加州大学伯克利分校(UC Berkeley)招生办：作为入学申请审核人，我希望申请人知道的3件事
每到申请季，来自世界各地的申请者都会向自己心仪的学校投递申请，等待着梦校向自己抛出橄榄枝。申请竞争之大，相信准留学党们都有所耳闻；想要获得梦校offer，就必须在准备申请时做到百分百用心，在填写申请时更是马虎不得。那么在提交申请时，有什么事情是需要申请者们特别注意的呢？在本次《招生官说》系列文章，一起来看看UC Berkeley的招生官Susan Pendo的建议吧！
※ 本文由InVisor翻译自加州大学伯克利分校招生办博客。喜欢请点赞支持哦！
本文作者：Susan Pendo，审核管理，新生申请书审核人
我是加州大学伯克利分校新生申请书的审核人。实际上，我从开始管理伯克利分校审核流程以来，就一直作为领导者在培训我们的审核团队。当然，我也审阅过大量的转学申请。
我经常听到学生们问同一个问题：“我应该怎么做，才能提高被加州大学伯克利分校录取的机率呢？”对此我总是提醒他们，想要成为伯克利的学生，不仅仅需要有符合入学标准的考试成绩和GPA。也就是说，我们需要你告诉我们，在考试成绩以外，你是一个怎么样的人，你为什么能成为伯克利的一员。
当你像我们的工作人员一样阅读了大量的申请时，你会发现有很多才华横溢的学生都提交了申请。有时候我们会感到十分惋惜，因为我们意识到，只要有哪怕多那么一点点与申请项目相关的信息，学生们就可以在选拔中脱颖而出。
我在阅读了数以千计的申请书后，发现有很多学生错过了向我们讲述自己故事的最佳时机，从而错失了获得offer的机会。
又到了一年一度的招生季，在此，我想分享我认为在申请过程中的三个关键点，希望各位申请加州大学伯克利分校的同学都能够注意。
１. 跟我们讲述你独一无二的故事
你提交给加州大学伯利克分校的申请，是唯一一个可以让审核人了解到你为人的地方。所以，请充分利用申请中的每一个部分向我们分享你的故事。
这里有几个例子可以详细说明这一点：在“个人陈述问题（Personal Insight questions）”项下告诉我们你独一无二的经历。从本质上来讲，申请中要求你在这里分享你的经历和背景。
作为一名审核人，我觉得最成功的故事，是那些能让我对申请的其余部分有更深入理解的故事：在一堆冰冷的考试成绩和活动经历背后，究竟隐藏着一个怎样出彩的灵魂呢？你遇到过哪些挑战？又是如何克服这些挑战的？你曾经得到了什么机会？又是如何利用这些机会的?
我读了特别多特定类型的文章（essay），比如抒发对自己家庭的热爱的、描述高中之前喜欢的活动之类的。不是说写这类题材不行，但是这些无法让我们更深入了解你们到底是什么样的人，你申请伯克利的动机又是什么？我甚至无法根据这篇文章来结合申请中的其他部分，来分析你是一个怎样的人。
记得使用“个人陈述问题”部分后的“附加留言框”(Additional Comments box)。你可以把那些你无法在申请中的其他部分，或是“个人陈述问题”项中分享的东西都放在留言框里。在这里，你可以分享任何东西（除了学术相关的信息；把学术相关信息填写在另一个附加留言框中，我会在下文对此做出解释）这是你向我们分享关于你个人的最后一个机会。
２. 认真报告你的学业成绩
学术报告是你在申请中需要填写的另外一个部分。在你没有提交这个信息之前，审核人对你毫无了解。当你报告你的学术史时候，请确保信息的完整和准确。
你需要在学术史部分列出所有包括暑假作业、高中的课程和成绩在内的的A-G课程。此外，列出“非A-G课程的部分”，比如参与的活动，获得的奖项来帮助我们了解你可能正在学习的其他课程，包括领导力、学校年度纪念册、体育课程等。
在“学术史”的附加留言框中，记得一定要告诉我更多有关你学术背景的信息。比如：你在高二和高三的成绩是否呈现下降趋势？或者你是否是一位转校生，你是否曾经中途退学过？并告诉我为什么。你有在学数学过程中遇到解不开的难题吗？告诉我你是如何解决的。也许我在你的申请中看到你在第一学期的成绩是Ａ，请告诉我这个时间段发生了什么。这些留言将有助于我更好地了解你。
附加的留言框也是你告诉我们需要知道的，有关于你个人学术情况的地方。同时这也是申请的其他部分没有涉及到的。比如解释一个独特的或非传统的学校环境，如家庭教育、兴趣班、特殊学院等，这都是很好的例子。
３. 不要以为我们什么都知道，告诉我们来龙去脉
Context的意思就是：“事件发生的地点和时间”。当我在你的申请中提到Context时，我的意思是你应该提供与你的成绩相关的情况，特别是在活动、奖励、志愿服务或就业方面。
举个例子，我经常看到申请者使用缩写、首字母缩写或简称。使用知名组织或经常使用的短语的缩写是没有问题的（例如：ASB）。然而，如果我在活动情况里看到类似“高中骑士”或“转学研究员”之类的词语，我不确定对于你来说是指代些什么。请你再加一点说明，让我了解活动本身和你在其中扮演的角色。你是某个团体的成员吗？这个团体做了什么？你在团体里扮演什么角色？
写清楚来龙去脉，让审核人知道你是在什么情况下获得这些奖项和成绩的。例如，某个奖项或荣誉的获奖率（例如：500人申请，20人被选中）。这是一个校级奖项、地方性荣誉、还是一个全国性的比赛的奖项？如果你提到一份工作，这份工作对你的学业有什么影响？你学到了什么技能？你曾在工作起过领导作用吗？
总的来说，我想要告诉给所有申请人的是，在你列出的任何项目（学术、活动、奖项、志愿活动和工作经历）中尽可能写清楚来龙去脉，因为这可以让审核人更好的了解你所获得的成绩。我们想更好地了解你是谁。因为你是如此的独一无二，如此的优秀，以及你希望能够加入伯克利。所以确保你提供了足够的信息让我们能更好的评估你，并最终做出决定。
祝你好运！
Reference：
Pendo, S. (2016, September 28). 3 Things I Wish Applicants Knew: One Application Reader’s Perspective [Web log message]. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@CalAdmissions/3-things-i-wish-applicants-knew-one-applicant-readers-perspective-69a116003c89
【英文原文】
3 Things I Wish Applicants Knew: One Application Reader’s Perspective
By Susan Pendo, Manager, Freshman Reading
I’m a reader for freshman applicants to UC Berkeley. Actually, I’ve led and trained readers over the years, since I’ve been managing our holistic reading process. And I also have read a number of transfer applications.
One question I hear over and over from students is: “How can I improve my chances of getting admitted to UC Berkeley?” I always remind them that Berkeley students are more than their test scores and GPAs.
That means, we rely on you to tell us, outside of all the numbers, who you are, and why you belong at Berkeley.
When you read as many applications as our staff does, you come across many stellar and worthy students. We sometimes literally wince when we realize that, with a little bit more information, an applicant could have risen higher in the selection pool.
After reading literally thousands of applications, I’ve seen a few common ways applicants miss opportunities to tell us their story.
As UC Berkeley’s Admissions staff enters another application season, I wanted to share my thoughts on three key things I wish all applicants knew when they applied to UC Berkeley.
1. Tell us your unique story.
The University of California application is the only place where I, the application reader, get to see you, the student and applicant. Take advantage of every place in the application to share your story with me.
Here are a few examples of what I mean: Tell us your unique story in your answers to the Personal Insight questions. (Berkeley previously called this your Personal Statement.) Essentially, the application is asking you to share your experience and background here.
As a reader, I feel the most successful stories are ones that give me more insight and context around the rest of the application: Who is the person behind the test scores and grades and activities? What are your struggles and how did you overcome them? What opportunities were you given and how did you take advantage of them? Many times I read essays about a student’s loving family or activities they enjoyed prior to high school. There’s nothing wrong with those — they just don’t always help me learn more about that student, determine why he or she should be at Berkeley, or understand any context for the information I see in the rest of the application.
Use the Additional Comments box following the Personal Insight questions section. This is an area where you can share anything (outside of academics; save academic information for the other Additional Comments box, which I explain below) that you haven’t been able to share anywhere else in the application or in your Personal Insight questions. It’s the last opportunity for you to share anything we need to know about you.
2. Report your academics thoughtfully.
Academic reporting is an area where applicants assume readers can fill in the blanks. Readers cannot assume anything and must use the information you give us. When you report your Academic History, be complete and accurate.
List all A-G courses, including summer work, in High School Courses & Grades within the Academic History section.
Use the non A-G coursework section within Activities & Awards to help us understand other courses you may be taking. This includes Leadership, Yearbook, Physical Education, etc.
Under the Additional Comments box in Academic History, be sure to tell me anything more that I need to know about your academics. Did your grades dip overall between sophomore and junior year, or, if you are a transfer applicant, did you drop out of college at one point? Tell me why. Did you struggle in math? Tell me what you did about it. Maybe I see in your application that you brought those Ds in your first semester to solid As. What happened? Those are the sorts of comments that help me understand you better.
The Additional Comments box is yet another area where you can tell us anything we need to know about your unique academic situation, which already has not been covered in other parts of the application. A good example of what to include is explaining a unique or nontraditional school environment, such as home-schooling, magnets, or special academies.
3. Don’t assume we know; give us context.
Context means “the group of conditions that exist where and when something happens.” When I speak of context in your application, I mean that you should provide the conditions that exist around your achievements, especially in the areas of activities, awards, volunteering, or employment.
Here’s an example: So many times I see applicants use abbreviations, acronyms, or shorthand. This is okay if the abbreviation applies to a well-known organization or is commonly used, such as ASB.
However, if I look at activities and see something like “High School Knights” or “Transfer Fellows,” I am not sure what that means in your particular situation. Add a little bit more description so that I understand the activity and your role in it. Were you a member of a group? What did the roup do? What was your role in that group?
Help the readers understand the context of any awards or achievements. For example, what was the level of selectivity for an award or honor (such as: 500 applied and 20 were selected). Was this a school award, a local honor, or a national competition? If you mention a job, how did that employment affect your academics? What skills did you learn? Did you have a leadership role? Be specific.
Overall, the message I want to convey to all applicants is that adding context to any items you list (in academics, activities, awards, volunteering, and work experience) adds to the reader’s understanding of your achievements. We want to get a better sense of who you are. After all, you are unique, you’ve achieved a lot, and you want to come to Berkeley. Be sure to give us the information we need to make the best decision. Good luck!
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