Here are the UC essay prompts 1 through 8 from the .
Prompt 8: Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
The University of California system received for the graduating class of 2021. The top campuses, like UC Berkeley and UCLA, will accept fewer than 20% of those applicants. How in the world do the UCs sort through all of those applications and make decisions about who to select? Read on, young Comet padawan!
If you wish to write about a non-academic or personal challenge you faced, such as a fear of public speaking, consider using prompt 2 (creatively solving your problem) or 3 (greatest talent = challenging yourself) instead.
Let's go over the UC Personal Insight Question prompts:
For one of his University of California Personal Insight essays, Terrance responded to option #6: Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you.
There are many attributes UC readers use for evaluation, each with a different weight or point value that add up to your eligibility for admission. While it is easy for students to look similar based on data like grades and coursework, the essays -- or Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) as the UCs refer to them -- add personality and insight (get it?) that will help you differentiate yourself from the crowd.
The essay does a good job showing the reader a dimension of Angie that probably isn't apparent anywhere else in her application. Her love of creating cartoons wouldn't appear in her or list of . Thus, it's a good choice for one of her Personal Insight essays (after all, it's providing new insight into her person). We learn that Angie isn't just a good student who is involved in some school activities. She also has a hobby she is passionate about. Crucially, Angie explains why cartooning is important to her.
Considering how important this application requirement is, you may be wondering how to write the UC supplemental essays in a compelling and memorable way. Look no further; this guide has you covered! Weâll review how to write the , how to pick the right prompts, and provide you with sample answers to inspire you!
How to write an essay for UC Prompt 1:
Research and medicine are integral parts of my future—there is still ways to go in finding an effective long-term solution to teenage sleep issues and well-being. I have ideas such as marketing CBT-i sleep therapy to increase its accessibility and prevent more tragedies like the ones at my school, and the guidance of UC professors as well as the tight-knit student body gives me the best chances of pursuing my goals and contribute back to the community. An education in the University of California system would provide me with plentiful resources to continue making strides towards solving this problem.
UC Prompt 1 example essay: Ming Ji Restaurant
Students are required to answer four UC personal insight questions. The UC system has no preference over the prompts students choose. Be sure that your essays stay under the University of California PIQ word count of 350 words.Â
How to write an essay for UC Prompt 2:
Every applicant to one of the University of California campuses must write four short essays in response to the UC application's Personal Insight questions. The UC essay examples below reveal how two different students approached the prompts. Both essays are accompanied by an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses.
UC Prompt 2 example essay: Drumming
Prompt: Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
How to compose an essay for UC Prompt 1:
Many of these prompts are similar to the UC Common App questions, so you can even use your answers to the UC prompts to inspire your Common App essays or vice versa!Â
UC Prompt 1 example essay: Ming Ji Restaurant
We call this the leadership prompt. Even though the question is asking about your leadership experience, you need not have a specific position or title to use this essay question. Thus, the prompt can feature essays that talk about major fundraising and volunteering events that students have organized, but essays can also focus on experiences such as mentoring a fellow classmate who was having trouble in a subject you excelled in. Leadership is as simple as noticing a problem, choosing to do something about it, and acting to make things better. You don’t need a title to take those steps.