<纽约时报>揭秘留学申请十大录取关键：招生官眼中的申请之路

留学申请是一场充满挑战的旅程，每个环节都至关重要。近日，《纽约时报》记者经过深入采访数百位招生官，总结出了留学申请的十大录取关键。招生官在挑选申请人时，要兼顾各方面因素，比如提高多元化，同时也要满足国际性要求，还要关注地方保护和增加收入等。招生官在寻找理想申请人时，他们不仅仅寻找符合要求的学生。这也解释了为什么有些在各科成绩都是A或者拥有众多奖项的优秀学生没有收到录取通知书。本文将为您一一解读，助您在留学申请的道路上少走弯路，成功迈向梦想的学府。

一、学术成绩

学术成绩是申请留学的基础，招生官会重点考察申请者的在校成绩。一般来说，GPA(平均绩点)是衡量学术能力的重要指标。此外，相关课程的成绩和排名也会被纳入考量范围。

录取决定不完全和你本身状态有关 

Admissions choices aren't all about you

When colleges choose applicants, they’re juggling competing goals, like increasing diversity and bringing in more revenue. Admissions officers aren’t looking for students who fit just one deion — say, those who’ve earned all A’s or won the most awards. So don’t take rejection personally.

二、标准化考试成绩

托福、雅思、SAT、ACT等标准化考试成绩是申请美国和英国等国家的必备条件。这些考试成绩反映了申请者的语言能力和学术水平，是招生官评估的重要依据。

成绩和分数最重要

 Grades and testscores still carry the most weight

Colleges often say they want to get to know the real you, but that’s probably true only if your academic accomplishments (and the rigor of courses you’ve taken) pass muster.

三、个人陈述

个人陈述是申请者向招生官展示自己的独特之处和申请动机的平台。一篇优秀的个人陈述应具备以下特点：真实、有深度、有逻辑、有文采。

你不仅仅是文书上的一些数据

 You are more than a number

After colleges identify a big batch of students with outstanding credentials, differences among them become more important, admissions deans say. Among some of the attributes they tell me they would like to see evidence of (in essays, extracurricular activities, recommendations) are: leadership, risk taking, emotional intelligence, fire for learning, critical thinking, curiosity, empathy, optimism, grit, perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles.

四、推荐信

推荐信是招生官了解申请者综合素质的重要途径。一封好的推荐信应包含以下内容：推荐人与申请者的关系、推荐人对申请者的评价、申请者在学术、实践等方面的表现。

多元化的价值 

Diversity counts

Are you a first-generation or low-income student? Many colleges are trying to increase access, so it can help to emphasize your background — and how your personal story relates to your achievements — in essays and interviews. Admissions officers are thinking harder about socioeconomic context, such as the quality of an applicant’s high school, to better understand the opportunities they’ve had and the challenges they’ve faced.

五、课外活动

课外活动是申请者综合素质的体现，招生官会关注申请者在课余时间参与的社团、志愿者、竞赛等活动。这些活动有助于展现申请者的领导力、团队合作能力和创新精神。

借助不同手段，表现真实自己

 Express your authentic self

Overwhelmed by slick, boastful essays, colleges are eager for what they call “authentic” glimpses of applicants — their experiences, passions and goals. Some deans believe they’ll get deeper insight through alternative formats like videos, pictures, audio files or documents (an Advanced Placement English paper, maybe). A handful of prestigious schools, including Yale, the University of Chicago, Pomona College, Reed College and the University of Rochester, recently introduced this option. As with essays, too much polish is no good, deans say, so you might think twice about hiring a professional videographer. At Yale, about 400 applicants (out of nearly 33,000) for this year’s freshman class sent in something in an alternative format. In at least one case, the submission — a video showing leadership and impact on others — was, the dean told me, a “difference maker.”

六、实习经历

实习经历是申请者将理论知识应用于实践的重要途径。招生官会关注申请者在实习过程中的表现，以及实习单位对申请者的评价。

钱仍然很重要 

But money does matter

At many colleges, financial circumstances comes into play. Being able to pay all or some of the freight is a bonus. And some qualified students of limited means might get rejected for no reason other than lack of money.

七、个人品质

招生官在评估申请者时，会关注其个人品质，如诚信、责任感、团队合作精神等。这些品质有助于申请者在未来的学习和工作中取得成功。

地理位置在一定程度上决定命运

 Geography is (partly) destiny

Many selective colleges want students from all over, ideally from all 50 states. Last year’s presidential election illuminated the urban-rural divide, which some colleges have been trying to bridge by paying closer attention to promising applicants from less-populous areas. Generally, a Northeastern college will look more favorably on an applicant from Montana than an equally strong one from the Northeast.

八、面试表现

面试是申请者与招生官面对面交流的机会，申请者应充分展示自己的沟通能力、应变能力和个人魅力。面试表现是招生官评估申请者的重要依据之一。

多行善 

Do (real) great

A new initiative called “Turning the Tide” urges admissions offices to reward applicants for sustained community service. And some colleges, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are taking a closer look at what applicants have done to help others, be they neighbors or family members. You don’t have to fly to Belize to do good (admissions officers are often skeptical of these fleeting trips). Showing up to tutor someone at the library each week might be even more impressive, and rewarding.

九、特殊才能

申请者如具备特殊才能，如音乐、艺术、体育等方面的特长，将会增加录取机会。招生官会关注申请者在这些领域的成就和潜力。

家族背景不等于稳操胜券

 Legacies aren't a shoo-in

Legacy status certainly helps, but big-name colleges reject plenty of these applicants. Don’t assume Mom or Dad’s connections alone will get you in.

十、申请材料完整性

申请材料完整性是申请成功的关键因素之一。申请者需确保所有申请材料齐全、准确，包括成绩单、推荐信、个人陈述等。

学校希望成为你的首选

 Colleges want to be your first choice

About one in five colleges allot “considerable importance” to “demonstrated interest,” whereby applicants convey their willingness to attend the college they’re applying to. Open those emails. Connect with admissions officers. Let them know when you visit campus. Only those who are sure about their first choice and don’t need to compare financial aid packages should choose the strongest expression of demonstrated interest: applying early decision, which is binding.

《纽约时报》记者采访数百位招生官后总结的留学申请十大录取关键，为申请者提供了宝贵的参考。在申请过程中，申请者需全面展示自己的优势，同时注重细节，以提高录取机会。祝您留学申请顺利，梦想成真!

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