本科申请Essay写作应避免的几个问题.

Topics to Avoid要避免谈论的话题

There are some topics you should probably avoid. Some are simply bad topics that are inappropriate for college applications. Others are extremely popular and have been written and read thousands of times bore. You are best off avoiding the following:

* Your relationship with your girlfriend or boyfriend. * Your religious belis—unless you’re applying to a college with a strong religious orientation. * Your conservative (or any other) political views. * The evils of drugs. They are evil, but essays tend to sound contrived. * Your SAT scores. Never ever mention your scores no matter how good or bad they are. * Any topic that doesn’t appeal to you but that you think will appeal to an admission officer. They have built in phoniness alarms. * Anything that will make the reader, who might be a grandmotherly type, blush or be embarrassed. * Anything that will reveal that you are a poor college prospect—such as how you hate to study. * Big or general ideas about how you will help the world live together in peace and harmony. Stick with details. * Any topic that draws attention to your academic weaknesses. * How you saw very poor but very happy people on an Interim trip and realized how “lucky” they are or you are. * How you helped the team win the big game. * Anything that makes it sound like you’re going to college for the sole purpose of learning how to make a lot of money. * Any topic specifically mentioned as a great essay topic in one of those how-to-get-into-college books. Several thousand other students read the same book and will write on the same topic.

Terrible Opening Sentences应该避免的文章开头句式

The following would be unwise to use as opening sentences for a college essay (borrowed from the Washington Post):

* When I told my friends I was applying to Whatsamatta U, they were, like, no way, and I was, like, yes way. And they were, like, way cool. And I was, like . . . * My mother has probably already written to you, spreading her lies. * I am a vegetarian and all I demand is that any vegetable I eat be pureed or finely chopped so it in no way resembles its original self bore it was murdered. I am sure your dining hall . . . * First off, coach said there wasn&apos&apost going to be no writing. If I have accidentally sealed this envelope with cash inside, well, finder&apos&aposs keepers! * I&apos&aposm grounded until I complete this application. So here goes . . . * Because my girlfriend is applying to your school (actually, she is not really my girlfriend yet, since I have not spoken to her, but I know everything she does) I have decided . . . * To demonstrate my love for your school, I have spray-painted your logo on my town&apos&aposs water tower. * I study the English since two annuals, so can right the many pages insuing with no difficult. * I do not take drugs, drink, smoke, read pornography, eat fatty foods, watch TV, speak, bathe . . . * College is probably the last place they&apos&aposll look for me, so . . . * Stardate 590217. Dear Starfleet Academy . . . * Dear Morty: I am sending you this e-mail while taking a break from filling out State U&apos&aposs online application form, which was obviously designed by idiots . . . * Sure, lots of kids like to start fires, but how many of them have a propane torch, gallons of accelerants and a basket of dry rags . . . * This is Shanda writing, one of the 25 personalities possessed by Ellen Kurtz, who is the nominal applicant for admission. * . . . among the many things that are the result of imperialism racism and kapitalism are standard punktuation grammar and spelling which all serve to put the entire human race into a sausage machine . . . . * How&apos&aposs about I write page 342 of YOUR autobiography: "After flunking out of medical school, Kermit Dowling decides to pursue a career in college admissions . . . ."