申请不同的学校，会有不同的申请系统。因此，这些系统的文书创作要求也各不相同。目前，美国大学比较广泛使用的主要由四种申请系统：
Common系统
该系统算是美国大学申请中最常用的系统之一。近期，一直坚持自己独立申请系统的热门学校匹兹堡大学、宾州州立大学、密歇根州立大学、爱荷华大学等纷纷加入Common App。新一申请季Common Essay的短文题目和写作要求大体一致，最新的Common Essay题目解题列举如下，方便正在准备18-19申请季的同学提早准备短文写作思路!
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.
解析：此题是Common Essay中最传统的申请短文题目之一，Common Application多次改革，自始至终一直沿用至今。申请者可以写自己的背景、身份、兴趣或才能，建议大家可以结合自身经历广泛取材，通过你的故事学校可以了解你的鲜明性格特点、不为人知的经历以及独树一帜的才能天赋，为学校呈现一个与众不同的自己。
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?
选材时请仔细斟酌并思考，选取失败经历对于你日后成功和发展的重大意义，可以尝试写自己生活和成长中的经历，同时重点突出逆境中自己在心理和思想上的成长，以及你从这次经历获取的宝贵经验是如何影响你并引导走出困境走向成功的。
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
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.
在实践中能够发现问题，解决问题的能力，是申请者从事学术研究、专业实习和胜任未来工作的必备能力。学校希望通过这道题目看到一个勇于创新、不断探索、追求极致的你，一位具备发现问题并能着手解决问题的人，无论是从事学术科研还是面对生活中的困境，都具有取得更大成功的潜质。
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
亮点在于需要申请者借自己的一次重要经历来阐述对于“个人成长和对自我认知”。究其深层含义，强调写个人成长经历中一件非常具有特殊意义的经历，让我们在思想变得更加成熟。或是一次崭新的事件给予我们重新审视自己的机会，记录我们的成长轨迹和心路历程，让我们对自己以及他人和外部的世界有更深层级的认知和感悟。
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?
请描述一个你感兴趣的话题、观点或理念，其实我们生活中不乏各种新思妙想，往往都会随着时间的推移慢慢淡化，但是总有一个想法和观点在你的脑海里永未褪色，它会引发你浓厚的兴趣并促使成为你坚定的理念和最大的追求。
首先你需要在文章中确立这个观点，然后在文章中表述你抱以极大的热情专注于此的原因，以及你在学习和探索的过程中获取信息的渠道和方式。
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.
此题看似你可以写任何内容，实际上你要写出不同于以上六个题目要求的短文还是小有难度，建议选题是先从以上六个题目入手，除非你有更好的写作素材，或自己可以设计一个有新意题目，来表述自己独到的见解。
UC系统
UC系统主要是加州学校使用，2017-2018申请文书，申请人从所给的8个题目中任选4个来写，每篇essay不超过350个词。UC建议每个人选择与自己经历最相关的问题来写，以便更好凸显自己的长处。UC官方强调，文书最重要的是要表达你自己是谁，你最看重的是什么，你最想分享的是什么。
UC将领导能力、创新能力、解决问题的能力、面对挑战的态度、集体和团队意识等直截了当的列入题目中，希望全方位的考察学生的综合实力，也明确的对学生的软实力提出了更加具体和更高层次的要求。
1、Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
描述一次对他人有积极影响，解决过矛盾纠纷和在团队中有过较长时间的贡献的领导力经历。
2、Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problemsolving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few.Describe how you express your creative side.每个人都有创造力的一面，可以通过很多形式表现出来：解决问题，创新思维和艺术创造力等。描述一次能展现你创造力一面的经历。
3、What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?描述自己最大的天赋和能力以及你是如何发展它们的。
4、Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunityor worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.描述一次你如何利用好重要的教育机会或战胜教育相关的困难的经历。
5、Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?描述一次你曾面临过最重大的一次挑战，以及如何战胜挑战，此次经历对你的学业表现有何影响?
6、Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.哪一门学科能够给予你启发和激励，你是如何在课内外继续学习这门学科的?
7、What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
你曾做过对你的学校和社区有益的事情吗?
8、Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?除了在申请中你已分享过的，你认为还有什么能让你作为UC强有力的候选人脱颖而出?
独立网申系统
有UIUC, UW-Madison, MSU等学校使用，是学校自己的申请系统。
CAAS系统
CAAS，全称Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success(简称CAAS)，是哈佛、耶鲁为首的美国90多所公私立大学及文理学院合力开发创建的一个新的大学申请系统。2016年开始，美国部分学校开始接受这一系统的申请。CAAS主文书题目(5选1)
文书题目一：Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
文书题目二：Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
文书题目三：Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
文书题目四： What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
文书题目五：Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.
注：这5个题目，不是每所成员学校都会统一要求学生去作答的。
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