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罗马假日
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电梯直达

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发表于 2007-12-5 23:00:49 |只看该作者 |倒序浏览

Admission Essay

With so many qualified applicants competingfor a limited number of spots, you simply cannot afford to overlook theimportance of the admission essay, your one opportunity to distinguish yourselffrom the hordes. Your essay must not only demonstrate your writing ability, butalso paint a vivid picture of your personality and character — a picture thatcompels a busy admission officer to push for your acceptance.

As you sit down to compose your essay, keepin mind the strategies below:

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Don't "Thesaurus-ize" Your Essay.Do Use Your Own Voice.
Admission officers can tell Roget from ahigh school senior. Big words, especially when misused, detract from the essay,inappropriately drawing the reader's attention and making the essay soundcontrived.

Before: Although I did a plethora ofactivities in high school, my assiduous efforts enabled me to succeed.

After: Although I juggled many activitiesin high school, I succeeded through persistent work.

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Don't Bore the Reader. Do Use InterestingLanguage.
Admission officers have to read hundreds ofessays, and they must often skim. They aren't looking for a new way to view theworld; they're looking for a new way to view you the applicant. The best way togrip your reader is to begin the essay with a captivating snapshot.

Before: The college admissions andselection process is a very important one, perhaps one that will have thegreatest impact on one's future. The college that a person will go to ofteninfluences his personality, views, and career.

After: An outside observer would havecalled the scene ridiculous: a respectable physician holding the bell of hisstethoscope to the chest of a small stuffed bear.

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Do Use Personal Detail. Show, Don't Tell.
Good essays are concrete and grounded inpersonal detail. They do not merely assert "I learned my lesson" orthat "these lessons are useful both on and off the field." They showit through personal detail.

Before: I developed a new compassion forthe disabled.

After: The next time Mrs. Cooper asked meto help her across the street, I smiled and immediately took her arm.

The first example is vague and could havebeen written by anybody. But the second sentence evokes a vivid image ofsomething that actually happened, placing the reader in the experience of theapplicant.

Top Ten Admission Essay Tips

Unlike every other aspect of theapplication, you control your essay. Make sure that the glimpse you give theadmission committee into your character, background, and writing ability is thevery best possible.

Keep the following in mind as you write:

1. Don't “thesaurus-ize” your essay. Do useyour own voice.
Admission officers can tell Roget from ahigh school senior. Big words, especially when misused, detract from the essay,inappropriately drawing the reader's attention and making the essay soundcontrived.

Before: Although I did a plethora ofactivities in high school, my assiduous efforts enabled me to succeed.

After: Although I juggled many activitiesin high school, I succeeded through persistent work.

2. Don't bore the reader. Do beinteresting.
Admission officers have to read hundreds ofessays, and they must often skim. They’re not looking for a new way to view theworld; they're looking for a new way to view you, the applicant.

Before: The college admission and selectionprocess is a very important one, perhaps one that will have the greatest impacton one's future. The college that a person will go to often influences hispersonality, views, and career.

After: An outside observer would have calledthe scene ridiculous: a respectable physician holding the bell of hisstethoscope to the chest of a small stuffed bear.

3. Do use personal detail. Show, don'ttell!
Good essays are concrete and grounded inpersonal detail. They do not merely assert "I learned my lesson" orthat "these lessons are useful both on and off the field." They showit through personal detail.

Before: I developed a new compassion forthe disabled.

After: The next time Mrs. Cooper asked meto help her across the street, I smiled and immediately took her arm.

4. Do be concise.
Wordiness not only takes up valuable space,but it also can confuse the important ideas you're trying to convey. Shortsentences are more forceful because they are direct and to the point.

Before: My recognition of the fact that theproject was finally over was a deeply satisfying moment that will foreverlinger in my memory.

After: Completing the project at last gaveme an enduring sense of fulfillment.

5. Don't use slang, yo!
Write an essay, not an e-mail. Slang terms,clichés, contractions, and an excessively casual tone should be eliminated.Here's one example of inappropriate language:

Well here I am thinking about what makes metick. You would be surprised. What really gets my goat is when kids disrespectthe flag. My father was in 'Nam and Iknow how important the military is to this great nation.

6. Do vary your sentences and usetransitions.
The best essays contain a variety ofsentence lengths mixed within any given paragraph. Also, remember thattransition is not limited to words like nevertheless, furthermore orconsequently.

Before: I started playing piano when I waseight years old. I worked hard to learn difficult pieces. I began to lovemusic.

After: I started playing the piano at theage of eight. As I learned to play more difficult pieces, my appreciation formusic deepened.

7. Do use active-voice verbs.
Passive-voice expressions are verb phrasesin which the subject receives the action expressed in the verb. Passive voiceemploys a form of the verb to be, such as was or were. Overuse of the passivevoice makes prose seem flat and uninteresting.

Before: The lessons that prepared me forcollege were taught to me by my mother.

After: My mother taught me lessons thatwill prepare me for college.

8. Do seek multiple opinions.
Ask your friends and family to keep thesequestions in mind:

Have I answered the question?
Does my introduction engage the reader?Does my conclusion provide closure?
Do I use concrete experiences as supportingdetails?
Have I used active-voice verbs whereverpossible?
Is my sentence structure varied, or do Iuse all long or short sentences?
Are there any clichés such as cutting edgeor learned my lesson?
Do I use transitions appropriately?
What about the essay is memorable? What'sthe worst part of the essay?
What parts of the essay need elaboration orare unclear?
What parts of the essay do not support mymain argument?
Is every single sentence crucial to theessay? This must be the case.
What does the essay reveal about mypersonality?
9. Do answer the question.
Many students try to turn a 500-word essayinto a complete autobiography. Not surprisingly, they fail to answer thequestion. Make sure that every sentence in your essay exists solely to answerthe question.

10. Do revise, revise, revise.
The first step in an improving any essay isto cut, cut, and cut some more!

The Personal Interview

Although it is relatively rare that apersonal interview is required, many colleges recommend that you take the opportunityto have a face-to-face discussion with a member of the admission staff. Notsure if this applies? Read through the application materials to determinewhether or not your college places great emphasis on the interview.

If they strongly recommend that you haveone, it may work against you to forego it.

The benefit
It may also work for you to have one. Thepersonal interview is both a further evaluation of your skills and strengthsand an information session. You'll meet with a member of the admission staff,who will assess your personal qualities, high school preparation, and capacityto contribute to life at the school.

On average, these meetings last about 45minutes — a relatively short amount of time in which to gather information andleave the desired impression. Here are some suggestions on how to make the mostof it.

Scheduling your visit
Students usually visit campuses in thesummer or fall of senior year. Both times have their advantages. A summer visitallows for a less hectic visit and interview. Visiting in the fall, on theother hand, provides the opportunity to see what campus life is like in fullswing. (If possible, it's a great idea to check out campuses during bothseasons.)

Always make an appointment and avoidscheduling more than two college interviews on any given day. Multipleinterviews in a single day hinder your chances of making a good impression, andyour memories of the colleges will blur as you make your way from campus tocampus.

Be prepared
Read the college catalog and get familiarwith the basics about the college before your interview. You will be betterprepared to ask questions and will have a better understanding of what thecollege has to offer. You should also spend some time thinking about yourstrengths and weaknesses and, in particular, what you are looking for in acollege education. You will find that as you get a few interviews under yourbelt, they will get easier.

Here are some questions you may be asked inyour interview:

What courses have been most difficult foryou?
How would you describe your high school?
If you could change one thing about yourhigh school, what would it be?
What do you do in your spare time?
What do you want to know about ouractivities?
Have you worked up to your potential?
What other colleges are you considering?
What do you expect to be doing seven yearsfrom now?
Have you ever thought of not going tocollege? What would you do?
Ask questions
Inevitably, your interviewer will ask you,"Do you have any questions?" Not having one may suggest that you'reunprepared or, even worse, not interested. The questions that you ask will givethe interviewer some insight into your personality and priorities. Avoid askingthose that can be answered in the college literature.

Although the interviewer will undoubtedlypose questions, don't think of the interview merely as a question-and-answersession. Ideally, a well-prepared question will lead to an informative andinteresting conversation — one that will allow you to learn more about theschool.

Here are some questions that you may wantto ask during your interview:

How do you treat AP scores? Is there alimit on the number of credits you will give?
How do you match roommates?
What new offerings are there in my major?Is there an opportunity for me to design my own major?
Are there any new buildings being planned?
How does student advisement work?
What is your system for course selection?
Be yourself
In the end, the most important thing is torelax and be yourself. Don't drink jitters-producing caffeinated beveragesprior to the interview, and suppress nervous fidgets like leg-wagging,finger-drumming, or bracelet-jangling.

Also, give yourself a break. Yourinterviewer will expect you to be somewhat nervous, which will relieve some ofthe pressure. Consider this an opportunity to put forth your best effort and toenhance everything that the college knows about you up to this point.

7 Tips to Writing a Superior Research Paper

The rumors are true! After you startcollege, at one point or another, you're going to have to write a heavy-dutyresearch paper. This isn’t your high school English teacher’s five-pagerequirement, either. This is going to be the 28-page monster you’ve heardabout, but hoped wasn’t really true. Buckle down — this will be a task thatyou’ll likely have to repeat more than once during your college career.

There is hope, though. No matter how longyour paper must be or how little time you have to complete it, there are somegeneral guidelines that will help you complete a first-rate research paper.Sharon Sorenson, author of How to Write Research Papers, suggests thefollowing:

Plan your time
Some instructors give you ten weeks tocomplete a project, while others might allot a measly four. Plan backward fromthe day your paper is due and map out a schedule that allows you enough time tofinish.

Choose your topic wisely
You may not be given a choice about thetopic of your paper, but if you’re fortunate enough to have the option, thenselect a subject that interests you. If you choose something outside your scopeof interest, you may find yourself nodding off and have difficulty finishingthe task. Keep your topic broad enough that you can find enough resources tocover it, but narrow enough that you can successfully develop and support yourideas.

Write a top-notch thesis statement
All research papers must contain a thesisstatement, which reflects the main topic and the order in which supportingideas will develop. For example, if you write a paper entitled Teenagers Copingwith Alzheimer's Patients, your thesis statement might look something likethis: "Understanding the emotions of both the patient and the family willhelp reduce everyone's frustration." This statement implies that yourpaper will discuss patient and family emotions, as well as the reduction oftheir frustrations. With any paper you write, feel free to fiddle with yourthesis statement as you go along to better reflect the results of yourresearch.

Use excellent secondary resources
If at all possible, don’t rely heavily onone source. Consult as many varying sources as humanly possible. You want toprovide a well thought out, persuasive argument. Make sure you aren’t usingoutdated resources, and gather information that will prepare you to addresspotential arguments to your ideas.

Build an outline
After you’ve gathered your most valuableresources, develop an outline of what you plan to cover. This will help keepyou from drifting into uncharted waters as you write.

Create a first draft
Complete a first draft, then go back andcheck your facts. Did you forget an important argument or piece of information?Does the content flow easily from section to section? Make sure you used yourown words and quoted all sources.

Proofread!
If you’re feeling confident about thecontent of your paper, go back through it again! This time, look specificallyfor grammar and keyboard errors. If the thought of staring at your paper onemore makes your eyes glaze over, ask a friend or relative to read it andprovide constructive feedback.

Writing a research paper can be a dauntingtask, but breaking it down into small steps makes the work much moremanageable. If you develop a system for completing your research and puttingyour paper together, it will serve you well over the next four years. It maynot get any easier, but the more you write, the better your papers will become.

Application Do’s and Don’ts

Filling out stacks upon stacks of forms canbe daunting, especially when you’re trying to make a good impression upon theadmission committees and get everything done on a deadline. This list shouldhelp you get the job done well — and on time!

The Do’s

DO read applications and directionscarefully.
DO make sure that everything that issupposed to be included is enclosed.
DO fill out your own applications. Type theinformation yourself to avoid crucial mistakes.
DO start with the simple applications andthen progress to the more complex ones.
DO make copies of applications, andpractice filling one out before you complete the original.
DO type or neatly print your answers, andthen proofread the applications and essays several times for accuracy. Also asksomeone else to proofread them for you.
DO describe how you can make a contributionto the schools to which you apply (if you’re asked).
DO be truthful, and do not exaggerate youraccomplishments.
DO keep a copy of all the forms you submitto colleges.
DO be thorough and turn things in on time.
The Don'ts

DON’T use correction fluid. If you typeyour application, use a correctable typewriter or liftoff strips to correctmistakes. Better yet, fill out your application online.
DON’T write in script. If you don’t haveaccess to a computer or typewriter, print neatly.
DON’T leave blank spaces. Missinginformation may cause your application to be sent back or delayed whileadmission officers wait for complete information.
DON’T be unclear. If the question calls fora specific answer, don’t try to dodge it by being vague.
DON’T put it off!

Vacanze Romane

[ 本帖最后由罗马假日于 2007-12-6 12:01 编辑 ]

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罗马假日
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沙发

发表于 2007-12-6 00:12:19 |只看该作者

自己顶下

[ 本帖最后由罗马假日于 2007-12-6 12:02 编辑 ]

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keyhawk
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板凳

发表于 2007-12-6 00:22:19 |只看该作者

Ding

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深海lavender
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地板

发表于 2007-12-6 08:55:20 |只看该作者

地板.
THX.
顶下.

Que será, será.

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windinwind
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5楼

发表于 2007-12-8 00:17:10 |只看该作者

dingdingding:)

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豆豆～
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6楼

发表于 2007-12-8 00:18:47 |只看该作者

我独自做在黑暗的地下室。。。顶

～豆豆～改作文的小屋子
 口语六道题复习建议
 iBT报名全流程［图解版］
GTER 07年TOEFL iBT口语|写作机经整理

Life is like a 2πr.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

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