The Personal Statement

Purpose of the Personal Statement Part of UC’s comprehensive review process Opportunity to provide information that supports and augments the review process Helps readers know and understand applicants

Purpose of the Personal Statement Adds clarity, depth and meaning to information collected in other parts of the UC application Completes the application for admission An admission decision will never be based on the content of a personal statement alone

A Message From UC Faculty While it is acceptable to receive feedback or helpful suggestions, applicants’ personal statements should reflect their own ideas and be written by them alone.

Questions to be answered The evaluators will ask themselves these questions of your statement: What’s important to this applicant? What qualities/characteristics define this applicant? Which of these qualities/characteristics is most prominent? Do these qualities appeal to me? Why?

Instructions Two questions: See Apply Online to UC Students respond to both questions. A maximum of 1,000 words total Students should stay within the word limit as closely as they can. A little over—1,012 words, for example—is fine. Students choose length of each response. If they choose to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest the shorter answer be no less than 250 words.

Before You Start Writing Critically review a copy of your transcript Have an adult who doesn’t know you or your family well review your transcript and ask if they have questions Address in your essay anything on your transcript that might cause the evaluator to think: “I wonder what happened there?” Did you have a quarter or semester with lower grades than typical? Why?

Before You Start Writing Complete, copy and critically read over your UC online Application. List schools you have attended List activities, sports, awards, other classes taken that were not “a-g” approved, such as ROP classes, Summer Enrichment Programs.

Additional Comments Use Additional Comments box for clarification, expansion on important details: Additional names Visa issues Additional IB exams Describe anything else that you have not had the opportunity to include elsewhere in your application. 550-word limit The University of California gives priority consideration to qualified veterans who apply for admission. Applicants are encouraged to use the personal statement to: (1) describe how military service has been instrumental in developing their educational plans (2) indicate if s/he is entitled to educational benefits as a result of military service or the service-connected death or disability of a parent or spouse, or (3) indicate if applicant is affiliated with the military such as, but not limited to, the spouse or dependent of someone who is on active duty or a current participant in an ROTC-type program.

Steps to Writing an Effective Personal Statement Draft, Get Feedback, Revise Develop Topic and Thesis Read Critically Gather Information

Important Strategies Read critically and write analytically. Students are encouraged to write about special circumstances that have influenced their educational experience: Re-entry Small or alternative learning environments Learning and/or physical challenges Veterans Read critically and write analytically. Think like an admissions reader by capitalizing on the relationship between readers and writers. Use a writing process. Get good feedback.

Writing Process Read the application critically using levels of questions. Draft. Get feedback — give readers at least a week to respond. Revise for organization, clarity and meaning. Proofread.