Getting Accepted 第三章 大学录取     本书的主人公是一个即将毕业的高中生Melissa，书中从她如何申请上美国大学讲起，到她正式进入大学本科，其中着重记述了她在大学里生活的点点滴滴，从如何选课、交友、约会、参加舞会，到熬夜备考等等。此书以对话的方式写出，使用美国现代大学生日常使用的语言，是一本真实而典型的美国大学生的生活纪实。 Two weeks later. Outside the high school. Melissa: Jessica, can you give me a ride home?1 Jessica: Sure. Get in! I have to leave right now. I am babysitting2 Olivia this afternoon. A cellular phone rings. Melissa: Oh great, it's my mom! She probably saw that I didn't finish washing up the dishes after breakfast this morning. Hi mom! Sorry about those dishes. Suddenly, Melissa shrieks. Melissa (talking to her mom): I'm on my way home right now! See you in a few minutes! Jessica: What's going on? Is everything OK? Melissa: My SAT3 scores just arrived! Hurry up! Can't you drive any faster? Jessica: As a matter of fact, no, I can't drive any faster! There is a cop4 behind us right now and my parents said that they would take away my car if I got another speeding ticket5. Twenty minutes later at Melissa's house. Melissa: Thanks for the ride! See you tomorrow! Jessica: Hey, give me a call this evening with your scores! Mrs. Jones meets Melissa at the door. She holds out an unopened envelope to Melissa. Mrs. Jones: Go ahead——you said that you had a good feeling about this test. Melissa opens the envelope and reads the results. Melissa (smiling): Wow! I did really well! Mrs. Jones: What did you get?? Don't keep me in suspense!6 Melissa: My combined total is 1230! My verbal score7 was 630 and my math score was 600! This means I can probably get into UAP! Mrs. Jones: That's great, honey! Let's call your father and let him know how you did! Melissa: OK, and then I want to e-mail Eric to let him know the good news. Mrs. Jones: Let me know when you're done and we can go take Judd for a walk. Two weeks later at high school. Jessica: Hey stranger!8 How was your trip to UAP? Did you like it? Melissa: Yes, I loved it! I also visited several universities in Californi a, but they just didn't do anything for me9. Hey, guess what? I ran into Andrea at UAP! It was really great seeing a familiar face on campus! Jessica: So, have you started the application process at UAP? Melissa: Yes, I am working on getting all of the paperwork completed and sent off before the early admission10 deadline. We'll see if I can make it. Also, I might have a chance to meet with the president of the university some time next week ——he just happens to be in town talking to several students about the college. I am so excited! How are things going for you and your paperwork11 for the police academy12? Jessica: Everything is coming along.13 It looks like I will be submitting all of my materials and completing my physical examination14 this summer. In fact, I have to start working out15 soon ?nbsp;that physical examination is going to be killer16! Let's start running together on the weekends. I need someone to keep me on track17! Melissa: Sounds good. I saw quite a few fine looking young men at UAP. I'd better get myself in shape18! Later that afternoon in Ms. White's19 counseling office20. Ms. White: How was your trip? How was UAP? Melissa: It was great! I love the city and the UAP campus. Ms. White: How are things coming along with your application materials? Have you also been applying to several other colleges? I think you have a good shot21 of getting into UAP but I want you to be able to have a couple of choices. Melissa: I am also applying to several universities in Washington and Oregon. Ms. White: Sounds good. It usually takes a while after you apply to finally hear back22 from the colleges. Please make sure that your transcripts and materials23 have arrived at the schools and then patiently wait to hear from them. Please don't worry. I know that you will get into the best university for you. You are very talented and bright, and I have no doubt that you will do very well wherever you go! Melissa: Thanks Ms. White. I'll let you know when I hear back from the colleges! Two months later on a Saturday afternoon. Mrs. Jones: When do you think you will hear back from UAP? Your father and I are very proud that you were accepted into two other schools, but I know that you really want to go to UAP. Did Ms. White give you any indication how long this process could take? Melissa: The only thing that Ms. White said was to be patient. After two months, I bet it would be all right to give the admissions office24 at UAP a call to see when they are mailing out the notices. Mrs. Jones: Sounds like a good idea. Does UAP have a Web site that you can access25, which might have this information? Melissa: I'm not sure. Let me look. No, I don't see anything online. I'll call them on Monday morning. Mr. Jones: Melissa, the mail's here! You just received an envelope from UAP! Mr. Jones comes through the door and places the envelope on the table. All three members of the Jones family sit down and look at the envelope. Mr. Jones: Go ahead, honey. Open it. Melissa: Mom, could you open it for me? I am too nervous. Mrs. Jones (winking26): OK. But, you'll have to read the good news to us. Mrs. Jones opens the letter. Melissa slowly takes it out of the envelope. Melissa: Oh my God! Mr. Jones (looking at Mrs. Jones): What does it say? Melissa: I got in!27 It is welcoming me to join the UAP Class of 2006! Mrs. Jones: Congratulations, honey! We knew you could do it! Let's call Eric to tell him the good news. Melissa picks up the phone. Melissa: Hello. Eric? Guess what?? Eric: Hey Missy28! How are you doing? Did you get into UAP? Melissa: Yes! I just got accepted!!! Eric: Awesome29! That school is so perfect for you! Congratulations! I'll see you in May for your graduation ceremony. Say "hi"30 to mom and dad for me. Melissa: OK. See you soon! 1. Can you give me a ride home?: 可以开车（顺便）送我回家吗？这句话在高中学生中间最常用。虽然美国各州的法律不同，但对于美国青少年多大可以开车的规定却大抵相似，多半的州法规定满十六岁的男女只要通过笔试和路试，就可以在满16岁的那天取得正式的驾驶执照。通常美国高中提供驾驶课程，只要满15岁半，就可取得学习驾驶的许可证。因此许多高中二年级的学生一满十六岁就自己开车上学，不再需要父母开车接送。不过也有许多学生自己没车，又不愿意坐校车或公共汽车上学或是回家，因此总是要求住在附近的同学开车送一程。 2. babysit: 看孩子，照顾小孩。美国青少年（一般指13岁到18岁），特别是女孩子挣钱的方式之一就是替邻居或父母的朋友照顾小孩，一般的行情约为每小时５至８美元不等。美国法律规定：12岁以下的孩童不可单独在家，如果父母有事外出，一定要请人到家陪伴孩子。 3. SAT: = Scholastic Aptitude Test / Scholastic Assessment Test, 学术性向测验，学习水平评估考试。有关说明，参见本期p4注释。 4. cop: <口 >警察。 5. speeding ticket: 超速罚单。罚款数额不一，通常以超过的速度作为罚款的标准。一般住宅区的时速约为35英里，学校区为25英里，高速公路则为60-70英里不等。青少年开车最常犯的错误就是超速，若是让交通警察抓到，每次罚款总有五、六十美金，累计下来为数可观。 6. Don't keep me in suspense!: 别让我猜疑不决；别再卖关子了！——赶快说吧。 7. verbal score: 词汇部分的分数。学术性向测验共分两部分：词汇部分和数学部分（math score）。满分各为800分，合起来为1600分。 8. Hey stranger!: “嘿，陌生人!”意思是：“嘿，好久不见了!”类似的情况，十几年以前在美国校园流行的是中国式的洋泾浜英文 “Long time no see.”（好久不见。） 9. They (It) just didn't do anything for me: 对我来说没什么，对我来说没起什么作用。 10. early admission: “早入学”，是高中生申请大学的方式之一。 所谓“早入学”是指学生认定某一所大学，只申请这所大学，一旦学校也接受该生，发给入学许可证（admission），该生就必须接受，不可接受其他大学的。一般这类许可证的截止日期较早，在十一月底或是十二月初就公布结果，这样落选的学生还有机会申请别的大学。一般申请大学的截止日期为十二月底，正式结果在三月底或四月初。 11. paperwork: 专指所填写的表格、信件以及老师的推荐信等。 12. police academy: 警察学院。 13. Everything is coming along.: 一切都按照计划进行，一切都还很顺利。 14. physical examination: 身体检查，体检。 15. work out: 作运动，体育锻炼。例如慢跑、举重、有氧运动或是舞蹈等。 16. killer: 字面意思是“杀手”，意指“最难过的一关”、“最困难的事情”。 17. keep me on track: 让我按照计划行事；on track：“火车在轨道上”，表示一切按照计划进行。 18. in shape: 外形良好的，指健康情况良好、运动适当、身材健美。 19. Ms. White: 怀特小姐，学生一般以“Mr.”、“Mrs.”或“Ms.”来称呼老师或是教职员。不过近年来有学生直呼老师名字的趋势，大学亦然。 20. counseling office: 咨询办公室，（学生）顾问办公室。 21. shot: <口>机会，可操胜算的赌注。 22. hear back: 听到回音，也就是收到学校的通知。如果收到的信件是厚厚的一叠，不必拆开就能肯定被录取了，因为里面附了许多要填写的表格，如果收到的回信是薄薄的一封，无须拆信就知道是被学校拒绝了。 23. transcripts and materials: 成绩单和（申请学校相关的）资料。 24. admissions office: 入学许可办公室，或招生办公室，这个办公室的主要功能是审核学生的入学资格。 25. access: 进入（网站），此处当动词用，这个字也可当名词使用，通常作“have access to”。 26. wink: 眨眼睛，带有开玩笑的意味。 27. I got in!:“我进了”，意思是：学校录取我了。 28. Missy: Melissa 的昵称或小名，只有很熟的朋友或是父母才可用。 29. awesome: 年轻人的口头禅，意思是：“哇，真棒！” 30. Say "hi": 帮我说“嗨”，即“帮我打声招呼”。