personal insights · make your school or your community a better place? your community can...
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Personal InsightsUC College Admissions Essays
What are Personal Insight Essays?Used by the University of
California for freshman and transfer applicants
They are questions you answer so the college can get to know you better
You can explain your life experience, interests, ambitions and inspirations
Think of it as an interview with the admissions office
DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING THE PERSONAL INSIGHTS● You will have 8 questions to choose
from, and you must respond to 4 of the questions
● Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words
● Which questions you answer is up to you, but you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your personal circumstance
● All questions are equal and are given equal consideration in the application review process
● There is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others
● There is no right or wrong way to answer the questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice
Personal Insight Question #1
Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time
● Did you lead a team or club?
● How did you grow as an individual by leading others?
● Did you help out at your school, church or a community organization?
● Did you have any non-traditional leadership roles, such as taking care of your family?
THINGS TO CONSIDER...
Personal Insight Question #2
Every person has a creative side, and it can be addressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
● What does creativity mean to you?● Do you have a creative skill that is
important to you?● What have you been able to do with
that skill?● If you used creativity to solve a
problem, what was your solution?● What are the steps you took to solve
the problem?● How does creativity influence your
decisions inside or outside of class?● Does your creativity relate to your
major or a future career.
THINGS TO CONSIDER...
Personal Insight Question #3
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
● If there is a talent or skill you are proud of, this is the time to share it.
● Why is this talent or skill so meaningful to you?
● Does the skill or talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop it?
● Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom?
● If so, what are they and how do they fit into your daily schedule?
THINGS TO CONSIDER...
Personal Insight Question #4
Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
● An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college.
● For example: REACH, PLTW, AP, etc…● How did you overcome or strive to
overcome barriers?● What personal characteristics or skills did
you use to overcome this challenge?● How did overcoming this barrier help
shape who you are today?
THINGS TO CONSIDER...
Personal Insight Question #5
Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge? How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
● A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was this challenge significant to you?
● Talk about any challenges or obstacles you have faced, and what you’ve learned from the experience.
● If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life?
THINGS TO CONSIDER...
Personal Insight Question #6
Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.
● Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom
● Describe any volunteer work, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or activities, and what have you gained from your involvement
● Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or a career?
● Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject?
THINGS TO CONSIDER...
Personal Insight Question #7
What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
● Your community can encompass a group, team or place
● It could be your high school, hometown or your actual home
● You can define your community as you would like, but be sure to talk about your role in that community
● Was there a problem you wanted to fix in your community?
● Why were you inspired to act?● What did you learn from your effort?● How did your actions benefit others, the
wider community or both?
THINGS TO CONSIDER...
Personal Insight Question #8
What is the one thing that sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?
● Don’t be afraid to brag a little
● What makes you belong at the college campus where you are applying?
● When looking at your life, what does a stranger need to understand in order to know you?
● What can you share to highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help the college to get to know you better?
THINGS TO CONSIDER...
Additional Writing TipsSTART EARLY: Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful compositions and revisions
WRITE PERSUASIVELY: Don’t just make lists of accomplishments, activities, awards or work. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you are making
USE “I” STATEMENTS: Talk about yourself so the college can get to know you personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success in college
PROOFREAD AND EDIT: You should proofread your work to check for spelling and grammar, and to make sure your writing is clear
SOLICIT FEEDBACK: Your family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions, but your answers should be written by you alone
RELAX: The writing prompts are one of many pieces of information a college uses to review applications. Your responses can only add value to the application An admission decision will not be based on the writing section alone
AVOID COMMON MISTAKES● Don’t mention a specific college by
name. All campuses you apply to will see the exact same essays
● Avoid inappropriate use of humor
● Don’t use cliches or creative writing that does not tell who you are
● Don’t use quotations: The colleges want to know your thoughts and words, and not someone else’s
● Avoid repetition. Give new information throughout the essays that they can’t find in other parts of your application
● Don’t ask philosophical questions. Get to the point, and tell the college exactly what you mean
● Do not use acronyms. Spell it out for the reader
Common App Essay Prompts - Answer one of the five1. Some students have a background,
identity, interest or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or an idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?
Common App Essay Prompts - Continued4. Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.
5. Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community or family.
College Essay “Do’s”1. Select the best topic and subject for
yourself
2. Answer the question
3. Be personable and specific
4. Make your essay the right length
5. Watch your tone - limit humor and sarcasm
6. Don’t appear self-interested, egoistic or materialistic
7. Spell check, don’t rely on the computer. It will not catch the “wrong” word that is spelled right.
8. Don’t put a resume or a transcript into paragraph form
9. Don’t overuse the thesaurus
10. Stress and accentuate the positive
11. Have a strong introduction that catches the attention of the reader
12. Start early and take your time
Closing Advice - Writing a Strong College Admissions Essay