by j9robinson | May 8, 2016
Quickly Find Ideas for Each of the
8 New Personal Insight Questions
I hope everyone applying to any of the University of California schools this fall got the big news: They have all new essay prompts for 2016-17!
Instead of writing two longer essays, incoming freshmen now are required to write four shorter essays—and have eight new prompts, called Personal Insight Questions, to choose from.
Since the big announcement this spring, I’ve written eight new posts on each of the new UC essays.
I’ve listed them all together here (below) in this post so you can find them easily. (more…)
by j9robinson | May 2, 2016
University of California Personal Insight Question 7:
Time to Talk About One of Those Volunteer Experiences
UC essay prompt 7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
The minute I read UC essay prompt 7, I thought most students would jump at this question because most have spent endless hours volunteering during high school.
Now it’s time to recall some of your most interesting or meaningful “times” or experiences.
You could write a strong essay about giving back, but you have to be careful to avoid the cliche trap.The trick is to think of something unusual or unexpected that happened during one of those experiences.
(more…)
by j9robinson | May 2, 2016
University of California Personal Insight Question 6:
Brainiacs, Nerds, Geeks and Former Slackers—This Essay is For You!
UC Essay Prompt 6:6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
Well, this is probably the most straightforward of the eight Personal Insight Questions (which I call essay prompts) that the University of California admissions has to offer wannabe freshmen for 2016-17.
It’s also your best chance, similar to UC essay prompt 4, to showcase your passion for learning.
When you read UC essay prompt 6, did an answer pop into your head immediately?
If so, this could be a no-brainer essay for you to write. (more…)
by j9robinson | Apr 19, 2016
What Are You Good At?
(Yes, UC Essay Prompt 3 Can Be About Almost Anything!)
I believe all students who need to answer four of the new University of California “Personal Insight Questions” should seriously consider the third one, otherwise known as UC Essay Prompt 3.
If you’re a student who has focused on one special talent or skill in your life, and are recognized in that field as “among the best,” this is your chance to share that in detail.
However, you don’t need to be a star at your talent or skill to write an effective essay about it.
And your talent or skill doesn’t even need to be impressive. (more…)
by j9robinson | Mar 30, 2016
University of California Essay Prompts for Fall 2017
(Ideas for Answering Personal Insight Question No. 2)
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. Describe how you express your creative side.
If this prompt jumped out when you first read through the eight essay prompts for the University of California application, good chance you have a creative side.
And you should seriously consider writing about it.
Even if this prompt didn’t initially appeal to you, consider it anyway.
It’s not just intended for aspiring artists! (more…)
by j9robinson | Mar 24, 2016
First New University of California Essay Prompts
for their College Application in 10 Years!
The University of California just listed brand new college application essay prompts—for the first time in a decade!
In the past, incoming freshman wrote two core essays answering two prompts.
The two essays had to be a total of no more than 1,000 words.
The UC is now calling its new essay prompts, “Personal insight questions,” and students must choose four out of eight to answer.
And they are each supposed to be under 350 words. (So, total under 1,400 words.)
That’s a huge shift. (more…)
