有一种观点认为应当将大学申请文章看作一辆展示你内在自我的汽车。对于那些在成长在没有这种表现自己习惯的文化中的人——比如中国学生——这可能很难。

展示你的内在生活意味着什么？用一个比较老套的比喻，想象一座冰山，只有一点点露在外面，大多数都藏在水下。你就好像这座冰山。你将自己的外在一面展示给世界，并且自己的心中还有另一些东西。

你的大学申请材料中充满了表现你外在一面的信息：你的学习成绩，你参加的活动，你参加各种考试的成绩，你参加的高级课程的数量。大学申请文章就是一个展现你内在一面的地方，说明是什么激励了你并且使读者产生共鸣。

来看一看去年我的一些学生写作的话题

一个华裔学生写的是家庭期望带给他的责任和压力

一个同性恋学生写的是她公开自己是同性恋之后失去的一段友谊

还有一个学生写的是一位朋友去世后他所感受到的痛苦

这些文章在这几个学生申请最为挑剔的学校的过程中发挥了很大作用。他们把真实的自己展现出来，坦白地、诚实地、而且通常很勇敢，并以此对其读者有很大影响。

如果你明白我在这里想说什么，并且明白我为什么在《十步征服大学申请Essay》中极力强调讲好故事的技巧，那你也一定会明白把这篇文章写成对自己成就的炫耀是一个多么大的错误。

通过展现你的渴望、抱负、脆弱、失望以及其他能够体现你内在自我，区别你作为一个真实的人的方面，你一定能做得更好。

English version:

One way to think about the college admissions essay is to see it as the vehicle that puts your interior life on display. For those who have grown up in cultures that do not particularly foster such revelation—as in China—that can be difficult.

What do I mean by your interior life? To use a rather tired metaphor, think of an iceberg–a little bit above the water line and a whole lot below. Well, you’re kind of like that iceberg. You have your exterior facade that you show to the world and then you have all the stuff going on below the surface, in your mind.

Your college admissions packet is filled with information that represents the external you: your grades, your activities, your standardized test scores, the number of advanced courses you’ve taken. The college admissions essay is the place to reveal the interior you–shedding light on what motivates you and engaging your reader emotionally.

Consider some of the essay topics developed over the last year by my students:

  • A Chinese-American student writing about the load of obligation he carries around from his family’s expectations.
  • A gay student discussing a friendship that ended when she came out.
  • A student talking about the depression he experienced after the death of a friend.

 

These essays have served those students well as they have gained admission at the nation’s most selective schools. Frankly, honestly, and often bravely, these students have put their real selves on display and, in doing so, have made an impact on their readers.

If you understand what I’m saying here–and why I have promoted the fine art of storytelling in my book Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps–then you’ll surely understand why it’s such a big mistake for you to approach this assignment as an invitation to parade your accomplishments.

You’ll do so much better revealing the yearnings, vulnerabilities, aspirations, disappointments, and the other facets of your interior life that distinguish you as a real person.