The College Application Basics
You can use this application to apply to more than 1000 colleges. (Hint: Many private schools use this application) You must answer in English.
The Common Application.
What type of institution is Amherst College? Please answer in both English and Chinese.
文理学院
A Liberal Arts College
What is the maximum word limit for the main Common App personal essay?
650 words.
11年级上学期（9–12月）的核心任务中，除了保持高GPA和开始研究大学名单外，还建议参加哪项标准化考试？
PSAT考试。
What does 'AP' stand for in U.S. college admissions?
Advanced Placement.
Which grades are included on your Transcript – the official record of all courses and final grades that must be sent directly from your school counselor to the universities?
From grades 9 through 12.
What are the three tiers in the three‑tier college selection strategy?
Safety, Target, and Reach.
保底校、匹配校、冲刺校。
What is the main purpose of the personal statement?
To reveal your character, values, and depth of thought.
展示你的个性、价值观和思考深度。
ED/EA申请截止日期是10月底，那确定选校名单、写完主文书、找老师要推荐信这些事，最晚要在什么时候全部搞定？
12年级上学期（9–10月）。
关于AP课程换大学学分，以下哪种说法是正确的？
A) 只要在学校修完AP课程，就可以自动获得大学学分
B) 大多数大学接受3分及以上AP成绩换学分，顶尖名校可能要求4或5分，但必须参加AP考试才能换分
C) 只有考到5分才能换学分
D) 大学换学分只看AP课程成绩，不需要参加AP考试
B
Early Decision (ED) is ______ – if accepted, you must enroll and withdraw all other applications. Deadlines are typically ________. You must answer in English.
Early Decision (ED) is binding – if accepted, you must enroll and withdraw all other applications. Deadlines are typically November 1 or 15.
Name all eight Ivy League universities.
Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, Brown, Dartmouth, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell.
哈佛、耶鲁、普林斯顿、哥伦比亚、布朗、达特茅斯、宾夕法尼亚、康奈尔。
Name the three types of recommenders typically required for a U.S. college application.
Two subject teachers and one school counselor.
两位学科老师和一位升学顾问。
Admissions officers focus on three things when evaluating extracurricular activities. What are they?
Passion, Leadership, and Impact.
热情，领导力，影响力
In a weighted GPA system, an 'A' in an AP course is typically weighted as _____, while an 'A' in a regular course is weighted as _____.
5.0, 4.0.
What is the most central evaluation method for U.S. undergraduate admissions? You must answer in BOTH English and Chinese.
综合评估
Holistic Review
What is the main difference in funding sources between a public university and a private university? You must answer in BOTH English and Chinese.
Public universities are funded by state government; private universities rely on tuition, endowments, and private donations.
公立大学由州政府资助，私立大学依靠学费和捐赠。
What question does the Personal Statement answer, and what question do Supplemental Essays typically answer?
Personal Statement answers: Who are you? Supplemental Essays answer: Why this college?
主文书回答：你是谁？
补充文书回答：为什么选我们学校？
活动列表（Activities List）最多可填写___项课外活动，每项用150个字符简述。黄金写法是：____ + ____ + ____。
活动列表（Activities List）最多可填写10项课外活动，每项用150个字符简述。黄金写法是：你做了什么 + 产生了什么影响 + 证明了什么能力。
美国大学采用加权GPA体系的主要目的是什么？
反映学生所修课程的难度，给AP等高难度课程额外权重，鼓励学生选修有挑战性的课程。
Name four of the most common required documents for a U.S. college application. You must answer in BOTH English and Chinese.
1. Transcript（成绩单）2. Recommendation Letters（推荐信）3. Standardized Test Scores（标化成绩，如SAT/ACT）4. Personal Statement / Essay（主文书）5. Activities List（活动列表）6.School Report（学校报告，通常由升学顾问提交）
List three main types of U.S. colleges and universities, and provide one representative example for each.
Public University – UC Berkeley（公立大学 – 加州大学伯克利分校）;
Private University – Harvard（私立大学 – 哈佛大学）;
Liberal Arts College – Williams College（文理学院 – 威廉姆斯学院）。
Name TWO of the seven Common App Personal Statement prompts. You must answer in BOTH English and Chinese.
1.背景 / 身份 / 兴趣 / 才能 Background, identity, interest, or talent
2.挑战 / 挫折 / 失败 Challenge, setback, or failure
3. 质疑某种信念或想法 Questioning a belief or idea
4. 感恩 / 感激 Gratitude / Thankfulness
5. 个人成长 Personal growth
6. 让你着迷的话题A topic that fascinates you
7. 自选题目 Topic of your choice
Put the following three levels of the extracurricular pyramid in the correct order from bottom to top:
A) National competition award
B) General member of 2–3 clubs
C) Leadership position like club president
B → C → A.
When selecting AP courses in 11th grade, name the five core subject areas that students should cover to demonstrate college readiness. You must answer in BOTH English and Chinese.
English, Math, Science, History, and Foreign Language.
英语、数学、科学、历史、外语。