UC Personal Insight Questions · accessible to ALL UC’s, not just one. III. Personal Insight...

UC Personal Insight

Questions

Class of 2017

I. IntroductionI. IntroductionI. IntroductionI. Introduction

A. Changes have been made to the A. Changes have been made to the A. Changes have been made to the A. Changes have been made to the

UC Personal Statement UC Personal Statement UC Personal Statement UC Personal Statement

– 1. OldOldOldOld = 2 questions about you,

answered in 1,000 total words

– 2. NewNewNewNew = 8 questions (applicant

choses 4), answered in 350

words each

I. IntroductionI. IntroductionI. IntroductionI. IntroductionB. What the new format covers:B. What the new format covers:B. What the new format covers:B. What the new format covers:

1. Deals with: personal qualities, life

experiences, & educational backgrounds

a. You select the questions that are most most most most

relevant to yourelevant to yourelevant to yourelevant to you

b. All questions are equalequalequalequal (all given the

same consideration)

c. There is no right/wrong answerno right/wrong answerno right/wrong answerno right/wrong answer (just an

opportunity for them to get to know you)

II. Writing II. Writing II. Writing II. Writing TipsTipsTipsTips

A.A.A.A. Start earlyStart earlyStart earlyStart early

1. You’ll do better work if you

DON’T CRAM!

a. Gives an opportunity for

feedback/proofreading


B. B. B. B. GrammarGrammarGrammarGrammar

1. They technically don’t “mark down”

for poor grammar (spelling, syntax)

a. Poor writing is distracting

i. Allow me to consume your

thoughts (don’t make me think)

b. Separate yourselfSeparate yourselfSeparate yourselfSeparate yourself from the

competition


C. C. C. C. Avoid:Avoid:Avoid:Avoid:

1. ClichésClichésClichésClichés = they’re nothing to write home

about (overused phrases)

a. You will not appear to be a

diamond in the rough

b. They will see the writing on the wall

c. The UC reader will be bent out of

shape at your lack of creativity



2. Inappropriate use of humor

a. Innuendos, double-

entendres, etc. (TWSS)



3. Generalities

a. Be specific & expand your

thoughts

b. It’s better to have a few well-

developed thoughts, than many

scattered ones



4. Acronyms

a. they’re silly, LOL!

II. Writing TipsII. Writing TipsII. Writing TipsII. Writing Tips


5. Addressing ONE campus!

a. Your application is

accessible to ALL UC’s,

not just one

III. Personal Insight QuestionsIII. Personal Insight QuestionsIII. Personal Insight QuestionsIII. Personal Insight Questions

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.”

a. Being a leader formally/informally a. Being a leader formally/informally a. Being a leader formally/informally a. Being a leader formally/informally

(mentoring others, taking a lead role)(mentoring others, taking a lead role)(mentoring others, taking a lead role)(mentoring others, taking a lead role)

b. Have you ever lead a team? (school, b. Have you ever lead a team? (school, b. Have you ever lead a team? (school, b. Have you ever lead a team? (school,

church, community, family, etcchurch, community, family, etcchurch, community, family, etcchurch, community, family, etc.)?.)?.)?.)?

III. Personal Insight QuestionsIII. Personal Insight QuestionsIII. Personal Insight QuestionsIII. Personal Insight Questions2. “Every person has a creative side, and it can be

expressed in many ways: problem solving, original

and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a

few. Describe how you express your creative side.”

aaaa. Do you have a creative skill/Why is it . Do you have a creative skill/Why is it . Do you have a creative skill/Why is it . Do you have a creative skill/Why is it

important? important? important? important?

bbbb. How have you used this skill(s)? In . How have you used this skill(s)? In . How have you used this skill(s)? In . How have you used this skill(s)? In

problem solving?problem solving?problem solving?problem solving?

cccc. How would you use these skills in a . How would you use these skills in a . How would you use these skills in a . How would you use these skills in a

future career?future career?future career?future career?


3. “What would you say is your greatest talent or

skill? How have you developed and demonstrated

that talent over time?”

aaaa. How are you proud of your talent/skill? . How are you proud of your talent/skill? . How are you proud of your talent/skill? . How are you proud of your talent/skill?

(you don’t have to be an award winner)(you don’t have to be an award winner)(you don’t have to be an award winner)(you don’t have to be an award winner)

bbbb. Are your talents natural, or have you . Are your talents natural, or have you . Are your talents natural, or have you . Are your talents natural, or have you

worked hard to develop?worked hard to develop?worked hard to develop?worked hard to develop?

cccc. How will you use your talents in a . How will you use your talents in a . How will you use your talents in a . How will you use your talents in a

future career?future career?future career?future career?


4. “Describe how you have taken advantage of a

significant educational opportunity or worked to

overcome an educational barrier you have faced.”

aaaa. An opportunity that has added value . An opportunity that has added value . An opportunity that has added value . An opportunity that has added value

to your educational experience (e.g. AP to your educational experience (e.g. AP to your educational experience (e.g. AP to your educational experience (e.g. AP

class)class)class)class)

bbbb. How have you overcome barriers (in . How have you overcome barriers (in . How have you overcome barriers (in . How have you overcome barriers (in

learning)? Has this shaped you into who learning)? Has this shaped you into who learning)? Has this shaped you into who learning)? Has this shaped you into who

you are? you are? you are? you are?


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?”

aaaa. Challenge = . Challenge = . Challenge = . Challenge =

personal/community/school personal/community/school personal/community/school personal/community/school

(overcoming obstacles) (overcoming obstacles) (overcoming obstacles) (overcoming obstacles)

bbbb. Currently working through a . Currently working through a . Currently working through a . Currently working through a

challenge? (home, school, work, social)challenge? (home, school, work, social)challenge? (home, school, work, social)challenge? (home, school, work, social)


6. “Describe your favorite academic

subject and explain how it has influenced

you.”

aaaa. How did this interest develop? . How did this interest develop? . How did this interest develop? . How did this interest develop?

(inside/outside the classroom)(inside/outside the classroom)(inside/outside the classroom)(inside/outside the classroom)

bbbb. How has your interest in this . How has your interest in this . How has your interest in this . How has your interest in this

subject influenced your college subject influenced your college subject influenced your college subject influenced your college

major/career?major/career?major/career?major/career?


7. “What have you done to make your

school or your community a better

place?”

aaaa. Community = high school, . Community = high school, . Community = high school, . Community = high school,

hometown, home (define as you hometown, home (define as you hometown, home (define as you hometown, home (define as you

understand it)understand it)understand it)understand it)

bbbb. Have you fixed a problem in your . Have you fixed a problem in your . Have you fixed a problem in your . Have you fixed a problem in your

community? What inspired you to act?community? What inspired you to act?community? What inspired you to act?community? What inspired you to act?


8. “What is the one thing that you think

sets you apart from other candidates

applying to the University of California?”

a. Brag a little! You’re one of a kind, so a. Brag a little! You’re one of a kind, so a. Brag a little! You’re one of a kind, so a. Brag a little! You’re one of a kind, so

sell the school on why you’d improve sell the school on why you’d improve sell the school on why you’d improve sell the school on why you’d improve

their campus!their campus!their campus!their campus!

b. What should a stranger know about b. What should a stranger know about b. What should a stranger know about b. What should a stranger know about

you? Unique skill/talent? Have you you? Unique skill/talent? Have you you? Unique skill/talent? Have you you? Unique skill/talent? Have you

overcome something significant in life? overcome something significant in life? overcome something significant in life? overcome something significant in life?

UC Personal Insight Questions · accessible to ALL UC’s, not just one. III. Personal Insight...

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