Harvard大学心理神经免疫学专业申请文书

I am most interested in a career in psychoneuroimmunology. Scientists who work in this area study the biological connection between the mind and immunological factors relating to health and healing. This is my ideal occupation because it includes my two criteria for a career: I would be doing something to benefit society and performing a job that is enjoyable, challenging and meaningful to me.

Throughout the ages, scholars have tried to find ways to alleviate human pain. Although multitudes of procedures have been tried, none have been completely successful. Drugs can relieve pain temporarily or ease the symptoms of a disease. Antibiotics can cure some illnesses but not every one and not instantaneously. Regardless of the outcome of disease and treatment, the patient may have to endure a great deal of pain. The mind, however, can be a powerful tool. If people could learn to rehabilitate themselves quicker with a positive attitude, we could, on the practical side of things, reduce hospital stays and increase productivity, and, in general, lead longer, happier, and healthier lives. I want to be able to help people ease this possibly unnecessary suffering.

This career promises the type of in-depth medical research combining a multidisciplinary approach that greatly appeals to me. If the neurological or genetic basis for why some people heal faster or more effectively than others could be discovered, then we could develop similar ways to treat others. People who recover faster and more fully from certain diseases than the average person could be studied using a variety of psychological, immunological, and neurological tests in an attempt to detect any unique characteristics they might possess.
Many people have hypotheses about different aspects of this subject, but much more investigation needs to be done before we know anything for certain. I want to be one of the individuals involved in basic research to advance our knowledge in this area. Despite the fact that research on these topics is in its infancy, I am very optimistic for its future impact on human health and well-being. As I look forward to becoming a pioneer in this area, I am prepared for what might be a long and sometimes frustrating search. Yet I also envision groundbreaking discoveries or on a more realistic scale, solving smaller pieces of a larger puzzle which may lead to a long-awaited breakthrough.

I know how difficult and also how rewarding research can be because both of my parents are researchers, and I have done research projects for my science courses. The most important thing, of course, is that humanity may benefit. Such a pursuit of knowledge would be incredibly satisfying because of its potential to help so many. To me, the call to a lifetime of this work is irresistible.

点评：

笔者从兴趣和专业价值两方面进行编排的，阐述自己希望能进行该方向的研究。不足之处是因为没有提及个人的经历，所以整篇文章让人感觉平乏无味，而且兴趣也是泛泛而谈，没有实质性的东西。另外，笔者的个人性格也没有体现出来，令人无从得知他能为学校带来什么价值。

其实录取委员想知道的是实际的，与你有直接关系的，最能体现你自己的东西，何不从经历中提炼出精华，提炼出真正可以代表独一无二的自己的东西，而是添加一些华而不实，无必要的枝节呢？

译文：

我非常喜欢心理神经免疫这个方向的职业。这个领域的科学家研究与思想和免疫因素有关的生物关联。这是我希望所从事的职业，因为它涵盖了我对心目中的职业的两个标准：工作既对社会有益又是我所喜爱的，充满挑战的，意义重大的。

随着年龄的老化，学者都在尝试寻找可以减轻人类病痛的方式。虽然已经作了各种尝试，但至今还没有完全成功的个案。药物可以暂时减轻疼痛或减少疾病的症状。抗生素可以治疗一些疾病但并不适用于所有人，而且也不是即时可以见效的。不管疾病和治疗的结果如何，患者都必须承受极大的痛楚。然而，意志就成为了一个强大的工具。如果患者意识到有积极的态度就能更快康复的道理，在事物积极的一面，我们也能减少病患在医院逗留的时间和提高生产力。而且，总的来说，就是使人类更加长寿，更加快乐，和更加健康。我希望有能力帮助减轻人类承受可能不必要的痛苦。

这个职业是深入的医学研究和多学科方法的结合，深深吸引了我。如果能把为什么一些人能康复得更快或更有效的这种情况的神经学或遗传学的基础发掘出来，我们就能开发出类似的治疗其他人的方法。患某些疾病而又比多数人康复得更快和更完全的人可以作为研究对象，通过心理上的，免疫的和神经的测试，尝试探测出他们所拥有的独特的性质。

许多人从不同方面假定过这个课题，但在下结论之前我们要做很多的调查。我想成为这个基础科学研究队伍里的其中一员去丰富这个领域的知识。尽管这个课题的研究还处于起步阶段，但我非常乐观地相信它对人类将来健康幸福生活的影响将是深远的。我期望成为这个领域的先驱，我已经做好准备，即使是个漫长的会遭遇挫折的研究我也会积极对待。然而我也想象会有突破性的发现或在现实尺度上，解决较大难题的一点点小问题，这也会有期待已久的突破。

我知道研究的道路布满荆棘，但同时它的意义也非常重大。因为我父母都是研究人员，我在上科学课时也做过几个研究项目。当然最重要的原因是，这能给人类带来好处。可以帮助这么多的人令我觉得追求这方面的知识有种前所未有的满足。对于我来说，这个终生工作的召唤是不可抵抗的。