南外李相：小高考3B，如何逆袭藤校康奈尔？（附李相申请文书）

 

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李相：ED录取康奈尔大学

专业：Landscape and Architecture

ACT：33分（考过3次，分别为28、30、33）

TOFEL：104（考过3次，分别为81、85、104）

小高考：ABBB

夏校成绩：B-；C+

说实话，从李相的ACT、TOFEL成绩以及活动成果来看，并不算特别出色，小高考3个B更属于比较意外。最后成功申请康奈尔，确实相当让笔者好奇，到底什么打动了大学？所以有了以下对话。

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叶凤珍：你觉得自己打动康奈尔的点是什么？

李相：我觉得让我突出的因素是作品集和文书。因为我的夏校成绩一个B-，一个C+。

叶凤珍：是关于什么的作品集？

李相：园林建筑

叶凤珍：是你自己做的设计吗？

李相：对，主要是关于南京的一些想法，想要做出的改变。从小觉得中国是个大工地，我不喜欢走路，因为街边没有美丽的建筑和风景。觉得自己可以带来些改变。

叶凤珍：夏校参加的是康奈尔的吗？夏校成绩不算好，还参加过其他活动吗？

李相：是康奈尔的夏校。完全没有参加其他活动。

叶凤珍：真的不是寻常路。你文书写的什么故事？

李相：我看一下哦。主要讲为什么选择这个专业。写的是在美国夏校的故事，一开始不注重规划，不顾思想，将所有好看的材料都往一个作品上凑，结果什么也没能表达出来。后来反思，其实更重要的是表达自己的思想，而不是贪图美丽的效果。

叶凤珍：从什么时候开始决定以夏校作为文书主题？写文书经历了很多反复吗？

李相：一开始没有思想，觉得无法下手。后来文书老师杜媛媛让我想想我离这个专业最靠近的地方、经历最深的地方，所以选择了夏校。因为在国内的时候，就算想得多，也没有专门地做过专业项目。写文书还是经过挺多反复的，第一次推翻重写，第二次大改，第三次差不多就是这个样子。前后差不多用了一个月时间。

叶凤珍：学园林建筑专业需要有艺术功底吧？

李相：肯定要的。

叶凤珍：那你在高中时一直在学习绘画、绘图吗？

李相：从未。幼儿园大班开始，上了一些课程，就学了一两年吧。

叶凤珍：好吧，你这好特别，别人很难效仿哎。

李相：（笑）我也觉得康奈尔录我挺奇怪的。

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叶凤珍：留学过程中遇到过啥“坑”没有？

李相：好像没有。

叶凤珍：口语、写作类的有去上小课吗？给学弟学妹们什么建议？

李相：技巧性刷题很重要。我不是拼命刷题的人，但是我刷少的题目可以总结出很多的东西——就是从错误中总结不足，思考为什么正确的答案是这样，错误的答案有什么值得保留的部分。

叶凤珍：有哪位或者哪几位老师你觉得水平高又负责的？

李相：我的文书老师——杜媛媛老师（注：为哈耶普的老师）。

叶凤珍：在留学过程中，对你个人而言，最难过的坎是什么？

李相：小高考考了3个B，当时觉得完了，没有好的大学愿意要我了。弄作品集都觉得没太大意义。

叶凤珍：现在是逆袭了。到明年开学前有什么计划？

李相：学习AP课程和专业知识。

叶凤珍：你这上岸了，最近饭局要吃到撑？

李相：没有哦，一场都不去。

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Li Xiang

Cornell CALS-Landscape Architecture

 

Agriculture and LifeSciences: Why are you drawn to studying the major you have selected?Please discuss how your interests and related experiences have influenced yourchoice. Specifically, how will an education from the College of Agriculture andLife Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University help you achieve your academicgoals? (Please limit your response to 650 words.)

“Imagine you could design your ideal town.Describe what would it look like.” My mom, a landscape architect, sometimesbrainstorms out loud in the house and asks my father and me for some input onthe projects she is working on.

As a child, I answered this question quitesimply: I envisioned a peaceful town, where I could be surrounded by nature andhave many opportunities to play outside. I felt more alive when I could relaxunder the trees, inhale oxygen-rich air, and feel the power of nature in mymidst. However, I quickly realized that such an environment was rare in China.The environment in big cities here is basically a mishmash of people,buildings, and pollution—and it can feel suffocating at times.

Over the years, my parents and I visitedparks and communities throughout China. And it was during those trips that Ideveloped a strong interest in exploring the fusion between nature and citieson a deeper level. From observing Nanjing’s Xuanwu Lake Area, I realized that anatural park can be integrated seamlessly into an urban environment, providinga refuge for city dwellers and inspiring them with nature’s beauty. Beijing’sBeihai Park, one of the oldest and best-preserved parks in China, with manyclassical-style imperial gardens, reminded me that Chinese traditions can besuccessfully incorporated into the city’s modernization plan. Visiting China’sexperimental “eco-cities,” such as the Tianjin Eco-City, I became excited bythe potential of urban centers to be environmentally friendly, enhancing lifequality through the proper use of renewable resources and land conservationstrategies. As my mom took inspiration from such visits for her own projects, Istarted imagining my own ideal city.

I started reading many books and journalson urban ecology and landscape architecture. Given that China will be 65% urbanby the year 2020, I realized how important it was to find innovative ways tomake our cities more livable while minimizing environmental damage. And Irealized landscape architecture plays a critical role in that.

I began to question the prevailing paradigmof “architectural urbanism” in China, which focuses on beautiful aesthetics butrarely on environmental harmony. I became fascinated with the concept of“ecological synthesis,” the process of designing buildings and infrastructureto in sync with the environmental systems of the surrounding environment. Istarted to wonder how buildings and systems can be designed to safeguardnatural processes, protect biodiversity, minimize carbon emissions, promotesustainability, and preserve cultural values, all the while inspiring citizenswith the power of natural beauty. Aha! I then realized that these are some ofthe qualities of my ideal town.

Cornell’s CALS is the ideal place for me topursue my vision of fostering ecological synthesis in China’s towns. With amajor in Landscape Architecture, unique in the Ivy League, I hope to take suchcourses as Emerging Dimensions in UrbanEcology and Sustainable Practice, UrbanDesign Studio, and Design andEnvironmental Systems. These courses would deepen my knowledge onecological urbanism while equipping me with tools on how to design spaces thatare both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Through the Landscape Designand Research Depot, I could conduct fieldwork investigations that would allowme to delve into the realities of landscape design and experience firsthandwhat it’s like to create viable ecosystems. CALS, in general, would be aterrific environment for me, enabling me to learn from its awesome students andfaculty, each specializing in different areas, as we strive to nourish people,communities, and the environment. Last but not least, I love Cornell for itsamazing research environment, diversity of schools and talent, and sceniclocation surrounded by nature. Undoubtedly, CALS and Cornell are the idealplaces for me to grow as a student and aspiring landscape architect. I amconfident my education there will bring me much closer to my vision ofre-imagining China’s cities through eco-friendly landscape architecture.

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