美国大学申请是门艺术，是人生的一个缩影，各种的经历都在这短短的时间里发生。她考验着我们的心理，体现着我们的智慧，纵使结果出来时每个人都突然变得很现实，但回过头去看，大家曾经都激情过；我很享受申请这个东西，他让我体会到什么的人生，什么是自我。
 

申请最大的作用，现在看来，不是得到一个学校的录取，而是使我，一个生活在唯物主义的国家的高中生，变得唯心主义了。简单地说，他让我懂得了什么叫self-identity。从在耶鲁的面试中急于向面试官推销自己，到MIT、普大的面试中自然的叙述自己的想法，我体悟到做好自己最重要。纵使这个自己经过多么华美的包装，本质依旧不变。美国一所大学的表演系的教授要求学生告诉大家平时生活中的他们，一名学生马上脱掉衣服，边哼着小曲边看书----这就是真实的自己！不管是在我们的essay，还是其他各种材料里面，比方说面试，活动，时时刻刻都要体现这种真实的自己，不在意周围的环境，别人的说法，心中一定要有这样一个认识：identity不能丢掉。有了这样的一种认识，发生的任何事情都是基于我们这种认识上面的，间接的也可以告诉我们，我们是存在的。写好一篇essay或是一个简短的和AO的电话交流，都告诉我们，我们在申请美国。意识到自己identity的存在，也是我们可以批判性思考的基点；我们不会再去盲目的羡慕名校的学生，不会再羡慕大公司的职员，不会认为学长学姐说的话都是对的，我们有了胆量去挑战权威，质疑传统，从心理层面讲，我们不在缺乏自我意识。美国的教育，在孩子很小的时候，就塑造他们的性格和思维，使他们先成为一个“人”，再去做事情。中国恰恰相反，先是无穷尽的做事情，目的是为了成为一个人，可是做到最后，却忘了那个最初的目的。这个也是我去美国的原因，我不是因为自己有多么高的理想，自己多么想自主的选择而选择了美国，而是我迫切的希望自己找到一个环境，来辅助我认识一下自我。很有意思的一点吧，申请这么一个小东西，却时时刻刻的体现着东西方的思维方式和文化的差异，不简单不简单。
 

说到这里，不得不提一点，那就是今年的申请形势。前文提到自我的重要性，还有一点决定录取就是我们处的pool的情况。认识到自我，只能达到我们把自己的申请做到最好的目的，不过我们做到了最好不等同于我们有好的录取。别人的好坏加上我们的高低决定了AO的意愿。越来越多的有能力的人出现了，而且这些有能力的人家庭情况也基本可以达到自费的情况下，那么能力强但是不能自费的申请者们就要吃亏了。提供几个大致的数据，DUKE录取的人里面很多都是3W以上的FC；UPENN，BROWN,CHICAGO这些学校也是自费生居大多数；几个曾经很慷慨的LAC也都是录取的很多FC高的。我说的这些录取的人前提条件是能力必须达到水平线。对此我们无法抱怨，只能接受，毕竟我们能做到的只有做到最好的自己。
 

还有一点就是分析问题的方法要得当。不能看特例，只能看普遍现象。比方说midd录了一个没有sat的人，然后就以此当作论据来证明sat没有不是一个劣势，这种分析问题的方法忽略了很多其他的因素，比方说家庭状况，自己有很耀眼的特别之处等。比方说smith录了好几个sat没到2000，fc颇高的人的时候，又有人说fc决定录取；记住一点，录取一定有道理，钱不过是道理中的部分。不过今年很多例子都可以证明，fc比重很大；不过假如你是一个纨绔子弟，只有钱的时候，那么录取不属于你。大家相比较去看的话，就会发现控制其他相同量不变的情况下，钱多的会有优势，即使自己水平差了那么一点。
 

下面是我的普林斯顿大学的面试，与大家分享

My Princeton Interview

Let me ask you first, have you ever traveled to the States or Princeton?

No, I have never been abroad.

So where have you been in China?

I traveled to Yunnan Province, where there are many minorities. Personally, I like to visit the areas with very strong religious beliefs, for example, Tibet and a place near the boundary of China,Shangrila. And I wish that I can visit Greece,Egypt and Italy during this summer.

What do you like about these places?

I read books about the history in general, the development of society of Europe,and I am born with the interest to explore the mystery and legend,for instance,the Roman empire and the Greek mythology.

Oh,that sounds lovely.My daughter just graduated with a major in Greek mythology. She plans to visit the countries you mentioned as well. If you will be coming to America, I would be glad to introduce you to my daughter.

That will be my pleasure. But I did not read intensively and systematically. I read in general. And sometimes I find that I cant remember what I read, but I can feel somehow that what is in the book can guide me and silently tell me how to lead a life.

Um.. There are many buildings in Princeton with the style of Gothic and Greece……..

Yes, I have seen the buildings as well in Princeton on the website and the view-book. They are overwhelming, really impressive. For me, the building could be one of the reasons that I choose Princeton………….

Really, so could you tell me some other reasons that you apply Princeton?

Well, I think the mentality of Princeton goes parallel with my attitude towards life. Princeton is famous for its conclusiveness. It embraces diversity, every form of student and lifestyle are advocated.

You are right, I live near Princeton, and there are lots of international workers here; they do impact on our lifestyle, and sometimes the way we think and behave.

Yes, and for me, my philosophy of life is that I combine the essence of everything; and adapt such combination to my own pattern of life. When I realize this sort of similarity, my preference to Princeton turns to be a genuine sense, in my mind, telling me that I will be going for Princeton!

Wow, that’s an interesting answer. Do you now have your future plan?

I just have my plan until graduate school. I sometimes think it’s kind of irresponsible that a 19-year-old boy determines clearly what he will be doing in the future. Things change pretty much, you know.

Yeah, what’s your plan though until graduate school?

I plan to study intensively in undergraduate, particularly math, physics and economics. And I will study business in graduate.

Why do you have such plan?

I will first become an independent critical thinker, armed with the professional knowledge of different fields, so that I will be working for a company, for instance, for a few years after under. With the experience of how to live in this society, I will be setting up my own career ultimately.

You mentioned you want to study broadly in undergraduate; so what is your high school work like?

In China, we are brought up with the education system which ensures us to study intensively. The subjects we learn range from math, physics, chemistry, to literature, history and political science. And my two major concentrations are physics and sociology, which have little in common. But since we are allowed to study broadly, I won’t give up any of the two. I focus on physics and sociology out of my genuine interest.

Do you have any small groups of discussion(like three of four sit in a circle and discuss some issues)?

Yes, we do have. Let me share with you first the learning format we basically have.

In our school, we have certain supervisors and instructors who give us lectures, like those in the big universities in the States. And after class, we study by ourselves, accompanied with small group discussions and a great many of books, which is another source of knowledge.

And talking of the discussion table we have, let me share our film club with you. We set up a film club in our school a few years ago. Last year, in 2007, when it’s 10 years since Hongkong came back to main land, we hold a movie collection, introducing how the film industry evolve in these 10 years both in mainland and Hongkong. And one of our conclusions we have is that: movie reflects the change of ideas and thinking patterns of people. For instance, the movies in mainland are more international because Hongkong is more close to fashion. The film makers in mainland are more creative in minds and technical in skills. And for the Hongkong film industry, they have more funds from the mainland companies, and they invite more actors from mainland in their movies, which is an act that shows the intimate connection and coorperation.

One point I do like to add to my idea: movies reflects people, is that my two favorite movies: Good will hunting, and Dead Poet Society as well reflect the mentalities of the Americans. These two movies keep asking us: What is our life pursuit? Who we are? How we think? When I am trying to answer these questions, I feel more exactly what is the ideology of the Americans and its difference from the Chinese one. In the States, people are aware of becoming humans being with critical thinking; they are obsessive with their identity. So under such conception, they make the movies exploring the same questions. However, in China, we normally do not ask what is our identity. The ideas of the actors in Chinese movies are not genuine; and I found that the everlasting pursuit of the actors in Oscar movies are to explore the origin of life and their thinking. (为了保持我思维的连续性，这几段基本都是我再说，中间穿插着面试官的几句短的句子，可以看出他很有耐心听我这么胡扯)

I am glad that you have personal ideas of a particular issue. Do you have something to ask me about Princeton? You know, I have graduated for like 50 years; and I hope that I can bring you more about Princeton.

Yes, I want to ask what has Princeton brought to you in your lifetime?

It’s a good question……………(讲了他从普大毕业到海军服役的背景)………….I meet some guys from Princeton when I was in Navy………….继续叙旧…………..and one day we are assigned with a task…………………. I finally work it out………………I think Princeton finally taught me how to think. I have a thinking format learnt from Princeton.
 

接下来就是我们的天马行空阶段，忘记了聊了哪些…………………..

有时候不需要只回答面试官的问题，他们看的不是你如何回答问题，而是你在想些什么。面试的最高境界就是聊天。

面试最重要的是让他们知道你怎么想，不是做过什么。