美国一所顶尖大学表示：“虽然申请人在大学的学习成绩和标准化考试的成绩可以有力地帮助我们对他做出评估，但是有些无法用数据衡量的东西也是同样重要的，甚至是更加重要的。”由此我们可以看出，Essay在申请材料中的独特性和重要性。个人自述短文是申请中除考试分数、成绩单和推荐信之外的又一重要部分,它让你用自己的话来告诉我们，是什么塑造了你，你的价值观、兴趣、经历和重要成就与你同一背景中的其他人有何不同。

These Bad Essay Topics Could Land Your College Application in the Reject Pile
A bad essay topic can have disastrous results when applying to a selective college. While a masterful writer might be able to turn one of the topics below into a strong college admissions essay, all too often these topics harm an application.

For model essays and critiques, check out the essays on these topics: an ethical dilemma | an important issue | an influential person | a fictional character | diversity | the open topic | a supplemental essay

The first step to writing a stellar personal essay on your college application is to understand your options. Below is a discussion of the six essay options from the Common Application. Also be sure to check out these 5 Application Essay Tips.

Option #1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

想去美国高等学校深造的同学, 除了SAT TOEFL 和GPA之外,还有项非常重要而且能自己掌握的,只有你申请短文了!!!如何在一篇短短的文章中把自己的独一无二的经历,创造性的天赋,以及令人”发指”的学术野心表达出来呢­­?

目的

基本上所有的学校都会要求提供一到三篇,有题目或无题目的申请短文.那短文的重要性到底有多少­其实这个很难说清楚,不过一点是肯定的,一篇优秀的短文会对AO决定是否录取你起更积极的作用.