美国加州大学有自己独立的申请系统 （UC Application），申请加州大学的学生需要提交额外的网申和文书。

和Common Application不一样，申请UC的学生需要从八个文书题目中选择四个最符合他们经历的题目进行撰写，这些题目的答案将作为UC招生官了解学生背景，个性，兴趣和成就最好的途径。

UC Application提供的八道文书题目其实涵盖了大多数名校的文书题目方向，学生在选择4道适合他们自己经历的文书题目时，能够通过这些题目不同的侧重点去展现他们的综合能力。

以下我们就来看看UC给出的八道题目以及相关的指导，只有了解问题背后的真正逻辑，我们才能精准地展现给招生官他们想要看到的东西。

首先，我们先看一下具体的说明：

1.你将有8个问题可供选择。你必须回答其中4个问题。

2.每个题目最多可包含350个字。

3.选择回答哪个问题完全取决于你：但是，你应该选择与你的经历最相关且最能反映你个人情况的问题。

在选择问题的过程中，要明白招生官对于题目没有偏好，他们会给予每个题目相同的考量，学生不会因为选择了不同的题目而被区别对待。

另外，在回答问题时，也没有对与错。想要在350个字里面完整地把自己的经历，想法和价值观表达出来也确实是个挑战，所以在做头脑风暴的时候我们需要梳理所有的经历，找好最合适的切入点。

接下来我们就来看看每一道题目的详细解析吧。

01

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

描述你的一次领导经历，期间你曾经给他人带来积极的影响，帮忙解决纷争，或者为团队发展做出贡献。

Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?

解析：领导能力可以不只限于名义上的，它可以是成为其他人的导师，充当特定任务的负责人，也可以是在组织活动或项目中发挥的领导作用，那么你需要考虑的是在这些事情当中，你完成了什么，你学到了什么，你的责任又是什么？这些经历可以是学校的活动，也可以是课外的其他事件，甚至是对于家庭的责任和贡献。

这个问题最重要的有四个点，再从这四个点去展现你所得到的成长。

02

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

每个人都具有充满创造力的一面，可以表现在许多方面：解决问题，原创和创新思想，以及在艺术方面的创造性，实际生活中这样的例子有很多。请描述你如何展现自己具有创造力的一面？

Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

解析：创造力/创意对你来说意味着什么？你是否具有对你来说很重要的创造力/创意？你用这个技能能做些什么？如果使用这些创造力/创意来解决问题，那么你的解决方案是什么？你会采取了哪些步骤来解决问题？你的创造力/创意如何影响你在教室内或教室外的决定？你的创造力/创意与你的专业或未来职业有关吗？

这一道题目的思路和第一道题目有点相似，都是需要你先指出你本身具有哪方面的创造力/创意，你使用这样的技能做了些什么，过程又是怎样的？除此之外，在这个文书当中，你还需要思考你这方面的创造力/创意能给你带来了什么样的改变，并且适当地和你的未来或者职业规划做一定的联系，这方面的创造力/创意是怎么样帮助你，让你更好的选择了发展方向。

03

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

你最大的才能/技能是什么？在过去很长一段时间里你是如何发展并展示这项才能的？

Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?

解析：这道题目需要从两方面去回答：第一是自我方面的认知，你需要点出你引以为傲的才能/技能；该才能/技能不一定是要得过奖项的，可以是被别人认同的。这项才能/技能对你来说有何意义？

第二是发展和成长方面的意识，你这项才能/技能是天生的还是靠后天努力得来的，这样的才能/技能带给了你什么样的机会，你又是怎样利用它们解决问题的，在这过程中你学到了什么，得到了什么样的成长？最后部分则可以和第二道题目一样，适当地和你之后的未来或者职业规划做一定的联系，但最重要的还是体现你在过程当中得到的成长。

04

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

请描述你如何利用一次重要的学习机会或通过个人努力去克服你所面临的一个学业上的阻碍。

Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you — just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who are you today?

解析：这道题目给出了两个选择，第一，一次重要的学习机会，可以是任何增加你教育经历并为你上大学做好准备的活动，例如，参加学术项目，荣誉课程，专业和职业上的课程，暑期课程，研学课程都可以。第二个选择是你在学习中所面临的障碍，通常适用于那些来自低收入家庭、新移民、第一代大学、身体有缺陷的学生，这一部分会比较适合加州或者美国教育背景的学生。

如果你选择的是教育机会，你需要进一步地描述该经历，比如做了些什么和学到了什么，包括具体的项目名称、时间、学习内容和任务以及学到了什么别的地方学不到的知识。如果是选择学习障碍的话，你需要具体的说明你怎么样克服这些障碍？使用了什么方法解决？不管最后你选择的是哪一个，这道题目的精髓在于它们如何塑造了今天的你，这是你需要在文书中重点带出的点。

05

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?

描述你遇到的最大挑战以及你采取什么措施来战胜挑战。这一挑战如何影响你的学业？

Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, “How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family?”

解析：这道题目和前一题非常相似，建议想要写困难的学生可以选择这一道题目。

这个挑战可以是个人的困难，也可以是你在生活上或者学习中所遇到的困难。写作的思路也和前一题相似，首先需要先列举出你遇到的是什么挑战，具体事件和发生的细节。第二，需要进一步说明该挑战发生的过程以及这个挑战对你的重要性，你从中学到了什么，是否接受了来自其他人的帮助和支持。第三部分则需要描述该挑战给你在学业上带来了什么样的改变，如何影响你的学业，还可以与之后的规划做一定的联系，带出你对个人未来的思考。

06

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

哪一门学科能够给予你启发和激励，你又是如何在课内外继续学习学科的？

Things to consider: Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom — such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs — and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

解析：每个学生都会有自己感兴趣的学科，这是使他们会一直有动力学习的东西和内容，这道题目一定程度上可以理解成为你之后想要深入学习的领域，也就是你在大学想要攻读的major，所以建议学生可以尽量地往这方面写，尽可能的去体现你对自己未来方向的充分思考。

同样的，这道题目的思路也和前面的题目没有太大的区别，主要的三个大点还是保持不变：

但是，这一题也添加了一个额外元素，那就是你是否会在UC继续学习该学科以及你是如何规划的。这个是学生需要特别去思考的，可以一定程度上解释你申请UC的动机，然后你会怎样使用所学的知识和技能去解决某一些的问题。

07

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

你曾经做过对你的学校和社区有益的事情吗？

Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place — like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?

解析：前面的题目只有在最后一部分比较注重你为学校和社区甚至你身边的人带来了哪些影响和改变，而这一题给了你一整篇的机会去描述你对社会的贡献。同样的，还是分成三个部分：

另外，学生可以适当的把自己这方面的贡献联系到之后希望为UC的community带来什么样的贡献。

08

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?

除了申请中已经分享的内容之外，你认为还有什么是能够使你脱颖而出，成为加州大学强有力的候选人？

Things to consider: If there’s anything you want us to know about you, but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t be afraid to brag a little.

解析：这道题目提供了自由发挥的空间，如果你有任何在之前未分享的信息，那么机会就来了。你还有什么可以让UC更好了解你的才能/技能？或者为什么你觉得你对UC来说是一个好的选择？

其实不管是哪一道题目，最重要的点还是在你成长的过程中如何帮助身边有需要的人，并在之后对你自己有什么样的改变和提升。

写文书是一个漫长的过程，需要长时间的规划，深度思考，反复撰写，才能完成最后的定稿，所以一定要提早开始准备，让自己有更多时间去思考自己的成就和能力，从而更好地在文书当中展现自己最好的一面。