VOA慢速英语20060511b

EDUCATION REPORT - Getting Into a Top College Gets Harder For Young AmericansBy Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: Thursday, May 11, 2006

I'm Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Education Report.

Some of America's best universities have accepted an unusually low percentage of students for admission this fall.

For example, the Wall Street Journal reported that Stanford University had a record low admission rate this year. The newspaper said the California school accepted less than eleven percent of the students who applied¹.

College admissions officers give a number of reasons for the higher rates of rejection² letters this year. They say the main reason is that high school seniors are applying to more schools than in the past. Some colleges reported big increases in the number of applications.


University of California, Berkeley freshmen³ walk to class on Feb. 7, 2006. More than 106,000 students applied to get into the 10 UC campuses this fall.

Another reason is the general increase in students going to college.

Electronic forms make applying easier. For example, students can send an online form called the Common Application to many different colleges and universities.

Many students who apply to top schools are placed on a waiting list. They do not get a decision until the school knows how many applicants⁴ who are offered admission will accept the offer. Just as students compete, so do schools.

Wait-listed applicants might not find out until May or June, at the end of their senior year. Admissions officers say they use wait-listing because it is difficult to know which applicants really want to attend their school.

The increasing competition for the best colleges means more worry for students and parents. They wonder just what schools are looking for. They wonder why a top student is accepted at one school but not another.

The Wall Street Journal says some top schools are actively⁵ looking for students who have shown great interest in helping⁶ others. Other schools are said to be looking for students who have musical talent.

Some experts say it should be understood that the situation this year involves only the very top universities. They point to many other very good schools where they say students can be equally happy and successful.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. Read and listen to our reports at www.unsv.com. And if you are a teacher and you teach with Special English, please let us know. Tell us how you use Special English in the classroom, and for what ages and subjects. And please tell us what country you are in. Write to [email protected]. I'm Steve Ember.

1 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

2 rejection   

n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃

参考例句：

• He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。
• The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

3 freshmen   

n.（中学或大学的）一年级学生( freshman的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We are freshmen and they are sophomores. 我们是一年级学生，他们是二年级学生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• University freshmen get lots of razzing, but they like the initiation. 大一新生受各种嘲弄，但是他们对这种入门经验甘之如饴。 来自辞典例句

4 applicants   

申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
• He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。

5 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。