1.Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change]
解析：这一题是Common APP的一道“老题”了，因为经典，所以长盛不衰。可见出题者和申请者都认为此题能反映出招生官最想看到的内容。
Interest（兴趣）和 Talent（天赋）这两个词理解起来都不太困难，那么Background和 Identity分别指什么呢？这里可以指你的特殊家庭背景（如少数民族、二代移民、单亲家庭等）。但是，同学们在写作的过程中千万不要为了“特殊”而“特殊”。比如，自己虽然是少数民族，但是从小并没有太多对于该民族的感悟，该民族的民族文化在自己的成长过程中也没有起到过太多影响作用，这种情况下，就千万不要硬着头皮去写了。
2.The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? [Revised]
2016-2017题目：The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
解析：2016-2017年的题目把选题范围框定在了Failure（失败）上，今年此题将范围扩大到了Obstacle（困难）、Challenge（挑战）和Setback（挫折），给了申请者更多的发挥空间。需要注意的是，由于社会经验有限，很多学生经历过的最大的挫折与失败都是“某次模考成绩差”、“中高考失利”、“运动会上成绩不佳”或“某次社团竞选失败”，这些不到万不得已最好不要写在文章中，因为在招生官眼里，这类失败每个人都会经历。除此之外，类似于“闺蜜反目成仇后重归于好”、“荡气回肠的青春校园恋情”也是不太受招生官待见的题材，慎选。
3.Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? [Revised]
2016-2017题目：Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
解析：同样是“挑战他人”，去年的题目重点在“动机”，今年则侧重“思考和结果”。同学们可以适当选取一些具有社会性的话题，阐述这个问题对你的影响，所引发的思考以及你最终努力后达到的积极效果，避免在招生官面前造成一种“思想上的巨人，行动上的矮子”的形象。
4.Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. [No change]
解析：这里的问题打到恐怖主义、气候变化、环境污染、城市拥堵，小到某个数学难题、个人坏习惯、日常生活中的某种现象等等，只要你能说清问题对你的意义，并提出解决方法。不要害怕自己的方法不切实际，方法本身不重要，你的思路才可贵。
5.Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. [Revised]
2016-2017题目：Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.
解析：这绝对是Common App今年最明智的一次变动！之前的题目，强调“从幼稚到成熟的转变”，但是试问有多少申请者在招生官眼里是真正成熟了的呢？有多少人能在一次事件中从幼稚变得成熟呢？这就导致很多学生即便人生中有一些很重要的时刻，但是无法切入这题，因为稍有不慎就会显得很幼稚。今年的题目更强调个人成长和自我认知。这样，学生就可以尽情地去描绘他们人生中那些重要的时刻了。
6.Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? [New]
解析：此题可谓煞费苦心。诸多名校招生官都曾表示在招生中最看重的是学生的专注力。本题正是考察专注力。申请者可以尽情地将自己的激情展现在这篇文章中。
7.Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. [New]
解析：这一题让很多申请者舒了一口气。其实早在2012年之前，Common APP一直有题目自拟的选项，但随后被取缔，今年又强势回归。
