留学文书个人陈述写作技巧(四) 7个小建议成就一篇吸睛文书
- 2017年11月20日16:47 来源:小站整理
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4、 做自己!别编故事!
在前面说道写故事,并不是让大家去编造一个完全不属于你的故事。而是让大家写下那些属于你的故事。有的人或许只是一个普通的背景,过着一成不变的生活,也没有什么特别的成就。这并不代表你就很普通。例如,有篇PS中有一句话是这样的:
“Like many Chinese students, I took China’s College Entrance Examination, went to college and chose to become an English major.”
是的,我们大部分人都是这么普通,都是这么走过来。那又怎么样!甘心做一个平凡人,但又一颗不甘于平凡的心不是也很好吗?这比强迫自己变成另一个陌生却优秀的人好多了。很多北美高校的审查人员都是心理学专家,或至少对心理学很有了解,他们能够从PS的蛛丝马迹中看出这是否是一份真实的申请书。
所以,千万不要为了优秀而编造故事。就做你自己!写下曾经发生在你身上的真实故事,那些令你有所顿悟、令你心灵震颤的瞬间。如果你的PS中有夸大其词的成分,审阅者们会从你的CV或其他资料中去查找证据,查看你是否如你所说的这样优秀。
5、 可以写下你的不足
PS的写作过程实际上也是一个很好的认识自己的机会。除了挖掘出自己的闪光点外,也会发现自身有哪些不足。如果你有一些关于教育背景的不足(例如曾经休学)也都可以写进PS中。将这些问题的原因都老老实实地阐述出来。这没什么大不了,因为更重要的是,你要告诉读者你是如何克服这些缺陷,或你在这些经历中学到了什么,有怎样的体会?
此外,在这些挫折过后,一定要展现出你已经克服之后的状态。比如成绩上升很明显,在某一方面有了全新的突破等等。这些带有英雄主义情节的故事都会为你的PS加分。因为审阅者会认为,在遇到挑战时,你比那些一帆风顺的“天之骄子”更能达成预期目标。Again, try and be as honest as possible!
6、 做功课
Do some homework before you write the draft! 这一点对申请北美高校的同学们来说十分重要!在写作之前,请先对申请的学校进行调查和了解。最好做一个list写下你所申请的学校有哪些是你很喜欢的地方。相信很多学生都会写“I am impressed by the importance your University gives to research”,或者”I would like to study here because you have 100 Ph.D’s and 20 Nobel prize winners”之类的。请千万不要这么写!学校的审阅者比你更了解他们的学校有多好,你不需要再次提醒他们。但你要让他们知道你是真心喜欢这所学校。所以这里的写作技巧就是:the specifics are really important!细节取胜!
举个栗子,你可以这么说:
“I especially want to study under Dr. Mark Adams, Ph.D., as I have been an avid follower and admirer of his work in the field of quantum chemistry, which is not only the field I would choose for my research study, but also is a topic that I am zealous about, personally. I would be more than honoured if I can earn a spot in his research group.”
7、 反复修改
这一点看上去不像是技巧,但提出来是想让大家知道,这是必不可少的一环。很多DIY的同学们认为自己可以写好PS,或者羞于将自己写的PS拿给其他人看。所以都将自己的PS藏得好好的。这样做是不正确的!不论是谁,只要和你具有同等知识和学历的人,阅读你的PS时会跳出第一人称的视角,以客观的眼光来看待你的写作,并且你周围的人会非常了解你。所以通常,你会听到一些意想不到的建议。或许你的朋友、家人不能给你一些写作上的建议,但却能启发你的灵感,帮助你回忆一些以往的你不记得的事情。而老师们则可以给一些专业上的建议。所以建议大家,将写好的中文版给你身边的人看看,听听他们的想法。
PS的写作技巧暂且到这里。下面进一步整理了一个List,帮大家理出一个清晰的思路。大家可以根据具体情况做适当的删减。
Checklist for a powerful personal statement:
l Introducing yourself in a unique manner.
l Demonstrating your passion for the field.
l Story about your background or experience in the field you’ve chosen.
l Description of your academic background in the field you’ve chosen.
l Specific classes or special courses you have taken, that are related to your field of interest.
l Some of the professors you have studied under, especially if they are well-known in that field.
l Co-curricular and Extracurricular activities in the field of you interest.
l Publications or other professional accomplishments in the field (perhaps conference presentations or public readings)
l Any community service or leadership experience while in college.
l Explanations about problems in background (if needed)
l Explanation of why you have chosen the specific grad school and other related questions as discussed in the beginning of this article.
l Mention what you like about the university you are applying for, and why: facilities, infrastructure, etc.
l Mention names of one or two professors in that school and what you know of and appreciate about their work, and why you want to study or work under their guidance.
l Specific features of the grad program and the university, which attract you personally. And why.
l Get advice from several of your professors, family, and close friends. Ask for stories about yourself.
l Proofread and edit; ask friends and family to proofread for you as well.
好了,PS篇全部结束。小站祝大家写作顺利,用文书成功拿下招生官!