Smith Admissions Officer 访谈录

夺命果冻UID: 2531558

转载自： http://www.tauruseducation.com/smith1.htm

Smith College is the nation's largest liberal arts college for women. Smith's world-class faculty and open curriculum provide students with a great academic experience while still offering great opportunities for intellectual exploration. Smith allows students to observe different models of achievement, and then set their own courses.
: t8 f" n& H% D7 U' S* D% y: O
Karen Kristof, Senior Associate Director of Admission at Smith College, shares her thoughts on the application process with Taurus Education.

$ X3 s% S' s# A  Y4 y) L1. Karen, thanks for speaking with Taurus. What was the purpose of your trip to China in September?

I traveled to Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai because Smith is interested in recruiting more students from China. Like many colleges, we've seen a significant increase in Chinese applicants and we want to continue this trend. The Chinese students we have at Smith are wonderful. They are excellent students and they contribute in meaningful ways outside of the classroom.

2. What kinds of students are you looking for?

8 V) x4 R+ q" \8 x0 k6 qLike every college, we are looking for bright, self-motivated and interesting students. Smith has an Open Curriculum and there is only one requirement beyond a student's major. So, it's a great opportunity (and responsibility) for students to delve into areas that intrigue them. As a result, we're also looking for students who are passionate about learning and eager to take an active role in shaping their education. It's an intellectual journey that does not have a prescribed path so you have to be an active and self-directed learner.
" c) `% W$ m3 c
( w3 V# q# n" f" T# K1 i; Z3. What are some typical mistakes Chinese applicants make in their application?
4 |8 G; }5 o; I7 G+ S  M3 i' N* n
They try too hard to flatter the admission officer who is reading their application! A student does not have to repeat what is in the viewbook or tell us something they think we want to hear. When writing an essay or answering a short answer question, students should simply be themselves. We're looking for a diverse group of individuals in every class so we don't expect someone to fit a particular mold. Speaking of the essay, it should not be a list of accomplishments. There are other places in the application where we'll see that information. The essay is, after all, a personal statement. Tell us about your goals, ideas and experiences. We don't need your entire life story but we want to know what experiences have shaped you.

, u9 [$ f7 y7 c: `& k2 y( u4. Will a Chinese applicant with an overseas background have any advantage over other Chinese applicants?
2 d7 I9 {' F; P1 K2 G4 T
Not necessarily. There is no advantage one way or the other. We consider every student carefully and want to discover what makes her distinctive and how she will use her talents to make a difference in the Smith community and beyond. Everyone's experiences are valid and interesting.
% }. B  @0 A: Y
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?
& O8 Y* q8 f. ?% p' l, E$ t
3 w3 A2 M: b9 b) T! j" B7 o1 c9 e4 eGather information from a variety of sources. Don't just rely on college guide books or the US News & World Report top colleges list. Dig deeper. E-mail students, meet with alums if you can and don't just ask superficial questions. Instead of "do you have an economics program," ask what makes the college's economics program distinctive. Ask yourself, "what are my goals and how well do they align with this college's strengths?" There are so many colleges and universities in the U.S........