［预备年级］徐同学Sophie Xu‍‍‍‍

周一下午，三位学长学姐给我们分享了他们对于高中四年的规划以及建议，他们的分享让我非常有收获。

On Monday afternoon, three senior students shared their plans and advice for the four years of high school, and their insights were very enlightening to me.

首先，关于备考托福，学长学姐们给了我们一些建设性的建议：1、“战线”不要拉得太长，俗话说，“一鼓作气，再而衰，三而竭”， 尽量在十年级的寒假或暑假就将语言成绩搞定，因为到了11，12年级时间会很紧张。2、考试的次数不宜太多，次数过多会产生疲惫感。3、建议大家可以合理“刷分”，因为托福的听力和阅读每次给的主题都不一样，如果刚好有遇到自己擅长的主题那么拿高分就很容易。

Firstly, regarding TOEFL preparation, the seniors made some constructive suggestions: 1) Don't make it last too long. As the saying goes, "Strike while the iron is hot." They suggested that we take the TOEFL tests and try to achieve a satisfactory score during the summer or winter vacations past the 10th grade because we usually have a very tight schedule in 11 and 12th grade. 2) You’d better not take the test too many times, otherwise you would be exhausted. 3) It is recommended to strategically "boost scores" since the topics in TOEFL listening and reading divs vary each time. If you happen to be tested on topics you are good at, you are more likely to do well and achieve high scores.  

其次，关于校内成绩的要求以及AP课程应该如何抉择，魏昊佳学姐给了一个很重要的信息：AP成绩可以选择不提交，所以我们可以多多尝试，挑战自我。但是，在选择多门AP课程的时候，还是不能盲目追求数量，也要注意质量。

Secondly, regarding our grades at school and how to choose AP courses, Alice Wei shared with us something very important: AP scores can be selectively submitted, so we should challenge ourselves by trying more. However, when choosing multiple AP courses, it is more important to value academic quality rather than aim only at quantity.   

最后，关于校内成绩，程学姐也分享了一些自己的看法：在我们学校GPA达到3.5+不是一件很难的事情，拥有一个较高的GPA是我们每个人都应该而且可以做到的，因为学校的分层走班制的课程体系，让我们每个人的课程都可以在自己蹦一蹦就够得着的难度。好的大学会很在乎学生高中四年的校内成绩，我们应该尽可能提高自己的GPA。

Finally, regarding our school grades, Hannah Cheng shared her perspective: It is not very difficult for us to achieve a GPA of 3.5 and above in our school. Each student should and can accomplish a higher GPA because the school's tiered flexible curriculum system allows us to do well as long as we work hard. Good universities value a student's school performance throughout the 4 years, so we should try as hard as we can to improve our GPA.  

这次的分享令人受益匪浅。非常感谢各位学长学姐为我们提供这么多有用的信息和建议，让我在接下来的学习生涯中更加敢于尝试，少走弯路，更好地向着目标前进。

We found the sharing session very beneficial. We are grateful to seniors for sharing with us so much useful information and advice. They filled us with courage to try, helped us avoid unnecessary detours, and encouraged us to head for our goals.

［10年级］汪同学Allen Wang

徐学长和李学姐为我们十年级的同学带来了一场有关大学申请的分享会，这次分享给我带来了很多启发和益处。分享会广泛涵盖了课程选择、课外活动、自我发现、大学研究、专业选择以及压力管理等关键主题，开阔了我的视野，解答了我的许多困惑。

I attended a sharing session given by Sean Xu and Charlotte Li, two seniors, and I found that I could draw much inspiration and benefited a lot from it. The sharing session covered a wide range of key topics, including course selection, extracurricular activities, self-discovery, college research, major selection, and stress management. It broadened my horizons and cleared up much of my confusion.  

这次讲座让我认识到，根据个人兴趣选择活动、探索专业，并有效地管理压力是非常重要的。李学姐建议我们，将个人的乐趣和个人成长置于追求荣誉和奖牌之上，“参与活动应该是为了变得更好和感到快乐”。

I came to realize the importance of choosing activities based on personal interests, exploring majors, and effectively managing stress. Charlotte Li advised us to prioritize seeking personal pleasure and growth over winning honors and medals. She said that "we participate in activities to make ourselves better and happier."  

关于专业探索，徐学长告诉我们，大学通常会给予我们几个学期的时间来探索和决定专业，如果有必要，还可以灵活转换。因此，我们要尝试不同的事物，寻找到能够激发我们兴趣的事物。

Regarding exploring majors, Sean Xu told us that universities usually give students several semesters to explore and decide on a major, and if necessary, students can switch to another one flexibly. Therefore, we should try different things and find out what intrigues us most. 

学长和学姐还针对管理压力给我们提出建议。李学姐提到，制定一个时间表避免临时冲刺非常重要。通过设定现实的目标并定期努力实现它们，我们可以降低压力水平。并且，在需要的时候，我们可以向家人、朋友和辅导员寻求帮助，我们并不孤单。

The seniors also gave their advice on stress management. Charlotte emphasized that it is important to make a plan to avoid last-minute cramming. By setting realistic goals and making plans to achieve them, we will be less stressed. Besides, we are not alone because we may seek help from family, friends, and counselors.  

这次分享会真正拓宽了我的视野，不仅给予了我关于课程选择、课外活动、自我发现、大学研究、专业选择和压力管理等关键主题的见解，还纠正了我之前的一些误解。我现在更明确地知道如何根据自己的兴趣选择活动，如何探索专业，并如何有效地管理压力。这些宝贵的经验将对我未来的学习和成长产生积极的影响。

This sharing session truly broadened my horizon. It not only provided me with unique insights into key topics such as course selection, extracurricular activities, self-discovery, college research, major selection, and stress management but also corrected some of my previous misconceptions. Now I have a clearer understanding of how to choose activities based on my interests, how to explore majors, and how to effectively manage stress. These valuable experiences will make a positive impact on how I will learn and grow up in the future.

［11年级］郑同学Winnie Zheng‍‍‍

2023年5月15日CAS时间，12年级的几位学长给11年级的同学作了升学分享，他们以最真诚的方式，与同学们沟通交流。

On May 15, 2023, during CAS time, several seniors conducted a sharing session on college application for the 11th-grade students. They communicated and interacted with each other in the most sincere manner.  

首先，周学长描述了他自己的升学经历，因为他主要申请了加拿大和英国方向，因此对于这两个国家的大学的要求也有更多的了解。他提到，在申请这些国家的学校时，活动内容和推荐信的主题需要保持一致，都需要表现出对某一学科的兴趣，以及对该学科相关知识的研究。他也告诉我们，在申请时不用太过于紧张，“该来的总是会来”。

Firstly, Eric Zhou described his own process of college application. Since he primarily applied to universities in Canada and the UK, he had a better understanding of the requirements set by universities in these two countries. He told us that when applying to schools in these countries, the activities must match themes in recommendation letters, so that they show your interest in a specific subject and studies related to that field. He also reassured us not to be overly anxious while applying for colleges for "what is meant to come will always come." 

其次，蒋学长分享了他的经历。他申请的学校大多是理科方向，大多是美国的大学或文理学院。他的申请经历可谓有些坎坷，在ED时惨遭梦校拒绝，但这丝毫没有影响他的乐观心态。他不仅向学习计算机和理工的同学分享了一些专业性强的学校，也补充了一些关于地理环境的考量。例如他先考虑学校的资源和专业性，气候排在最后。他还告诉我们，他之前一直认为自己是一个运气不错的人，但在申请季前，这些运气看似消失了，他没有因此感到消沉，还是怀揣着期待向着更好的未来前进，我们也需要学习他乐观的心态。

Secondly, Leo Jiang shared his own experience. He mainly applied to schools in the STEM field, mostly universities or liberal arts colleges in the US. He had ups and downs while applying for schools, as he was rejected by his dream college in the Early Decision round. However, he didn’t get pessimistic at all because of this setback. Not only did he share some academically rigorous schools with students interested in computer science and engineering, but also he added that we should take geographical factors into consideration. For example, he prioritized the resources and majors offered by a college over its climate. He also told us that he used to think of himself as a lucky boy, but that luck seemed to fade during the application season. However, he didn't feel discouraged,but moved forward with anticipation for a better future. We should learn from his optimistic attitude.  

最后，蔡学长分享了他的申请历程。他提到，了解关于学校的地理环境对他来说非常的重要，因为大学是一个钻研学术、提升自我和积累经验的阶段，也是独立生活的阶段。因此，同学们在考虑选校时，也要考虑地理环境对生活方式和专业要求的影响：靠近城市或者远离城市，气候潮湿还是干燥等影响。例如一个经济学的学生选择了靠近城区的大学，这样的地理位置可以更好地帮助他的专业的学习。

Finally, Hanxiao Cai shared with 11th graders his experience in college application. He stressed the importance of knowing about the geographical environment of a school. College provides a platform for academic exploration, self-improvement, and gaining experiences, and also means a period of independent living. Therefore, when considering choosing a college, students should also take into account how its geographical environment influences their lifestyle and major requirements, such as how far it is from a city, whether it’s humid or dry, and other factors. For example, an economics student may choose a university near the urban area, as such a location can better support the study of his major.   

同时，学长们还真挚地告诉我们，申请季不仅是一个寻找下一站旅程的站台，更是一个理解自己、包容自己的时刻。往往在申请季之前很多同学都会根据家长和老师的意见来要求自己，看向排名很高的学校，这固然很好，然而自己的感受才是最重要的。排名不代表一切，生活也不只是在社会中的位置决定的。

Meanwhile, the seniors sincerely informed us that the application season is not only a time to find out where to go to next but also a moment to understand and tolerate oneself. Before the application season, many students tend to follow their parents’ and teachers’ expectations of them by aiming at high-ranking schools. Though this is not something to be blamed for, one's own feelings and experiences matter most. Rankings does not mean everything, and life is not solely determined by one's position in society.  

学长们的分享让我们学到了很多，也让我们启发了对于未来更多元化的思考。

The sharing session given by the seniors benefited us a lot and inspired us to think more diversely about the future.

文 | Sophie, Allen, Winnie‍‍‍‍‍‍

审核 | Wu Xu

翻译 | Dawn Xu

排版 | Karen Yu