<p>Irvine, Merced, and maybe others will use it for borderline candidates in impacted majors. </p>
<p>Actually that really isnât true. I heard it specifically at a counselors conference a couple of months ago and have been told this via email. UCLA and Berkekey are the only UCs that look at the essay as part of the whole application. The rest solely for scholarship, and also to fill in gaps. It should also be said that while ppl have their theories as to why they got in, it isnât known. UCLA doesnât put that much into essays unless they are unbelievably superior. Not sure about Cal. My general takeaway is that essays are overrated in terms of the things they look at. Do a good job on them, of course. They can help with borderline folks at UCLA/Cal. My feeling is they will eventually be eliminated or changed in some capacity as they simply do not have the man hours for them and so many students go to writing tutors, invalidating the content.</p>
<p>Yes but âfilling in gapsâ can be a big deal. UC Irvine mentions some selection criteria (-Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of the studentâs college curriculum or in conjunction with special school events, projects or programs, -Academic accomplishments in light of the studentâs life experiences and special circumstances) here <a href=âApply | Office of Undergraduate Admissions | UCIâ>Apply | Office of Undergraduate Admissions | UCI; that seem difficult to determine without reading the essays. Especially the life experience and special circumstances. Clearly that would come straight from the essays.</p>
<p>That being said, I donât think the essay will hurt you unless itâs terrible. The general consensus of counselors Iâve spoken to is they can elevate a borderline student. And since youâll be applying to UCB and UCLA who do use them, work on them and make them awesome. </p>
<p>Whatever. We can debate this forever and I was told what I was told at a counselorâs seminar. So we will agree to disagree. </p>
<p>Flling in gaps means having unexplained absences in your education (like taking a year off or having a semester where you flunked out), it does not mean ECs. I realize there is a discrepancy because on the matrix it notes Merced and Irvine. I think it would help if they were all on the same page. Certainly a person should try and write a good one. :)</p>
<p>Also an essay will never make you lose admission if you are in the admit pile, unless you come across as a sociopath. So donât worry about an essay hurting you.</p>
<p>There is also an Additional Comments section in the application where you have over 500 words to write about special circumstances. The essays are always better off being a positive reflection if your strengths and goals.</p>
<p>Thanks for the insight you guys. My next question is whether or not it will hurt our chances of getting in to the UCs if we are not done with our units by the application deadline. I will for sure finish up my IGETC and pre-reqs done but I might have to cut it close and finish everything by spring time. Should I manage my fall semester classes a certain way? Like for example take the time to finish my pre req units done by fall an finish up the rest of my units (IGETC courses) all in the spring time? Thanks yâall! Youâre comments have been really helpful!</p>
<p>@PleaseBearwithmeâ </p>
<p>You just need to complete the necessary 60+ units by the end of spring.</p>
<p>@Caytonâ
So how many units should I have by the application deadline? Is there a minimum or maximum? And wow! You stay up so late too! I-) </p>
<p>@PleaseBearwithmeâ </p>
<p>Well, I believe you need at least 30 units to apply for transfer. Typically, though, applicants have 35~45 or more units when applying, and thereâs no maximum. How many units have you completed now?</p>
<p>And yeah, Iâm a night owl. :D</p>
<p>Yes, I believe you need 30 completed to apply.</p>
<p>I highly doubt the essays will be eliminated since Cal takes them into very strong consideration. UCLA is taking the holistic approach this year (about time) so weâll see how that turns out for next yearâs admits. </p>
<p>@Caytonâ
I have 15 units so far but taking 15 units at the moment for the summer session. Iâm going to be a one year transfer thatâs why I was curious! Thanks guys!</p>
<p>Youâre probably right @ocnative but there is a lot of talk about how there is a big discrepancy between the people who write theirs and the other half that pay for tutors. Even though I have helped ppl with their essays in the past and am a writer, I am opposed to the essays because it gives unfair advantage to those who pay, or those who can naturally write. And theyâve become merely marketing tools, with the student no more than a commodity. Who can market themselves best?</p>
<p>It would be like making art a required submission. What if drawing isnât your skill? If the essays were truly, write a few paragraphs about anything and just paste it in the app, no pressure, and it really was just a low key send, I would be for it. But itâs become an unfair competition.</p>
<p>The fact that only two UCs read them says a lot. And many colleges have simply dropped them entirely.</p>
<p>@lindyk8â </p>
<p>I definitely see where youâre coming from in regards to people who pay for âhelpâ with their essays. I donât agree however that it can be equated to an art requirement. Writing is a skill which should me possessed by all college students. Some majors such as STEM definitely need it less than others, but being able to articulate on paper is a skill needed in just about any job. I think to compare writing to art, does a disservice to the importance of writing in our everyday world. </p>
<p>@lindyk8 I have to disagree. Weâre all entering the UC system with a minimum of English 101 and usually 103. If you canât write an engaging, articulate college level essay, you shouldnât be allowed to enter the UC system. Itâs not an âunfair competitionâ, itâs called weeding out those who would not succeed at the UC level. This is why the state also has the CSU system for those who are not cut out to write a concise college level essay. I think itâs not only fair, but necessary to really measure the writing and comprehension level of applicants. As we all know, the public education system is known for pushing through kids who can barely read, let alone write an essay. You wouldnât want them slipping by the system, entering a UC and failing miserably, which they surely would at this level.</p>
<p>Sorry if I seem insensitive, itâs just the way it is, and itâs a good thing, IMHO.</p>
<p>The English requirement is the same for both UCs and CSUs. Both systems require you to complete 2 courses of college-level English. Thereâs no dumbed-down version of a writing class that only CSUs accept. </p>
<p>It irks the hell out of me when people assume that CSUsâ only purpose is to accommodate those people who were not blessed enough to be worthy of the UCs. There are so many reasons people one school over another. Itâs an elitist attitude that is not an accurate assessment of all or even most situations.</p>
<p>Yeah, that wasnât my intention at all. My bad. I was just illustrating a point that there is indeed a difference in acceptance levels and the standard of an essay is one variable to insure an applicant is at the UC level. </p>
<p>Iâm also tired of the UC/CSU sensitivity rhetoric, itâs ridiculous. Iâm not elitist, Iâm just calling it like I see it. So âirkâ away. :)</p>
<p>K4201, No one compared English IGETC requirements between CSU and UC. I was pretty clear itâs what you can do with that education in your essay that separates the level of ability.</p>
<p>Iâm going to have to agree with @2016Candles and @k4201505, @fullload.</p>
<p>CSUs may have slightly lower academic standards than the UCs, but they are not for those who canât write college level essays. Both school systems, as @k4201505 said, require the completion of college level English classes. CSUs are still excellent institutions of higher learning, in my opinion. The state of California may have designated them to serve a different purpose than the UC system, but they are by no means inferior.</p>
<p>And I do sympathize somewhat with @lindyk8âs position. A lot of people write personal statements that arenât written in their voice and with the help of writing tutors, and unfortunately, the UCs often cannot tell. Itâs OK to seek out assistance to better express oneâs own voice, but often, that isnât the case. I do still believe that the personal statement should still be used by the UCs to evaluate applicants.</p>
<p>Also, a weak personal statement says nothing about an applicantâs ability to succeed at the UC to which they wish to gain admission. The UCs evaluate those personal statements for other reasons. If they want to get an idea of how well youâll do at their school, theyâll look at your grades and possibly course load. I also feel that the college level English classes I took didnât really help me write a good personal statement. Those classes focus more on literature comprehension, analysis, and research papers. Personal statements are a different animal.</p>