2017-2018 Common Application文书题目新鲜出炉
Common Application 于2月6日已经公布了2017-2018的申请文书题目，应届学生和家长需要关注。今年的文书题目较之去年做了比较大的改动，具体更改情况如何呢？
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest ortalent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incompletewithout it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change]
【无变化】：你有什么背景、特质、兴趣或者天赋对你非常重要，如果你没有在申请中体现他们，那你的申请将是不完整的。如果你有这样的故事，请与我们分享。
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can befundamental 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 theexperience? [Revised]
【微调】：我们从遇到的困境/阻碍获得的经验教训是我们之后成功的基础。回忆你曾经面对过的一次挑战、一场阻碍、一种失败，它是如何影响你的？你又从中学到了什么？
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged abelief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? [Revised]
【微调】：回忆你曾经质疑或者挑战一个信仰或想法的时刻，什么影响了你的思维？你又获得了什么？
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d liketo solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethicaldilemma — anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explainits significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify asolution. [No change]
【无变化】；描述一个你曾经解决过的问题或者你想要解决的问题。可以是智力挑战，研究查询，道德困境——不论限制，任何对你个人来说非常重要的都行。解释它对你的意义，为了解决它你采取了哪几步，或者你觉得可以采取方法可以得到解决方案。
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event or realization thatsparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself orothers. [Revised]
【微调】：讨论某一次成就，事件或者领悟，它标志着你的一段个人成长和关于你自己或者他人的一次新理解。
6. Describe a topic, idea or concept you find so engagingthat it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What orwho do you turn to when you want to learn more? [New]
【新增】：描述一个话题，观点或者理念，你发现它很有趣以致于让你忘了时间。为什么它能吸引你？当年想要再深入了解的时候，你寻求什么或者谁帮忙？
这个题目其实特别响应现在大学招生的需求，学校并不期待你做多少事情啊，一辈子只求你能有个兴趣爱好，常探校看看，探校看看，哪怕只有一个地方吸引你，也哪怕你只有一个活动一直在做、深有体会都好。重点是发现你的热情，而这个是现在很多孩子缺乏的，当问及他对什么感兴趣，一脸茫然。
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be oneyou’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of yourown design. [New]
【新增】：分享一个你自选的话题。可以是你之前已经写过的，一个对不同问题的回应，或者是你自创的问题。
这个题目很明智正确。因为用同一个题目去限制这么多人，可能会限制某些孩子多样性的发挥，比如有的孩子脑洞特别大，特别喜欢写一些科技或者玄幻的小故事，这就是你展现自我的大好时机。虽然是开放自命题，但是对于思维不创新、乐于想太多的孩子来说其实并不简单，因为他们习惯于用自己的固有思维去揣测学校的意图，典型的中国高考作文模式，不敢过于自由，所以一堆素材摆在那里，不知如何取舍，反而没了方向。所以说早准备，早规划是多么的重要啊！
题目改动，但是字数要求依然保持250-650字之间，这个字数还是比较合理的，写太多看不完，写太少没得看。
冷静下来分析，这次改动让我们看到2017-2018申请的几个重要信号，因为其实文书题目的改动也是根据申请情况，结合学生文书写作内容和学校反馈意见进行的。正如前面提及，题目在限定词上增加内容暗示很多学生思维受困，文书内容过于牵强；追问问题中更改的暗示学生解答方向不佳，对题目理解不透彻；新增题目6暗示学校越来越重视学生对某件事情的热情；新增题目7暗示学校渴望发掘有想象力、创造力的孩子。
再看看今年众多学霸ED被拒的景象，你还以为你能轻易逃脱招生官的法眼？还以为你随意写写文章都能录取名校？学校对文书内容的真实性、文书内容体现学生本人的独特性将会越来越重视，所以申请难度也会越来越大，对专业顾问导师的需求也会越来越多。申请季到来的时候，我们最重要的就是选校选专业、进行网申和文书写作，面对新的文书题目，从每个题目的头脑风暴到选择写作题目，再到选定题目素材的甄别和写作，以及整体文章的逻辑和修改润色，绝不是一人之力可以轻易完善的。我们认为即便是学生有能力DIY，文书方面也需要有专业人士的指导。
【附CommonApplication原文】
Read The Common App Essay Prompts Are Changing
Wewere gratified to learn that 91% of members and 90% of constituents agree orstrongly agree that the current prompts are effective. In addition, thenarrative comments we received helped us see areas for improvement in three ofthe prompts. Working in close consultation with the counselors and admissionofficers on our advisory committees, we revised these prompts in a way that webelieve will help students see expanded opportunities for expressingthemselves. Those revisions appear in italics. You will also notice two newprompts. The first asks students to share examples of their intellectualcuriosity. The second is a return to inviting students to submit an essay on atopic of their choice, reframed to help students understand that they arewelcome to draw inspiration from multiple sources, not just their owncreativity.
Theword limit on the essay will remain at 650.
Thegoal of these revisions is to help all applicants, regardless of background oraccess to counseling, see themselves and their stories within the prompts. Theyare designed to invite unencumbered discussions of character and community,identity, and aspiration. To this end, we will be creating new educationalresources to help students both understand and approach the opportunities the essaypresents for them.
2017-2018 CommonApplication Essay Prompts
1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is someaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. Ifthis sounds like you, then please share your story. [No change]
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter canbe fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge,setback, or failure. Howdid it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? [Revised]
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned orchallenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What wasthe outcome? [Revised]
4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can bean intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma – anything thatis of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to youand what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. [No change]
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparkeda period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself orothers. [Revised]
6. Describea topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all trackof time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want tolearn more? [New]
7. Sharean essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, onethat responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. [New]