Script:
Listen to a conversation between a student and a worker in a university office.
Office worker: Yes, how can I help you?
Student: I’m not sure if I’m in the right place . . . I’m looking for an application for the Academic Scholarship program. Is that something I can pick up here?
Office worker: Yes, you’re in the right place. Applications for the Academic Scholarship program are right here. Let me get one for you. . . . Here you are.
Student: Thanks very much. ... By the way, is there anything I need to know to complete the application, or is the application self-explanatory?
Office worker: It’s fairly self-explanatory, but let me go over a few things with you, just to be sure. .. . OK, the first really important thing is the date. The application’s due by March 1, by the end of the business day on March 1.
Student: That′s really soon . . .
Office worker: It is, and the date is absolute. No applications will be accepted after the first.
Student: I’ll have to hurry to get it done.
Office worker: You will.
Student: Anything else?
Office worker: Uh, yes . . . make sure you fill the application out completely. Every single question must be answered. If you omit any questions, your application won′t be considered.
Student: But some of these questions don′t seem to pertain to me.
Office worker: Like what, for example?
Student: Well, look, question number 20 asks about my high school ranking.
Office worker: Why doesn’t that pertain to you?
Student: Well, the high school I attended didn’t give rankings. I didn′t go to high school here in the United States, and my high school didn’t give out rankings.
Office worker: Well, for that question, just give the explanation you gave me. Just be sure not to omit any questions; if you think a question doesn′t pertain to you, then write an explanation why.
Student: OK, I can do that. . . . Anything else you can tell me?
Office worker: Well, there’re the essays. . . . You know you have to write two essays to accompany the application?
Student: Oh, my. That’s a lot of work. I assume the essay questions are included somewhere in the application?
Office worker: Yes, on page seven of the application. .. . Do you see them . . . at the bottom of the page?
Student: Yes, I see them . . . there are four questions there. ... I thought you said I needed to write two essays . . . oh . . . I see. It says to choose two of the four essay questions to answer. . . . Now, is that all I need to do? That must be all. . . .
Office worker: Well, not quite.
Student: Oh, no! What else?
Office worker: There are the letters of reference.
Student: Letters of reference? Are these letters that I write?
Office worker: (laughs) Oh, no . . . you don′t write the letters of reference yourself. You need to get three people to write letters of reference for you.
Student: Do the letters of reference need to be written by professors, or can they be written by other people?
Office worker: Two of the three letters need to be written by professors . . . you’re applying for an academic scholarship, after all.
Student: So I need two letters of reference from professors and one from someone else?
Office worker: Yes.
Student: Can the third letter of reference be written by a friend, by a student?
Office worker: No, the third letter can’t be written by a student.
Student: How about by my advisor? Would that be OK?
Office worker: That would be great.
Student: And do I need all of this by March 1st, even the letters of reference?
Office worker: All of it, if you want to be considered for the Academic Scholarship program.