加州大学的申请文书，是需要学生从学校给出的8个问题中，自由选择四个问题进行回答，从不同角度对自己进行多方位的描述。这对于平时写一篇文书都很吃力的学生来说，加州大学的申请文书写起来无意是有难度的。 因此在申请的最后关头，为了让大家能把文书修改的更完美，王晰老师特意与国外招生官沟通，对加州大学Personal Insight Questions（个人陈述文书）的要求进行深入的解读，帮大家寻找写作灵感

　　问题五：描述你面临的最重要的挑战以及你为克服这个挑战做了哪些努力 ? 这个挑战对你的学业成绩产生了怎样的影响？

　　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?

　　这一问题和上面的问题非常类似。再次强调，不要关注挑战，而要关注自己克服挑战的方式。如果你曾经克服过一个巨大的挑战，比如糟糕的家庭境遇，重大疾病，或者至亲之人的离世，那么你可以描述出来。但如果你写的是一个戏剧性的事情，要小心掉进 “赘述事情本身”这一陷阱。

　　This question is very similar to the previous question. Again, don’t focus on the challenge, focus on your response to it. If you are someone who has overcome a major challenge, such as a bad family situation, an illness, or the death of a loved one, then this is the place to write about that. But if you do write about a dramatic event, be careful to avoid the trap of writing more about the event than yourself.

　　问题六：描述你最喜欢的学科以及它是如何影响你的 ?

　　Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.

　　这是我最喜欢的问题。如果你对某一学科充满热情，无论是学校里的课程还是自学的科目，你都应该选择这个问题。这个问题有利于展示你的求知欲望和个人观念。

　　This is my favorite UC question. If you feel passionate about an academic subject, whether it is one you studied in school or on your own, then choose this prompt. This question is excellent for demonstrating intellectual curiosity and personal perspective.

　　明智的回答便是描写细节，以此来证明你对于某一学科的热爱。 如果你喜爱生物学，那就描述这样高雅美观的内容：只有当钙离子释放时，肌肉才会收缩；而且它会根据我们的意图来活动。如果你热爱文学，那就描述出你最喜欢的莎士比亚的诗句。

　　A great response will mention specific details that prove your passion for a subject. If you like biology, describe how it so elegant and beautiful that muscles only contract when calcium ions are released, thereby allowing actin and myosin to bind when we want them to. If you love literature, describe your favorite puns from Shakespeare.

　　接下来描述对这一学科的热爱，是如何塑造了你的观念。如果是生物学，就描述当你在体育馆时，大脑是如何给肌肉发送信号的。如果是文学的话，就描述当你的一位朋友深深迷恋上了乐队里的一个女孩，他梦幻般的眼神紧紧盯着乐团建筑时，你想到了盖茨比凝视着黛西码头尽头的绿灯。

　　Then demonstrate how this has shaped your perspective. For biology, describe how, when you work out at the gym, you imagine your brain sending signals to sarcomeres. For literature, describe how your friend has a crush on a girl in the orchestra, and when he stares dreamily at the orchestra building, you imagine Gatsby gazing at the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock.

　　问题七：为了你所在的学校和社团变得更好，你做了哪些贡献？

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

　　不要列举简历里的那些无趣的个人经历。要谈论那些你感兴趣的集体话题。

　　DON’T just list some boring things you did to add to your resume. DO talk about community issues that you are passionate about.

　　例如，说说你喜欢艺术的原因，并解释一下艺术是高中教育中一个至关重要的部分。紧接着谈论一下你为什么要在一个教室里设立学生艺术馆，以及你为此战胜的挑战。最后，给出一些具体的成果，比如提供艺术作品的学生人数，或者是学校社团给出的一些积极的回应。

　　For example, explain why you love the arts and why you think they are such an essential part of a high school education. Then explain why you chose to set up a student art gallery in one of your school’s classrooms, and how you overcame challenges to achieve that. In the end, give some specific results, such as the number of students who contributed artworks, or some of the positive responses from the school community.

　　问题八：列举一件能够让你区别于其他加州大学申请者的事。

　　What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?

　　这是最开放的一个问题，可能也是最重要的一个。即使你没有选择这个问题，我也建议你试着去回答一下。因为让一个学校接受你的申请（或者是在求职过程中），最重要的部分就是让你和你的竞争者区别开来。把这个问题当作回答其他问题的参考。

　　This is the most open-ended question and maybe the most important. Even if you don’t use this question, I recommend you try to answer it. Because an essential part of convincing a college to accept you (or an essential part of applying for a job) is differentiating yourself from your competition. Use this prompt as a way to prepare to answer the other prompts.

　　你的回答应该展示出自己的个性、观点以及自我意识。事实上，这个问题和普通的申请文书很相似。如果你已经准备好了一篇很棒的申请文书，那就试着从中摘取一些内容来回答这个问题。

　　Your answer should demonstrate personality, perspective, and self-awareness. In fact, this is pretty similar to the essay you might write for the Common Application. If you have already written a good Common App essay, see if you can cut some words and use it here.

　　重点在于：选择关于你自己的有趣的事情。 谈论你的兴趣、古怪的家人，或者你早晨一定会做的事。如果是展现你的个性，那么就谈一下你的才能或者成就。

　　Important: Choose something interesting about your personal identity. Talk about a hobby, your strange family, or your morning routine. Only talk about a talent or achievement if it reveals something about your personality.

　　无论你选择哪些问题，都要记住，回答要具体明确，娓娓道来。确保你的回答能够涵盖你的四个不同的方面。不要写两个表现领导力的答案，这太浪费了。

　　Whichever prompts you choose, remember to tell a story and be specific! And make sure your four responses show four different sides of you. Don’t write two responses that only demonstrate leadership. That’s a waste.