I always found advice threads from admitted students to be helpful, so I have decided to make one for the high school class of 2015 (or any other high school student). These tips are mostly geared towards students interested in applying to very selective colleges, but I think that they can be of use to everyone.
我一直觉得已经录取学长学姐的路程建议是很有帮助的，所以我决定也为2015届高中毕业生写一份我的建议（或者其他年级的）。这些建议适合于有兴趣申请极具竞争力学校的学生，但是我认为这对于每个人都会有些帮助
1.Limit the number of reach schools on your list!
1.限制冲刺学校的数量
I personally think that you should limit the number of schools you apply to with acceptance rates under 15%. I know that some people apply to all eight ivies hoping that they will get into at least one. I understand where these people are coming from, but I do not think that this is a good strategy for a few reasons. 1) There is no way you are in love with all eight ivies. They have distinct personalities. 2) Think of the number of essays you will have to write. It is better to write three good essays than 10 mediocre ones. 3) Unless you are a transcendent student (by ivy league standards), chances are that you could end your senior year with many rejections. That is just disheartening.
我个人认为你们应该限制那些录取率低于15%学校的数量。我知道一些人申请了所有八所常青藤学校希望至少能进一个，我理解他们的做法但是我不认为这是一个好的策略，因为：1）你不可能同时爱上8所学校，他们有不同的特点。2）想想你需要写的文章数量，写出3篇好的文章总要强过10片平庸的文章。3）除非你是一个出色的学生（以常青藤的标准），你极有可能以大量的脆拒结束高三生活，这的确令人伤心。
As for me, I applied to five reach schools.Four were ivies. I was accepted to two of my reach schools and rejected by the other three. I do not think that five reach schools is a terrible number, but I would not do it again. I only applied to two of the ivies because of their prestigious names. I spent a lot of time on the applications, and then I was rejected in March! It just is not worth it. I would recommend 1-3 reach schools that you LOVE.
至于我，我申请了5所冲刺学校，4所是常青藤。我被其中两所录取被另外三所拒绝。我不认为5所是很糟糕的数字，但是我不会再这么做。我仅仅因为其中两所的名声而申请，我在申请上花了大量的时间，然后再3月被拒绝！这不值得，我建议选1-3所你所喜欢的冲刺学校。
2. Craft your college application list as if the reach schools did not exist.
2. 仔细的制作大学列表如果你没有冲刺学校
This is something I did, and I would recommend this tip to everyone. Select your 1-3 reach schools, and then forget about them. Assume that you will be rejected. Next, decide on your match and safety schools as if the reach schools don't exist. If you implement this strategy, you will be more likely to select match and safety schools you actually like instead of just settling.
这是我做的事情，我也给每个人推荐这个方法。选1-3所冲刺学校，然后忘记他们，假设你被拒绝。接下来，决定你的匹配和保底学校就好像冲刺学校不存在一样。如果你用这个方法，你更加有可能选你所喜欢的匹配和保底学校而不只是为了有学校读。
3. Do not listen to the people who say you are an automatic admit to every school.
3. 不要听任何人说你肯定会被每个学校录取
This tip is mostly for URMs (under represented minorities), legacies, first generation students, and students from poor backgrounds. People will tell you that you will DEFINITELY get into [insert name of prestigious school] because people like you are in demand, sometimes get in with lower grades and SATs, and provide diversity. Do not believe these people. I will not deny that some groups of students do have an advantage, but nothing is guaranteed. I am a URM with three ivy rejection letters. People told me that since I am a high achieving URM, I could get in anywhere. This justisn't true. I know of other students with hooks who were rejected as well.
这个建议更多地适用于少数民族，孤儿，第一代学生和贫困家庭的学生。人们会告诉你们肯定会被【选一个学校】录取，因为人们需要你，有时为了低的分数，SAT成绩和多样性。不要相信这些人，我不否认部分学生有他们的有时，但是没有什么是保证的。我是一个有3封拒信的少数族裔，人们告诉我因为我是一个有很高成就的少数族裔我可以进任何学校。这不是真的，我认识一些带钩的学生也一样被拒。
4. Know what you want, and do not compromise.
4. 知道你想要什么，不要妥协
Has your dream been to live in a city?Apply to city schools! Have you always wanted to be an engineer? Apply to schools with highly ranking engineering programs! Is a small environment a must for you? Then apply to small LACs, and forget about the big universities.
你梦想于生活在城市么？申请城市大学！你有想过要成为工程师么？申请具有排名极高工程项目的学校！小环境对于你来说是必需品么？那么申请文理学院，别管大U。
Do not compromise when you apply to schools. Figure out what you want, and continue searching until you find it.You should not end up in a situation where only your dream school has the qualities you are looking for. Every school should. Seriously, do not compromise. Keep looking until you find schools that you absolutely love.
不要在申请时妥协，找出你想要的东西，然后继续寻找直到找到为止。你不应该陷入最后只有你的梦想学校有你所需要的特点，每个选择都应该有。严肃的来说不要妥协，继续寻找直到找到你真正爱的。
5. Do not let one bad visit deter you from applying.
5. 不要让一次不好的参观阻止你的申请
Just because your tour guide sounded elitist or the admissions officer gave a bad presentation does not mean that you will not love the school. Do not start to hate a school because of one person you were not fond of. If you live nearby, visit the school again. (I did this once, and I ended up applying in the end.) If not, spend time on the website and look up reviews about the school online. Do not simply rely on your first impression.
仅仅因为你的导游听起来是个精英主义者或者招生官给了个很差的演讲不意味着你不会爱上这个学校。不要因为不喜欢一个人而恨上一所学校，如果你住的很近，那就再参观一次。（我这样做过，最终申请）如果不是，看看网站和关于学校的网上评论。不要仅仅依靠第一印象。
6. Read a book about admission to selective colleges.
6. 读一本关于极具竞争力的学校申请的书
They have good tips that you might not have thought of.
它们也许会有你从未想到过的好建议
7. Do not be upset about a lukewarm interview.
7. 不要因一个冷淡的面试而灰心丧气
I thought that one admissions officer disliked me, but she actually loved me! I found out from faculty members that she advocated for me often during the process.
我以为一个招生官不喜欢我，但是她实际上很喜欢我！我从其他员工那里得知她在申请过程中经常支持我。
8. Do not retake standardized tests a million times.
8. 不要无数次的重考标准化考试
If you are in the right range, do not retake the test. This is just my personal advice. Yes, a 2400 is better than a 2200, but don't stress yourself out about the testing so much. Do not let it consume you because testing is no fun.
如果你在正确的范围，不要重考。这是我个人的建议，是的，2400会比2200好，但是不要再考试方面给自己太多压力。不要让它耗光你因为考试一点也不好玩。
9. Rejoice in every acceptance.
9. 庆祝每一个录取
Rejoice in every acceptance because you don't know what is coming next. Your match and safety schools will probably notify you before your reaches. When the first acceptances start rolling in,start to celebrate. You got into college! Always remember that what you consider to be a match or a safety might be someone else's dream school.
庆祝每一次录取因为你不知道接下来会发生什么，你的匹配和保底学校会在冲刺学校之前告知你结果。但第一封录取信开始发布时，开始庆祝，你进大学了！一定要记住对于你来说死匹配或者保底学校对于其他人来说也许就是梦想学校。
10. This is the most important tip. Getting into an ivy will not change your life!
10. 这是最重要的提示，进入常青藤并不意味着能改变你的人生！
At the end of the college admissions process, I did get into one ivy league school. While receiving my fat envelope was one of the most exciting moments of my life, it has not changed me. I am still the same person I was before I received the envelope. I am not smarter or more talented. By this point, the initial excitement has started to wear off. I am so busy studying that I do not have time to think about college 24/7. Getting into a top college/university will NOT change your life.You will be fine either way.
在大学申请期结束时，我的确进入了常青藤大学。当收到硕大的录取信是我一生中最激动的时刻时，这并没有改变我什么，我还是之前那个没收到信的我，我没有更聪明或者更天才。到这个时候，最初的激动开始消失，我太忙于应付学习以至于我不可能24小时想着大学。进入一所顶尖大学不意味着可以改变你的人生，你会一直优秀，不论是在哪条路上。
Phew! Those were my top ten tips! Best of luck, and may the odds be forever in your favor!
唷！这就是我的10点建议！祝诸君幸运，望好运永远站在你们这边！
原文翻译：Ben
原文转自：http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/admissions-hindsight-lessons-learned/1641072-my-advice-to-the-high-school-class-of-2015.html
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