【资讯】Common App公布2018-2019美本申请essay题目

Common App官网最近公布了2018-2019年美本申请essay题目，题目和2017-2018年相同。新一轮美本申请的号角已经吹响，打算2018—2019年美本申请的同学在刷分和做课外活动准备之余，也可以开始考虑自己的CommonApp Essay构思了。Common Application是什么？

Common Application，美国大学通用申请系统，简称CA，是美国本土及国际申请者一站式完成大学申请材料的公用申请平台。适用于包括哈佛，耶鲁，普林斯顿等名校在内的美国大学。

2018-2019年CA文书题目：

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

一些学生有一些具有特殊意义的背景、身份、兴趣或天赋，如果在申请材料中不提及这些，那么这份申请材料将会不够完整。如果你是这样的，那么请分享你的故事。

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental 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 the experience?

从挫折中得到的经验教训能帮助我们获得成功。回忆你面对挑战、挫折或者失败的一次经历。它是如何影响你的，以及你从中学到了什么?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

回顾一次你质疑或挑战某种观念的经历。是什么触发了你的思考呢?结果如何?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

描述一个你解决过或者想解决的问题。可以是学术挑战，研究调查，道德困境——任何你认为对你个人而言很重要的问题，不论大小。说明它对你的意义和你解决问题的方法。

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

讲述让你成长或者让你重新认识自己的一个成就、事件、或者感悟。

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

描述一个让你流连其中，甚至忘记时间的话题、想法、理念。为什么它吸引你?你想多学习时，会寻求什么/谁的帮助?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

题目自拟，可以是之前写好的文章，或者任何你自创的选题。

最后附一篇耶鲁大学Essay范文，作者为Alexander Dominitz，题材类型为The Arts。

"Please turn off all cell phones and pagers. Thank you, and enjoy the show." As the echo of my voice subsided, I seized the walkie-talkie that lay resting on the stool and raised it to my mouth. "Justin," I whispered, "kill the lights." I had just enough time to nod to the sound crew, signaling them to start the overture, before the stage went completely black. As Mendelssohn boomed from the speakers, my fingers fumbled around in the dark until finding the curtain chord. I began to pull downward, hand-over-hand, until the curtain revealed the court of the Duke of Athens. Kelsey's voice sounded from stage right: "Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on apace…"

Breathe. As I leaned against the stage door, the journey that had brought me to this moment replayed in my memory: months of planning with the school's administration—outlining goals and creating schedules; hours of meeting with the faculty—enlisting the art department to build sets and begging English teachers to postpone projects; weeks of rehearsals, preparing the kids for the rigors of "opening night"; even the video that I wrote and filmed over a marathon-like weekend in order to advertise the endeavor.

And finally…all my pessimistic friends who challenged my excitement with their disbelief: "Junior high school students? Shakespeare?" Then I thought, "But just look at them now!" Nina projects on stage—the smallness of her voice ceases to inhibit her performance. Chris watches his blocking—his awkward stance a distant memory. Amber now gestures with purpose—gone are the nervous habits that once characterized each movement. Garret knows every single line by heart—no longer will I be making the 10 p.m. house calls to help him memorize. But what about Brian? Little Brian…. I just don't know. Always so quiet and shy…have I reached him?

The Mendelssohn sounded again: time for intermission. I resumed my scurrying, taking down trees and bringing on columns, fixing loosened safety pins, freshening up faded makeup, and answering questions from the crew: "When do you want the spotlight in 4:1?" "What about the throne and the benches?" "Have you seen my donkey ears?" Suddenly, I felt a tug at the leg of my jeans. I turned around, and there was Brian, looking up at me with round, brown, hopeful eyes. In his usually timid voice, I heard a tone of determination. "Was that good? What can I do better for the next act?" I hugged him, reassured him, sent him to his entrance place, and rushed behind a curtain before anyone could see my tears of joy.

End of Act 5. As the lights came up for the curtain call, the audience rose in standing ovation. The faculty advisor tapped me on the shoulder. "It's your turn…get out there!" I looked out at the stage apron from my post at the curtain, smiled, and shook my head. "No," I said. "This is their moment."

They finished their bows, and as the curtain closed, all twenty five seventh and eighth graders jumped up and down shouting, "We did it! We did it!" Hugs, laughter, and tears gushed from everyone—actors, technicians, and stagehands alike. I just stood there and watched, not daring to disrupt the spectacle, for I was witnessing the burst of elation that only those who have just created something beautiful can know. This was my bow. I did not need the audience's reaction to gauge the impact. I could see the results for myself. I can teach. I can inspire. I can touch lives. That's all that matters.

Alexander Dominitz attends Yale University.

文章整理自common app官网。原文链接：http://www.commonapp.org/whats-appening/application-updates/2018-2019-common-application-essay-prompts