进入八月，这几天回落的气温丝毫没有降低开学的热情。即8月4日新生夏令营报到之后，上海诺美学校规划指导办的新学年工作也如火如荼地拉开了序幕。

　　The relatively mild temperature in the beginning of August has helped to burst our enthusiasm for the opening of a new school year. After all our freshmen arrived on August 4, the prosperous season started with a full package of activities arranged by CCO.

　　规划讲座

　　8月5日，前芝加哥大学招生官Maura Connors女士应邀来到诺美，为我校学生和家长开展专题规划指导讲座。Connors女士就“如何在中国申请人中脱颖而出”这一主题进行了深入分析，讲解了招生官是如何评估和筛选申请者的，并在此基础上从课业成绩、课外活动和背景提升上给出了建议。Connors女士在专业选择上提出了规避热门而竞争激烈的专业这一申请技巧。同时，她就文书写作做了特别的强调，“要写出自己的故事”，她说。的确，一个真实感人的故事让招生官眼前出现一个形象生动的你，比起平淡如水的陈述，出色的文书一定是锦上添花，甚至可以扭转乾坤。

　　On August 5, Ms. Maura Connors, former admissions officer at the University of Chicago, was invited to Nais to provide a lecture on university guidance for our students and parents. Ms. Connors made an in-depth analysis of how to “standing out in the Chinese applicant pool". She explained how the admissions officers assessed and screened applicants, and then gave suggestions on how to strengthen your background by improving academic performance as well as extracurricular activities. Ms. Connors also put forward application skill such as avoiding popular and competitive majors. By the end of the lecture, she made a special emphasis on writing essays, "build and develop your own interesting stories," she said. Indeed, an authentic and touching story helps to bring a vivid image of you to the admissions officers. Excellent essays add icing on the cake and may sometimes even turn the tide around.

　　芝加哥大学招生官与上海诺美学校领导合影

　　讲座结束后，Connors女士在图书馆接受了一对一咨询。部分11年级和12年级学生和家长参加了一对一辅导，就自身的申请问题进行了咨询，并得到了针对性的指导，为进入激烈的申请季做好了更充分的准备。

　　After the lecture, Ms. Connors also offered face-to-face counseling in our library. Students and parents from Grade 11 and 12 participated and asked questions concerning their specific application problems. All of them received useful guidance, which would help them to make better preparations for the intense application procedures.