美国大学本科申请系统详细对比之 Common App和Coalition App

美国大学本科申请系统Common App，Coalition App，Universal College Application都有什么区别， 应该选哪个？

　　8月1日申请美国本科的通用申请系统（Common Application，简称Common App）正式开放2019-2020年申请通道，新一年的申请季就此开始。

　　那么，申请美国大学除了Common App，还有哪些系统？这些系统有什么区别？各位同学到底应该用哪个呢？小编下面就带大家详细了解下不同的美国本科网申系统和它们的区别。

　　Common Application

　　Common App，也就是大家常提到的CA系统，已经有超过40年的历史，也是目前美国本科申请使用最广的申请系统。

　　根据其官网介绍，目前Common App的合作院校有近900所，除美国外，还有其他近20个国家和地区的高校也通过这个系统进行招生。

　　除了高中成绩、标准化考试成绩、语言水平证明等这些基本申请材料，CA系统每年会放出7个小论文题目（essay prompts）作为申请的补充材料。申请者可以从这些题目中选择一个来写，字数不超过650词。

　　Common App 2019-2020小论文题目

　　1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story.

　　2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

　　3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

　　4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma — anything of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

　　5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

　　6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

　　7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

　　并不是所有学校都会要求申请提交Common App中的小论文。也有一些学校自己设置了独立的论文题目或额外的申请信息，比如哈佛大学就在申请系统原有设置的信息基础上增加了Harvard Questions。

　　每所学校的申请材料清单都可以在Common App上看到。

       Coalition Application

　　Coalition Application（简称Coalition App）2016年上线，旨在为申请者提供更好的申请体验，特别是那些低收入家庭、少数族裔、第一代大学生的申请者。最初使用Coalition App的主要是公立高校，但经过三年的发展，目前使用Coalition App的学校已经超过140所，大家熟知的很多大学都可通过Coalition App进行申请。

　　和Common App类似，Coalition App每年放出5个小论文题目作为补充申请材料，字数建议在500-550词。

　　Coalition App 2019-2020小论文题目

　　1. Tell a story from your life, describing an experience that either demonstrates your character or helped to shape it.

　　2. Describe a time when you made a meaningful contribution to others in which the greater good was your focus. Discuss the challenges and rewards of making your contribution.

　　3. Has there been a time when you’ve had a long-cherished or accepted belief challenged? How did you respond? How did the challenge affect your beliefs?

　　4. What is the hardest part of being a student now? What’s the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

　　5. Submit an essay on a topic of your choice.

　　与Common App不同的是，Coalition App鼓励申请者提前准备申请，九年级（初三）即可注册账号并在系统中记录自己的成长。申请者可以在高中时期上传自己的项目经历、课外活动等，避免高三申请季手忙脚乱地进行准备。拉长的申请战线需要申请者提早进行规划。

　　尽管大部分使用Coalition App的学校也都使用Common App，但个别学校只能在Coalition App上进行申请，比如华盛顿大学、马里兰大学。

　　而此前只能在Coalition App申请的佛罗里达大学2019年也可在Common App上进行申请。

       Universal College Application

　　Universal College Application（简称UCA系统）是2007年上线的，最初以清爽的页面和便捷的操作来打动申请者。但随着Common App的系统更新，以及Coalition App的诞生，UCA的优势几乎荡然无存。

　　和上述两个申请系统不同，UCA不提供小论文题目，各学校可以自己设置论文题目。

　　根据UCA网站信息，目前仅有包括康奈尔大学、哈佛大学、普林斯顿大学在内的10所学校可通过UCA进行申请。

       得州申请系统 ApplyTexas

　　得克萨斯州建立了自己的申请系统ApplyTexas，包含得州的60余所高校。此外该系统不仅支持本科申请，还支持研究生申请。

　　当然，得州的大学很多并非只能通过该系统申请，比如得州大学奥斯汀分校可通过ApplyTexas和Coalition App进行申请。

　　针对不同的入学学期，ApplyTexas中给出了A、B、C三个论文题目，各学校可自行规定申请者提交其中一个。

　　相对其他几个申请系统来说，ApplyTexas在页面感觉上相对陈旧。

　　加州大学申请系统

　　加州大学（University of California）有自己独立的一套申请系统，申请加州大学的九所分校均需通过该系统完成。

　　加州大学2019-2020年的申请系统也已于8月1日开放。UC申请系统要求申请者从8个问题中选出4个进行回答，每个问题的回答不超过350词。

　　UC申请系统 2019-2020 Personal insight questions

　　1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

　　2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

　　3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

　　4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

　　5. 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?

　　6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

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

　　8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

　　除了上面介绍的几种申请系统外，也有一些学校要求申请者在自己的网站上进行申请，如麻省理工学院（MyMIT）和乔治城大学（Georgetown Application）。

      应该如何选择申请系统呢？

　　以下是几个申请系统的简单对比：

　　一般接受多个系统申请的学校都会明确表示对申请系统没有偏好（no preference）。因此，申请者在考虑的时候主要需要结合自己计划申请的目标院校来看看如何省时省力，能通过一个系统申请就没有必要在另一个系统中重复劳动，浪费时间和精力。

　　申请者要了解每个学校接受的申请系统，从而作出最优选择。