被纽约大学录取的女孩Charlotte：以沉静之心，投入由基因组成的生命科学疆域

在众多申请者中，Charlotte的故事犹如一道光，突破了传统的学术评价体系，照亮了她通往纽约大学的旅程。尽管她的学术成绩和托福分数并非出类拔萃，但她充满同情心、对公益事业的热情、不懈的努力以及强烈的社会责任感的申请形象，成为了她在众多竞争者中脱颖而出的关键因素。

在Charlotte身上，理想主义的光芒并未被现实的浪潮所淹没。面对纽约大学严苛的招生筛选，她没有选择用千篇一律的 “爬藤攻略” 去打动招生官，而是真诚分享自己在艺术与科学间的融合探索、在志愿服务中的付出，以及对医学追求的坚守。这些与未来医学界 “跨界思维”“人文关怀” 契合的经历，让她脱颖而出，证明了真诚和独特能跨越障碍，让热爱与坚持绽放光彩。

我们常常探讨“鼓励孩子追求自己热爱”，但当医学理想撞上“美国医学院不招国际生”这样的现实壁垒时，多少家庭会选择让现实浇灭那簇火苗？Charlotte的故事给出另一种答案：家长的尊重与支持，学校的个性化培养，能够助力孩子冲破升学路上的重重阻碍——真正的支持不是替孩子避开风暴，而是教会他们们将梦想化作点点星光，铺就前行的台阶，在现实的裂缝中架起云梯。

Among the many applicants, Charlotte's story shone like a light, breaking through the traditional academic evaluation system, illuminating her path to NYU. Although her academic scores and TOEFL results were not extraordinary, it was her compassion, passion for public welfare, relentless effort, and strong sense of social responsibility that made her stand out from the competition.

In Charlotte, the glow of idealism has not been drowned by the waves of reality. When faced with NYU's strict admission criteria, she chose not to use the typical "Ivy League tactics" to impress the admissions officers. Instead, she sincerely shared her exploration of the integration of art and science, her dedication to volunteer service, and her commitment to pursuing a career in medicine. These experiences, in line with the "cross-disciplinary thinking" and "humanistic care" that the medical field values, helped her stand out. It proved that sincerity and uniqueness can break barriers, allowing passion and persistence to shine.

We often discuss "encouraging children to pursue what they love," but when medical dreams meet the barrier of "US medical schools do not admit international students," how many families will choose to let reality extinguish that spark? Charlotte's story provides another answer: parental respect and support, combined with personalized guidance from school, can help children break through the numerous obstacles on their academic journey. True support is not about shielding children from the storm but teaching them how to turn their dreams into starlight, paving the way forward, and building ladders across the cracks of reality.

Charlotte在江南水乡嘉兴长大，青瓦白墙、运河里摇曳的乌篷船，赋予了她温婉的气质。从小学到初中，长达九年的美术学习，让绘画成为她生活的一部分。素描课上，她用线条记录生活；色彩课上，她临摹莫奈画作，沉浸在斑斓的艺术世界里。绘画不仅是她的爱好，更成为她观察和表达世界的独特方式。

⬆️Charlotte绘画作品

转入狄邦华曜后，高中生物课上的一次邂逅，悄然改变了Charlotte的人生轨迹。当老师展示人体机体模型时，模型上精致的器官、错综复杂的血管纹理，如同一幅神秘的画卷在Charlotte眼前徐徐展开，她的目光瞬间被牢牢吸引。

在AP生物课上，Born老师用独特的教学方式让知识变得生动有趣。他用吃豆人动画解释端粒缩短的机制，用乐高积木演示蛋白质折叠原理，原本晦涩难懂的知识瞬间变得鲜活起来，抽象的概念也变得直观易懂，微观世界的神秘面纱就这样被轻轻揭开。

在这样充满趣味与启发的课堂氛围中，Charlotte的学习热情被充分点燃。她的笔记本上，艺术与科学奇妙融合：素描本的边缘记录着生物机理，抽象线条勾勒DNA双螺旋结构；iPad上用彩铅绘制分子结构，色彩渐变表现细胞分裂过程，冷暖色调对比展示心脏瓣膜的开合机制，画面兼具美感与科学性。

这种独特的学习方式，既延续了她对绘画的热爱，更使她在生物学科的学习中如鱼得水，仿佛找到了打开生命科学世界的钥匙。

⬆️ Charlotte科普文章绘图

Charlotte grew up in the water town of Jiaxing in southern China, where the blue-tiled white walls and the swaying black boats on the canal gave her a gentle temperament. From elementary to middle school, her nine years of art study made painting a part of her life. In her sketching class, she captured life with lines; in her color class, she copied Monet's works, immersing herself in the colorful world of art. Painting was not only her hobby but also her unique way of observing and expressing the world.

⬆️ Charlotte's Artwork

After transferring to HC, a chance encounter in her high school biology class quietly changed Charlotte's life trajectory. When the teacher showed the human organ model, the intricate organs and complex blood vessels on the model unfolded like a mysterious painting before Charlotte's eyes. She was immediately captivated.

In AP Biology, Mr. Born made the lessons lively and interesting. He used Pac-Man animations to explain the mechanism of telomere shortening, and Lego blocks to demonstrate the principle of protein folding. Concepts that were originally difficult to understand became vivid and easy to grasp. The mysterious veil of the microscopic world was gently lifted.

In this atmosphere full of fun and inspiration, Charlotte's passion for learning was fully ignited. On her notebook, art and science blended in wonderful ways: the edges of her sketchbook recorded biological mechanisms, abstract lines outlined the DNA double helix; on her iPad, she used colored pencils to draw molecular structures, using color gradients to represent the process of cell division, and contrasting warm and cool tones to show the opening and closing mechanisms of heart valves. Her work combined both aesthetic beauty and scientific accuracy.

This unique way of learning not only continued her love for painting but also helped her excel in the study of biology, as if she had found the key to unlock the world of life sciences.

⬆️ Charlotte's Artwork

Charlotte和众多优秀学生一样，课堂上专注听讲、认真做笔记，课后也认真复习，在各类评估中都成绩优异。但她对学术的追求不止于此，始终向着更高目标迈进。

然而在11年级，Charlotte还是没有跨过专业选择上的难题。当她一心向往医学之路，现实却给了她沉重一击：美国医学院几乎不招收国际本科生，美国医学院入学考试（MCAT）更是横亘着物理、化学、生物的“三座大山”。家长劝她选择 “更稳妥” 的药学专业，可她对医学的热爱坚定不移。

幸运的是，升学指导陆老师没有给她泼冷水，而是尊重她的选择，建议她先了解医学专业所需课程，再结合自身兴趣和背景，寻找实现目标的迂回方式。

经过一番了解，Charlotte 发现，虽然美国本科没有专门的医学专业和学院，但可以先在本科阶段学习相关专业，毕业后通过美国医学院统一考试（MCAT），就有机会申请医学院。

（注：本科阶段要修读生物、化学、物理和微积分等科学课程。同时中国学生申请美国医学院难度较大，多数医学院只招在美国本土完成本科的毕业生。此外，MCAT考试难度大，包含物理、化学、生物等科目，是申请医学院的重要因素。）

最终，在升学指导老师的建议和支持下，Charlotte决定在本科阶段先选择生物医学工程和分子生物学相关的专业，将自己的兴趣与未来的学术和职业发展结合起来。

⬆️ 狄邦华曜高中的个性化定制课表

为了能更好地衔接大学课程，Charlotte以终为始，在狄邦华曜高中丰富的83 门选课中，挑选了生物、化学、物理、心理学、环境科学、统计学这六门AP课程，构建起属于自己的知识网络。

AP生物课，她深入理解细胞结构与功能、遗传学、基因表达等生命基本原理和过程，激发了她对生物医学的浓厚兴趣，也让她思考如何运用这些知识改善人类健康。

AP化学课，她探究物质的基本构成和变化规律，认识到化学知识是理解生物体内化学反应的关键；

AP物理课，通过学习能量转化、力学原理在医学成像中的应用，她看到了物理与医学的紧密联系；

AP心理学，帮助她理解人类行为、情绪和认知的底层逻辑，以及这些因素对身心健康的影响，提升了沟通和共情能力；

AP环境科学，涵盖了生物、化学、物理、地理等多个领域。学习生态系统、气候变化、资源管理等方面的知识，培养她从多角度解决环境问题的能力。

AP统计学，研究数据收集、处理、分析和解释的学科，在科学研究、社会调查、商业决策等方面都具有重要价值。

这些课程搭建起跨学科知识框架，让Charlotte在准备 MCAT 考试时，能将多学科知识融会贯通，更轻松地理解复杂医学问题。

Charlotte对生物学的热情远不止课堂。课余时间，她广泛研读科学论文，并通过与顶尖高校学生的交流提升学术写作能力。她的坚持终获回报——她与团队成功发表了一篇关于基因编辑在细胞全能性中应用的论文。

⬆️《基因编辑在细胞全能性中的应用》

成功发表在《理论与自然科学》期刊上

还在升学指导老师的推荐下参加了元培少年学者项目，在生命科学和公共健康方向完成了一篇名为《日常锻炼对中老年心血管疾病患者身心健康的影响》的学术论文。

⬆️ 荣获杰出元培少年学者荣誉

在学术竞赛的舞台上，Charlotte同样表现出色。在HOSA竞赛中，她凭借扎实的专业知识和出色的应变能力，获得区域优秀荣誉；在英国生物奥林匹克竞赛中，面对来自全球的优秀选手，她沉着应对，最终摘得全球金奖。

Like many other outstanding students, Charlotte was focused in class, took diligent notes, and reviewed seriously after class, excelling in various assessments. But her pursuit of academics did not stop there; she always aimed higher.

However, in 11th grade, Charlotte still struggled with the dilemma of choosing a major. When she was wholeheartedly pursuing a career in medicine, reality gave her a heavy blow: US medical schools rarely admit international undergraduates, and the MCAT exam (Medical College Admission Test) was like "three mountains" in her way, covering subjects such as physics, chemistry, and biology. Her parents advised her to choose the "safer" pharmacy major, but her love for medicine remained firm.

Fortunately, the college counselor, Ms. Lu, did not discourage her but instead respected her choice, suggesting that she first learn about the courses required for medical majors, then combine her interests and background to find an alternative path to her goal.

After some research, Charlotte discovered that although there is no specific medical major or school in the US, one could study related fields in undergraduate programs and, after graduation, take the MCAT exam to apply for medical school.

(Note: Undergraduates are required to take courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus. Additionally, Chinese students face greater difficulty in applying to US medical schools, as most schools only admit graduates who completed their undergraduate studies in the US. The MCAT exam is also difficult and covers physics, chemistry, biology, etc., making it a critical factor in medical school applications.)

Ultimately, with the advice and support of the college counselor, Charlotte decided to choose a biomedical engineering and molecular biology-related major during her undergraduate years, combining her interests with her future academic and career development.

To better prepare for college courses, Charlotte took six AP courses in high school from the 83 available, building her own knowledge network. 

 In AP Biology, she gained a deep understanding of fundamental life principles and processes such as cell structure, genetics, and gene expression, which sparked her strong interest in biomedical science and made her think about how to use this knowledge to improve human health.

 In AP Chemistry, she explored the basic composition and transformation of substances, realizing that chemistry knowledge is key to understanding biochemical reactions in living organisms.

 In AP Physics, she studied energy transformation and the application of mechanical principles in medical imaging, which showed her the close relationship between physics and medicine.

 In AP Psychology, she gained insights into the underlying logic of human behavior, emotions, and cognition, and how these factors affect physical and mental health, improving her communication and empathy skills.

 In AP Environmental Science, she studied topics across biology, chemistry, physics, and geography, which helped her develop the ability to solve environmental problems from multiple perspectives.

 In AP Statistics, she focused on data collection, processing, analysis, and interpretation, which holds great value in scientific research, social surveys, and business decisions.

These courses built an interdisciplinary knowledge framework that allowed Charlotte to integrate multiple fields of knowledge when preparing for the MCAT exam, making it easier for her to understand complex medical problems.

Charlotte's passion for biology extends beyond the classroom. In her spare time, she widely read scientific papers and improved her academic writing skills through communication with students from top universities. Her persistence paid off — she and her team successfully published a paper on the application of gene editing in cellular pluripotency.

⬆️ Chemistry Paper Published by Charlotte

She also participated in the  Yuanpei Young Scholars program, completing a paper on public health under the guidance of her college counselor.

⬆️ Outstanding Yuanpei Young Scholar

On the academic competition stage, Charlotte also excelled. In the HOSA competition, she earned the regional excellence award with her solid knowledge and excellent adaptability. In the British Biology Olympiad, she remained calm under pressure and ultimately won the global gold medal.

在学术领域崭露头角的 Charlotte，并未满足于理论知识的积累，而是将目光投向了更广阔的现实世界，积极探寻医学与生活的紧密联系。

一次意外的生病经历，成为了 Charlotte 关注医学在现实生活中应用的契机。她偶然发现自己的小指和无名指无法自如伸直，起初并未在意，可症状却愈发严重，直到手部肌肉萎缩，她才上网搜索手臂麻木的原因。大量科普文章让她意识到问题的严重性，随后就医被诊断为 “肘管综合征”。

为了避免更多人错过治疗最佳期，Charlotte 结合自身经历，发表了一篇《肘管综合征》（Cubital tunnel syndrome）的科普文章。

文中，她详细讲述了自己的患病过程，提醒患者若患病超过 6 周务必就医，还建议大家在日常生活中保持良好的睡眠姿势和写字习惯。

此后两年，Charlotte 围绕不同医学话题在青年人权倡导平台（HRYA）进行科普写作，逐渐从青涩走向成熟。她努力用平实的文字、精准的图示，将复杂的生命科学知识清晰地传递给读者。在这个过程中，她接触到了心血管疾病领域，并对此产生浓厚兴趣，常常撰写相关科普文章，希望提高大众对心脏病的认知。然而，她深知文章的传播范围和影响力有限，内心渴望能更直接地为社会贡献力量。

一次偶然，她在网上搜索心脏病志愿者项目时，发现了 H2H（Heart to Heart）项目。此前，受地理位置和国际学生身份限制，她加入其他相关志愿者项目的尝试均以失败告终。

而这次，她通过线上链接顺利加入上海心连心，开启了志愿服务之旅。此后，只要时间允许，她就积极参与各类活动，参与公益回收、爱心捐赠、义卖筹款等活动，帮助中国困境家庭的先天性心脏病患儿接受手术治疗。

⬆️ Charlotte参与上海心连心公益活动

在志愿服务中，Charlotte深刻感受到人与人之间传递的爱与关怀，懂得了帮助他人中实现自我价值的真实含义，也更加坚定了她在医学道路上继续前行的决心。

当纽约大学的ED录取通知书抵达时，透过教室的玻璃窗，Charlotte不禁想起曾经救助过的先心病患者如今已能面带笑容，蹒跚学步，这一幕让她的嘴角不自觉地上扬。

此刻，她忽然懂得，这几年伏案苦读的日夜，画笔与生物符号的交织，在心理咨询室学会的自我接纳，都在为这一刻铺路。正如她笃定写下的：“我希望能够通过不断的学习和实践，成为一名心外科医生，为患者提供更好的医疗服务，在医学这条路上走个坚定。”

如今的Charlotte依然保持着每天作画的习惯，只是画布上多了许多心脏结构的解剖素描。她说，未来行医时若遇到难以解释的病情，或许会像Born老师那样，用一幅简笔画让患者瞬间读懂生命的奥秘。这或许就是教育的真谛——在传授知识的同时，永远为灵魂保留一片诗意栖居的天地。

Having emerged as an academic leader, Charlotte did not stop at accumulating theoretical knowledge but turned her attention to exploring the close connection between medicine and life.

An unexpected illness became the turning point for Charlotte to focus on the practical application of biology in daily life. She discovered that her little finger and ring finger could no longer straighten freely. Initially, she did not pay much attention, but the symptoms worsened. It was only when she began to experience muscle atrophy in her hand that she searched for the causes of arm numbness online. After reading many informative articles, she realized the seriousness of the issue and was eventually diagnosed with "cubital tunnel syndrome."

To ensure that others did not miss the best time for treatment, Charlotte wrote a popular science article about cubital tunnel syndrome. In the article, she described her own illness experience, reminded patients to seek medical attention if the condition lasts for more than six weeks, and offered suggestions for maintaining good sleep posture and writing habits in daily life.

Over the next two years, Charlotte continued to write popular science articles on various medical topics on the Human Rights Youth Advocacy platform (HRYA), gradually growing from a beginner to a more mature writer. She worked hard to convey complex life science knowledge to her readers through clear language and precise illustrations. During this process, she became increasingly interested in cardiovascular diseases and frequently wrote articles to raise public awareness about heart disease. However, she knew that the reach and influence of her articles were limited and longed to make a more direct contribution to society.

One day, she happened to come across a volunteer program for heart disease patients during her search for heart disease volunteer projects. Previously, due to geographical constraints and her status as an international student, she had failed in her attempts to join other related volunteer projects.

This time, through an online link, she successfully joined the Shanghai Heart-to-Heart program and began her journey of volunteer service. Whenever time allowed, she actively participated in various activities, such as public recycling, charity donations, and fundraising sales, to help children with congenital heart disease from struggling families in China receive surgical treatment.

⬆️ Charity Events Involving Charlotte

Through her volunteer service, Charlotte deeply felt the love and care transmitted between people, understood the true meaning of realizing self-worth by helping others, and became more determined to continue the path of medicine.

When the ED admission letter from New York University arrived, Charlotte couldn't help but think of the children she had helped who were now able to smile and take their first steps. This scene made her smile involuntarily.

At that moment, she suddenly realized that all those nights spent studying, the intertwining of brushes and biological symbols, and the self-acceptance learned in the counseling room had paved the way for this moment. As she wrote with conviction: "I hope to continue learning and practicing, become a heart surgeon, provide better medical services to patients, and walk firmly on the path of medicine."

Charlotte still maintains the habit of painting every day. However, her canvases now include anatomical sketches of heart structures. She says that when she becomes a doctor in the future and encounters difficult-to-explain medical cases, she may use a simple drawing, just like Mr. Born, to help patients understand the mysteries of life instantly. Perhaps this is the true essence of education—while imparting knowledge, always leaving space for the soul to reside poetically.