📚 University Special Consideration Application Process and Key Points | 大学特殊考虑申请流程与关键点
Applying to university can be a stressful process, and sometimes unforeseen circumstances can impact your academic performance. The special consideration process allows applicants to explain these situations to admissions teams, ensuring a fair assessment of their potential. This guide covers the essential steps, required evidence, and common pitfalls to help you navigate the process successfully.
申请大学可能是一个充满压力的过程，有时不可预见的情况会影响你的学业表现。特殊考虑流程允许申请人向招生团队解释这些情况，确保对他们的潜力做出公平评估。本指南涵盖了关键步骤、所需证据以及常见误区，帮助你顺利完成这一流程。
1. What is Special Consideration? | 什么是特殊考虑？
Special consideration, also known as extenuating circumstances, is a formal request for a university to take into account exceptional personal or academic challenges that have affected your grades or application. It is not a guarantee of a lower offer, but rather a way to provide context for admissions tutors.
特殊考虑，也称为情有可原的情况，是正式请求大学考虑到影响你成绩或申请的特殊的个人或学业挑战。它并非保证降低录取要求，而是一种为招生导师提供背景信息的方式。
Many systems, such as UCAS in the UK, use a dedicated Extenuating Circumstances form that must be submitted by your referee. In the US, the Common Application includes an 'Additional Information' section where you can explain any disruptions, though the process is less formalized.
许多系统，如英国的UCAS，使用专门的“情有可原情况”表格，必须由你的推荐人提交。在美国，通用申请表包含一个“额外信息”部分，你可以在其中解释任何干扰，但流程不那么正式。
It is important to remember that special consideration is about levelling the playing field, not giving an unfair advantage. Universities will only adjust their assessment if they believe your underlying ability is stronger than the achieved grades suggest.
重要的是要记住，特殊考虑是为了公平竞争，而不是给予不公平的优势。大学只有在相信你的潜在能力比所获成绩表明的更强时，才会调整评估。
2. When Should You Apply for Special Consideration? | 何时应该申请特殊考虑？
You should apply as early as possible, ideally before your exam results are finalized or your application is submitted. If a situation arises during the exam period, many schools and exam boards have procedures for filing an immediate report with the invigilator.
你应该尽早申请，最好是在考试成绩最终确定或提交申请之前。如果在考试期间发生情况，许多学校和考试局都有程序与监考员即时提交报告。
For UCAS, the extenuating circumstances form should be completed by your referee before the application deadline (e.g., 15 October for Oxford and Cambridge, 15 January for most other courses). If the event occurs after submission, you can ask the school to contact universities directly with updated evidence.
对于UCAS，情有可原情况表格应由你的推荐人在申请截止日期前完成（例如，牛津和剑桥为10月15日，大多数其他课程为1月15日）。如果事件发生在提交之后，你可以要求学校直接联系大学并提供更新的证据。
Waiting until after you receive your results is highly discouraged, as many universities will not consider new extenuating circumstances once admissions decisions are made. The only exception is if you are appealing a result via your exam board, in which case you should inform the university simultaneously.
强烈不建议等到收到成绩之后，因为一旦录取决定做出，许多大学将不再考虑新的情有可原情况。唯一的例外是，如果你通过考试局对成绩提出申诉，在这种情况下，你应同时通知大学。
3. Preparing Your Application Materials | 准备申请材料
Start by gathering all relevant documents. Key items typically include a detailed personal statement, official evidence (medical letters, counsellor reports, etc.), and any institutional forms required by the university or application system.
首先收集所有相关文件。关键材料通常包括一份详细的个人陈述、官方证据（医疗信函、辅导员报告等）以及大学或申请系统要求的任何机构表格。
For UK applications, the main mechanism is the UCAS Extenuating Circumstances form, which must be filled in by a teacher or school official. You should provide that person with a summary of the situation and all supporting evidence so they can complete it accurately.
对于英国申请，主要机制是UCAS情有可原情况表格，必须由教师或学校官员填写。你应向该人提供情况的摘要和所有支持性证据，以便他们准确填写。
In other countries, you may need to email the admissions office directly. Always check the specific instructions on each university's website, as some have their own dedicated portals for uploading special consideration documents.
在其他国家，你可能需要直接发邮件给招生办公室。请务必查阅每所大学网站上的具体说明，因为有些大学有自己的专门门户用于上传特殊考虑文件。
4. Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement | 撰写有力的个人陈述
Your statement should be clear, factual, and focused on academic impact. Avoid emotional language – simply explain what happened, when it happened, and how it affected your ability to study or perform in exams.
你的陈述应清晰、实事求是，并侧重于学业影响。避免情绪化语言——只需解释发生了什么、何时发生，以及它如何影响了你学习或考试的能力。
Use specific examples. Instead of writing 'I was stressed', you could say 'In March, my primary caregiver was hospitalized, which required me to take on additional domestic responsibilities, reducing my revision time by approximately 2 hours per day for 6 weeks.'
使用具体例子。不要写“我压力很大”，你可以说“三月份，我的主要照顾者住院，这要求我承担额外的家务责任，使我的复习时间在6周内每天减少了约2小时。”
Also mention the steps you took to overcome the challenge, as this demonstrates resilience. For instance, you might mention using online resources, seeking help from teachers, or temporarily adjusting your study schedule.
还要提到你为克服挑战所采取的步骤，因为这展示了适应力。例如，你可以提到使用在线资源、寻求老师帮助或暂时调整学习计划。
5. Providing Supporting Evidence | 提供支持性证据
Evidence must be independent and verifiable. Acceptable documents include a doctor's note specifying the nature and duration of the illness, a letter from a counsellor or social worker, or official records of a family bereavement.
证据必须独立且可核实。可接受的文件包括：说明疾病性质和持续时间的医生证明，辅导员或社工的信函，或家庭丧亲的官方记录。
If your school was aware of the situation, a letter from the head of year or principal can be extremely valuable. This should confirm that the circumstances were known to the school and how they impacted your performance relative to your usual standard.
如果你的学校了解情况，年级主任或校长的信函可能极有价值。这应证实学校已知情，以及这些情况相对于你的平时水平如何影响了你的表现。
Do not submit screenshots of text messages or informal emails as primary evidence. Those can sometimes be used as supplementary context, but the core evidence must be from an official source. Also translate any non-English documents and provide both the original and the translation.
不要将短信截图或非正式邮件作为主要证据提交。这些有时可用作补充背景，但核心证据必须来自官方来源。此外，请翻译任何非英文文件，并提供原件和翻译件。
6. Key Deadlines and Timeline | 关键截止日期与时间线
Each system has its own timeline. The following table outlines a typical UCAS timeline for extenuating circumstances, but always verify with individual institutions, as some have earlier internal deadlines.
每个系统都有自己的时间线。下表概述了UCAS情有可原情况的典型时间线，但请务必与各院校核实，因为有些院校有更早的内部截止日期。
| Stage (English) | Timeline | 阶段 (中文) | 时间线 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inform school and referee | As soon as circumstances occur | 通知学校及推荐人 | 情况一发生即通知 |
| Referee completes UCAS EC form | Before application deadline | 推荐人完成UCAS EC表格 | 申请截止日期前 |
| Upload supporting documents | With the form or shortly after | 上传支持文件 | 与表格同时或稍后 |
| Universities review EC | After application is received | 大学审核EC | 收到申请后 |
For other systems, such as direct applications to US universities, the 'Additional Information' section is typically submitted with the main application. If something happens after submission, email the admissions office immediately and request written acknowledgement.
对于其他系统，如直接申请美国大学，“额外信息”部分通常与主申请一同提交。如果在提交后发生情况，请立即邮件通知招生办公室，并要求书面确认收悉。
7. Which Universities Accept Special Consideration? | 哪些大学接受特殊考虑？
Almost all universities have some mechanism to consider extenuating circumstances, but their policies vary widely. Highly selective institutions like Oxford and Cambridge will read EC forms carefully, but they rarely lower their standard offers; instead, they may place more weight on other parts of the application, such as the interview or personal statement.
几乎所有大学都有某种机制来考虑情有可原情况，但政策差异很大。牛津和剑桥等高度选拔性的院校会仔细阅读EC表格，但很少降低标准录取要求；相反，他们可能会更看重申请的其他部分，如面试或个人陈述。
Some universities operate contextual admissions, where factors like your school's average performance or your home postcode's socio-economic profile are automatically considered alongside your grades. If you already meet contextual criteria, you might not need a separate EC submission for general disadvantage.
一些大学实行背景录取，你的学校平均表现或家庭邮编的社会经济状况等因素会与成绩一并自动考虑。如果你已经符合背景标准，可能不需要就普遍劣势单独提交EC。
It is always best to contact the admissions office of your target universities before applying and ask about their specific policy. This can save you from submitting a request that is unlikely to be considered, or from missing an internal deadline.
在申请前最好联系目标大学的招生办公室，询问其具体政策。这可以避免你提交不太可能被考虑的请求
Published by TutorHao | Study Abroad Revision Series | aleveler.com
更多咨询请联系16621398022（同微信）
或截图后用「扫一扫 → 相册」选择本图