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The Personal Statement:The Personal Statement:Strategies for Writing an Strategies for Writing an

Effective EssayEffective Essay

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Topics to be Topics to be DiscussedDiscussed

• Purpose of the personal statement in UC admissions and what it includes

• UC Comprehensive Review

• Instructions and Prompts

• Writing strategies for students

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Purpose of the Personal Purpose of the Personal StatementStatement

• Part of UC’s comprehensive Part of UC’s comprehensive review processreview process

• Opportunity to introduce yourself Opportunity to introduce yourself to the admissions and scholarship to the admissions and scholarship officers reading your applicationofficers reading your application

• Provides information that might Provides information that might not be evident in other parts of not be evident in other parts of your applicationyour application

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Purpose of the Personal Purpose of the Personal StatementStatement

• Allows you to make the best case Allows you to make the best case for why you should be admitted for why you should be admitted to the UC schools of your choiceto the UC schools of your choice

• Helps determine the differences Helps determine the differences between applicants whose between applicants whose academic records appear to be academic records appear to be quite similar.quite similar.

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What Personal Statements What Personal Statements Often IncludeOften Include

• A discussion of your academic record, A discussion of your academic record, accomplishments and activitiesaccomplishments and activities

• An explanation of any unusual An explanation of any unusual circumstances, challenges, or circumstances, challenges, or hardships you have faced and the hardships you have faced and the ways in which you have overcome and ways in which you have overcome and responded to themresponded to them

• An analysis of your achievements in An analysis of your achievements in light of the opportunities available to light of the opportunities available to youyou

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UC Comprehensive Review- UC Comprehensive Review- AcademicAcademic

• 50 – 75% Selection based on 50 – 75% Selection based on academic achievement and promiseacademic achievement and promise GPA in A – G classes GPA in A – G classes Scores on SAT Reasoning or ACT & Scores on SAT Reasoning or ACT &

SAT SubjectSAT Subject # of courses, and performance, beyond # of courses, and performance, beyond

required A – G classesrequired A – G classes Quality of senior year programQuality of senior year program Quality of academic performance Quality of academic performance

relative to the education opportunities relative to the education opportunities available of secondary schoolavailable of secondary school

Recent marked improvement in Recent marked improvement in academic performanceacademic performance

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UC Comprehensive UC Comprehensive ReviewReview

• 25 – 50% Selection based on 25 – 50% Selection based on potential to contribute to educational potential to contribute to educational environment and intellectual vitalityenvironment and intellectual vitality Special talents, achievements and award Special talents, achievements and award

in particular fieldin particular field Completion of special project undertaken Completion of special project undertaken

at school, community organization, at school, community organization, educational institutions, or private firmseducational institutions, or private firms

Academic accomplishment in spite of life Academic accomplishment in spite of life experiences and special circumstancesexperiences and special circumstances

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Instructions and Instructions and PromptsPrompts

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InstructionsInstructions• Two questionsTwo questions

• You will respond to both questions.You will respond to both questions. A maximum of 1,000 words totalA maximum of 1,000 words total Students should stay within the word Students should stay within the word

limit as closely as they can. A little over—limit as closely as they can. A little over—1,012 words, for example—is fine.1,012 words, for example—is fine.

• Students choose length of each Students choose length of each response.response. If they choose to respond to one prompt If they choose to respond to one prompt

at greater length, it is suggested the at greater length, it is suggested the shorter answer be no less than 250 words. shorter answer be no less than 250 words.

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DescribeDescribe the world you come the world you come from from —— for example, your for example, your family, community family, community oror school school —— andand tell us tell us howhow your world your world has shaped has shaped youryour dreams and dreams and aspirations.aspirations.    

Prompt #1Prompt #1

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Prompt #1Prompt #1• Choose one topic (family, community, or Choose one topic (family, community, or

school) or choose one theme to connect all school) or choose one theme to connect all three topicsthree topics

• The majority of your response should be the The majority of your response should be the description of your world, but place more description of your world, but place more emphasis on the second half – how it has emphasis on the second half – how it has shaped your dreams and aspirationsshaped your dreams and aspirations

• Explain how your world has influenced your Explain how your world has influenced your development as a student, or as a persondevelopment as a student, or as a person

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Prompt #2Prompt #2 Tell us about a personal Tell us about a personal quality, talent, quality, talent, accomplishment, accomplishment, contribution contribution or or experience experience that is important to you. that is important to you. WhatWhat about this quality or about this quality or accomplishment makes you accomplishment makes you proud andproud and howhow does it does it relate to the person you relate to the person you are?are?

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Prompt #2Prompt #2•You might want to think You might want to think

about answering this prompt about answering this prompt first if it helps to establish first if it helps to establish the context you wish to the context you wish to describe in Prompt #1.describe in Prompt #1.

•Choose a topic that has not Choose a topic that has not been addressed in another been addressed in another section of the applicationsection of the application

•Keep the information relative Keep the information relative to your personal experiencesto your personal experiences

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Additional CommentsAdditional Comments• Use Additional Comments box for Use Additional Comments box for

clarification, expansion on clarification, expansion on important detailsimportant details

• ((NewNew) ) Describe anything else Describe anything else that you have not had the that you have not had the opportunity to include elsewhere opportunity to include elsewhere in your application. in your application. 500-word limit500-word limit

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A Message From UC A Message From UC FacultyFaculty

•While it is acceptable to While it is acceptable to receive feedback or helpful receive feedback or helpful suggestions, applicants’ suggestions, applicants’ personal statementspersonal statements should should reflect their own ideas andreflect their own ideas and be written by them alone.be written by them alone.

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Writing Strategies Writing Strategies for Studentsfor Students

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Personal Statement: Writing Personal Statement: Writing for Collegefor College

CollegeCollege• Unknown audienceUnknown audience: :

Students write for a Students write for a community of scholars.community of scholars.

• Writer-determined Writer-determined topicstopics: Students choose : Students choose the topics. the topics.

• Dig deepDig deep: Analysis and : Analysis and reflection are key.reflection are key.

Personal StatementPersonal Statement

• Unknown audienceUnknown audience

• Writer-determined topicsWriter-determined topics

• Analytical and reflective Analytical and reflective responseresponse

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Tips and TechniquesTips and Techniques

• Start early. Start early. Allow time for reflection, thoughtful Allow time for reflection, thoughtful

preparation, and revision.preparation, and revision.• Choose a topic for each essay. Choose a topic for each essay.

Look critically at the information in your Look critically at the information in your application: your grades, awards, activities application: your grades, awards, activities and work experience, family and income. and work experience, family and income.

Anticipate questions an admissions evaluator Anticipate questions an admissions evaluator will have after reading your application. The will have after reading your application. The personal statement is your opportunity to personal statement is your opportunity to answer those questions.answer those questions.

Students are encouraged to write about special circumstances that have influenced their educational experience

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Some Suggested TopicsSome Suggested Topics

• Personal triumphs or challenges Personal triumphs or challenges (explain what you learned in spite of (explain what you learned in spite of them)them)

• Experiences outside the classroom Experiences outside the classroom that have made an impact on youthat have made an impact on you

• Culture (family, school, or Culture (family, school, or community) and how it has influenced community) and how it has influenced who you arewho you are

• Disabilities (talk about them in the Disabilities (talk about them in the context of your ability to succeed)context of your ability to succeed)

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Tips and TechniquesTips and Techniques

• Compose your personal statement Compose your personal statement in a word-processing program. in a word-processing program. Don't type it directly into the application. This Don't type it directly into the application. This

way, you will have the opportunity to print way, you will have the opportunity to print copies for review.copies for review.

•Write in a natural style. Write in a natural style. Present your information and ideas in a focused, Present your information and ideas in a focused,

thoughtful and meaningful manner. Support thoughtful and meaningful manner. Support your ideas with specific examples. A personal your ideas with specific examples. A personal statement that is simply a list of qualities or statement that is simply a list of qualities or accomplishments is usually not persuasive. accomplishments is usually not persuasive.

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Tips and TechniquesTips and Techniques

•Proofread. Proofread. In addition to checking your spelling, In addition to checking your spelling,

be sure your grammar is correct and be sure your grammar is correct and your essays read smoothly.your essays read smoothly.

•Solicit feedback.Solicit feedback. Your personal statement should Your personal statement should

reflect your own ideas and be written reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others--family and by you alone, but others--family and teachers--can offer valuable teachers--can offer valuable suggestions.suggestions.

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Tips and TechniquesTips and Techniques

• Copy and paste.Copy and paste. Once you are satisfied with your essays, save them Once you are satisfied with your essays, save them

in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.have appeared.

• Final SuggestionsFinal Suggestions Be clear. Be focused. Be organized.Be clear. Be focused. Be organized. Be careful with humor and cliches.Be careful with humor and cliches. Avoid a lot of quotesAvoid a lot of quotes Don’t overemphasize hardship.Don’t overemphasize hardship.

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Steps to Writing an Steps to Writing an Effective Personal Effective Personal

StatementStatement

Gather InformationGather Information

Read CriticallyRead Critically

Develop Topic and ThesisDevelop Topic and Thesis

Draft, Get Feedback, ReviseDraft, Get Feedback, Revise