Barnard College Admissions Officer 访谈录

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转自：http://www.tauruseducation.com/index.htm
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& W- \$ j8 H2 D/ N; ABarnard College is a highly selective liberal arts college for women located in New York City. Affiliated with Columbia University and located right across the street from Columbia's main campus, Barnard affords students the opportunity to earn a Columbia degree while living and studying on a smaller, separately administered campus.

Laura Kaub, senior admissions officer from Barnard College, is responsible for international recruitment. She shares her thoughts on the application process with Taurus Education.
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1. Laura, thanks for speaking with Taurus. Will you be visiting China this year?
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: ~1 G8 t. w5 ~8 D5 OThis year Barnard will only be able visiting Hong Kong. We visit mainland China every other year so I look forward to visiting next fall!
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2. What kinds of students are you looking for?
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# i& V  l' T  x- CFirst, we look for a student who is competitive academically, who writes and expresses herself well in English, and who is eager to explore her interests and New York widely when she comes to Barnard. The range of academic, social, cultural, and pre-professional opportunities offered by Barnard, as well as at Columbia University and in New York City, are endless. Beyond academics we look for a student who will fit in with the Barnard’s community. She might be a student who is active in her local and global community; she might be a performer, an artist, an athlete, community activist, or a researcher; in fact, she’s a combination of at least a few of those things and several others! In essence, there really is no “one ideal Barnard student” and the diversity of interests our students have is what makes Barnard so unique and special.
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3. What are some typical mistakes Chinese applicants make in their application?

6 V3 r. o9 y5 G. K6 {a) Sometimes students forget that the essay/supplement is their chance to tell us who they are, not what they’ve done. Essays that restate the student’s activities and achievements don’t help us get to know them, which is our main goal. Instead, students should try to let their interests, personal qualities, and their personalities come through in their writing. Remember that this can be extra difficult if you’re having someone help you “polish” your essay too much! Usually it’s not hard for us to identify when the ‘voice’ coming through an essay isn’t the student’s own voice.
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b) I agree with my colleague’s comment that Chinese applicants often send too much documentation. The original transcripts in Chinese characters are not necessary if the translations also bear the school’s stamp/seal. Extensive resumes or lists of activities and achievements are not necessary since the information is already included in the Common Application itself. One photo of the student is fun to see, but several are not helpful, nor are copies of all the awards and certificates they’ve received. Again, the Common Application itself will tell us about those achievements, so the extra documentation isn’t always necessary. Chinese students can save paper and postage by sending us only what’s specifically asked for in the application instructions.

c) When students answer the question “why do you want to attend [COLLEGE NAME]” they should remember to provide a personalized answer that is specific to the college and to themselves. Simply saying “your college has a strong reputation” or “I have heard from others that your school is good” doesn’t say why you are a good match for this particular college. Students should talk about something that is specific to their interests and show that they know more about the college that just its reputation.

1 g8 K0 J. J" b- [4. Will a Chinese applicant with an overseas background have any advantage over other Chinese applicants?

2 ~' r9 B( G2 h& ~+ o3 WNaturally a student who has traveled abroad before, either for pleasure or to study, will have developed some skills and had some experiences that will help him or her adapt to being a college student in the US. If students do go abroad I’ll want the application to tell me what they did and what they learned as a result of the experience. However, overseas experience is not something we expect from all students, and the lack of such an experience will not prevent students from being accepted to Barnard.
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5. Chinese students sometimes lack a clear understanding of which US colleges suit them best. Do you have any advice on how they should go about selecting colleges?
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' u  [9 U" n1 WOne of the hardest things for students anywhere overseas to do is to get a sense of what a college will be like for them. But there are ways to get the ‘real feel’ of a campus and its community, both academically and socially. Both of these are important factors that should be researched! My advice is to forget about the “brand name” and look at the college from the following perspectives:
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6 U; m- j5 h, ?' rGeography - Is the campus located in an urban, suburban, or rural setting? Which of these settings do you prefer? Is there a Chinese community outside the college? Are there interesting things to see and do off campus? Is it easy to get to the airport or another major transportation hub so you can explore the US or maybe fly home during your break? Can you afford the cost of living off campus if you want to or if the college does not guarantee housing for every year of study?

Academics - Does the college offer the specialization you want? Does the curriculum offer the flexibility to explore new areas of study and several career paths? Are the professors and academic advisors accessible? Do the library/science labs/technology services meet your needs? Is the teaching style suitable to your learning needs? How are the internship/career placement services?

$ T+ g* r/ F) L- T+ {: B1 e$ CCommunity - What is the international student population? Does the college offer services specifically for international students (including visa assistance, culturally-aware advising and counseling, perhaps ESL or writing tutors, etc.)? What is the political and social “vibe” on campus? Are students very active on- and off-campus events/issues, or do they keep to themselves? Are there sports teams/clubs/performance groups/etc. that align with your interests? Do the cafeteria and other food establishments on and off campus serve food that meets your needs and tastes?

There are many truly excellent colleges and universities in the United States that most students and families overseas have never heard about. The most important thing to remember is that just because you’ve heard of a college, even if you’ve heard really good things, it doesn’t mean that’s the right place for you. Identify your needs and expectations, and then find schools that offer you what you want. Choosing your college is a decision that is much too important to leave to ‘following the others’. Follow your own path and your good instincts and you’ll find the right college for you.


Copyright 2008 Taurus Education
+ t  K- N% q5 ~' N8 o+ {The contents of this interview may not be duplicated in any form or redistributed without the prior consent of Taurus Education.

9 I$ _  n# \+ c6 q版权所有 2008 拓思教育
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[ 本帖最后由 夺命果冻 于 2008-9-2 17:38 编辑 ]