第一篇：美國2018年大學(xué)申請(qǐng)文書選登：關(guān)于家庭、階級(jí)和夢(mèng)想

美國2018年大學(xué)申請(qǐng)文書選登：關(guān)于家庭、階級(jí)和夢(mèng)想

“每一年，我們都會(huì)向?qū)W生征集他們所寫的大學(xué)申請(qǐng)文書。今天我們選登了其中五篇，這五篇文書寫了關(guān)于家庭、夢(mèng)想和階級(jí)。對(duì)我們了解美國頂尖大學(xué)的招生思路，有很大的啟發(fā)?！?/p>

圖為芝加哥大學(xué)

01

“我的父親沒有工作，但卻引導(dǎo)我進(jìn)了耶魯”

杰弗里·余在他位于紐約州恩迪科特的家里，他和他父親一起在那里養(yǎng)雞。他將入讀耶魯大學(xué)。

紐約·恩迪科特 杰弗里·C·余

并非所有醫(yī)生的兒子都會(huì)在廚房里養(yǎng)小雞小鴨。但我會(huì)。是我爸教我的。

我是在一個(gè)衰敗的工業(yè)城鎮(zhèn)長(zhǎng)大的，而我父親的童年卻正值文化大革命。為了讓姊妹能上大學(xué)，我的父親放棄了自己上大學(xué)的機(jī)會(huì)，去公社當(dāng)起了農(nóng)民。

因此，我每天早上在貝多芬的悠揚(yáng)樂曲中醒來，我的父親卻是在干草和牲畜散發(fā)的生活氣息里長(zhǎng)大的。每當(dāng)我望向我們的三角鋼琴和我們的小雞，我都會(huì)驚訝于我們童年的鮮明差異，以及我的父親是如何通過飼養(yǎng)牲畜與我分享他的鄉(xiāng)村成長(zhǎng)。

我的父親接受了這些不同。從如何用廁紙制作石膏塑像，到如何從無到有建起一座溫室，他向我介紹了不同的經(jīng)驗(yàn)。于是你可能想問：他朝九晚五的傳統(tǒng)工作是什么？他曾經(jīng)是駕駛著考察船跨越太平洋的船長(zhǎng)，設(shè)計(jì)過三種可取得專利的風(fēng)力渦輪機(jī)，從副廚到摩托羅拉(Motorola)技術(shù)員，一切你能想象得到的工作他都做過。

現(xiàn)在呢？都不是。實(shí)際上，他現(xiàn)在是一名居家老爸。

我的家庭是一個(gè)父系社會(huì)中的母系部落。因此，每當(dāng)我解釋父親的財(cái)務(wù)狀況時(shí)，都會(huì)得到人們驚訝的反應(yīng)?！八@是有多懶，多沒出息！”也有許多人試圖掩飾他們的驚訝，但他們游移的眼神透露了一切。在一個(gè)把經(jīng)濟(jì)價(jià)值擺在最前沿的社會(huì)中，這些假設(shè)對(duì)其他人可能適用，但對(duì)我父親不行。

我看媒體，不論是新聞?lì)^版，還是網(wǎng)站上的專題文章，都常常突出描寫那些為了保證孩子能 接受良好教育而長(zhǎng)時(shí)間工作，一人打多份工的父母。這些報(bào)道當(dāng)然值得稱贊，但它們往往會(huì)蓋過那些相對(duì)不為人所知的、像我父親這樣的人，他們的所為是同樣重要的。

我現(xiàn)在意識(shí)到了，我的父親犧牲了他前途大好的事業(yè)和錢財(cái)上的成就，以確保他的兒子能得到恰當(dāng)?shù)年P(guān)注、照料和道德教育。父親從他無言、無私的舉動(dòng)中所給予我的，遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)大于一份薪水所能買到的，也讓我重新認(rèn)識(shí)到，我們——作為人類——能如何為自己的生活做出選擇。

我很自豪地說，我的父親是我認(rèn)識(shí)的人中最富有的——不是金錢上的富有，而是品格上的富有。他擁有解決復(fù)雜的物理和微積分問題的聰明才智，充滿年輕創(chuàng)業(yè)者的活力（盡管他在50歲時(shí)才創(chuàng)立了一家正在起步的風(fēng)車公司），會(huì)貼心地接送兒子去訓(xùn)練、排練。歸根結(jié)底，對(duì)我來說更為重要的是一個(gè)人身上的這些品質(zhì)，而非書面上的記錄。

像我父親這樣的故事提醒著我，價(jià)值不只是六位數(shù)薪資這一種形式。他是一個(gè)啟發(fā)我的人，他提醒著我，哪怕是對(duì)我這樣一個(gè)年輕人的生活，樂觀、熱情和創(chuàng)造力都能帶來不同。是這些無言的品質(zhì)塑造了我。

不論是當(dāng)我為救濟(jì)廚房的圣誕晚餐折餐巾花的時(shí)候，還是為化學(xué)課同學(xué)烘焙辮子面包法式吐司條的時(shí)候，我都知道成就不一定要用實(shí)證的方法來衡量。推動(dòng)我前進(jìn)的是這種創(chuàng)業(yè)者式的、自我驅(qū)動(dòng)的決心，要讓生活充滿創(chuàng)意。我的父親沒有按著慣有的道路生活。而我，也希望為他人、為社會(huì)帶去這樣一種非正統(tǒng)的態(tài)度。

我時(shí)不時(shí)會(huì)面對(duì)這個(gè)看似無法回答的問題：“我的爸爸是做什么的？”但其實(shí)非常簡(jiǎn)單，答案就是，他做的是他最擅長(zhǎng)的事情：給他的兒子帶去啟發(fā)。

02

“貧窮和苦難賦予我工具，讓我開創(chuàng)未來”

德克薩斯州里奇蒙德的艾瑞克·穆松杜。他將于今年秋季進(jìn)入哈佛就讀。

德克薩斯州里奇蒙德 艾瑞克·恩古吉·穆松杜

祖母徘徊在爐子的火焰旁，一邊優(yōu)美地哼著吉庫尤人的宗教歌曲，一邊扇著火。她揉好面團(tuán)，放在爐子上。她的靜脈隨著每個(gè)動(dòng)作抽動(dòng)：這是一幅由貧困和生為人母的一生所繪成的活生生的杰作?？諝庵械臒熿F越來越濃，我很快就被逼出了這座泥巴磚墻房子，她哈哈大笑。

我呢，我漫步到農(nóng)場(chǎng)邊緣一座山脊中的小溪，想起父親早早起身喂牛的故事，想起在母親的回憶中，她在當(dāng)?shù)匾粋€(gè)種植園里摘了數(shù)小時(shí)咖啡豆后額頭上的汗珠。

這里的生活與我在美國的生活有著極大的不同，貧窮的苦難與閃爍的繁榮似乎永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)相容。但這就是我所繼承的兩個(gè)世界。而我在任何一個(gè)世界中的存在也離不開另外一個(gè)世界。

在溪水旁，我回憶起我在別處的生活。在美國，我看著父親每晚回家，勞累卻又習(xí)以為常地 結(jié)束了又一天辛苦奔忙的工作。盡管他的雙眼中透著疲憊，但他會(huì)讓我和妹妹坐下，努力掛上我熟悉的微笑，問我們今天過得怎樣。

妹妹的回應(yīng)很快，大談特談她的學(xué)習(xí)和淘氣。這一刻，我才意識(shí)到她太小了，以至于忘了我們?cè)瓉淼募遥杭彝剿谋诘钠婆f公寓，夜晚有動(dòng)物在外面不斷地嚎叫。

不久之后，我發(fā)現(xiàn)屋內(nèi)唯一可以聽到的，只有躺在床上的我腦中的思緒和輕微悸動(dòng)的聲響。我琢磨著，在我的到來之前，父母曾在離散之海上漂流，當(dāng)時(shí)他們是否想過，他們?yōu)槲覀冏鞒龅臓奚鼤?huì)伴隨著后背的劇痛、每個(gè)流淚夜晚與清晨的新憂慮。但是要理解起來太過繁雜。于是，我會(huì)夢(mèng)見他們，以及我用他們賦予我的工具去開創(chuàng)的未來。

我在水邊沉思了太久。意識(shí)到了這點(diǎn)，我便開始往家走。爬上山脊十分累人，于是我小心地抓牢腳下的泥土，感受著它在我指間的溫暖。后來，我看到了赤著腳跑來跑去的表弟表妹，決定加入他們的足球賽，但他們都嘲笑我?guī)蛴卸嗖粎f(xié)調(diào)。他們玩耍、叫喊、歌唱，完全不知道這個(gè)村莊之外或者內(nèi)羅畢之外的世界。

我不怪他們。我的iPhone令他們著迷，他們還要看我的牙套，目不轉(zhuǎn)睛地問這花了多少“先令”。我張開嘴巴以滿足他們的好奇心，但祖母叫我了，于是我們都趕忙回去看看她做了些什么。

當(dāng)我回到家時(shí)，薄煎餅已整齊地一個(gè)個(gè)摞好，金褐色盤子里盛著甜面包，這才是完整的肯尼亞餐。趁祖母還沒來得及用吉庫尤語連珠炮般地取笑我，我拿了一塊薄煎餅就逃去尋找一塊光滑的草地，在那里我才吃下了第一口。每一口都提醒著我，我在這里的時(shí)光不會(huì)是永遠(yuǎn)，而我的成功或失敗將成為我的妹妹和親戚們的決定性例證。

高中和大學(xué)之間的鴻溝是巨大的，但是為了那些一路將我提攜至此的人們，我必須越過。這個(gè)曾帶領(lǐng)我父母跨越無常之海的希望，也是現(xiàn)在的我走向未來的動(dòng)力。我將帶著一個(gè)最基本的思想前進(jìn)，那就是：我也能做到。

我聽著鄰居們的呼喊和孩子們追趕著滿是跳蚤的小狗，享受著每一刻，讓那清涼附著于我的肌膚之上。

03

“母牛教會(huì)我，成為一個(gè)女權(quán)主義的優(yōu)秀農(nóng)民”

艾莉森·海斯在芝加哥大學(xué)。

伊利諾伊州布什內(nèi)爾 艾莉森·赫斯(Alison Hess)

我一直以為父親希望我生下來是個(gè)男孩。

這個(gè)，請(qǐng)不要把我父親當(dāng)成瘋狂的鄉(xiāng)巴佬性別歧視者。事實(shí)是，在他所處的地區(qū)和行業(yè)，成功與否主要看你能不能提供和保持近乎不可超越的體力勞動(dòng)壯舉，人們往往更喜歡大塊頭的 人。

小時(shí)候，我更喜歡綠色而不是紅色的拖拉機(jī)，因?yàn)楦赣H開的就是綠色的。我喜歡黑白相間的母牛，而不是棕色的，因?yàn)楦赣H養(yǎng)的就是那種黑白的。我冬天穿連體工作服，一連幾周穿著帶窟窿沾泥巴的靴子。和新來的人說話時(shí)，我會(huì)表現(xiàn)出尚且稚嫩的男子氣，雙臂交叉抱在胸前。我的玩具箱里只有農(nóng)具模型。三年級(jí)的時(shí)候，我把頭發(fā)剪得非常短。父親露出微笑，摸了摸我的頭。

我從未試圖把餡餅皮搟得更加光滑，或是熨出筆挺的衣領(lǐng)。相反，我崇拜父親那雙有耐心的手。它們努力在母牛的脖頸上找到正確的血管扎針；用力制住受傷的小母牛；在他駕駛牲畜拖車時(shí)習(xí)慣地、巧妙地快速打方向盤。

長(zhǎng)大后，我自己也要做這些事情。十歲生日那天，我收到了自己的第一頭表演母牛。在赫斯家族，這是一種成人禮。我給她起名叫米西(Missy)。當(dāng)我用極低的聲音和她說話時(shí)，我沒有意識(shí)到一件事：

米西不在乎我是女孩。她不認(rèn)為我特意表現(xiàn)出男孩子氣，也不會(huì)注意到我堅(jiān)決抗拒粉色衣服（反正她是色盲）。她對(duì)照顧她的新人塊頭略小無動(dòng)于衷。她只在乎自己每天的均衡棉籽玉米面飼料，以及有人能多拍一下她的頭。我坐在她旁邊擦她的白色皮革籠頭時(shí)，她感謝的是我一絲不茍的勤勉，而不是我的性別。

幾個(gè)月后，當(dāng)我和米西贏得最佳表演獎(jiǎng)時(shí)，父親的心臟差點(diǎn)爆炸。我學(xué)會(huì)了無論何時(shí)只要感到自豪，就要表現(xiàn)出來。盡管當(dāng)時(shí)我把自己的勝利和“當(dāng)一個(gè)更優(yōu)秀的男孩”聯(lián)系在一起，但現(xiàn)在我意識(shí)到，那時(shí)我努力的方向其實(shí)是成為一個(gè)更優(yōu)秀的農(nóng)民。

我知道，我會(huì)做父親會(huì)做的所有事情，并且在有些事情上青出于藍(lán)，比如承擔(dān)喂新生小牛犢這件雜事，或是讓小母牛習(xí)慣帶籠頭這項(xiàng)艱巨的任務(wù)。我用了四年時(shí)間才意識(shí)到：

在那些時(shí)刻，我證明自己是一個(gè)比他還優(yōu)秀的農(nóng)民，不是因?yàn)槲铱朔俗约旱男詣e，而是因?yàn)槲铱朔俗约汉翢o根據(jù)的無知觀念，認(rèn)為睪丸酮水平最高的農(nóng)民才是最優(yōu)秀的農(nóng)民。

大學(xué)一年級(jí)，我離開農(nóng)場(chǎng)，去了寄宿學(xué)校。在學(xué)校里，我身邊都是更富裕、受教育程度更高的人。他們中絕大部分人以前都聽說過“女權(quán)主義”這個(gè)詞。在我介紹自己的家鄉(xiāng)時(shí)，我開始從討厭的英語老師和敏銳的朋友們皺起的眉頭中領(lǐng)會(huì)這個(gè)詞的意思。四年的教育和每周的議論文教會(huì)了我這個(gè)學(xué)術(shù)術(shù)語。我知道了“女權(quán)主義”這個(gè)詞的拉丁語詞根、同源詞和它的歷史影響。

但我通過書本了解到的相關(guān)知識(shí)越多，在文章中用這個(gè)詞的次數(shù)越多，我越是明白自己早已知道它的意思。我身上正體現(xiàn)出女權(quán)主義在農(nóng)場(chǎng)的現(xiàn)狀。我已經(jīng)付諸實(shí)踐了。這都是我的母牛教我的。

04

“成為報(bào)稅志愿者，我希望能帶來實(shí)實(shí)在在的改變” 卡洛琳·S·貝特在紐約的圣童女校。在度過一個(gè)間隔年后，她今年秋季將入讀耶魯大學(xué)。

紐約布朗克斯維爾 卡洛琳·S·貝特

“除了死亡和納稅，沒什么是可以確定的?！?/p>

本杰明·富蘭克林(Benjamin Franklin)的這句話到了今天依然能夠引起共鳴，如果你和大多數(shù)人一樣，也會(huì)覺得申報(bào)所得稅的確令人不快。不過，對(duì)我來說，報(bào)稅準(zhǔn)備工作是我觀察我們社會(huì)當(dāng)中迥異經(jīng)濟(jì)現(xiàn)實(shí)的望遠(yuǎn)鏡。透過這個(gè)鏡頭，我親眼見識(shí)到，有時(shí)微薄的工資和倒退的公共政策會(huì)對(duì)經(jīng)濟(jì)弱勢(shì)者帶來什么不利影響，以及我如何才能作出改變。

在報(bào)稅季節(jié)，我每個(gè)周六都跟隨AARP報(bào)稅援助項(xiàng)目(Tax-Aide Program)進(jìn)行志愿工作，接下來的這一年將是第三次了。在曼哈頓晨邊高地圖書館(Morningside Heights Library)的地下室里，我們會(huì)幫助年邁者和低收入者報(bào)稅。在我第一次加入的那個(gè)報(bào)稅季節(jié)里，我負(fù)責(zé)處理組織任務(wù)，在初始面試過程中協(xié)助招募顧問。

我告訴AARP的經(jīng)理我想在下一個(gè)季度回來，并做些實(shí)際的稅務(wù)準(zhǔn)備工作時(shí)，她表示懷疑，尤其是因?yàn)樵谖业乃诘?，第二年輕的報(bào)稅人員也有37歲。但是，這并沒有把我嚇?。罕M管我在稅務(wù)季節(jié)開始時(shí)剛滿16歲，但我鉆研過這些材料，也通過了美國國稅局(I.R.S.)的高級(jí)資格考試。

作為志愿者，我的目標(biāo)是幫助我的客戶得到他們應(yīng)得的每一筆抵免，將亟需的資金放回他們的口袋。要做到這一點(diǎn)，我需要的不僅僅是專業(yè)知識(shí)，還得在人與人的層面進(jìn)行溝通。我會(huì)積極地傾聽他或她的故事，注意使每個(gè)人都感到放松。

比如那位幾乎不會(huì)說英語、剛剛成為美國公民的年輕女子，她提到自己與殘疾的祖母同住。從她的故事中我可以確定，她可以因?yàn)樗淖婺付暾?qǐng)“受撫養(yǎng)者看護(hù)稅抵”和一千美元的勞動(dòng)所得抵免。這些抵免占了她收入的20%左右，并將用來為她的祖母購買藥品和其他必需品。

有時(shí)，經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況處于維生邊緣的人們所受到的壓力是那樣明顯，令我感到悲傷。比如球鞋和牙科護(hù)理這樣我從未多花心思的基本需求，對(duì)很多人而言都遙不可及。

我清楚地記得，那位來自皇后區(qū)，在塔吉特(Target)工作的單親媽媽去年在H&R Block報(bào)稅公司花掉了400美元（相當(dāng)于她一周的薪水）。有了我們的志愿工作，今年她不需要再為報(bào)稅準(zhǔn)備付款，還可以申請(qǐng)抵免，于是她向我表示，她可以為和我同齡的兒子買一雙新跑鞋了，而且還有希望去牙醫(yī)那兒看看抽痛了幾個(gè)月的一顆牙。

作為志愿者，我學(xué)到了共情、傾聽，以及通過簡(jiǎn)單的方式溝通復(fù)雜專業(yè)問題的重要性。讓我的客戶放松，他們就能理解我對(duì)他們的錢應(yīng)當(dāng)如何繳稅的解釋。我也深入了解了稅收政策會(huì)對(duì)低收入勞動(dòng)者和老年人的經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況與身體健康產(chǎn)生怎樣的影響。雖然我并沒有改變稅收體制（雖然我以后有這個(gè)打算），但我改變了客戶與體制的溝通方式。除了本杰明·富蘭克林說的，生命中死亡與稅收這兩樣確定的事情之外，我還會(huì)加上第三件確定的事，那就是人類精神的持久力量。我記得一位拄著拐杖的八旬老人，在二月一個(gè)下著雨的寒冷周六排了兩個(gè)小時(shí)的隊(duì)。不知怎地，他能在曼哈頓憑著每年15000美元的社保收入生活下來。盡管他的收入低于報(bào)稅要求，但我們一起申報(bào)了77美元的學(xué)區(qū)稅和租房抵免，這相當(dāng)于他兩個(gè)星期的雜貨采購費(fèi)用。

我們完成了工作后，他對(duì)我說，“明年見?！边@一刻，我知道我已經(jīng)做出了實(shí)實(shí)在在的改變。

05

“奶奶說：做一床你自己的百納被”

琳·皮納在她位于德克薩斯州韋斯拉科的奶奶家中。她將進(jìn)入科爾蓋特大學(xué)就讀。

德克薩斯州埃爾莎 琳·皮納

她坐在陽光下縫百衲被時(shí)，光線讓她皮膚上的每個(gè)皺紋、灼傷和割痕顯得特別突出。她一針一針地縫著邊，食指上的頂針保護(hù)著其他手指免遭針扎。雖然她右手的每個(gè)指頭上都戴著戒指，但左手只有一個(gè)指頭帶著她的結(jié)婚戒指。這些戒指把人們的注意力從她的年齡和傷痕轉(zhuǎn)移到她珍愛的東西上。

奶奶的戒指不僅被她的兒子、我的父親多次偷走，而且她時(shí)時(shí)刻刻處于擔(dān)心狀態(tài)，怕他會(huì)再偷她的東西。我父親被關(guān)在監(jiān)獄里時(shí)，她一星期每天都戴著戒指；但他在家時(shí)，她手上光禿禿的。隨著時(shí)間的推移，這已變得越來越常見，她學(xué)會(huì)了把值錢的東西藏在她床底下的珠寶盒里。

小時(shí)候，我觀察過奶奶的手向內(nèi)、向外來回不斷的動(dòng)作，注意到她的節(jié)奏。這種節(jié)奏就像每個(gè)星期日我和她一起去逛跳蚤市場(chǎng)時(shí)聽到的恰恰舞音樂。

每星期，她都對(duì)賣主的產(chǎn)品討價(jià)還價(jià)，把“不需要的必需品”帶回家；幸運(yùn)的是，有些星期買來的東西碰巧是線和新的衣服樣子。當(dāng)奶奶給我縫上學(xué)穿的衣服時(shí)，我總是在試圖按照電視劇La Rosa de Guadalupe里的衣服樣子縫件什么，我那是做給她看的。我會(huì)邊聽邊唱她最喜歡的羅西王子(Prince Royce)歌曲，用與她用的顏色一樣的線，并試著用同樣的恰恰舞節(jié)奏。

因?yàn)楦赣H被關(guān)進(jìn)監(jiān)獄，我家里的女性都得去打工。11歲時(shí)，我第一次開始工作，和祖父母一起當(dāng)起了清潔工。雖然我想幫助我的家人，但對(duì)當(dāng)一名清潔女工我感到羞愧。我和母親爭(zhēng)吵過，我不想過這樣的生活，不想為了家庭的穩(wěn)定而放棄我的童年。

家人好幾次說我“忘恩負(fù)義”——奶奶也多次用“一切好事都只會(huì)發(fā)生在那些耐心等待的人身上”這句話來教育我。縫紉不再是一種愛好，而是成了一件必需做的事情，我給自己縫制圍裙，把布片縫在一起做抹布，為我的家庭爭(zhēng)取更美好的未來。奶奶也不得不放下百衲被去工作，但她從不抱怨。最近幾年，奶奶的病越來越重，所以我把她未完成的百衲被帶回家，打算把它做完。讓這個(gè)項(xiàng)目半途而廢不是奶奶的選擇；她的年齡、以及她為家庭不停地做貢獻(xiàn)讓她無法完成這個(gè)百衲被。障礙不僅經(jīng)常讓我重新設(shè)計(jì)人生道路，而且改變了我的視角，讓我看到了生活中更大、更美好的東西。百衲被是一塊一塊拼縫起來的，每塊布都代表著我的家庭內(nèi)部的不穩(wěn)定。

然而，當(dāng)你把所有這些布?jí)K縫成一件完整東西時(shí)，你就有了一個(gè)用多條接縫連接起來、經(jīng)過多次加固的百衲被，就像是描繪了我們?cè)?jīng)面臨并克服了諸多障礙后所展示的韌性。

現(xiàn)在，奶奶來到我們家時(shí)，她一邊伸手去拿眼鏡，把自己的助步器從桌子傍邊推開，一邊叫我把百衲被拿給她。曾經(jīng)習(xí)慣了不停地縫紉、帶滿了戒指的手現(xiàn)在光禿禿的，手上的傷疤也被皺紋隱藏了起來。

奶奶緊緊地抓著被子，向我示意，讓我把她的縫紉籃子拿過來，那個(gè)放在屋子角落里的籃子上蓋滿了灰塵。她的手從每個(gè)布?jí)K摸過，對(duì)被子進(jìn)行著最后的仔細(xì)檢查，找到了一條沒完全縫好的接縫。她笑著說：“把這個(gè)縫兒縫起來，然后做一床你自己的百衲被。”

聲明：本文來源于《紐約時(shí)報(bào)》（中文網(wǎng)），版權(quán)歸原作者所有。若涉及版權(quán)問題，請(qǐng)作者及時(shí)聯(lián)系小編刪除，我們會(huì)第一時(shí)間進(jìn)行處理，謝謝。

第二篇：美國大學(xué)申請(qǐng)文書

Short Answer

Please select three of the following five prompts and provide a response of approximately 150 words to each.Your responses will be read by Notre Dame admissions counselors as we seek to learn more about you.We encourage you to use personal examples, anecdotes, or anything that helps differentiate you from your peers.1.Undergraduates at Notre Dame have the opportunity to engage in original research where they strive to make a professional contribution in their field.A typical summer grant of $5,000 enables students to pursue their passions in a full range of disciplines: from the arts, humanities and architecture to science, engineering and business.If you were given a $5,000 grant to study a topic, what would you choose to research and why?

Doing a research on Iphone4's successful marketing in China must be interesting.The Apple Company has been looking for innovative ways to meet new and existing consumer’s needs.The model before Iphone4 did not sell well in China.However, Iphone4 has achieved a great increase in consumer demand.I can see Iphone4 everywhere in China.It was even sold out immediately after it appeared in the on-line Apple store.There must be some secrets of the new selling model of Iphone4.I would spend the grant to find the answer.2.Notre Dame’s mission statement emphasizes an education should “create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice." Describe an experience that engaged you both intellectually and morally.I had an experience ofbeing a volunteer in a library for two months.I felt proud of myselfdoing the job.I looked for books for readers, and helped the librarians with their work.It was just different to be avolunteer from a reader in the library, for serving the public made me happier and trained me to be more polite.3.Many people form a list of once-in-a-lifetime activities to accomplish.For example, individuals on the admissions staff hope to visit all the national parks, publish a fiction novel or waddle with penguins in Antarctica.What are a few of the items on your list?

I'm interested in many things.Ifthere were some once-in-a-lifetime activities to accomplish, then building a band would be the first choice on my list.I love music and playing the piano.It would be gorgeous to work with several friends sharing the same ambition and dream.The second thing may be travelling abroad.I believe that travelling is a way and part of learning.It would be even moreamazing to have experience living and studying in a different country, even only once, in my lifetime.4.You have 150 words.Take a risk.The willingness to take a risk demonstrates a positive attitude to life.Whatever the result is, the process and mood in taking a risk are more attractive.When I was traveling in Thailand with my parents at the age of five, I decided to take a flight in a special fire balloon linked by a rope to a speedboat.The tour guide said I was the youngest one ever to take that flight.Without any fear or hesitation, I flew into the intoxicating sky.The boat fast moving, the sea breeze swaying, and the golden sunshine setting off the greenish orchid sea constituted a view like paradise.The flying experience was glorious and I was totally immersed in that exciting delight.Growing up, I now understand that only by taking a risk can I see what other people cannot see and enjoy what they cannot enjoy.5.Why are you interested in attending the University of Notre Dame?

The University of Notre Dame first came into my mind when I saw the movie Rudy in my middle school.The fascinating view of the Notre Dame campus and the combatant spirit of the football team were so appealing to me that I decided at once to plan to pursue my academic enthusiasm in this university.The fairy tale about Rudy, the ocean of knowledge and courage it has, the Mendoza College of Business with its traditions and teaching of values and morals, all attract me..I am particularly interested in the business school and I am going to apply to it.As is well known, the lack of moral sense and principles of food producers in China has resulted in food poisoning and the loss of trust from the public.I hope, through my own efforts, I can convert some businessmen’s moral values and thus do something to help the Chinese people.

第三篇：美國大學(xué)申請(qǐng)文書1

美國大學(xué)申請(qǐng)優(yōu)秀文書范文

I wake up every morning to its rich scent.My parents cannot start the day with out it.I often wait in line and pay $3.85 to buy it.The senior lodge at my school is littered with empty Starbucks cups containing only the remnants of skim lattes, , and mocha frapuccinos.Coffee is a staple of American life that many take for granted, but few take the time to think about how they get it.In the rural village of Cadillo in the Dominican Republic, the people’s livelihood depends on coffee.Rows of green coffee plants line steep hills and scatter the countryside.The people there pick and sell the coffee beans but receive little profit for their hard work.During the week I spent in Cadilloplaying , I witnessed the poverty these coffee farmers endure.Their homes are small and dark, furnished with only a few wooden chairs, a table and a few beds.There is no lawyers and electricity in Cadillo and I especially remember the emptiness of the village at night, when I could only vaguely see the faces I illuminated with my flashlight.I can still see the shiny metal bowl in which they used to bathe, and Jose, a neighbor who was missing several teeth because like most people in Cadillo, he lacks a toothbrush and could not afford a.These images still burn in my mind, but it was the people of Cadillo more than anything who opened my eyes to the importance of social justice.Before I met them it was just a concept I heard about a few times a year at church when a missionary would come to speak about the poor people in Africa or South America and explain why it was our duty to help them.These people were far removed.A small fraction of my weekly allowance, once a year, and I could remove them from my mind.After living for a week with a family in Cadillo, however, I understood for the first time that it was real people leading these lives.The family I stayed with there took me in as part of their family and gave me a taste of their life.I remember my Dominican father, Barilla’s face as he played guitar and how he laughed kindly when I struggled to play the chords he had taught me.I could feel the warmth and sincerity of my Dominican mother, Marsela, when she sat and talked with me about my home and family after a long day of work.And I will always remember how much fun I had playing catch or blowing bubbles with their two children, Jendi and Andisco.I will not forget the images I saw or the people I encountered.They made me realize that my work does not end with the school I helped build, the holes I helped dig, or the roads I helped widen.They showed me that there are real, wonderful people being treated unjustly and that I cannot sit back and let that happen.I cannot be silent when I know that people are getting rich off the coffee Barilla receives so little for.It is my responsibility to be active, to teach what I have learned, to fight injustices in my community and the world.I am not sure if I will ever visit Cadillo again but I do know that I can continue what I started there.I can tell people what I saw and spread awareness about injustice in the world.I can volunteer in my own

美國大學(xué)申請(qǐng)優(yōu)秀文書范文

community to help make changes at home and fundraise to aid third world countries.And tomorrow, after I wake up to the smell of fresh coffee, I can make a difference.啄木鳥教育編譯：我每天早晨在它的濃郁的香氣中醒來;沒有它，我父母就沒辦法開始新一天的工作生活;我常常排著隊(duì)，然后付上3.85美元買到它。我學(xué)校的高級(jí)旅館里堆滿了空的星巴克杯子，杯子里還有拿鐵、摩卡的殘留物?？Х仁敲绹松畹囊徊糠?，許多人理所當(dāng)然的享受著，很少有人花時(shí)間想過咖啡是怎么來的。

在多米尼加共和國有一個(gè)農(nóng)村叫Cadillo，當(dāng)?shù)鼐用褓囈陨?jì)的只有咖啡。一排排綠色的咖啡樹長(zhǎng)在陡峭的山坡上、圍著村子分散開來。人們采摘咖啡豆，然后賣出，這樣辛苦的勞作只換來微薄的收入。

我在Cadillo游玩過一個(gè)星期，我親眼目睹了這些種植咖啡的農(nóng)民們所忍受的貧困。他們的房子小、而且陰暗，里面的家具只有幾張木頭做的椅子、一張桌子及幾張床。這里沒有律師，沒有電。我尤其記得Cadillo村里晚上的空寂，那些晚上，我只能通過我的手電筒微弱的光看到模糊的臉。我還記得他們洗漱用的磨得發(fā)亮的金屬盆。Jose是我在村里住的那一家的鄰居，他像Cadillo村許多人一樣缺了幾顆牙齒，他沒有牙刷，因?yàn)橘I不起。

這些畫面仍然在我的腦海里翻滾，但正是Cadillo村里的人比其他所有更讓我見識(shí)到社會(huì)公平的重要性。在我遇到他們之前，“”社會(huì)公平”只是一個(gè)概念，每年在教堂里會(huì)聽到幾次，牧師會(huì)說非洲及南美的窮苦難民以及我們?yōu)槭裁从辛x務(wù)幫助他們。這些人離我這么遙遠(yuǎn)，盡管以前我會(huì)從每個(gè)星期的費(fèi)用省下一點(diǎn)，每年把省下來的錢捐一次出去。然而，在我同Cadillo的人們生活了一個(gè)星期后，我才第一次理解到真有人是這樣生活著。

我在Cadillo生活的那家人待我如親人，讓我體驗(yàn)了一番他們的生活是什么樣子。我記得我的多米尼加爸爸Barilla。他彈吉他時(shí)的模樣，他教我學(xué)樂器以及看我費(fèi)勁拉弦時(shí)怎么溫和地笑我。我能感受到我多米尼加?jì)寢孧arsela的溫暖和真誠，在她一天的長(zhǎng)時(shí)間勞作之后，她坐下來和我嘮家常，談我的家鄉(xiāng)、我的家人。我也將永遠(yuǎn)記得我和他們的兩個(gè)孩子Jendi、Andisco追逐打鬧吹泡泡的樂趣。

我永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)忘記這些畫面，不會(huì)忘記我遇到的人。是他們讓我意識(shí)到我的責(zé)任不僅僅是幫助建設(shè)學(xué)校、挖洞種樹和修寬道路。他們讓我真實(shí)的看到這樣一群善良的人受到不平等的對(duì)待，而我不能坐視不理?？吹接腥藦目Х全@取暴利而我的多米尼加爸爸卻得到很少，我無法沉默。我要積極主動(dòng)、去教給別人我所學(xué)到的，去為我生活在的社區(qū)以及世界出現(xiàn)的不平等斗爭(zhēng)，這是我的職責(zé)。

我不確定我以后是否還會(huì)去Cadillo，我能確定的是我會(huì)將從那里得到的繼續(xù)下去。我會(huì)把我看到的告訴他人，讓大家意識(shí)到這世界存在的不平等事實(shí)。我會(huì)在我生活的周邊社區(qū)志愿服務(wù)，改變家鄉(xiāng)，會(huì)為第三世界募捐。而當(dāng)我明天聞著咖啡的香氣中醒來，我知道我能為世界變美好做一點(diǎn)貢獻(xiàn)

第四篇：申請(qǐng)美國大學(xué)入學(xué)文書范本

申請(qǐng)美國大學(xué)入學(xué)文書范本

I guess it was inevitable that I’d be on hockey skates at some point in mylife, but I did not expect that I’d become one of a rare group of female icehockey officials before I even reached high school.Being born into a family ofhockey players and figure skaters, it seemed that my destiny had already beendecided.Right from the beginning, my two older brothers and my father strapped meup and threw me onto the ice.I loved it and, in my mind, I was on my way tobecoming a female Gretzky!But my mom had to think of something fast to drag herlittle girl away from this sport of ruffians.Enter my first hot pink figureskating dress!That was all it took to launch fifteen years of competitivefigure skating.Even though figure skating soon became my passion, I always hadan unsatisfied yearning for ice hockey.It took a great deal of convincing frommy parents that competitive figure skating and ice hockey didn’t mix.My compromise became refereeing ice hockey;little did I know that I wasbeginning an activity that would influence my character and who I am today.WhenI began, I would only work with my dad and brothers.Everyone was friendly andaccepting because I had just started.I soon realized though that to get betterI needed to start refereeing with people I wasn’t related to, and that’s when myexperience drastically changed.An apologetic smile and an “I’m sorry” wasn’tgoing to

get me through games now.As I began officiating higher-level games anddealing with more arrogant coaches, I suddenly entered a new male-dominatedworld, a world I had never experienced before.My confidence was shot, and all Iwanted to do was get through each game and be able to leave.Sometimes I waseven too scared to skate along the teams’ benches because I would get upset bywhat the coaches would yell to me.“Do you have a hot date tonight, ref?” was atypical comment that coaches would spit at me during the course of a game.Intheir eyes, I did not belong on that ice, and they were going to do whateverthey could do to make sure no women wanted to officiate their games.I wasdetermined not to let them chase me off the ice.I made the decision to stand up for myself.I never responded rudely to thecoaches, but I did not let them walk all over me and destroy my confidenceanymore.I started to act and feel more like the 4-year certified AtlanticDistrict Official that I am.There were still a few situations that scared me.One time I called a penalty in a championship game during the third overtime andthe team I penalized ended up losing because they got scored on.I knew I hadmade the right call, even though I was unnerved when I saw the losing teams’parents waiting for me at my locker room;for the moment I wished I hadn’tcalled that penalty.Although it was scary at the time, I stood my ground andovercame my fears.That was an important

stepping-stone in my officiating careerand in my life.After four years of refereeing, I still can’t say it’s easy.Every gamehands me something new and I never know what to expect.Now I have theconfidence and preparation to deal with the unexpected, on and off the ice.Inow also know to take everything with a grain of salt and not let it get to me.I have learned that life is just like being out on the ice;if I am prepared andact with confidence, I will be perceived as confident.These are the littlelessons that I’m grateful to have learned as a woman referee.Things to Notice About This Essay

1.The author tells an interesting story about her experiences as areferee.2.A sense of her personality—determination, flexibility, good humor—comesthrough in the narration.3.Details like “Do you have a hot date tonight, ref?” make the narrationmemorable(we’d love to hear more of these kinds of details).4.The essay needs a faster start.The first paragraph(three sentences)says the same thing in both the first and third sentences—and gives away theessay’s surprise in the second!A good revision would delete all of paragraphone and start at paragraph two.5.There’s too much frame here and not enough picture.The essay needsfurther development, especially about the difficulties of

becoming and being aref, to keep it vivid.6.The author should “dwell” in the meaning of the experience a little moreat the end—“I wonder about…I also think…Sometimes I believe….” Significantexperiences like this one, woven through many years of the author’s life, don’tmean just one thing—there are more insights and lessons to explore here.

第五篇：申請(qǐng)美國大學(xué)入學(xué)文書范本

申請(qǐng)美國大學(xué)入學(xué)文書范本

I guess it was inevitable that I’d be on hockey skates at some point in my life, but I did not expect that I’d become one of a rare group of female ice hockey officials before I even reached high school.Being born into a family of hockey players and figure skaters, it seemed that my destiny had already been decided.Right from the beginning, my two older brothers and my father strapped me up and threw me onto the ice.I loved it and, in my mind, I was on my way to becoming a female Gretzky!But my mom had to think of something fast to drag her little girl away from this sport of ruffians.Enter my first hot pink figure skating dress!That was all it took to launch fifteen years of competitive figure skating.Even though figure skating soon became my passion, I always had an unsatisfied yearning for ice hockey.It took a great deal of convincing from my parents that competitive figure skating and ice hockey didn’t mix.My compromise became refereeing ice hockey;little did I know that I was beginning an activity that would influence my character and who I am today.When I began, I would only work with my dad and brothers.Everyone was friendly and accepting because I had just started.I soon realized though that to get better I needed to start refereeing with people I wasn’t related to, and that’s when my experience drastically changed.An apologetic smile and an “I’m sorry” wasn’t going to get me through games now.As I began officiating higher-level games and dealing with more arrogant coaches, I suddenly entered a new male-dominated world, a world I had never experienced before.My confidence was shot, and all I wanted to do was get through each game and be able to leave.Sometimes I was even too scared to skate along the teams’ benches because I would get upset by what the coaches would yell to me.“Do you have a hot date tonight, ref?” was a typical comment that coaches would spit at me during the course of a game.In their eyes, I did not belong on that ice, and they were going to do whatever they could do to make sure no women wanted to officiate their games.I was determined not to let them chase me off the ice.I made the decision to stand up for myself.I never responded rudely to the coaches, but I did not let them walk all over me and destroy my confidence anymore.I started to act and feel more like the 4-year certified Atlantic District Official that I am.There were still a few situations that scared me.One time I called a penalty in a championship game during the third overtime and the team I penalized ended up losing because they got scored on.I knew I had made the right call, even though I was unnerved when I saw the losing teams’

parents waiting for me at my locker room;for the moment I wished I hadn’t called that penalty.Although it was scary at the time, I stood my ground and overcame my fears.That was an important stepping-stone in my officiating career and in my life.After four years of refereeing, I still can’t say it’s easy.Every game hands me something new and I never know what to expect.Now I have the confidence and preparation to deal with the unexpected, on and off the ice.I now also know to take everything with a grain of salt and not let it get to me.I have learned that life is just like being out on the ice;if I am prepared and act with confidence, I will be perceived as confident.These are the little lessons that I’m grateful to have learned as a woman referee.Things to Notice About This Essay

1.The author tells an interesting story about her experiences as a referee.2.A sense of her personality—determination, flexibility, good humor—comes through in the narration.3.Details like “Do you have a hot date tonight, ref?” make the narration memorable(we’d love to hear more of these kinds of details).4.The essay needs a faster start.The first paragraph(three sentences)says the same thing in both the first and third sentences—and gives away the essay’s surprise in the second!A good revision would delete all of paragraph one and start at paragraph two.5.There’s too much frame here and not enough picture.The essay needs further development, especially about the difficulties of becoming and being a ref, to keep it vivid.6.The author should “dwell” in the meaning of the experience a little more at the end—“I wonder about…I also think…Sometimes I believe….” Significant experiences like this one, woven through many years of the author’s life, don’t mean just one thing—there are more insights and lessons to explore here.