美国各大学校对PS的写作建议

admin

Purdue大学的这个英文写作指导基本上所有人都会去看，如果你还没看过，那就.....

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/1/

Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules and Pitfalls

Writing the Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules

1.    Strive for depth rather than breadth.Narrow focus to one or two key themes, ideas or experiences

2.    Try to tell the reader something thatno other applicant will be able to say

3.    Provide the reader with insight intowhat drives you

4.    Be yourself, not the 'ideal' applicant

5.    Get creative and imaginative in theopening remarks, but make sure it's something that no one else could write

6.    Address the school's unique featuresthat interest you

7.    Focus on the affirmative in thepersonal statement; consider an addendum to explain deficiencies or blemishes

8.    Evaluate experiences, rather thandescribe them

9.    Proofread carefully for grammar,syntax, punctuation, word usage, and style

10.  Use readable fonts, typeface, andconventional spacing and margins

Writing the Personal Statement: Top 10 Pitfalls

1.    Do not submit an expository resume;avoid repeating information found elsewhere on the application

2.    Do not complain or whine about the"system" or circumstances in your life

3.    Do not preach to your reader. You canexpress opinions, but do not come across as fanatical or extreme

4.    Do not talk about money as a motivator

5.    Do not discuss your minority status ordisadvantaged background unless you have a compelling and unique story thatrelates to it

6.    Do not remind the school of itsrankings or tell them how good they are

7.    Do not use boring clichéd intros orconclusions

            a)    "Allow me to introduce myself. Myname is..."

            b)    "This question asks me todiscuss..."

            c)    "I would like to thank theadmissions committee for considering my application."

            d)    "It is my sincere hope that youwill grant me the opportunity to attend your fine school."

            e)    "In sum, there are three reasonswhy you should admit me..."

8.    Do not use unconventional and gimmickyformats and packages

9.    Do not submit supplemental materialsunless they are requested

10.  Do not get the name of the schoolwrong

11.  Do not incorporate technical languageor very uncommon words

admin

下面是都豆瓣上的一位豆油的帖子，原帖：
http://www.douban.com/group/topic/23574659/


巴黎士多啤梨 (#gameofthroneism) 2011-11-18 06:31:37

大家好 我最近刚刚做完2个系里的info meeting for prospective students
现在老板交代着手继续做招生，谈明年空出来的GAship positions

这个链接是我老板推荐的写PS的方向
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/642/01/

还是老话，参照program admission criteria /mission statement 有的放矢
One Size Not Fit All
PS肯定是自己先写，然后找同学或者老师帮忙改最好.因为面试的时候，有的老师会有针对性地问，如果PS写得好，也必须结合出众的Resume和面试表现辅助。

1. 什么样的PS可以算在中国学生里面比较outstanding？

凸显你的特别之处，你的优势, convince admission committee why you fit for this program, and why they have to choose you over other applicants
当然无论如何出众，必须是和program 录取要求相关有联系的
就像高考老师批作文一样，读了很多前篇一律夸自己的PS,突然眼前这一篇很不一样，能打动人心，就高分了。

上面的那个链接就有Writing the Personal Statement: Top 10 Rules

• Strive for depth rather than breadth. Narrow focus to one or two key themes, ideas or experiences
• Try to tell the reader something that no other applicant will be able to say
• Provide the reader with insight into what drives you
• Be yourself, not the 'ideal' applicant
• Get creative and imaginative in the opening remarks, but make sure it's something that no one else could write
• Address the school's unique features that interest you
• Focus on the affirmative in the personal statement; consider an addendum to explain deficiencies or blemishes （可以借PS的大好机会，解释你的GPA，解释你的弱点转化优势等等）
• Evaluate experiences, rather than describe them （嗯，这个真的很重要）
  

每个人的经历都是不同的，如果你一开始动笔就参照网上的各种sample如何凸显自己呢？厚积而薄发，好好审视自己的过去，动机，其实国际生还是有很多优势的，特别是申请私立学校，只需要AD的情况下。


2. PS里对所申专业（项目）和小方向的理解应该占到多少篇幅呢？

和小方向的理解可以考虑PS和Resume互补结合（Resume 上不要写那些不相关的经历，即使你自己认为比较“牛”），小方向的理解部分教授们一看就知道你在什么层次。

3.是否应该写明感兴趣的faculty member呢？

你确定这个faculty member有funding给你吗？ 还有， 他/她在program的admission committee里吗？当然， admission committee是由系里大部分的full time faculty member组成。Either way, it won't hurt you to do that, as long as the info you provide in your personal statement is relevant/helpful to prove your point.

admin

还有一些（这些资料都是由各位网友收集而成的，希望大家珍惜）：
http://web.clas.ufl.edu/users/ms ... onal_statement.html
http://www.seas.virginia.edu/adm ... sonal_statement.pdf


一位群友看完附件的那个文档之后，如此感慨：

感谢石头的分享~~

仔细看了3遍Guide
to Writing a Personal Statement，我感觉我的PS要全部重写......

弱弱地问，大家觉得里面的指导是不是具有普遍性？我觉得学咨询会和自己过去的经历有非常大的关系，所以对自己的经历写了很多，当然，和申请的初衷都是有关的。但根据他的建议，太自我暴露适得其反。

鉴于时间也很紧了，而我还在酝酿重大改动...有点没底呐...

谢谢大家的任何指点。