文章整理自芝士圈留学外籍文书顾问社群答疑。

刘：

我想知道，在文书里是否需要显示一些与我的目标专业相关的理论信息？

Andy：

你当然是需要充分展示自己有能够进行申请项目的课程学习的能力，但重要的是“展示”。写文书的目的在于，如何用吸引人的方式向招生委员会展示你对这个申请项目的自信以及能力。文书内容必须有助于你申请：充分展现优势并阐述自己的理由。

所以，如果你打算用写论文的那种方式在文书中阐述理论信息，那么我是不建议的，这种方式并不适用于文书。（当然还有一些其他不同类型的申请文档，如何来阐述这些信息，这都需要根据官方的具体要求来）。如果你真的需要在文书中写关于专业的理论信息，那么就要考虑两个问题：

-这是任何申请者都能写的信息吗？有什么具象化的方式能够表现我充分使用了这些理论并达到了某些成就？

-这些信息能证明你在申请中处于优势或在项目中表现出色吗？这个项目是否能表现你的独立学习能力或团队合作能力？

我见过一些看起来像是一系列研究摘要的文书，虽然令人印象深刻，但也只有在某一点上才令人印象深刻。而这点终结于，当申请人表达了他过去的成就时，但却没有仔细分析文书的目的，没有充分表明他们有能力为未来做好准备。

请记住，你拥有成绩，分数，履历，所有这些都能证明你能熟练处理某些类型的信息和难题。文书在本质上是帮助你走的更远：集中精力从你的个人经历、你所做的事情中，把自己所做的积极的事情联系起来；把它们和你的具体目的放在一起。这样的文书才更具备吸引力。

附英文原文：

NOTICE

Liu：

I would like to know if I need to show some theoretical information related to my target specialty?

Andy：

I’m going to assume for this answer that you’re referring to a statement-type document. You should certainly demonstrate skills that will enable you undertake your proposed course of study. But the key word here is ‘demonstrate’.

The purposes of writing a statement are to introduce you in an attractive fashion and write persuasively about why you’d be great on the program. Information you include should contribute to fulfilling these purposes: Introducing you and making your case. 

So, if you are proposing to state theoretical information like you might in a research paper, I would warn you that this is not really appropriate for a statement-type document. (There are some other, much more unusual types of application document where it might be appropriate; you need to look at the specific requirements in every case). If you’re considering including theoretical information ask yourself two questions:

– Could this be written by any other candidate? Are there specific ways I can express this based on what I used the information to accomplish?

– What does this information prove about why you’d be great on the program? Does it show you have proven independent learning capacity or team-work skills?

I’ve seen statements that look like sequences of research abstracts and while it’s all very impressive, it’s only impressive to a certain point. The impressiveness ends because while this person is showing they’ve done good things in the past, by failing to analyze the purpose of the statement, and ensuring they fulfill it, they’re not necessarily showing they’re equipped for the future.

Remember you have grades, test scores, resume entries, all of which prove that you’re familiar with handling certain types of information. The statement, by its very nature, asks you to go further: Focus on relating positive things about yourself in terms of your personal experiences, things you’ve done; include them with a specific purpose in mind.