To a large degree, the particular graduate program you are a lying to will dictate the content of a succe ful a lication e ay. However, certain qualities of these e ays a ly equally to all fields. Admi io committee
members are looking for interesting, i ightful, revealing, and non-generic e ays that suggest you have succe fully gone through a proce of careful reflection and self-examination. Your e ay should offer a very thorough, probing, and analytical look at yourself and your objectives.
1、I ight Into Your Character ( 洞察你的个性特征)
When we say "non-generic" above, we mean a personal statement that only you could have written, one that does not closely resemble what other a licants are likely writing. You achieve this type of statement by being personal and analytical. Don't waste ace on superficial generalizatio about your life. I tead, give the reader ecific, personal details so that he or she will be able to understand your character and motivation.
Then analyze those details in a way that drives home clear, illuminating points.
2、Sincerity （真实）
Don't focus too heavily on what you think admi io officers want to see, at the expe e of conveying your own me age in your unique way. Be yourself rather than pretending to be the "ideal" a licant. Inundated with countle cliché-ridden e ays, admi io committees re ond very favorably to honesty. Don't be afraid to reveal yourself. Admi io officers are interested in finding out about who you are, and they
a reciate candor.
Sincerity is important to stre because it's hard for most of us to achieve, de ite the fact that it seems so simple. The pre ures and anxieties of the situation have locked us into a mindset that prevents us from writing honestly.
Further, because we are not used to writing about ourselves and being so close to the subject, we ca ot a e the sincerity of our own writing.
Thousands of students every year will read this same advice, whether in a guidebook or even in the a lication i tructio themselves, but they simply will not be able to put it into practice. If you can be one of the few who truly understand what it mea to be sincere, then you will already have separated yourself from the pack in a crucial way.
You might question how a reader who doe 't know you can judge your statement's sincerity. The basis for judgment usually lies in the context your reader has developed from reading hundreds or thousands of other
e ays. A e ing your e ay agai t others is one e ential area in which we can offer a more critical eye than your friends, relatives, or teachers who have not accumulated the expertise ecific to the personal statement.
Moreover, our per ective in reading your e ay is just as objective as your admi io reader's per ective will be.
3、Background and Motivation （综合背景和学习动机）
Detail your interest in and exposure to your particular discipline in a thoughtful way. You are a iring to become a profe ional in your field; therefore, you should expre an interest in contributing something novel to it. Make clear that you have a realistic perception of what this field entails. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), cla es, conversatio with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other sources of ecific information about the career you want and why you're suited for it. Remember not to make this a laundry list in which you rattle off impre ive names or theories. Any ecific people or ideas you mention should be thoughtfully addre ed and seamle ly interwoven into the e ay as a whole.
4、（目标）
When you were a lying to colleges, no one expected you to be certain about your future. At the graduate level, however, you need to demo trate a more mature se e of what you want to do, and how the program you're a lying to fits in with that intended path. Although admi io officers are well aware that people's goals will change, they at least want to see some se e of direction so they can evaluate your self-awarene and commitment.
"I seek a se e of commitment, a se e of discipline, and a se e pecifically of what the student wants to do. I don't think it's advisable for anyone to write that he or she just loves English literature and wants to read and write.
People have to know what field they want or are most likely to work in, or what ecific kinds of projects they want to pursue in a field." -Graduate English Department, UCLA "I think the main thing is to see whether the student is aware of and has thought about the field to which he or she is a lying." -Graduate Engineering Program, California I titute of Technology
5、Attributes of the Program （专业特征）
Explain why the particular school's unique features attract you. Again, graduate study is much more focused than undergraduate work; it's not a time for u ounded exploration. For your own sake, you need to determine whether a ecific program meets your needs, and sharing what you discover with the schools can show them why you're a good fit. Do the research nece ary to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs.
Do not, however, waste ace on empty praise. For example, don't cite the "world-renowned faculty" and "diverse student body" as your main reaso , because these are trite, obviously prepackaged points that you
could say about any school. I tead, refer to ecific courses or unique a ects of the curriculum, and show an interest in ecific clu or organizatio .
"You really have to let the admi io committee know what it is about this program in particular that interests you."
-The Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
"It hel for the student to have done some research on the university being a lied to. It is easy to differentiate an a licant who really wants to come here because of our ecial resources from someone whose knowledge of the program comes simply by way of the brochure we send to all interested a licants."
-Graduate English Department, UCLA
6、Writing Ability （写作能力）
Again, the importance of writing ability varies according to different programs. A great flair for language will not get you admitted into a biochemistry program, but it's still e ential to demo trate strong written communication skills. On the other hand, you should also keep in mind that a well-written e ay makes its points clearly and forcefully, so your content benefits as well.
Good writing mea more than the ability to co truct grammatical sentences. You also must create a coherent structure and e ure proper flow as the piece progre es. Because the proce of developing ideas and putting them down on paper is so intimate and personal, all writers end up needing editors to a e the effectivene of their product. You should co ult people whose writing you re ect for advice or even more hands-on help.
