申請不同的學校，會有不同的申請系統。因此，這些系統的文書創作要求也各不相同。目前，美國大學比較廣泛使用的主要由四種申請系統：
Common系統
該系統算是美國大學申請中最常用的系統之一。近期，一直堅持自己獨立申請系統的熱門學校匹茲堡大學、賓州州立大學、密歇根州立大學、愛荷華大學等紛紛加入Common App。新一申請季Common Essay的短文題目和寫作要求大體一致，最新的Common Essay題目解題列舉如下，方便正在準備18-19申請季的同學提早準備短文寫作思路!
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.
解析：此題是Common Essay中最傳統的申請短文題目之一，Common Application多次改革，自始至終一直沿用至今。申請者可以寫自己的背景、身份、興趣或才能，建議大家可以結合自身經歷廣泛取材，通過你的故事學校可以瞭解你的鮮明性格特點、不為人知的經歷以及獨樹一幟的才能天賦，為學校呈現一個與眾不同的自己。
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?
選材時請仔細斟酌並思考，選取失敗經歷對於你日後成功和發展的重大意義，可以嘗試寫自己生活和成長中的經歷，同時重點突出逆境中自己在心理和思想上的成長，以及你從這次經歷獲取的寶貴經驗是如何影響你並引導走出困境走向成功的。
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
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.
在實踐中能夠發現問題，解決問題的能力，是申請者從事學術研究、專業實習和勝任未來工作的必備能力。學校希望通過這道題目看到一個勇於創新、不斷探索、追求極致的你，一位具備發現問題並能著手解決問題的人，無論是從事學術科研還是面對生活中的困境，都具有取得更大成功的潛質。
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
亮點在於需要申請者借自己的一次重要經歷來闡述對於“個人成長和對自我認知”。究其深層含義，強調寫個人成長經歷中一件非常具有特殊意義的經歷，讓我們在思想變得更加成熟。或是一次嶄新的事件給予我們重新審視自己的機會，記錄我們的成長軌跡和心路歷程，讓我們對自己以及他人和外部的世界有更深層級的認知和感悟。
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?
請描述一個你感興趣的話題、觀點或理念，其實我們生活中不乏各種新思妙想，往往都會隨著時間的推移慢慢淡化，但是總有一個想法和觀點在你的腦海裡永未褪色，它會引發你濃厚的興趣並促使成為你堅定的理念和最大的追求。
首先你需要在文章中確立這個觀點，然後在文章中表述你抱以極大的熱情專注於此的原因，以及你在學習和探索的過程中獲取信息的渠道和方式。
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.
此題看似你可以寫任何內容，實際上你要寫出不同於以上六個題目要求的短文還是小有難度，建議選題是先從以上六個題目入手，除非你有更好的寫作素材，或自己可以設計一個有新意題目，來表述自己獨到的見解。
UC系統
UC系統主要是加州學校使用，2017-2018申請文書，申請人從所給的8個題目中任選4個來寫，每篇essay不超過350個詞。UC建議每個人選擇與自己經歷最相關的問題來寫，以便更好凸顯自己的長處。UC官方強調，文書最重要的是要表達你自己是誰，你最看重的是什麼，你最想分享的是什麼。
UC將領導能力、創新能力、解決問題的能力、面對挑戰的態度、集體和團隊意識等直截了當的列入題目中，希望全方位的考察學生的綜合實力，也明確的對學生的軟實力提出了更加具體和更高層次的要求。
1、Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
描述一次對他人有積極影響，解決過矛盾糾紛和在團隊中有過較長時間的貢獻的領導力經歷。
2、Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problemsolving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few.Describe how you express your creative side.每個人都有創造力的一面，可以通過很多形式表現出來：解決問題，創新思維和藝術創造力等。描述一次能展現你創造力一面的經歷。
3、What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?描述自己最大的天賦和能力以及你是如何發展它們的。
4、Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunityor worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.描述一次你如何利用好重要的教育機會或戰勝教育相關的困難的經歷。
5、Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?描述一次你曾面臨過最重大的一次挑戰，以及如何戰勝挑戰，此次經歷對你的學業表現有何影響?
6、Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.哪一門學科能夠給予你啟發和激勵，你是如何在課內外繼續學習這門學科的?
7、What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
你曾做過對你的學校和社區有益的事情嗎?
8、Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?除了在申請中你已分享過的，你認為還有什麼能讓你作為UC強有力的候選人脫穎而出?
獨立網申系統
有UIUC, UW-Madison, MSU等學校使用，是學校自己的申請系統。
CAAS系統
CAAS，全稱Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success(簡稱CAAS)，是哈佛、耶魯為首的美國90多所公私立大學及文理學院合力開發創建的一個新的大學申請系統。2016年開始，美國部分學校開始接受這一系統的申請。CAAS主文書題目(5選1)
文書題目一：Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.
文書題目二：Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.
文書題目三：Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?
文書題目四： What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?
文書題目五：Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.
注：這5個題目，不是每所成員學校都會統一要求學生去作答的。
閱讀更多 天道留學 的文章
