并告诉他们为什么你想加入他们的社区。
The same holds true of colleges in major urban centers (think NYU, BU, USC). Sure, you want to go to college in [name of city] because of all it has to offer. But would a college rather hear about its location or its academics? Nearby shops or its research labs? What you’d do on a day off or what you’d contribute while on campus? You get the idea.
主要城市中心的大学也是如此（想想纽约大学、BU、南加州大学）。当然，你想在[城市名称]上大学，因为它能提供的一切。但是，一所大学更愿意听到它的位置还是它的学术？附近的商店还是它的研究实验室？你在休息日会做什么，还是你在校园里会做出什么贡献？你会明白的。
The student I referred to above took a virtual tour of Tulane, which she used in her introduction. She went on to elaborate on the key points in the grid above. She was admitted Early Action as a Tulane Honors Scholar, receiving the Founders Award merit scholarship: $23,000 annually! With her permission, I am sharing some of her essay below. (For more, check out Supplementing the College Supplement.)
我上面提到的那个学生对杜兰大学进行了一次虚拟参观，她在介绍中使用了这一点。她继续阐述了上述网格中的关键点。她作为杜兰大学的荣誉学者被提前录取，获得了创始人奖的优秀奖学金：每年23,000美元！在她看来，这是一个很好的机会。经她同意，我在下面分享她的部分文书。(更多内容，请查看《大学补习》)。
Her opening sentence:
她的开场白
The first virtual campus tour I viewed during my college search process was Tulane’s, and I have yet to view a virtual tourthat had as much as an impact on me.
在我寻找大学的过程中，我看的第一个虚拟校园之旅是杜兰大学的，我还没有看过一个对我有那么大影响的虚拟校园之旅。
Her thesis statement
她的论文陈述
I would like to spend my next four years at a campus that values a balance between academics and involvement in campus life as well as a commitment to their surrounding community, and Tulane checks that box.
我想在一个重视学术和参与校园生活之间的平衡以及对周围社区的承诺的校园里度过我的未来四年，而杜兰大学符合这个条件。
Her concluding paragraph:
她的结尾一段
Ultimately, the strong sense of community of collaborative, service-oriented, and happy students is what has drawn me into the spirited environment at Tulane. I know it is a place where I will not only pursue many academically enriching and challenging opportunities but also where I will find my happiness and form connections with others that will last a lifetime.
归根结底，由合作、服务导向和快乐的学生组成的强烈的社区意识是吸引我进入杜兰大学这个充满活力的环境的原因。我知道在这个地方，我不仅会追求许多学术上的丰富和挑战机会，而且会在这里找到我的幸福，并与他人形成终生的联系。
Write with style
写得有风格
Remember the storytelling approach that worked so well with your Common App Personal Essay? It can work just as well with the Why [Name of College]? essay. You have a story to tell about why you picked that college and what you can add to its community. Let them hear you!
还记得在你的通用申请个人文书中非常有效的讲故事的方法吗？它在 “为什么选择[大学名称]"一文中也能发挥同样的作用。你有一个故事要讲，为什么你会选择那所大学，以及你能为其社区带来什么。让他们听到你的声音!
That’s not to say that every supplemental essay needs to be clever and loaded with supporting details; some word counts won’t allow that. Be sincere, and use the checklist below. Read your essay out loud if that helps. Share it with a trusted friend or teacher.
这并不是说每篇附加文书都需要聪明和充满支持性的细节；有些字数是不允许的。要真诚，并使用下面的检查表。大声读出你的文书，如果这有帮助的话。与一个值得信赖的朋友或老师分享。
Be concise
要简明扼要
Tulane’s word count (i.e., up to 800 words) is about as high as you’ll see for Why [Name of College]? What if you’re a prospective film major targeting Chapman University and you have 200 words to show your love? You can’t afford to spare too many words on the proximity to Hollywood. So take those 200 words and make sure you tell Chapman admissions readers what you want to study, how their program will enable you to maximize your experience and what else you’ll be involved with if you’re fortunate enough to be included in their Class of 2026.
杜兰大学的字数（即最多800字）与你所看到的为什么[学院名称]的字数差不多。如果你是一个以查普曼大学为目标的未来电影专业的学生，你有200个字来表达你的爱意呢？你不能在靠近好莱坞的问题上放过太多的字。因此，利用这200个字，确保你告诉查普曼大学的招生读者你想学习什么，他们的课程如何使你的经验最大化，以及如果你有幸被纳入他们的2026级，你还会参与什么。
Four Things NOT to do on the "Why This College" Essay
在 “为什么选择这所大学 "的文书中，有四件事不能做
Don’t write what you can read on the website. (They already know that.)
1、不要写你能在网站上读到的东西。(他们已经知道了）。
Don’t assume optional really means optional. (It doesn’t.)
2、不要认为可选项目真的意味着可选。(并非如此）。
Don’t tell them they’re the only college that offers incredible internships. (They’re not.)
3、不要告诉他们，他们是唯一提供不可思议的实习机会的大学。(他们不是。)
Don’t reuse essays for different colleges. If you must cut and paste, be sure to edit and customize!
4、不要重复使用不同大学的文山内湖。如果你一定要剪切和粘贴，一定要编辑和定制!
Supplemental Essay Checklist
附加文书检查表
Look through all sections of the college’s supplement for prompts (not just Writing).
查看大学附加材料的所有部分的提示（不仅仅是写作）。
Be sure the essay is written in authentic voice (yours).
确保文书是以真实的声音（你的）来写。
Check English grammar and usage.
检查英语语法和用法。
Verify the word count.
核实字数。
Use the Common App Preview button.
使用Common App的预览按钮。
Link your experiences to the college.
将你的经历与大学联系起来。
We never know what will happen in a given year. But If you follow these tips, you’ll be on your way to attaining the desired outcome, hopefully at your first choice school!
我们永远不知道在某一年会发生什么。但是，如果你遵循这些提示，你就会在达到预期结果的道路上，希望能在你的第一选择的学校!
Keep Reading
继续阅读
Read on for more tips on writing college essays or view Nina Berler's eBook on Supplemental Essays.
继续阅读更多关于写大学文书的提示，或查看Nina Berler的补充文书电子书。
Applying early? See what other applicants are saying on the early decision forums.
提前申请？看看其他申请人在早期决定论坛上是怎么说的。
