1、个人陈述(Personal Statement )写作技巧自述，也即 Personal Statement, 是所有出国文件中最重要的部分，它是申请者最主要的自我包装。申请被录取和经济资助就是要把自己推销给评审者。你的重任是让这一文件反映你的个性和才智。写自述即使对以英语为母语的北美学生也是颇费心力的事情，对中国申请者来说，用英语写作本来就是困难的事，更何况自述是为了表现和包装自己，有违我们的文化习俗，写起来往往备感吃力。中国申请者往往没有面谈的机会，这份文件因而愈发显得重要。我们要忠告所有的申请者，你必须抓住机会，充分而且恰如其分地表现你的人格力量、智慧和已取得的成就。在此文件的创作中要花大
2、量的精力，决不能知难而退，草率从事。你已经花费了多年的心血，完成了大学甚至是研究生的学习，你也可能又在随后的工作岗位上积累了宝贵的经验，现在又通过艰苦卓绝的努力，成功地考过了 TOEFL 和 GRE。然而，你的任务并没有结束。你必须静下心来，有条不紊地处理多种文件，而其中自述是重中之重。怎样真正地把此项工作当作重中之重呢？那并不是赶紧去习一本所谓范例然后照着抄，而是要借此机会严肃、认真和全面审视自己的才能、潜能、出国留学的目的。这种对自己的能力、向往和追求的透彻的了解是写好自述的基础。根据编者在国外求学、工作的经验，可以这么说，在写好自述这件事上，中国留学生可以说是遇上了一个深层次而且是重大的
3、文化差异。所谓“ 深层次“ 就是说这个差异不是西方人喝咖啡中国人喝茶、西方人称“Darling“而中国人称“孩子他妈“ 那样简单。北美的许许多多的“雇主“- 大学的录取评审者，确实是非常重视求职者、求学者对自身是否了解，对自己的前途和目标是否明确。在他们的文化中，这样的自我了解被视为是人的素质中很重要的一部分。他们的文化同时也十分重视对自身的了解和对目标的追求做出个性化的表达能力。本文并不是要讨论文化问题，而是力求以最短的篇幅给读者以最大的实用指导。本软件编者最大遗憾就是申请者把写作自述一事当作官样文章而草率应付。北美教育机构的官僚主义常常更甚于我国，但要求写自述，的确不是官样文章，而是给申请
4、者一次表现自己的机会。读者切记，这样的表现一定要富有个性。怎样判断自述是否反映了个性呢？最简单的就是看第二个人是否能写出一样的或是差不多的内容。真正的富有个性的自我介绍是不可能与其他的信雷同的。尽管有许多人有着看上去类似的求学、求职经历，但是每个人对学习、工作、事业和他人的感受应该是独有的而且也应该是独特的。即使两个人所有的学习和工作经历都相同，也都计划去同一个领域里深造，引发他们对该学科感兴趣的外部事物和内心感受也必定是有区别的。所以，在我们谈到写作自述其他注意事项之前，首先要求读者要独具创意。在写作自述的时候，认真而全面地审视自己的方法就是默默地自问如下问题：1. 对所要申请的学校和专业是
5、否有了深入细致的了解，能做到在写自述时紧扣学校和专业的要求及特点，突出自己申请的优势？2. 我的人生经历中有什么独特的、非同寻常的地方？在我的家庭生活和社会生活中有哪些人或事件影响了我的人生观和事业追求？这些影响有什么与众不同的地方？3. 我最初是如何对目前所选专业感兴趣的？我在其后的岁月中又是如何加深了对这一学科领域的认识？我在这一领域已经取得了什么样的成绩？是什么因素使我自信，能够在这一领域有所建树？4. 在上学期间我从事了那些助教、助研、社会实践、暑期工作？通过这些活动在什么方面得到了提高(比如科研能力、组织能力和领导能力等)？在步入社会后的工作中完成过什么项目，取得了哪些成就，表现出何
6、等才干？5. 我的最终的事业目标是什么？6. 在我多年来的考试成绩上有没有需要解释的地方？比方说我大学成绩一直很优异，但 GRE 成绩却不怎么理想；我高年级的成绩是否比低年级的成绩有显著的提高？7.在自我奋斗的过程中是否需要克服超常的困难，如家庭生活贫困、身体残疾等等？8. 我是否具备杰出的品格，比如诚实，可靠、善良、刻苦等等，而我能否提供真凭实据来加以证明？我是否具备值得一提的很好的特别的工作习惯和态度，以及禀性上的优势。9. 我具备什么样的特殊才能，如分析能力、领导才能和交流才能？我为什么比别的申请者更具有在事业上成功的把握？要回答这些问题的确是不容易的，但你必须在正式写作自述之前全面准备
7、，对这些问题加以认真思考，因为你的自述需要回答所有这些问题或其中的大部分。对内容有了把握后，就是要注意写作技巧了。这里说的写作技巧不是英语水平的问题，而是写作的思路、取材和段落的安排。写自述的最大忌讳就是写得毫无特色、枯燥乏味。要知道每一个录取评审委员需要阅读成百上千份自述，其中大多数的自述的内容都是雷同的，他们不可能有时间、精力和气力在平淡中寻找不寻常，努力发掘你的优秀之处。要写得醒目，抓住读者的注意力，这个责任完全在于你自己。所以，自述的第一段或者是前二段至为重要。这头一、二段必须能够引起读者对你的兴趣，并且能够得到关于你个人的最重要的信息。如果你的头一、二段的内容中有闪光之处，能够给人留
8、下不可磨灭的印象，那就达到了最佳效果。绝大多数的申请者的的确确有着类似的学历和工作背景，而且现在又追求一个共同的目标：攻读研究生。在这样的情况下，读者应该不难想见，不论我们是汉语，还是用英语，描述自己的经历和追求的语汇和句式终究会趋向雷同。编者所强调的“独特性“ ，决不是仅指在语言上要独树一帜。获得独特性的更重要的有两个方法：一是寻找独特的思想方法或者说是审视自己的独特角度，二是在陈述过程中采用故事手法。采取第一种方法时我们从多种角度着眼确定文章的基调，我们在此对三种较常见的类型写作时所应遵循的策略进行简要论述：1. 克服生活中的逆境型：Petersons Guide 中曾经登载的一封外国人申
9、请时写的自述，作者的家庭背景是贫苦的、不识英文的第一代亚裔移民。作者没有回避自己多花了几年时间才完成大学的教育并且成绩较差这一惨痛的事实，而是就此问题展开对自己的介绍。他的家庭贫困，作为长子肩负帮助父母抚养年幼的妹妹的重任。这样，完成大学教育对他来说需要艰苦卓绝的努力。因此，通过他的叙述，一位奋斗不息、刻苦耐劳并具有高度责任感的年轻人的形象跃然纸上。这位作者申请的学校是法学院，难度较大，但作者有力地陈述了他的理由：他的父母像许多亚裔移民一样，不通英文，更不懂在美国用法律的手段来保护自己的权益。他现在申请读法学院，目的就是为了将来能够运用法律的武器维护在美国少数族裔的权益。这样的信读起来感人至深
10、，作者当然也被录取了。成功之处就在于作者能用独特的角度来看待自己的经历和追求的目标。他所陈述的经历、思想和感受与其人生奋斗的目标达到了高度的统一。在写这种在逆境中奋起的自述时，应通过用事实来描述过去的经历及其对自己的求学、事业和人生目标的正面影响，但切忌耽于自我怜悯，或因一种谴责评判的方式使文章显得充满怨气。2. 自我成长型：这种 申请人在生活、学业和工作上虽不可避免地会遇到挫折，但相对来说，他们的生活进行得比较一帆风顺。写这种自述一定要用正面、肯定的语气，清楚、精炼，同时又要充分、多方面地展示自己独特的才智、事业和求学的追求方向。3. 家庭影响型：这种情况下可以是好的家庭背景对申请者产生了正
11、面的影响，也可以是艰难或不好的家庭环境作用于申请者，使之反思而发奋图强。写正面的影响时注意不要过分渲染家庭的帮助，督促向导作用，因为这样的作者往往不知不觉中会给评审人留下一种自我缺乏主见和动力的印象。同样，写不好家庭的背景时，也不要太多着墨于那些问题，重要的是突出自己不随遇而安、屈从命运安排的精神和志向。下面再谈谈“故事手法“ 。所谓 “故事“并不是要为自己的经历编故事，而是要有一点(不要太多) 生动的情节。除了思想角度外，生动的情节是表现个性和独特性的又一法宝。许许多多的人可以有类似的经历和背景，但他们生命中的具体经历一定具有独特的场景。恰当地描绘一下这样的场景，就会使全文散发出生动而新鲜的
12、气息。比方说有人在谈到家庭的不幸时具体地讲述了因交不起房租被赶到街上过夜的惨痛经历。还有的文中虽然没有任何戏剧性的情节，但作者在好几处细节都突出了自己善于独立思考的个性。作者用朋友们的疑问来衬托出自己决定重返学校、出国深造所饮食的智慧和胆识。作者在谈到自己的业余爱好时，也没有像大多数申请者那样列举出一长串清单，以表现自己多才多艺、面面俱到，而是诚实地说自己没有什么爱好，只是喜欢独自旅行，在大自然中汲取营养和力量，但这爱好却与全文塑造出的深沉和独立思考的性格十分吻合。至此我们谈到了全面和深刻地审视自己、寻找独特的角度以及注重运用细节等问题。下面还有一些材料的取舍问题提出来供读者参考。首先，千万不
13、要遗漏掉那些有用的和中肯的成就、经验等等事实。申请研读的学位越高，那么以往科研、学术成果和工作经验等等就越是重要。许多申请者错误地认为自己发表的文章已经列在履历里面了，在自述中就不应该再提。其实，个个履历是一份完全不同的文件。它是对个人经历的一种简洁而全面的介绍，使读者对申请者能够很快有一个大致的了解。自述则是需要(或是希望)读者仔细阅读的，它要介绍申请者的成就、抱负和个人品德。所以申请者不用担心内容上的重复。还有许多申请者硬是要把自述的篇幅压缩在一页纸内因而只能很简要地提到自己的成就。其实，如果内容充实，为什么不能写到二至三页呢？比如说到发表的论文，往往只提到一个题目。其实，写一篇科研论文往
14、往是要付出巨大心血的。这不光是写篇文章，而是反复的科学论证和无数次实验的结晶。申请者起码应该用二至三个句子，说明这篇论文所代表的实验、实验用的方法、目的和获得的成绩。还应该说明通过发表这篇(或几篇)论文，申请者在这一领域做出了什么贡献，获得了哪些思想方法、认识和科研手段上的提高。还有的申请者犯的是一个相反的错误，他们把高中甚至更早的成就也不厌其烦地列在自述上。比如当上了三好学生、少先队长之类的。因为中国学生申请的学位最低的也是硕士研究生，大学时期的成绩或是随后工作上的成就更为贴切，也应该足以用作素材了。当然，少儿时期的成就，若是对随后的学术道路产生了重大的影响，也可以提。有的申请者对某一学科，
15、比如说数学，情有独钟，很早就显露出天才，在中学时期在数学竞赛中获奖，由此激发了对此学科的强烈兴趣，从此矢志不渝，这样提就非常妥当。最好不提的还有政治观点、宗教信仰和其他一切容易引起争议的不同寻常的话题。有个别申请者在文件中提到了“上帝“ 这样的字眼，犯了西方社会宗教和学术分离的大忌。我们建议你撰写自述时没有必要对自己的事业和生活道路上的挫折讳莫如深。只是在描述或提到经历的苦难，挫折或失败时，切记不要流露出乞求怜悯恩赐，或气愤怀恨的情绪。许多杰出的人物都曾经历过困屯。人们一般会欣赏那些不被困难压倒，不因失败沮丧，在逆境中寻找光明的人，关键在于你是否用积极正面的态度对待挫折并表现出这种积极的态度。
16、最后需要提醒读者注意的是，写自述绝对不能一蹴而就，写好后需反复修改，清除多余的部分，增加与针对申请学校和专业相对应的内容，密切注意句与句之间，段落之间，及整篇文章意思的逻辑联系。可多方听听他人的意见。务必做到文章中不存在任何文法，语法或拼写上的错误。这种疏忽看似无关紧要，实际上它们有时恰恰能出乎意料地破坏你力图在评审人心目中树立的形象。很难想象，繁忙的教授在连着数次看到简单的语法或拼写错误后，还会相信你是文中所说的一个认真的精益求精的人。避免错误开头方式（工程类）PERSONAL STATEMENT1 previous Education:When in the high school I f
17、irst used the computer, I was attracted by it. From then on, to become an expert in the field of electrical and computer technology has been my favorite dream. In 2098, successfully passed the most competitive examinations, especially in the mathematics I got the full score (120 out of 120), I was a
18、dmitted by the Electronic Engineering Department of Tsinghua University which is the most distinguished university in China.（这是中国学生最喜欢的一中开头方式，可是并不符合 statement的一般习惯，请学习修改稿的开头方法。 ）During my academic years, I worked hardly （work hardly 与 work hard 的区别相信大家都知道，这样的错误是不可原谅的。 ）and obtained good scores in mo
19、st courses, especially in the basic courses and major courses. When graduation, my overall GPA ranked the upper 10% among about 200 students.Education at Tsinghua University emphasizes practice. In the third year of study, I applied to join the Lab. of Information Systems. In the lab I successfully
20、designed “2Mb/s PCM Digital Interface (32 frames)“ which was used in the analogue PBX (Private Branch Exchange). In 1993, I independently designed “Speech Signal Processing Card“ which was used in the SUN SPARC station. This cards successful design solved the problem that the SUN SPARC station could
21、 not be used to the speech processing and the multimedia application. From these designs I accumulated the experience of hardware development and mastered the knowledge of communications theory and computer technology such as the hardware structure of the RISC computer, UNIX operating system and pro
22、gramming. Through the five years of study in Tsinghua University I have not only mastered rich professional theory but also accumulated strong experience on hardware design and software program. All of these laid a solid foundation for my further work and study.Because of my hard study, as reward, I
23、 was recommended to enter the graduate program at Tsinghua directly, waived of the admission test. It is Tsinghuas policy to endow the most distinguished students such preference. However, anxiously wanting to practice my knowledge in the real work and because of some other reason, I resigned the es
24、teemed privilege.2 Work Experience After graduation, I have been working as an electronic engineer in North China Institute of Computing Technology (NCI). She, awarded as “Chinese royal computing institute“, is the earliest and most famous computer institute in China. In the institute I entered a ne
25、w field - automation and got the chance to practice my knowledge learned from the university. In order to work better, in these years I have learned some textbooks by myself, such as:Computer Control Technology, Contemporary Control Theory,Electrical Control Technology, Process Control & Automation
26、Device.In more than three years I worked very hard and completed some projects perfectly. Because of my firm skills in hardware and software and strong background of theory, in 1995 I was appointed as the leader to manage and design the computer control system - “Distributed Control System (DCS)“. I
27、n the period less than a year, under the cooperation and support of others, my colleagues and I completed the design of system structure, modules development, software system programming and the debugging of the whole system. This system is the Real-time computer control system and can be combined u
28、p to the 2048 channels. In the project I independently designed the kernels - CPU module, two other modules and the I/O interface software. This system is at the leading position in the automation field of China.Electrical and computer engineering is developing fast, in order to keep up with the adv
29、anced technology, I left North China Institute of Computing Technology (NCI) in Aug. 1997 and joined my now working company - a telecommunication research and development center which is supported by North Telecom Corp. and BUY (Beijing University of Yanjiu). This center mainly makes the research an
30、d development in the telecommunication field and keep up with the newest telecommunication technology. In this active center, with my strong theory of electronics and working experience, I have made the large devotion to the center and accumulated advanced knowledge of telecommunication in a short t
31、ime.More than eight years study and work, I have accumulated various kinds of technical experience in the hardware design and computer application. I believe such experience will be a strong basis and good prepare for my future study and research.3 Plan of Study My degree objective is MS and then Ph
32、.D. If possible, my major interest in the future will reside in the following areas:Control Systems, Communications Engineering,Digital Signal and Image Processing, Microcomputer Applications.After completing my program, I will come back China. Cherishing what I have learned at your department, I wi
33、ll have many things in mind to do. I will foster research in the university and devote myself to teaching.I convince that nothing great is ever achieved without enthusiasm, I am excited about electronic research, and I am dreaming of studying under you soon.Could please accept a willing heart and re
34、alize my dream?材料组织凌乱无序（经济类）-改后稿正在读大学的申请者，也许可以参考这种写作法来完成自己的statement.A top student of international finance at the Beijing University, probably Chinas best institution of higher learning, I would like to scale higher intellectual heights by undertaking advanced studies in your Masters program. Such
35、studies will help me fulfill a dream that I have inherited from my parents: the eradication of poverty in China.Although I grew up almost a pampered kid, I have learned of the scourge of poverty from my parents by listening to their stories about their childhood. My father, now a well-known professo
36、r of chemistry at the Sichuan University, was almost starved to death in the 1960s when his home village was mired in famine like many other parts of China. My mother, a manager of personnel with a major Chinese corporation, saw her youthful years slipping away in the chaotic “cultural revolution“ p
37、eriod. Braving their trial and tribulation, they have always worked hard and are now well-established in their own careers. But they want more than a good life for themselves. They want to help make sure that no one in China will have to suffer in the future the way they did in the 1960s.Prodded by
38、my parents high expectations, I have studied diligently over the years, drawing constant inspiration from the learning spirit prevalent on the campus of the Sichuan University, where my family had our home. While in primary and high school, I was always recognized as the best student, for which I wa
39、s sent to numerous national and provincial contests and earned many awards. These include a First Prize in the National Physics Contest of High School Students and a Second Prize of the Sichuan Mathematics Contest of High School Students. The hard work paid off in my impressive performance in the 19
40、95 National University Entrance Examinations, with which I won acceptance into the School of Economics at the Beijing University, described as the Harvard of China by President Bill Clinton on his recent trip to China.（北京大学在中国很有名气，但老外也不一定知道，像这里这种介绍方法就很有力量。）At the Beijing University, I have been expo
41、sed systematically to concepts and theories of international finance and economics. At the time I entered into the university, I did not know much about economics. My parents, in their zeal to make me an economist, had chosen the major for me. I am now so glad that they did so. The clear logic and a
42、dvanced mathematics inherent in the economic analyses and hypotheses have particularly fascinated me. From Adam smiths Wealth of the Nation to the Game Theory by Nash to J. M. Keyes to Samuelson, I have been inculcated in virtually all the great works of economics. One of the good things about Beiji
43、ng University is that it teaches the students not only knowledge but also how they can do research themselves. I have thus been trained in a variety of research methodologies. I now understand how great economists grasp the economic reality and appreciate their readiness to ask questions on things t
44、hat other people may take for granted. I recognize there are no perfect answer to some of the questions in economics, such as “how to deal with the ethical components in economy?“ Basking in the academic freedom that Beijing University cultivates, I have devoted more of my time to doing research mys
45、elf than doing the assignments.Although an economics major, I have learned most of the courses in the mathematics department. In my economics studies, I feel that mathematics is critically important in modern economics, as some modern theories of economics are demonstrated by pure mathematical induc
46、tion. Seeing that mathematics courses in my department were too easy for me and too simple for more abstruse economics, I got the textbooks for the math majors and taught myself what they were learning, auditing in some of the classes of the Department of Mathematics.Never content with just performi
47、ng well in my exams, I have been keen in obtaining hands-on experience. To understand the real problems in real life and thus put what I have learned from books into practice, I joined an investigation group organized by the University to investigate some big state-owned enterprises in Shanxi Provin
48、ce in the summer of 1997. We found, much to our horror, that many of the enterprises were plagued by chaotic management, big losses and a lot of redundant workers. On the basis of careful research, I now think that a way to save them is to institute a shareholding system for the enterprises so that
49、the management can be held accountable to the investors.From September to November in 1997, I got a good chance to help sort out documentary materials for the central governments Ministry of Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation at its Department of American & Oceanian Affairs. On that job, I learned a lot about international trade. In the summer of 1998, I worked for the Special Appliances for Labor Protection Company in my hometown Chengdu, advising the manager on how to improve the companys managing and marketing system. Some of my advice was readily accepted. To have a
