1 The Personal Statement Strategies for Students

2 Overview Purpose of the personal statement in UC admissions Instructions and Prompts Writing strategies for students Advise

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

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

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

6 Instructions and Prompts

7 Instructions Two questionsTwo questions Students respond to both questions.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.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.

8 Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. Prompt #1

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

10 Writing Strategies for Students

11 Important Strategies 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 Read critically and write analytically.Read critically and write analytically.  Capitalize on the relationship between readers and writers. Use a writing process.Use a writing process. FeedbackFeedback  Get good feedback. Allow enough time for readers to give feedback

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

13 Advise: Part I  Stay on task, avoid being wordy.  Stay on task, avoid being wordy.  You admission essays should be of excellent quality, but not poetic or extremely literary. Admission committees are used to reading essays and letters, and they know when applicants are trying too hard. Keep your objective in mind and the content within the context of your college application.  Have direction and know where your going.  Have direction and know where your going.  Don’t write an essay that goes around in circles, repeating the same information in different ways. Some tend to give too much information, or they just use the same information over and over again. Compose a short outline that will guide you through what you want to say.  Don’t write an essay that goes around in circles, repeating the same information in different ways. Some tend to give too much information, or they just use the same information over and over again. Compose a short outline that will guide you through what you want to say.

14 Advise : Part II Get their attention AND keep itGet their attention AND keep it  Remember that your goal is to get the reader hooked on who you are and why you deserve to be in the school. Try to hold the reader’s interest with an attention-grabbing introduction, an interesting body, and a clinching conclusion. MOST IMPORTANT OF ALLMOST IMPORTANT OF ALL  These essays are a reflection of who YOU are so don’t elaborate or fabricate.