Many students are undecided about their major and there are options in three of Berkeley’s colleges to be "undeclared". This is a pretty great hack to elevate your UC essay (as long as you’re grammatically correct): Vary your sentence structure every so often by using dashes, semicolons, colons, dialogue, and rhetorical questions, just to name a few. One trigger word that shows this vagueness in language is the word, “different.” Here, I’ll literally give you an example from a previous student’s very rough UC Personal Insight essay draft. Suddenly, I have it…his eyes light up with understanding, and I can’t help but smile with pride by how my on-the-spot creativity helped, learn a concept he before struggled to grasp.”. For instance, if two of your essays begin with imagery as an intro, then start another essay with dialogue. In your application—including your answers to the personal insight questions—we are looking for evidence of your intellectual curiosity and your interest in personal development. Here’s the final UC essay tip — showcase different data points about yourself per essay. In order to delve deeply into a subject, you only have space for one anecdote — one experience — as the main star of your UC Personal Insight essay. Now, step back and look at the transitions between paragraphs. Describe how you express your creative side. You know what I mean by slightly negative? Describe how you express your creative side. Wall of text = not fun to read. These UC essays are especially tricky because of the word limit: you only have 350 words to convey your message per essay. That way, you’ll have 4 full UC essays focused on showing exactly who you are to the admissions officers! Have more questions on how to effectively answer the UC Personal Insight Questions? You don’t have a lot of space in the UC application to write about all your accomplishments, interests, and dreams for the past 4 years. In fact, you should keep away from using the same word more than twice in the same paragraph! The department personal statement that is submitted with the supplemental application, is distinct from the UC personal insight questions. As the captain of my soccer team, I have spent two years leading a group of young women in a high-pressure, intensely competitive setting. Tips to Answer Personal Insight Questions. More thanstudents applied ucla UCLA last fall, and ucla numbers are expected to remain the same for this upcoming application season. Honestly, this is sort of a personality issue more than anything, but sounding even remotely negative is rarely a good thing in these UC Personal Insight Questions. This student does a fantastic job showcasing a lightbulb moment she had while doing yoga! Here’s another UC Personal Insight Essay Example that is dripping with intellectual curiosity. I’ve shown you do a fantastic job showcasing intellectual curiosity — your UC essays should do the same. Keep in mind: you’re limited on a 350 word count. Depth is the piece that everyone’s answers to the UC Personal Insight Questions lack — so if your UC essays have depth, you’ll no doubt stand out from the crowd. Start your Prompt 8 essay with that example to engage the reader. 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. This is a quick and dirty essay tip to employ that many of my students do. If I had to characterize the kind of clothes that your UC Personal Insight Question should be wearing, I’d say this: JCrew, not Brooks Brothers. Here’s an easy way to check for redundancies: Avoid using the same word in the same sentence. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Here’s a quick and easy essay tip: Reuse the words in the prompt so that it’s extra clear you’re answering the prompt. Freshman Application Questions Western ACAC ~ Est. 1. In other words, don’t try to write about 3 different topics in one essay so that you can “fit” all you want to say. Need I say more? From developing your talents and skills, to making a difference in your community, to preparing for your major: everything you’ve done has led you here. Most UC essays I read fall short in this analysis department, so if you can go the extra mile and knock this out of the ballpark, you’re golden! (Warning: writing short is hard.). Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. When applying to Berkeley, you will be asked what major you are interested in. If she didn’t write about this event, the admissions officer for UC Berkeley or UCLA would never have known this unique aspect of who she is! Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. UCLA is one of the most popular universities in California. Use at least one of your UC Personal Insight Essays to showcase a personal aspect of who you are — something that isn’t highlighted in your activities list, if possible. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. “Personal insight” questions are meant to allow the applicant to “add clarity, richness and meaning to the information in the other parts” of the application. to write about all your accomplishments, interests, and dreams for the past 4 years. This can be an intimidating question if you approach it too broadly. Check out our epic, updated directory of 2018 UC essay examples that worked, AKA UC personal insight questions examples AKA UC personal statement, to see how some others have approached the UC prompts and get into that sunny University of California school of your dreams. If you’re unsure about the grammatical rules of these devices, take a look at a resource like this one. When Laura first showed me the cubicle I’d be working out of, I thought it was a practical joke. They give us insight about you in your own words as we review applications. The UC Personal Insight Questions is your only opportunity to literally “speak” to the admissions committee about attributes that aren’t immediately clear in your overall application. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? Nothing else can tell you exactly what they want to learn about you in this essay! Take a look at this UC Personal Insight Essay Example. However, you don’t want to overdose on flowery language, either. How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? My UC essay tip: choose the latter. I’ll give you an example using a UC personal insight essay excerpt from this previous student: “I know I need to come up with something to help Jason remember, and with something he understands. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. In recent years, it has received a record number questions applications. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced You’re in luck! Here’s why: There are actually two additional comments sections — one has a limit of 550 words and the other has a limit of 550 characters. Formal writing (the kind that you might be used to in analyzing Jane Eyre for English class) is great for school. Admissions officers always look for students who demonstrate intellectual curiosity (basically, it means love of learning) in the UC application and UC Personal Insight essays. For one of her Personal Insight essays, Angie responded to question #2: 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. The Requirements: 4 out of 8 essays, 350 words each. They are basically stories about YOU. that is dripping with intellectual curiosity. Watch this video for helpful tips on what the questions are about and how to approach answering them. Checkout these UC Personal Insight Questions examples: Writing about growth is honestly perhaps one of the more important UC Personal Insight tips I have for you. Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball, Community, Activity University of California 2020-2021 Application Essay Question Explanations The UC application sounds like a riddle. If the West Coast calls to you and you like the idea of finding your niche in a large top tier university, UCLA may be the school for you.If you’re still working on your responses to the UC essay prompts, these examples may help. Does the first sentence flow into the next sentence seamlessly, or does it feel choppy and/or disconnected? Now, don’t be casual to the point of sounding sloppy, but contractions are ok to use. Suddenly, I have it…Jason’s eyes light up with understanding, and I can’t help but smile with pride with how my on-the-spot creativity helped Jason learn something he before struggled to grasp.”. Wondering how to successfully write UC essays? Each response is limited to 350 words. What do you think looks more pleasing and interesting to read, especially to a tired admissions officer? 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