推荐你可以看一个美剧,叫做无耻之徒的第八季,里面的卡尔也遇到了你说的问题,他要申请的学校是西点军校,但是他的童年是个典型的问题学员,那些别人能回答的问题,比如了解美国历史吗
没有内容可以写,要么是想的不够深,要么是做的不够多。
对应的,反思以及实践。
下面具体讲。很多同学写文书时,都遇到过这个问题,但是我发现大部分同学最大的问题不是没有内容可写,而是根本就不明白自己要写什么。当然了,这也不是问题。因为本来写留学文书就是一个非常好梳理自己的经历,找出自己的兴趣,确定自己的目标的过程。
题主说,自己的人生经历苍白,除了学习,考试,考证,其他的什么活动啊,比赛啊都没有参加过。首先要意识到的就是自己的错误认知。以为学习,考试,考证不是真正的经历,只有活动和比赛才是。其实并不是这样。
如果申请研究生,教授看中的可并不是志愿者经历和商业大赛(如果你想走的不是商科的路线)。根据多年的申请经验,正是学习和科研这种硬功夫起着简历中举足轻重的作用。
学习中不可避免的会有实验或者大作业,有单人做的,有团体做的。如果是单人做的,看了什么重要的文献,做出了几篇文献综述,有了什么样想法。这边就可以写很多。如果是团体做的,怎么沟通,怎么协调,怎么激励团队士气,怎么面对搭顺风车不干事的人都可以讲出很多的东西。
考证方面,如果是证书,是属于简历里面的。如果是普通的考试,就忽略了。留学一定要考托福或者雅思。实在没得写了,写些复习时候的感受和心得都可以。最重要的是开始写,当你写的时候,你才会开始反思和成长。这些反思和成长是独属于你的财富,在奠定了你在不同环境下良好发展的基础。
题主提到活动和比赛都没有参加过,那一定是有原因的。要不是不感兴趣,要不是看不上。如果是不感兴趣,那就看看自己把自己的课余时间最多用在哪里了。自由可支配时间用的越多,越能证明兴趣点。如果题主就是喜欢读书,喜欢学习,那参考上文。如果是看不上,那就需要重新分析了。运动会,迎新,毕业生送别,强制要求参加的讲座,就算没有参与组织,参加总是有的吧。作为一个参与者,觉得什么地方做得好的,有什么地方需要改进的,都可以写出感受。千万不要觉得课外生活丰富是必须的形态,不用非追求出彩。出彩出不好就出错了。
为了避免出错,就一定要读题目。如美国研究生的申请文书都是命题作文,而且基本上不会有变化。不同的学校,不同的专业,有很多的题目都是大同小异的。当然这里暂时不谈商科的Essay和名校特色的文书(比如Rochester的Fun Fact,杜克的25 interesting things和密歇根大学的PHS这样的)。
直接上例子:
Washington University in St. LouisPlease explain why you wish to do graduate work in the field you have selected. Describe your ultimate academic and career objectives. To the extent you are able, comment on subareas within your general field of proposed study which you hope to explore in depth in your graduate study and indicate any member(s) of the Washington University faculty with whom you might want to pursue a research topic.
Columbia UniversityAll applicants must submit a statement of academic purpose. Please compose a succinct statement of approximately 1,000 words describing your past academic work and preparation related to your intended field of study, your plans for graduate study at Columbia, and your subsequent career objectives. If you intend to transfer from a graduate program at another university, please explain why you wish to do so. If you are not currently pursuing an academic program, please describe your activities since you were last enrolled. If there has been a break in your educational experience, please include a brief explanation.
Georgetown UniversityAn Academic Statement of Purpose of approximately 500 words is required for your application. The Statement of Purpose should address your intellectual interests, academic and professional objectives, and proposed topic(s) of graduate study. Some programs have additional guidelines for submission of the Statement of Purpose.
University of VirginiaThe Statement of Purpose should describe your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the University of Virginia, your preparation for this field of study, study and research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. Your commitment to a selected field of study is assumed; we want you to discuss some of the problems and issues that particularly engage your mind. Please limit your submission to between 500-1000 words.
有没有发现基本上就是兴趣来源(Background)、经历和职业发展。唯一一个可以用做提示的可以用这句来说:be sure to include commentary on your background and goals as theyrelate to XXXX practice. 定了专业的方向以后,把所有相关的事情梳理成一条发展的线,然后找出里面的逻辑链和发展(成长)路径,如果可以的话,用讲故事的方式来让故事有趣。设计矛盾,转折,高潮,升华。使用小幽默。当然了,再次强调,锦上添花的事情不是必须的,硬核是最重要的。