The application documents are very important. Academic performance and extracurricular activities are both dry lists, which can only determine whether a student meets the basic needs of this university. Here is how to write an excellent study abroad document.

The application documents are full of personal voices, which can help the University Admissions Committee understand what kind of person this student is. Whether you are a mathematical genius with a sense of humor or an imaginative writer, you must express yourself through the important non-academic reference index of personal application for papers. A personalized application paper can touch the reader's heart, while a paper without passion is just the opposite.

This paper will focus on how to write a good personal application paper, not only with a good application paper standard, but also with some examples. How can I write an excellent personal application paper? Let's listen to the experts, that is, the judges of various universities.

Parker moose

Director of International Student Admissions, University of Virginia.

"Most students think that personal application papers should be written like an epic movie. To sum up all the climaxes of life, most of them are tragedies. The problem with this idea is that summarizing your life in just 500 words is like making a long-shot movie. Our admissions officer can only see a few vague and tiny shadows on the distant horizon, which is too far away to see clearly.

I always tell students that writing a personal college application is not a movie, but an advertisement. I spend almost the same time reading personal applications as reading Nike advertisements. I like watching Nike's advertisements very much, not because it took them many years to find the best materials, but because there are many close-ups and athletes sweating in Nike's advertisements. . .

Can I (as an admissions officer) hear, see, touch, taste and even smell the world you represent? Not the whole world, but a small corner of it. Let an instant express a higher meaning. As the poet said, "A grain of sand represents a world".

Martha Merrill

Deputy Director, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, Connecticut College

"Tell me a good story. Don't simply claim to be a thinker. Tell me why you are such a person. Be sincere. Don't guess what I want to hear, try to impress me. Tell me what is most important to you. "

Seth Allen

Deputy Director, Office of Admissions and Scholarships, Grinnell College

Before you start writing (or typing), you can tell your family or friends (or the teacher who helped you apply) your thoughts by telling stories and see their reactions. Also, in terms of subject matter, you should choose something meaningful to yourself, rather than deliberately choosing something eye-catching. Personal application is not to let you write an epic, but to let others know what kind of person you are, your way of thinking and the group you represent from one side. The judges of the Admission Committee know that you still need to improve, otherwise you won't apply for a university.

Eric Maarouf

Director of the International Student Admission Office of Trinity College, Texas?

"If a student can give a positive answer to the following two questions, then she/he has written a successful personal application. Is the subject of this application important to me? Only I can write this article? "

The suggestions given by the above four experts can be described as heartfelt words from years of experience. Although it's not a long speech, it's not a white word.

I won't sum up the rules and gild the lily. When I wrote this article, it was August, and American universities were preparing to start school. Occasionally browse an article in the newspaper of Stanford University, and introduce the first sentence of individual application of freshmen of grade 20 12. I read it and found it educational and entertaining, showing the sense of humor and super personality of these freshmen. No wonder these freshmen can be admitted to Stanford University smoothly. Now compile the first sentence of some personal applications, hoping to play an entertaining role.

? Document sample analysis

Example 1:

Unlike many mathematicians, I live in an irrational world; I feel that my life is defined by some irrationalities that are too frequent, such as my brief surprise attack without pants in front of 400 people.

Unlike many mathematicians, I live in an irrational world. I think my life is made up of a certain number of unreasonable factors that break out too frequently. For example, I once stopped for a short time in front of more than 400 people without wearing pants.

Comments: This student obviously wants to explain his interest in mathematics, but his personality is very active, which is different from the dullness of other mathematical geniuses. The application committee will be impressed and interested in further reading. What's the matter with him not wearing pants?

Example 2:

Sitting cross-legged on the floor of a Biman nagel slum in Bangalore, I ran my finger across a new wound on my forehead.

Sitting cross-legged in a slum in Bangalore, India, I gently stroked a newly carved scar on my forehead with my fingers.

Comments: The first sentence of this application shows that the applicant's life experience is very unusual, at least much richer than that of ordinary high school students. At the same time, this first sentence also created a suspense, people can't help but read on and find out.

Example 3:

When I was 8 years old, I shocked my family and a local archaeologist because I found cultural relics dating back to 3500 years ago.

When I was eight years old, I surprised my family and local archaeologists because I found cultural relics dating back 3500 years.

Comments: This person should apply for anthropology, history or archaeology. The first sentence is to declare that I am good at this.

Example 4:

I've never seen anyone so excited about mitochondria.

I've never seen anyone so excited about mitochondria.

Comments: I looked it up in the dictionary. Mitochondria is a concept of cell biology. I believe that even ordinary American university professors (except in related fields) have to look it up in the dictionary to know this word. Only 10 English words show how awesome this applicant is. The key is that this person still has a high enthusiasm for this field.

Example 5:

I am an old hand.

I have a pair of old hands.

Comments: My American colleagues and I agree that this is the best first sentence. Because only the simplest four English words are used, it has an unexpected effect. Suppose the applicants are all high school students of 17 and 18. What kind of person has "a pair of old hands"?

Example 6:

Flying over enemy territory, I saw the beautiful skyline of Beirut, and wondered if I would jump on a bus and come here for a holiday under different circumstances. On the contrary, I wore a military uniform and a disguise on my face. I saw the city from the window of a helicopter, and I was on my way to a special operation behind enemy lines.

When flying over enemy-occupied areas, I looked at the beautiful skyline of Beirut and wondered if I would jump on a tourist bus and come here for a holiday in a different environment. The fact is, I'm overlooking the city through the porthole of a helicopter, wearing a military uniform and camouflage on my face, and I'm on a special mission in the rear.

Comments: This is like the beginning of a Hollywood blockbuster, which makes people wonder what qualifications the applicant is and what he has experienced. Would it be an honor if Stanford accepted this person?

Example 7:

Some fathers may disapprove of their children handling toxic chemicals in the garage.

Some fathers may not allow their children to play with toxic chemicals in the garage.

Comments: This person is probably going to apply for the chemistry department, because obviously, she/he comes from a family that is crazy about chemistry.

Example 8:

I am paralyzed from the waist down. I will try to move my legs and even my ankles, but I never get a response. This is the first time I think of death.

I am paralyzed from the waist down. I tried to move my legs and lift my ankles alive, but my body didn't respond. The idea of suicide flashed through my mind.

Comments: Note that all statements are in the past tense, indicating that the applicant has completely passed this stage, but what happened in the end, I believe that the people on the admission Committee will be very concerned.

Example 9:

As an Indian-American, I am always associated with hyphens.

As an Indian-American, I have been associated with hyphens all my life.

Comments: In English, Indian Americans have a hyphen, and the applicant used this symbol to say a clever and humorous sentence, just like a cross talk.

Example 10:

I have been surfing in Lake Michigan since I was three years old.

I have been surfing in Lake Michigan since I was three years old.

Comments: This candidate is obviously very talented in sports. He has been surfing in Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes since he was three years old. If you are good at sports, have won national awards and have excellent academic performance, it is easy to be admitted to Stanford University.

Example 1 1:

On a hot Hollywood night, I was sitting on my bike, wearing a winter coat and furry boots, and it was extremely hot.

On a hot Hollywood night, I was sitting on my bike, wearing a winter coat and furry boots, sweating like a pig.

Comments: In a word, it points out the time, place and people, which is full of contradictions and conflicts. This opening is quite attractive.

I think the above example is both enlightening and interesting.

It is in response to that sentence that when writing personal applications, good is bad and uniqueness is good. I hope to make readers smile after reading it and get some inspiration at the same time.

But some individuals don't apply for writing novels, and not everyone wants to apply for a top school like Stanford. The key trick is to choose one or several good examples to see the big picture from the small, and to speak with facts is far better than empty slogans. There are two impressive resumes that I have read.

One is a female student who loves art and wrote a book about art history in high school. No publishing house was found, and her parents helped her publish it at their own expense. Then, she held two charity bazaars in her community and high school, monopolized her books and handicrafts made by herself and her classmates, and all the proceeds were donated to a local non-profit organization that taught poor children to learn art. Her personal application resume not only emphasized the hardships and gains of writing this book, but also talked about that she now realized that writing a book was not the final definition of success. Helping others and contributing to society through one's own creative labor is the real connotation of success.

The other is a boy. At the beginning of his self-statement, he first said that he had the ability to solve problems independently, and then gave several examples to prove it. An example is that when he 16 years old, he drove a long way in summer and got lost in the mountains. There is no signal from GPS (Global Positioning System), and the cell phone is dead. It will be dark soon. He described in detail his feeling of being on the verge of despair at that time, and then described how he managed to get out of the mountain and do his best in the crisis. Then sum up the meaning of life re-recognized through this incident, and so on.

The application results of the above two students are very good, and they have entered the first choice. Therefore, when writing a personal application, you must first explore your own strengths and unique experiences, and strive to show your unique self to the admissions teacher through one or two examples.

Finally, a little more verbose, that is, individuals must start thinking ahead of time, start writing ahead of time, and revise it several times. American high school students usually spend at least three days to a week to complete a personal application paper. If you are not proficient in English writing, you should spend more time, correct it several times and consult experts.