VIS is authorized by the College Board to provide AP (Advanced Placement) courses. The following article is from the official College Board website.

VIS 為美國大學理事會（College Board）正式認證學校，經授權可開授AP課程。以下文章出自於美國大學理事會 College Board 官網，提供中文翻譯給學生家長參考。

Original source 原文出處: 
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/your-college-application/write-your-essay/6-tips-for-crafting-your-best-college-essay

How to Write a College Application Essay    申請世界頂大, 用 Essay 助攻

Your essay reveals something important about you that your grades and test scores can't─your personality. It can give admissions officers a sense of who you are and showcase your writing ability. Here are some things that admissions officers look for in a personal essay for college.

申請世界頂尖大學要繳交的 essay 申論文章，是你展現個人特質最佳的利器，那是在校成績或是考試成績都無法展現的，也是一個絕佳機會，讓你可以對申請官展示你的個人能力、寫作技巧。大學招生申請官在 essay 項目上會著重以下幾個要點：

1. Open Strong. 強有力的開頭。

Knowing how to start a college essay can create a strong opening paragraph that immediately captures the reader’s interest. You want to make the admissions officer reading your essay curious about what you say next.
個人申論文章開頭要能立刻吸引讀者的眼球，務必要讓頂大申請官對你好奇，才會繼續往下讀。

2. Show You Can Write. 展現你的寫作能力。

Colleges want to see that you have a command of the basics of good writing, which is a key component of success in college.
海外大學看中你的良好寫作能力，這個能力也是日後大學學習能否順利的關鍵。

3. Answer the Prompt. 切中主題。

Admissions officers also want to see that the student can give a direct answer while sticking to a comprehensive narrative. When writing college essays, consider the point you want to make and develop a fleshed-out response that fits the prompt. Avoid force-fitting prewritten pieces. Approach every personal essay prompt as if it's your first.
申請官希望看到的文章可以直接回答問題，又能夠清楚敘事。因此在寫這類文章時，請消化你的重點、做出實在、適切的回應。避免使用勉強湊合的罐頭式回覆。要把每篇文章都當作第一篇來寫。

4. Stick to Your Style. 堅持寫作風格。

Writing college essays isn't about using flowery or verbose prose. Avoid leaning too heavily on the thesaurus to sound impressive. Choose a natural writing style that’s appropriate for the subject matter.

撰寫申請海外大學的文章並非用華麗辭藻或冗長文句就可以了。別太依賴辭典，要能創造自己的風格。為你的主題選擇合適、自然的寫作風格。

Also, avoid stressing about trying to write what you think colleges want to see. Learning how to draft a good essay for college is about showcasing who you are. Stay true to your voice. Keep in mind that authenticity is more important than anything else.
也別給自己太大壓力、想嘗試寫出自認為大學考官會想看到的文章。要寫出優秀的申請留學申論文，其實關鍵在於能否表現出你自己。忠於自己的意見，且保持真誠的風格比什麼技巧都來得重要。

5. Proofread. 記得校對。

Correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling are essential. Proofread several times after you've finished. Then ask a teacher, parent, or college English major to give it a quick read as well.
文法、斷句和拼字務必要正確。寫完文章要多次校稿。再請老師、爸媽或是英文系學長姐來幫你快速檢閱一次。

6. Keep Track of Length. 掌握長度。

Finally, admissions officers value succinctness. Remember to pay attention to the recommended essay length or word count.
申請官在意文章是否簡潔。請記得要注意建議字數及長度。

Bonus Tips and College Essay Writing Help 更多海外留學申論文章寫作技巧

For more on how to write a college essay, check out these Tips for Writing Your College Admissions Essay.
需要更多海外留學申論文章寫作方法，可以參考 Tips for Writing Your College Admissions Essay (申請大學申論文章寫作技巧)。

Original source 原文出處:  
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/your-college-application/write-your-essay/6-tips-for-crafting-your-best-college-essay
 

If you would like to discuss college options further, please make an appointment with our college counselor Ms. Rosalyn Shih ( collegecounseling@vis.tp.edu.tw) to find out more.

如果VIS同學們想進一步討論如何選擇海外的大學，請與VIS的升學顧問 Miss Rosalyn Shih ( collegecounseling@vis.tp.edu.tw ) 預約晤談以了解更多資訊。