来自人朝分的Amberley在2024申请季成功收获了梦校加州大学伯克利分校（全美排名Top15）的录取，Amberley为我们带来了诚意满满的中英文双语分享！让我们一起聆听她的申请故事，感受她一路走来的努力和坚持。
Q1. 为什么选择 A-Level 国际课程？
Amberley：
I was studying in the IB PYP and MYP program in primary and middle school. However, I switched to A-levels for high school because they have fewer extra requirements like mandatory subject research and writing papers of all sort. I thought that this would allow more time for me to explore my extracurricular interests and activities.
我的初中就读一所国际学校主要学习是IB体系的MYP（middle years program) 课，高中阶段选择人朝分的A-level 项目主要是因为项目的课程设置强调精专，选课相对灵活，比起IB项目的“全面发展的特点” 会有更多自主选择课程的机会以及更多可以自己支配的时间。
这样我也有更多的时间和精力来探索自己的感兴趣的课外活动，而这一点也是美本申请中非常重要的一环。
Q2. 在托福/ SAT/ ACT备考过程中的心得体会和自己特别的学习方法有哪些？
Amberley：
I didn’t really struggle with TOEFL as English came quite naturally to me. I really enjoy listening to English songs and watching foreign films. Plus, when I play games, I switch the language to English. This helps me automatically relate new phrases to something similar I’ve seen before, which really aids in memorizing vocabulary. This method works the same for both TOEFL and SAT.
托福考试对我来说并不是特别困难，因为我在中学的IB课程里有一定积累。生活中， 我非常喜欢听英文歌和看外国电影，打游戏的时候也会切换到英语版本。
这些沉浸式的情景学习有助于我把新学的词汇和句式和我以前见过的类似的词汇联系起来，从而帮助记忆和丰富我的词汇储备。这种方法对托福和 SAT或 ACT考试都同样有效。
For the SAT and ACT, it was a tough journey. I started with the ACTs and could get good scores in mocks, but I fail to get the same scores in actual exams. It took me several attempts before I decided to switch to the SAT. Although I didn’t have a long time to prepare, the results were much beyond my expectations. The SAT felt calmer for me, especially the reading portion was less stressful. So I think one doesn’t have to be stuck on one option when you have multiple to choose from. Do try to get a gist of everything before deciding on one.
但是SAT和ACT的备考真的是一段艰难的旅程。一开始我选择的是ACT, 在模拟考试中也能取得不错的成绩。但是在实考中却无法达到与之相媲美的分数，就这样尝试了好几次都是如此，于是决定转考SAT。
在备考SAT的时间投入并不是很长但是最终考试结果却很令我惊喜（1500+），对我来说，SAT 考试比 ACT 考试更轻松一些，尤其是结合我自身的优势阅读部分压力更小一些，所以建议大家，在标化考试选择上需要对SAT和ACT的题型设置有一个全面的了解，并且完成一次完整的模考后再结合自身的优势进行选择，会高效地节约备考的时间。
Q3. 你是如何准备学术活动和课外活动的？顾问老师给予了你哪些指导？
Amberley：
Initially, I was interested in three pathways: dance and music, physics and astronomy, and environmental sciences. Me and my counsellors planned to follow my interests and explore all. Along these paths, I attended physics and environmental sciences competitions, as well as the NAQT quiz bowl, a well-rounded competition concerning all subjects. I continued with piano and dance, and by myself I also explored playing other instruments. Later on, I was advised to narrow down to environmental sciences (my intended major) for more depth, like by attending the Pioneer research project. This way, I have fair achievements in environmental sciences and I was able to showcase as many aspects of my abilities as possible.
刚进入升学规划的时候，我对三个方向感兴趣：舞蹈和音乐、物理和天文学、以及环境科学。
我的升学顾问指导老师仲玮老师和王文静老师非常支持我的兴趣探索，我们共同决定沿着这三个方向进行更近一步的探索。在物理和环境科学方面，我通过参加相应的竞赛来验证自己的学术兴趣；在钢琴和舞蹈方面我没有因为学业的压力而放弃或懈怠，一直也在持续练习，学习中的一些挑战和压力也由此有一个出口得以释放。
在三个主线并行投入一段时间后，我和顾问老师们一起将学术兴趣聚焦到环境科学上（规划期中的拟定专业）下一步的重点就由广度聚焦到了深度，通过Pioneer夏校的研究活动也帮助我在环境科的学术学方面研究有了更深入的理解。
One experience I'm particularly grateful for is attending the UN’s COP27 climate conference in Egypt. There, I got a firsthand look at policy-making efforts to combat climate change and had the chance to talk with delegates from various fields. This opened my eyes to how multifaceted conservation is a stark contrast to the natural sciences research I'd been immersed in. I was especially moved by the advocacy and innovative solutions proposed by disadvantaged groups and student delegations. Their dedication inspired me to deliver a speech at one of the side conferences, highlighting the importance of including their voices.
之后我又参加了在埃及举办的联合国气候变化大会COP27，这次参会的经历让我意识到环保工作的多面性，与我之前沉浸在的自然科学的学术研究截然不同，环保背后的社会性问题也是不容忽略。弱势群体和学生代表团提出的宣传和创新解决方案尤其令我感动，他们的奉献精神激励着我在一次会外会议上发表讲话，强调让他们发表意见的重要性。
Following the conference, motivated by the passion of the participants and the exhibits I saw, I organized a nature-themed concert to promote awareness of current environmental issues. This venture was a blend of my continuous practice in music and arts, enriching my identity beyond just being a conservation advocate. Most importantly, I'm having fun exploring these varied interests.
会后，在与会者的热情和我所看到的展品的推动下，我在学校组织了一场以自然为主题的音乐会，以提高人们对当前环境问题的认识。这次活动融合了我在音乐和艺术方面的持续实践，丰富了我的人物形象，让我不仅仅是一个“环保大使”。最重要的是，我在探索这些不同“主线”的过程中感到非常有成就感。
Q4. 在选择大学的时候有没有遇到什么难点？顾问老师是如何帮助你的？
Amberley：
Initially, I didn’t want to go to the public universities in the US, thinking that navigating through their campuses and resources might be difficult. But my counsellors helped me realize that the large body of students and resources is exactly where their advantage lies. I do have diverse and interdisciplinary interests, so the wider range of curricula public universities provide would fit me well. It might be a challenge for me to be in such a big environment, but once I figure things out, I can use it to my advantage and live a fulfilling college life.
起初，我并不想去美国的公立大学，因为我觉得在他们的校园和资源中穿梭可能会很困难。但我的升学指导老师帮助我认识到，庞大的学生群体和资源正是他们的优势所在。我确实有多元化和跨学科的兴趣，因此公立大学提供的更广泛的课程非常适合我。对我来说，身处这样一个大环境可能会是一个挑战，但一旦我适应了这样的环境，我就能利用它的优势，过上充实的大学生活。
Q5. 文书写作的过程中有哪些趣事？
Amberley：
I think the most interesting thing was when I worked on my essays due in the Early Action round. That essay was going to be due so soon, and I’d written 5-6 drafts, but it still wasn’t working. It was past midnight and I was so anxious, so I left a message for Ms. Zhong, hoping she could help me out and check my essay. But she immediately responded and gave me a call to discuss my problems and concerns and helped me calm down. I was so touched by that call, and I knew from that moment on that Ms. Zhong and all my counsellors are always on the same frontline as me. It really motivated me to continue writing, and in the end, that “painfully written” essay ended up being one of my favorites.
我认为最记忆深刻的事情是我在准备早申轮次的小文书的时候，当时距离截止日期还有两三天，我也已经写了五六稿了但感觉就是思路不是很清晰，还是想推翻重来。
在这样的情境下我的内心非常着急，就给仲老师留言，希望她能帮助我检查一下问题所在。虽然已经过了凌晨，仲玮老师还是第一时间回复了我，给我打电话一起讨论思路的卡点到底在什么地方，清晰卡点之后我也慢慢恢复了平静，重新投入到文书的创作中。
从那一刻起，我知道仲老师始终和我站在同一条战线上，她的启发激励了我继续写作，最后，那篇“痛定思痛”的作文成了我最喜欢的文章之一。
Q6. 如何评价你的升学指导老师？
Amberley：
Ms. Zhong, Ms. Wang, and I began our journey way back in the summer before high school, and they helped me navigate through these three complex years. I am not much of an extroverted person, so whenever I needed to team up or prepare for large events, they’ve always helped me brainstorm and think things through so I am fully prepared to meet and communicate with a large group. When I am stuck on the college essays, Ms. Zhong’s always been there to point me the way and bring me outside my box for more creative and genuine ideas. Aside from that, they’ve also provided so much emotional support. I did feel really anxious and down when I couldn’t produce the ideal essays, but they’ve always been there to cheer me up. Honestly, I couldn’t imagine anyone being more kind and supportive than Ms. Zhong and Ms. Wang.
仲玮老师、王文静老师和我早在九年级的暑假就开始了我们的升学之旅程，她们帮助我度过了这繁忙和具有挑战的高中三年。
我不是一个外向的人，所以每当我需要组队或准备大型活动时，她们总是帮我集思广益，帮助我做好充分准备。当我在申请上遇到困难时，仲老师总是为我指点迷津，让我跳出固有的思维模式，找到更有创意、更真实的想法。除此之外，她们还提供了很多“情绪价值”和情感沟通。当我写不出满意的文书时，感到非常焦虑和沮丧时候，她们总是在我身边给我打气鼓劲。
坦白而言，在我心中，仲玮老师和王文静老师所展现的亲切与支持无人能及，她们是我遇到过的最贴心的老师。
Q7. 对于自己与梦校成功牵手有什么想说的？
Amberley：
By the time the regular decisions were released, I was always telling myself to lower my expectations, so I was so surprised when I saw “Congratulations” on the page. It felt so surreal. But now, thinking back, that decision letter was exactly the opposite of surreal. It was a manifestation of all the hard work that I never thought I could do before I started high school. I genuinely need to thank myself for pulling this off and, most importantly, my counsellors and parents for all their support while I was lost in the "battle."
常规申请结果公布的那段时间，我一直告诉自己要降低预期，所以我看到通知书上的“congratulations”的时候我真的特别惊喜，这种感觉有些难以置信。
但现在回想起来，那封offer与不真实恰恰相反，它是高中三年我付出的这些努力的体现。我真的需要感谢自己成功度过了高中生活和经历了“煎熬的”申请季。最重要的是，感谢我的顾问老师和父母在我迷失在“申请战”中时给予的支持与鼓励。
Q8. 回顾自己整个申请季，自己有哪些成长以及对学弟学妹的建议？
Amberley：
Do make your high school life and activities about you and what you genuinely want and are interested in. I realized this while writing my essays. If it weren’t for the passion behind what I did, I would never be able to show how remarkable I can be in those aspects. So think about what it is that you truly want, and if you don’t know the answer, I suggest you try more things out. And please feel free to speak out your suggestions and needs! Counsellors at Enreach are all so very supportive and would always stand by your side.
让你的高中生活和活动与你有关，与你真正想要做的事情和感兴趣的事情有关。
我在写申请文书的时候才更加深刻地意识到了这一点。如果不是因为我对自己所做的事情的真心热爱，我可能永远无法充分展现自己在这些方面的卓越才能。
所以，大家要思考你们真正想要的是什么？如果现在并不知道答案，没关系我会建议大家多多去尝试一些事情，并且及时与英锐的升学指导老师沟通你们的想法和需求，她们会一直站在你的身边！
