7月8日PIEA大学升学研讨会 https://piea-edu.org

Theme: Standing Out from the Crowd: Excellence and Individuality in University-Career Paths

1)  How can PIEA  help students with the college application process? PIEA能在哪些方面如何帮助到大学申请 ？

PIEA provides experts who are prepared to coach students: they provide individualized training,  and develop a skill based action plan  that will assist them in accomplishing their goals. Preparation includes a gap analysis regarding what your  student needs, thesis-driven analytical writing sessions   targeting schools and programs that are a fit for your child, and preparing application materials.

PIEA专家为学生提供了更好的培训和指导，包括个性化的培训和指导，培养您的孩子掌握实现目标所最需要的领域技能。准备工作包括对学生最需要的东西进行差距分析，以论文为导向的分析写作（在大多数高中并没有很好地教学），选择目标学校和课程，以及准备申请材料的最佳组合。

What can a high schooler do to make her/him stand out in college application? Due to COVID-19, what can a high school student do this summer besides studying? 在当前COVID-19疫情的情况下，高中生该如何做才能让自己在大学申请中脱颖而出?  高中生这个暑假除了学习还能做什么?

A: The student’s application must highlight in the greatest possible detail their unique goals, aspirations and qualifications specific to their chosen career-life path. Many of the applications I see are too generic. Think about the bored admissions officers reading hundreds of these. You need to stand out by demonstrating that you are an  exciting and unique  student that is motivated toward specific goals. 

Summer studying alone will not help because there is not necessarily any evidence of it in the admission package. What counts is what can be documented and argued in effective essays and reference letters. Despite the virus problems, it is still possible to demonstrate well-rounded ability.

学生的申请必须尽可能详细地强调针对他们所选择的职业生涯道路的独特目标、抱负以及资历。我看到的许多申请都太宽泛了。想一下，那些招生官读了上百份类似的材料感到无聊。你需要突出一个令人兴奋的独特的学生个体对具体目标的积极性来引人注目。

单单暑期学习本身对于升学并没有太大帮助，因为它不一定能在入学申请资料中留下任何证据。重要的是在有效的论文和推荐信中可以记录和论证的内容。尽管现在受疫情影响，但仍有可能展示出全面的能力。

2) Matt C，11th Grade in 2020 Sep，Q:  HI don’t have much extracurricular activities, How can I make my  essay stand out? 我没有参加太多的课外活动，怎样才能更写好论文呢?

A: Good essay writing is rooted in a strong thesis argument supported by direct and detailed evidence. PIEA train students to excel in this art: direct analytical writing. You need to tell a good story about yourself, but one that is centered on a clear and persuasive thesis that makes you stand out.

好的论文写作植根于用直接而详细的证据支持的强有力的论据。PIEA会训练学生在这方面提升能力，有效、直接的分析性写作。你需要讲述一个关于你自己的好故事，但要以清晰而有说服力的论点为中心，来让你有别于众人。

3) Kevin D, 11th Grade in 2020 Sep，Q : How do I allocate the time for volunteer work?  如何分配志愿者工作的时间？

Each student participating in the program is provided with individualized analysis of their progress and needs. That includes how you allocate your time now. It is possible that you have time but are currently spending it on ways not directed for maximum benefit. Often two hours a week will make a difference, but it is best to start soon.

每一个参与本课程的学生都会得到他们的进步和需求的个性化分析。这包括你现在如何分配时间。你可能有时间，但目前并没有花在让你获得最大优势的事情上。通常一周两个小时就会让你不同，但最好尽快开始。

4) Justin Liu, 11th Grade in 2020 Sep,  Q: 选择first choice是否增加了学校入取的可能性?  Does first choice increase the chance of admission?

It varies somewhat according to the university you apply to, but generally, yes. Universities do not like to allocate admission slots to students who decide not to attend. It is inefficient and wastes their time. Thus, if they are pretty certain you are enthusiastic and at the same time well-qualified, you stand a better chance of getting admitted.

根据你所申请的大学的不同，情况会有所不同，但一般来说是这样的。大学不喜欢给决定不准备参加加入的学生分配入学机会。因为这样效率低下还浪费时间。因此，如果你很热情，同时又很有资格，你就有更好的机会被录取。

5)  Chengnan L，12th Grade in 2020 Sep，Q: EA和ED怎么选?  How to choose EA and ED?

This is something to be answered within an individual consultation. ED does considerably increase your chance of admission most of the time, but you want to choose a school that is just right for you and that will likely admit you, so this choice is best made with professional guidance from PIEA. EA is convenient where available because it does not commit you but allows you to settle on a smaller set of preferred universities early on so you can avoid applying to other schools inferior to those where you have also gotten admitted. EA also allows you to shop more for the best financial aid package, if that is a consideration.

这是一个只能在个人咨询中回答的问题。在大多数情况下，ED确实会大大增加你的入学机会，但你要选择一所适合你并很可能会录取你的学校，所以最好在PIEA的专业指导下进行选择。EA在任何方面都更方便，因为它不需要你做出承诺，但允许你尽早在一个较小的范围内找到首选大学，这样你就可以不必申请其他比你已经被录取的学校差的学校。EA允许你获得更多最佳的经济援助套餐，如果那也是一个考虑因素的话。

6) Justin Zh，11th Grade in 2020 Sep, Q: How to strategically apply colleges?  如何有策略性地申请大学？

Everything starts with your career goal. PIEA services are individualized, so first we get to know you, your capabilities, specific interests, and goals. Where do you want to be five or ten years from now? Of course, you might change your mind along the way, but if you have a clear idea now you can prepare a better application package. A big part of the decision is choosing the universities and programs to fit your specific goals. We help with that after we get to know your specific needs.

一切都要从你的职业目标开始。PIEA的服务是个性化的。所以首先我们要开始了你，了解你的能力、具体兴趣和目标。今后五年或十年后你想去哪里？当然，这个过程中您可能会改变主意，但如果您现在已经有了一个清晰的想法，您可以准备一份更好的申请材料。你的决定里的很大一部分是选择适合你具体目标的大学和课程。在了解你的具体需求后，我们会提供帮助。

7) Cindy M, 11th Grade in 2020 Sep, Q: In current circumstances，how have  universities changed their admission policy and what can we do to adapt these changes？在当前的情况下，大学的招生政策会哪些改变，我们又能做些什么来适应这些变化呢?

So far the virus has not had a big impact on university procedures for admission. They remain similar, although for 2021 some universities are putting less emphasis on national tests like ACT and SAT, since the online version is not considered as reliable. Colleges will try to take into account the special circumstances students face in these difficult times. One thing that might make applications easier is that fewer foreign students are applying, which leaves more slots for American students since universities are desperate not to have admission shortfalls.

到目前为止，疫情并没有对大学的入学程序产生很大影响。尽管2021年有些大学不太重视ACT和SAT这样的国家级考试，因为在线考试的方式让成绩并不那么可靠，但录取程序仍然差不多。大学将尽量考虑到学生在这些困难时期所面临的特殊情况。有一件事可能会让申请变得更容易，那就是申请的外国学生越来越少，这给美国学生留下了更多的空位，因为各大学都急于避免出现录取不足的情况。

8) Wenrou L, 7th Grade in 2020 Sep, 孩子将上7年级，平常应该注意培养哪方面的能力。除了学习成绩之外，有哪些方面需要注意。

My child is about to go to Grade 7. What kind of ability should be cultivated? In addition to academic performance, how can I set my child up for success??

Universities in the USA pay attention to the student’s total abilities, not just academic. One important non-academic criteria is leadership. Already at your child’s age they can begin to try to participate more in school and community activities that show they can organize events, plan, or develop social talents and self-discipline to work effectively with others. Universities are concerned not only to admit good test takers, but students who will be a credit to the university as alumni, becoming recognized leaders in their community and career. Thus it is important to start to develop evidence of goals that transcend mere academic performance. These are best individualized to the specific talents and motivations of each student. PIEA will help.

美国的大学注重学生的综合能力，而不仅仅是学习能力。一个重要的非学术标准是领导力。在你孩子的年龄，他们就可以开始尝试更多地参与学校和社区的活动，这些活动表明他们能够组织活动、计划或发展社交才能和自律，从而有效地与他人合作。大学不仅要招收优秀的考试者，而且要让学生成为大学的著名校友，成为社区和职业中公认的领导者。因此，开始发展超越单纯学习表现的目标的证据是重要的。这些都是针对每个学生的具体才能和动机，作出最佳的个性化指导。PIEA的老师可以帮忙的。

9) What aspects of students' ability are most valued by the school? How do students choose their major? What is the proportion of students' grades when they are admitted? Does NYU have any restrictions on the proportion of Chinese-American students?  学校最看重学生哪些方面的能力？学生如何选择专业？学生的成绩在被录取时所占的比重？NYU有没有对华裔孩子有比例的限制等等。

A: There is not one answer to these questions. Compared to the process in China and some other countries, university admission in the USA is highly subjective and individual. Universities are looking for a well-rounded and diverse student body, so they want a collection of capable individual talents, not a single typical “excellent” student. That is why individual consultation such as what PIEA provides is essential to getting the best result. We aim to know your student well, to know their specific talents, motives, and aspirations, so that we can understand the best way to develop them into a well-documented unique individual talent. Universities use different combinations of criteria for admission, but there is always a subjective element. So if a student has somewhat lower grades, but won first place in a science fair, for example, the grades may be overlooked in favor of other evidence of superior achievement. What is important in such cases is that the application highlights the student’s specific strengths, which might not always be best exemplified by grades. By law, universities are not allowed to have specific racial quotas, but they do seek a student body that is diverse in many ways. NYU always has a lot of Asian students, both foreign and American-born, but there will be fewer foreign applicants in 2021 because many families in China and other Asian countries will be reluctant to send students here until the virus is defeated. This might make it a little easier for American applicants.

这些问题没有一个答案。与中国和其他一些国家相比，美国的大学录取具有高度的主观性和个性化。大学要的是一个全面而多样化的学生群体，所以他们想要的是一批有能力的个人人才，而不是一个典型的“优秀”学生。这就是为什么像PIEA这样的个人咨询对于获得最佳结果至关重要。我们的目标是充分了解学生，了解他们的具体才能、动机和抱负，以便我们能够了解最佳途径，将他们培养成有文字证据记录可查的独特个人才能。大学采用不同的录取标准组合，但总是有主观因素。因此，如果一个学生的成绩稍低，但在科学节上获得了第一名，那么成绩可能会被忽略，取而代之的是其他优秀成绩的证据。在这种情况下，重要的是申请书要突出学生的特殊优势，而这些优势可能并不总是最好的以分数来体现。根据法律，大学不允许有特定的种族配额，但他们确实在寻找一个在许多方面都是多样化的学生群体。纽约大学总是有很多亚裔学生，既有外国出生的，也有美国出生的，但到2021年，外国申请者会减少，因为许多中国和其他亚洲国家的家庭在战胜疫情之前都不愿意来这里。这样的话，对美国申请者来说可能会更容易些。

10) Forrest Y, 7th Grade in 2020 Sep,  How to encourage him to work hard and be nice？怎么鼓励他努力工作并做个好人？

A: Motivating a child is often a problem that can be helped by professional coaching and advice specific to that student. I do not know your child, but my general advice based on decades of experience is that everyone has something that gets them excited. Part of the challenge is to find out how what is exciting to a particular child can be an avenue into their deeper motivation. What they ultimately will study and do in life can be inspired by things they like to do now. It helps to find and identify a connection between what they are interested in now and what things they can learn to build for their brighter future. Students are often more cooperative if you listen to their interests and concerns and engage them with those things, even as you nudge and guide them to the things that will be helpful for them in the next stage of their development.

激发孩子的积极性这个问题，通常需要专门针对该学生进行专业辅导和建议。我不了解你的孩子，但根据几十年的经验，我的一般建议是，每个人都有让他们兴奋的东西。难的是找出让某个特定孩子感到兴奋的东西，通过它来了解孩子更深层次的动机。孩子们最终将在一生中要学习和要做的事情，可以从他们现在喜欢做的事情中得到启发。这一办法有助于找到并确定他们现在感兴趣的事情和他们可以学习的东西之间的联系，以便建设他们更加光明的未来。如果你倾听他们的兴趣和关切，并让他们与这些事情接触，学生通常会更合作，即使你在推动和引导他们去做对他们下一阶段发展有帮助的事情时也是如此。