Adolescent Psychology: Helping to Relieve Negative Feelings

Depression is an emotion that everyone experiences. When it brings negative energy, if we can learn to coexist with it, we can build stronger resilience against stress. During adolescence, children go through significant physiological changes. As hormones and the nervous system rapidly evolve, they also face academic pressure, juggling studying, exams, extracurricular activities, and social interactions with peers. When they cannot find an outlet to release stress or someone to confide in, negative emotions may begin to build up.   Before seeking appropriate methods, we first need to understand the common symptoms of depression in adolescents:  Insomnia Irritability Fatigue Decreased concentration Increased feelings of guilt Extreme feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, and worry Lack of interest in people, things, and activities around them   When depression strikes, negative thoughts follow, often getting stuck in a dead-end loop, repeatedly thinking, “Why is this happening to me?” or “Will I ever feel better?” To prevent falling into the abyss of negative effects, here are some methods that can help get back on track:   Mindfulness Practice  Use your five senses to perceive the people, things, and environment around you. Focus your attention on the present experience rather than letting your thoughts consume you. When practicing mindfulness, try not to do many things at once. Whether you're eating, walking, exercising, or chatting with a friend, focus on completing one task before observing the feelings and experiences it brings. Additionally, avoid using adjectives to judge things or labeling your actions as good or bad—simply practice stating the facts as they are.    TIPP Techniques The TIPP techniques, commonly used in behavioral therapy, are designed to help individuals find an immediate release of pressure during intense stress. TIPP stands for Temperature (cooling practice), Intense Exercise (high-intensity exercise), Paced Breathing (breathing exercises), and Paced Muscle Relaxation (muscle relaxation exercises).   Temperature (Cooling Practice)  This practice involves using cold water to wash the face to trigger the "diving reflex." While doing this, you can try holding your breath. When submerged in cold water without oxygen, the heart rate slows down, reducing the physiological and psychological responses caused by negative emotions.    Intense exercise (High-Intensity Exercise)  When you're starting to overthink, try engaging in high-intensity aerobic exercise to shift your focus. During this exercise, your heart rate should reach 55%-75% of your maximum heart rate for your age. For teenagers, the maximum heart rate is around 200 beats per minute, so during intense exercise, your heart rate should be around 110-150 beats per minute. Research shows this level of intensity is associated with positive emotions and can help reduce negative feelings and overthinking. Remember, exercise should last at least 20 minutes to achieve the desired effect.   Paced breathing (Breathing Exercises)  Breathing is also a critical step in mindfulness meditation. Although it may sound simple, it is very effective! When you need to calm down, slow your breathing. Take 5-6 deep breaths per minute. This practice helps regulate the sympathetic nervous system and bring balance to the body.    Paced muscle relaxation (Muscle Relaxation Exercises)  The final relaxation exercise must be paired with breathing techniques for optimal results. While exhaling deeply, slowly relax each muscle group in your body, paying attention to whether your body feels too tense or is constantly under high stress.    Crisis Kit Just like keeping a first aid kit at home, we can also prepare a "Crisis Kit" and place it within easy reach. The kit could contain items that are of great personal significance, such as:  Photos of family members or friends Travel photos or places you'd like to visit Activities you want to participate in Inspirational quotes or cards Mementos from friends Positive lyrics and uplifting music Funny videos During low moments, these small items can remind you of the reasons worth living a fulfilling life.   In order to better support adolescents and accompany their parents, our consultants not only specialize in educational counseling but also regularly update their knowledge of psychology. However, we are not licensed psychologists or psychiatrists. If necessary, please do not hesitate to contact the school's counseling office or seek professional help from a mental health professional.    閱讀中文版文章：青少年心理學：幫助緩解憂鬱 Contact Us for High School Counseling & College Application Guidance  ​ Read More

Adolescent Psychology: Methods for Releasing Anxiety and Stress

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety is an emotion that combines tension and worry, and it can affect blood pressure as it fluctuates with mood. When people feel anxious, negative thoughts replay repeatedly, often accompanied by physical reactions such as cold sweats, trembling, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. Although anxiety is uncomfortable, it helps us detect danger. If we can learn to coexist with it, we can build resilience to cope with stress.    Anxiety is often confused with fear, but it is important to understand the difference. In most cases, fear is triggered by immediate danger, such as the instinct to flee when seeing a bear in the forest. Anxiety, on the other hand, arises before a significant event happens, such as the anxiety one might feel before giving a presentation in front of the whole class. To avoid the inner discomfort, one might choose to skip the presentation and stay home. Both situations signal to our brain that danger is near, but the former presents an immediate threat to our safety, while the latter is based on our imagination.    Before learning how to handle anxiety, it's important to recognize its symptoms to better understand how to cope with it. Common anxiety-related disorders include: Specific phobia Social anxiety disorder Panic attack Obsessive-compulsive disorder Posttraumatic stress disorder   Fortunately, anxiety can be controlled and alleviated. While it cannot be completely prevented, we can use the following methods to help regain confidence:   Grounding  Similar to "grounding meditation," this technique connects us with nature and draws energy from the earth, combined with breathing exercises to restore inner peace. If you're indoors, you can also use your imagination. Stand or sit, take deep breaths, and repeat the following:   My name is ______, I am ______ years old. Today is ______ (year/month/day). I am in ______ (location), and I am safe. I do not live in the past, nor am I in the future; in this moment, I am safe. The earth and nature support me, and my family and friends give me strength. I am not alone, I am safe.   Respiratory Control  This breathing exercise differs from the TIPP technique in that it does not focus on deep inhales or exhales, but rather on breathing through the nose. It helps regulate the breathing rhythm and achieve a state of even breathing. During the process, simply rely on your nose and focus on the act of breathing itself. The steps are as follows:  1. Inhale and exhale 2-3 times. 2. Hold your breath for 1-2 seconds. 3. Repeat the same actions until you feel calmer   In addition, you can try the 54321 meditation technique, which directs your attention to the surrounding environment to stay calm. The steps are as follows: 1. Name five things you can currently see. 2. Name four things you can currently touch. 3. Name three things you can currently hear. 4. Name two things you can currently smell. 5. Name one thing you can currently taste.   Remember, anxiety is an emotion that everyone experiences. In certain situations, if we can identify its function, it will bring us many benefits. Feeling nervous before a presentation or speech is normal. Try the above methods, and when there is no immediate threat to our emotions, anxiety will gradually fade away.    閱讀中文版文章：青少年心理學：釋放焦慮與壓力的方法 Contact Us for High School Counseling & College Application Guidance  ​ Read More

Standardized Testing Makes a Comeback: Universities View the SAT as a Key Admissions Indicator

After four long years, the pandemic has finally started to subside, leading to changes in the examination policies adjusted during this period. The SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test), which was canceled starting in 2020, is being reinstated by a growing number of international universities for the 2024 application cycle for 2025 enrollment. These institutions, including Ivy League schools such as Harvard, Yale, and Dartmouth, along with Caltech (formerly test-blind) and the flagship University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin), believe that standardized tests play a crucial role in evaluating application materials.   In recent statements, Dartmouth College shared data indicating that the combination of SAT scores and GPA provides a more objective measure for admissions officers to assess students' overall academic performance. Dartmouth emphasized the importance of standardized testing, especially the SAT and ACT, stating that these exams not only help make fair decisions but also provide disadvantaged students with stronger evidence for their applications. For students from underprivileged backgrounds who may lack immediate access to resources that could enhance their application portfolios, test scores and academic records serve as compensatory measures. Harvard University echoed similar sentiments, noting that not every student has the resources to participate in extracurricular activities or access AP courses in less affluent school districts. However, every child has the opportunity to excel in standardized tests, making these exams a fairer platform for competition.    Moreover, the president of the University of Texas at Austin remarked that when multiple candidates have similar GPAs, SAT scores can significantly streamline the review process. Yale University supports reinstating standardized testing for similar reasons, arguing that high SAT or ACT scores enhance students' overall profiles. Like California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Yale believes that test scores provide admissions committees with more comprehensive information to quickly assess whether a student is academically prepared for the rigors of their programs. It is noteworthy that while reviewing applications, both test scores and academic records hold equal weight. Exceptional test scores will not compensate for a low GPA, nor will poor scores automatically disqualify an applicant.    Additionally, internal data from UT-Austin and Yale indicate that students who submitted SAT scores generally outperformed their non-submitting peers in college, particularly in their first-year GPA. This highlights the importance of test scores as a key indicator of academic potential and future success for admissions officers. To enhance the fairness of holistic review processes, UT-Austin plans to implement measures to optimize the application process, reducing the stress of college admissions for students. As a result, students are advised to begin their preparations as early as possible to adapt to these evolving requirements. At the same time, it's important not to be overly anxious—taking breaks and doing things that bring joy will provide the strength to keep moving forward.    閱讀中文版文章：標化考試捲土重來，諸多大學將SAT視為入學重要指標   Contact Us for High School Counseling & College Application Guidance  ​ Read More

How to Relieve the Anxiety of Waiting for Admission Results?

Every year, the results season is both exciting and nerve-wracking. After the busy application season, the waiting period feels like an eternity, even after submitting all the application documents. Whether it’s related to future plans or the results themselves, feelings of anxiety are inevitable. At the same time, students need to understand that when faced with bottlenecks, it’s more important to focus on “finding solutions” rather than the problem itself. This is a crucial life skill that will benefit them in college and even in their future careers. So, regardless of the outcome, these days will serve as essential nourishment for personal growth.    At the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), the admissions dean emphasizes that simplifying the application process to reduce the pressure of higher education is an important goal. The university will implement measures to ensure this. In addition to waiving application and registration fees, students can choose non-teachers and non-internship employers to write their recommendation letters. What’s most special is that UPenn introduced an option for applicants to write a thank-you letter as part of the 2024 admissions process. According to the university's research, expressing gratitude helps release positive energy, and admissions officers can use thank-you letters to assess whether students possess this quality.    At this moment, while we wait, we should make the best use of our time to enrich ourselves. The things that have been done and can be done are already set. Parents can also use this time to strengthen their relationship with their children by providing positive guidance. What children need most right now is to relax, not to be constantly anxious about their future. It’s recommended to temporarily set aside discussions about college admissions and instead bond through activities like watching shows, going outdoors, cooking, or playing board games to build deeper trust and emotional connections, thus reducing the anxiety of waiting for the results.   When children experience frustration or fear, what parents can do now is listen. This seemingly small act can have a great impact. Often, we just want someone to listen, not necessarily to provide answers. After all, life is long, and many things don't have a standard solution. During the most challenging times that test our patience, if both sides can be good listeners and communicate openly, it’s a good start.   Finally, don’t forget to encourage your child appropriately. Share your own experiences, talk about the challenges you faced in school, how you solved problems, and where you found support. Help your child understand that, no matter what happens, they are never alone.    閱讀中文版文章：如何舒緩放榜前的等待焦慮？ Contact Us for High School Counseling & College Application Guidance  ​ Read More

AI Trends in College App: Should I Use ChatGPT to Write My Essays?

The emergence of AI is undoubtedly a technological breakthrough, and its convenience has the potential to accelerate our learning efficiency. Since ChatGPT became popular, many students in this application season have been asking whether they should use AI to write their essays.     At A. League, our counseling team can easily discern whether an essay is written by the student or generated by AI. We continually remind students not to upload their essays to platforms that could use the information to train AI models and, more importantly, to avoid relying on computer-generated content. While some students are initially skeptical, top universities like those in the Ivy League have echoed our views, offering clear guidance on this matter.     To address AI's influence on college applications, Yale University's admissions team has shared their perspectives and advice on using AI for application essays.     Key Considerations from Yale Admissions on Using AI   What Should Students Focus On?     Instead of asking, "How will universities know if I used AI?" students should focus on what makes them unique. According to Yale’s admissions officers, the primary question is: How does your essay showcase your distinct qualities? Think about the story you want to tell, why it matters to you (or the university), your role in it, and whether it complements other parts of your application. In other words, your "Who you are" should be the centerpiece of your essay.     Why Is Using AI a Problem?     AI-generated essays are considered unacceptable because the application process is about demonstrating your skills and talents. Plagiarism or relying on AI not only damages a university’s perception of you but also violates the trust they place in you. Furthermore, when students submit their applications, they sign a declaration confirming that all submitted materials are their own work. Using AI to complete your essay violates this agreement.   Does AI Improve Admission Chances?     Admissions officers argue that AI does not enhance your chances of acceptance. Essays are not meant to evaluate pure writing ability or compensate for unqualified applicants. Instead, universities use a holistic review process to assess an applicant’s overall performance. Essays are an opportunity to provide insights beyond the application’s numbers and credentials.    How Do Universities Identify AI-Written Essays?     Admissions officers review hundreds of applications each year and are highly attuned to detecting essays that lack human emotion, creativity, or personal style. Essays are a medium for showcasing your humanity, and generic or overly polished AI-generated content is often easy to spot.    Advice for Students   Yale’s admissions team encourages students to embrace the essence of writing. Explore various mediums, materials, and books to deepen your understanding of language and professional knowledge. Above all, your essay should reflect your authentic self, telling a story that only you can tell.     閱讀中文版文章：AI風潮下的申請季：我該使用ChatGPT寫作文嗎？ Contact Us for High School Counseling & College Application Guidance  ​ Read More

Writing Tips: Must-Know for UC Essays

The annual college application season is here, and you're likely balancing a mix of activities like internships, volunteering, clubs, summer programs, and language tests. When applying to universities, essays are one of the key components of your application. While many schools in the U.S. use the Common Application Essay, if you’re particularly interested in California schools, you’ll need to tackle the University of California (UC) Personal Insight Questions (PIQs). These prompts are unique to the UC system and different from the Common App.   The UC system offers 8 PIQs, and you’ll need to choose 4 to respond to. With 10 UC campuses spread across California, each campus will review your essays separately, so the same 4 essays can be used across multiple UC schools.   UC Essay Quick Tip: Just keep it simple.    Seriously, this is not a spelling bee contest. You don’t need to use the hardest SAT vocabulary or approach it like a literary analysis essay. Instead, UCs are looking for genuine essays that show what you’ve done and how you’ve learned from your lived experiences. Here are some specific writing tips for approaching the UC PIQs:   PIQ1 — Leadership You don’t have to be the student council president to be a good leader. You could be a peer leader in class, a study partner, or a member of a volunteer group. Leadership comes in many forms. Focus your essay on "action" and "impact." Share a problem you identified and how you took the initiative to solve it. Even if the issue wasn’t fully resolved, discussing what you learned in the process will highlight your personal growth.   PIQ2 — Creativity This prompt gives you the freedom to explore how you use creativity to solve problems. Creativity can take many forms, so don’t limit yourself to traditional definitions. Whether you’ve approached a challenge creatively in school, art, or another context, conclude your essay by discussing how this experience contributed to your personal growth and future goals.   PIQ3 — Talent/Skill If you excel in a specific talent or skill, like dance, music, art, or sports, this is a great prompt for you. Focus on measurable expertise and explain how you've developed and applied this skill. You don’t need to be a jack-of-all-trades—highlight how you've honed your talent and what this skill means to you.   PIQ4 — Educational Opportunity/Barrier This prompt has two options: Learning Opportunities or Challenges. Whether you choose one or both, focus on how you overcame subject-related difficulties, showing your problem-solving skills or determination. If you’re writing about learning opportunities, share how you used them to explore a subject more deeply. If you faced a barrier, focus on how you navigated the challenge. For example, if you couldn’t take a specific course at your school, explain how you found other ways to learn the material. On the other hand, learning challenges are a more difficult topic to tackle because many students tend to mention a decline in grades, which does not provide substantial help for college applications. Therefore, if you must write about this topic, it is important to emphasize how you dealt with the difficulties encountered during the learning process. For example, if you were interested in taking AP Chemistry but could not immediately access the resources (such as your school not offering it or not having a teacher responsible for the subject), think about how you sought knowledge in other ways to overcome this obstacle. Strategy, ideas, and actions will be the key points to focus on in this topic.   PIQ5 — Challenge Life is full of challenges, whether academic, social, or personal. The focus of Q5 is not necessarily to showcase an outstanding achievement but rather to demonstrate how you deal with difficulties. The admissions committee is interested in seeing your problem-solving skills and your ability to persevere when things do not go smoothly.   PIQ6 — Academic Subject The theme of Q6 revolves around a specific subject that a student is interested in and how they can combine this interest with extracurricular activities to further explore the subject academically. Similar to Q2, you can add creative elements to your essay, sharing how you overcame challenges while learning the subject, completed certain projects, or took action to improve your knowledge and skills in this area. It is recommended to incorporate personal life experiences to create a story that resonates with the reader. Good examples include a student being inspired by a poetry collection in a literature class and then starting to study English literature. What admissions officers want to see is not how exceptional your performance in this field is but rather how much effort you are willing to put in to achieve your learning goals.   PIQ7 — Community "Community" can mean many things—your school club, family, volunteer work, or cultural background. Focus on teamwork and problem-solving in this essay. Did you notice something missing in your community and take steps to fix it? What did you learn from the experience? The university is looking for students who are ready to contribute to their campus communities.   PIQ8 — Unique Perspective If you have something unique about yourself that hasn’t been covered elsewhere in your application, this is your chance to share it. Make sure not to overlap this essay with other prompts, and use it as an opportunity to highlight any experiences, interests, or traits that make you stand out.   Remember, writing skills come with consistent practice. Regularly reading and writing will help you not only with your college applications but also with the challenges that come with entering college!   閱讀中文版文章: 寫作技巧：UC Essays 不可不知的二三事    高中在校輔導＆申請大學輔導專案，歡迎洽詢 A. League 教育顧問  ​ Read More

College Applications: Admissions Officer vs. Interviewer

In this article, we will be discussing an analysis to debunk common misconceptions about interviewers and admissions officers at top private universities in the United States.    What we often refer to as "interviews" are actually alumni/ae chats, which are not within the university official selection process. When students apply to top 20 private schools, they often receive a phone call or email invitation for an interview from an alum after submitting their application. In some cases, universities allow students to request an interview through applicant portals, after which the school assigns an alumnus or alumna to contact them. Receiving an interview invitation does not mean a student has passed a certain screening stage; in fact, as long as a student agrees to share their contact information with alums, they will receive an invitation. This means that all applicants have the opportunity to participate in an interview, which is one of the university's mechanisms for ensuring fairness. These interviews are also optional, meaning participation is not mandatory.   A detailed comparison is as follows:      Alum Interviewer Admissions Officer Qualification Alums or current students of the university No restriction on graduation year (many graduated 10-20 years ago) Full-time professionals Educational Background Undergraduate/Graduate students Alums of the school Academic qualifications Many top university admissions officers are also alums of the school Certification  Requirement None Relevant training in the field of higher education Work Experience None Work experience related to college access and admissions Selection Criteria Voluntary Pass selective recruitment, interviews, and assessments Decision Authority None Make admissions decisions     Interviewer In U.S. college admissions, interviews are not conducted by professors but are instead handled by current students or alums who have graduated for years. As such, interviews generally do not have a significant impact on admission outcomes. Therefore, the notion that an interviewer could write a recommendation letter to secure a student's acceptance is purely fictional. In reality, admission results often fall short of expectations—even for those of us conducting interviews, it may take years of experience to see one or two students we interviewed get accepted.    When a student is admitted, the university sends a thank-you letter to the interviewer to acknowledge the student's outstanding overall performance and to express gratitude for the interviewer's time and effort. This is not due to the interviewer's connections or influence. The school is simply being polite by notifying the interviewer.    As interviewers, our role makes it clear that we are not official evaluators from the university, so we are not informed of the school's annual selection criteria. While interviewers may share their personal college app anecdotes from years past, admissions become more competitive each year, and the standards for acceptance are adjusted annually.    There are, however, a few exceptions to this. For example, graduate school interviews and interviews in the UK. In both cases, the interviews are conducted directly by professors, who do have a certain level of influence over the admission decision. In the UK, in addition to the interview, applicants may also be required to take an entrance exam.    Admissions Officer Admissions officers are fully aware of the latest evaluation standards of their universities. These officers can be either internal staff or outsourced personnel. Due to the varying number of applicants (ranging from 20,000 to 150,000 per school per admission cycle) different review mechanisms have emerged. Many renowned universities hire seasonal part-time external staff to help share the workload, while top-tier universities almost exclusively rely on full-time in-house admissions officers. The review methods also vary by institution, often categorized as either a two-person system or a committee-based approach.    Another common misconception is that students from the same school might compete against each other for admission. This is not true. For example, some public universities in the U.S. allocate 150,000 applicants among 150 admissions officers. Even if there are regional admissions officers, decisions are made based on whether students meet the university's admission standards, not by keeping count of how many students have already been admitted or how many spots remain. As a result, it’s common to see one high school with 15 students admitted to Ivy League schools like Columbia University, while another high school may have no students admitted.   When students go abroad, they enter an environment where they grow and thrive alongside outstanding scholars from around the world. It’s important for peers to maintain positive and supportive relationships with each other, so there’s no need to worry excessively about resource sharing.    閱讀中文版文章：大學申請：審查官 V.S. 面試官   High School Counseling & College Application Guidance Program  ​   Read More

Writing Tips: Must-Know for UCAS Personal Statement

As the number of students studying abroad continues to rise each year, more international students are pursuing their dreams of studying in various corners of the world. The United States is no longer the only choice for international students. Among English-speaking countries, the United Kingdom stands out as a strong contender, becoming a major destination for students studying abroad.    Although the application processes for the UK and the US differ slightly, both require the submission of essays or personal statements. In the UK, almost all application materials are submitted through the centralized admissions system, UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). While a few universities use independent systems, they often still require a personal statement similar to that of UCAS.   Compared to the Common Application Essay required by US universities, the UCAS Personal Statement focuses more on the student’s overall academic and extracurricular achievements. Since it covers a broader range of content, some students find it easier to approach. A detailed comparison is provided below:   U.S. Common Application  U.K. UCAS  Choose 1 out of 8 prompts Up to 2024, only 1 prompt (to be changed to 3 prompts starting 2025) Creative writing Academic writing Storytelling manner; modifiers may be used Straightforward language; fewer modifiers Focus on a single experience (either on-campus or off-campus) Overall experiences on and off campus No need to mention your intended major Must mention the major you would like to study in the future      Here are some practical writing tips for mastering the UCAS personal statement:   Get Straight to the Point Due to character and line limitations, it’s recommended to dive directly into the topic at the beginning of your personal statement. Focus on the field of study you are passionate about, explain how you developed your interest, and then transition to why you want to study in the UK.    Example:  Witnessing family members battle inherited diseases like hypertension, I began paying close attention to treatments for genetic diseases. (Connect personal experiences to the field of study.) In an independent research project, I found that high BPM music elevated blood pressure. (Describe activities that showcase your strong interest in the field.) Seeing the UK develop the COVID-19 vaccine at such high efficiency, I set my mind my pursuing my studies here. (Highlight the motivation to study in the UK by referencing its achievements.)     Provide Details on Relevant Academic and Extracurricular Experiences In the middle sections, include detailed descriptions of your academic and extracurricular experiences up to the present. Focus on any information that strengthens your application, such as skills, knowledge, and participation in internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work related to your major. Remember, the second paragraph is the core of your personal statement. Provide concrete examples that give the admissions team a deeper understanding of your academic background.    Example:  In AP Biology, I furthered my interests by doing labs like transferring plasmids in E.coli, dissecting squid, and testing carbon dioxide levels surrounding plants with and without Photosynthesis. (Describe what you learned in AP Biology and the experiments conducted.) To familiarize myself with lab work, I volunteered to become a chemistry teaching assistant, and help prepare lab equipment, organize inventories, and grade assignments. (Detail your participation in school volunteer activities and the responsibilities you handled, such as assisting with lab preparation and grading assignments.)     Outline Your Aspirations for the Future  The conclusion should reiterate your experiences and personal qualities mentioned earlier, but avoid repeating exact phrases. Instead, reframe them and explain how these experiences and qualities will help you adapt to the UK’s educational culture. Additionally, outline your future goals—whether it’s further studies or career aspirations—and mention what you hope to gain from studying in the UK.    Example:  During high school, I took many biology classes inside and outside of school and other science and math courses associated with biology. I familiarized myself with research and healthcare through clubs, internships, and research programs. (Summarize your participation in biology, chemistry, and math courses, as well as research projects and extracurricular activities.) By studying at a UK university, I believe I would be able to work with people from different cultures and would have a comprehensive understanding of biology to contribute to the pharmaceutical industry (Not only express motivation to study in the UK but also specify the goal.) by alleviating the suffering of diseases through ongoing research and improvements in medicine. (Provide specific examples of how you plan to contribute to society through your studies.)     Basic Structure of a UCAS Personal Statement (up till 2024-2025 Admission Cycle for September 2025 Entry) 1st Paragraph: How did you become interested in this field? 2nd Paragraph: Relevant courses (e.g., AP, IB) you have taken that will prepare you for future study 3rd Paragraph: Academic experiences about major (e.g., research, club) 4th Paragraph: Activities you have engaged in that are related to this area (e.g., volunteer) 5th Paragraph: Other experiences that you think are important to you and would like to mention; your future goal Additional Tip：Devote 80% of your essay to academic experiences and development; use the remaining 20% to highlight extracurricular activities like volunteer work or internships    Building strong writing skills requires consistent practice. Cultivate a habit of reading and writing regularly to enhance your application and prepare for challenges you may encounter in university life.    閱讀中文版文章：寫作技巧：UCAS 英國入學自傳   High School Counseling & College Application Guidance Program  ​ Read More

Writing Tips: The Art of Free Writing

Freewriting is an exercise that allows you to freely express thoughts without being hindered by rigid ideas or concerns. The aim of this practice is not just to help writers overcome creative blocks and rediscover inspiration but also to build writing fluency over time. By regularly engaging in freewriting, students can enhance their ability to express their thoughts fluidly, free from self-imposed constraints.   When practicing freewriting, the focus should not be on perfecting word choice, grammar, or structure. The key is to allow ideas to flow naturally and capture them instantly in a notebook or other preferred writing tool. Freewriting promotes an unfiltered stream of ideas, which can later be refined into more polished written work.   One effective strategy for stimulating creativity before starting to write is to create a list of personal preferences, as outlined in the article for brainstorming. This exercise serves as a form of freewriting, accumulating material that can later be used in essays or other writing projects. Below are several tips to help students get the most out of freewriting:   Don’t Write Just for Writing’s Sake Creative expression can take various forms, and writing is just one medium. If you feel uncomfortable with writing, you can consider exploring other forms of self-expression, such as drawing, recording voice memos, or even singing. If you are confident in public speaking, you can record your speech and transcribe it later. The key is to recognize which ideas can be used as writing material. The act of creating—whether through speaking, drawing, or writing—can open the door to unexpected ideas and insights.   Create a Mind Map Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, authors of Designing Your Life, recommend using mind mapping as a tool to overcome mental blocks, especially when brainstorming topics. The process begins with a central theme and branches out to related words and ideas, connecting concepts that may not initially seem related. Because mind mapping is a visual technique, it stimulates the brain and encourages new ideas. This method helps you explore creative avenues and develop original ideas for your writing projects.   Avoid Editing or Deleting Content During Freewriting The ultimate goal of freewriting is to strengthen writing skills, not to produce a polished final draft. If you start revising while writing, you risk disrupting the flow of your ideas. Editing should be reserved for later stages of the writing process. Even if the ideas seem incoherent or imperfect initially, the key is to allow them to flow naturally and capture them without judgment.   Take Notes on Your Writing Style As you engage in freewriting, you should pay attention to the strengths and weaknesses of your writing style. Using different colored highlighters or text-marking features in Word or Pages can help them distinguish areas for improvement. For example, you can highlight repetitive phrases, unclear sections, or parts you are particularly proud of. However, it is best to limit the number of colors used to two or fewer to maintain clarity and avoid confusion.   Make Use of Morning Moments Julia Cameron, an acclaimed American author, recommends using the early morning hours for writing. This is because the mind often remains in a reflective state from the previous night’s sleep, making it an ideal time to tap into fresh, unfiltered ideas. You can keep a notebook beside your bed or use your phone, tablet, or computer to record your thoughts as soon as you wake up, seizing this prime creative window.   Schedule Writing Time Much like meditation, developing a writing habit is easier when it becomes a daily routine. It is recommended that you spend 10-15 minutes each day dedicated to freewriting, ideally in the morning when the mind is still clear. Through consistency, you will gradually become more comfortable with the practice and develop stronger writing habits.   Outline the Structure of Your Essay While outlining an essay, the goal is not to create a rigid, step-by-step list but to organize the main theme and sub-themes to gain a clearer sense of the writing. At times, you may feel limited by an outline and struggle to start writing. In such cases, it’s important to embrace flexibility and allow free-flowing ideas to emerge before attempting to fit them into a formal structure.   Additional Writing Exercises You can enhance your writing skills by engaging in creative writing exercises based on various scenarios. Below are a few prompts to spark your creativity: Rewriting Fearful Experiences: Think about a time when you felt afraid, then replace yourself with another character and rewrite the experience from that character’s perspective. Alternate Characterization: Select a favorite book and rewrite the conflict in the first chapter, but change the characters. This exercise allows students to practice reimagining stories and exploring fresh perspectives. Scriptwriting: Write only the dialogue for a scene—omit descriptions of the characters or setting. This exercise focuses on honing skills in crafting engaging conversations. Scenario Writing 1: Imagine a man who loves writing sitting down to write his introduction, only to discover that someone else has already written it for him. How does he react? Scenario Writing 2: Write about a woman who discovers that her family has robbed a bank. What was her first reaction to hearing this news?   Building Writing Skills Over Time Writing is a skill that improves through regular practice. To enhance your abilities, you should make a habit of reading widely and writing frequently. This will not only help you in crafting essays for college applications but will also prepare you for various writing challenges throughout your academic and professional lives. Consistently practicing freewriting will provide students with a solid foundation for future success. In conclusion, freewriting is an invaluable tool for anyone looking to improve your writing skills. It encourages creativity, helps free the mind from limitations, and fosters fluency over time. By incorporating the strategies outlined above, you can enhance your skills and approach the writing process with confidence.   閱讀中文版文章：寫作技巧：自由寫作的心法   高中在校輔導＆申請大學輔導專案，歡迎洽詢 A. League 教育顧問   ​   Read More

Writing Tips: Methods for Finding Inspiration

Writing an admission essay is similar to preparing a dish–you must pick a recipe, purchase the ingredients, and finally, prep the meal.    In much the same way, writing an admission essay requires a series of steps, from understanding the topic, brainstorming ideas, drafting, revising, and proofreading to finalizing the essay. Each step demands careful planning and execution. While the preparation phase can be time-consuming, the level of preparation directly influences the quality of the final result.   In reality, writing an admission essay is not as difficult as it may first appear. By starting early and exploring ideas thoroughly, you can avoid the stress of last-minute work. Ideally, you should allocate at least six months before the application season begins to prepare your essays. This allows sufficient time to plan writing schedules, hone writing skills, and be ready for a variety of essay topics that may arise during the application process.   To ensure comprehensive preparation, students can employ several methods before and during the writing process, especially when they encounter creative blocks. Here are some strategies that can be particularly helpful in finding inspiration:   Organizing Thoughts Before Writing   Reverse Thinking: Read through all the essay prompts–A great way to begin is by reading through all the essay prompts. For example, if you’re working on the Common Application Essay, make sure to review all eight prompts before exploring potential topics. This will give you a clear sense of the range of topics and ideas that might be relevant to your essay. Don’t focus on the prompt just yet–At the early stages of essay writing, your primary focus should be on the content, not the prompt. Avoid being overly constrained by the specific topic and instead focus on generating ideas. Letting your thoughts flow freely will help you explore themes and topics without the limitations imposed by the prompt. Choosing a topic–After brainstorming and exploring potential story ideas, you'll likely have a clearer sense of which topic resonates with you. The topic you choose should reflect your thought process, personal experiences, interactions with others, and how you approach different situations.   Breaking Down the Theme Once the topic is chosen and the story idea is conceptualized, the process can feel overwhelming. To maintain creative momentum, you can break the theme into smaller, more manageable parts and analyze which categories are best suited for the essay. For example, personal experiences can be divided into themes like: Travel experiences Extracurricular activities Family background Culture and identity Hobbies and interests Life challenges This method helps you focus your ideas and approach the essay in a more organized way.   Developing Writing Techniques Listing Personal Preferences: It’s helpful to keep a notebook or use a digital note-taking app to jot down daily writing exercises or thoughts. This practice allows you to explore ideas that might eventually serve as material for your essays. By writing down ideas as they come to mind, you create a pool of potential material to refer back to later. Regularly updating this list ensures a steady flow of inspiration, even when you encounter creative blocks.   Paraphrasing Instead of Quoting: Instead of relying on famous quotes or sayings to start your essay, try rewriting them in your own words. Paraphrasing is the art of reinterpreting an idea using similar words and structure without changing the original meaning. For instance, instead of quoting Hamlet's famous line "To be or not to be," you might rewrite it as "To live or not to live." This helps you develop your writing by expressing ideas in your own voice, rather than depending on someone else's words.   Taking Breaks During the Writing Process Stop Writing When Stuck: Writer's block is a common challenge during essay writing. When it happens, it's often more productive to take a break rather than force yourself to keep writing. Instead of sitting at your computer for hours without making progress, engage in an activity you enjoy—whether it's taking a walk or indulging in a hobby that helps clear your mind. During this break, observe your surroundings—people, objects, or situations you might have previously overlooked. These observations can sometimes spark fresh ideas that inspire your writing.   Seeking Help from Others: Your family and friends often know you better than you realize. Ask your loved ones to describe your personal qualities and provide three adjectives that reflect your character. For example, many students applying to USC (University of Southern California) are asked to describe themselves using three adjectives as part of the application essay. Once you gather this feedback, reflect on past experiences where you demonstrated these traits, and incorporate those stories into your writing. This process of self-reflection helps you gain a deeper understanding of how your experiences align with your personality, which can lead to a more compelling essay.   Mastering the Writing Process Writing is a skill that improves with practice. By reading and writing regularly, you'll be able to communicate your thoughts more effectively and creatively. Developing strong writing habits early on is essential, not just for successful college applications but also for future academic challenges. By committing to regular writing practice, you'll be better prepared for any writing assignments you encounter in the future. Overall, preparing for admission essays is a multi-step process that requires creativity, discipline, and time. Brainstorming ideas, practicing writing techniques, taking breaks when necessary, and seeking feedback from others all contribute to developing a strong, authentic essay. By cultivating these skills, you'll not only create successful application essays but also be better prepared for the writing challenges that lie ahead in your academic career. With consistent effort, the writing process will become more manageable and rewarding, making it easier to express yourself clearly and effectively.   閱讀中文版文章：寫作技巧：找尋靈感的方法   高中在校輔導＆申請大學輔導專案，歡迎洽詢 A. League 教育顧問  ​ Read More