Haas Hopeful

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>I am an international student currently attending Diablo Valley College. I am going to apply next year and I'm trying to study the transfer essay questions, and how to best answer it.</p>

<p>The question should be the same for next year:
"What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field — such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities — and what you have gained from your involvement."</p>

<p>From this question, since international students are not allowed to work outside school campus, I would be forced to write just like the typical norms - being a president of this club, hence it developed his/her leadership skills, interned at this company to gain more knowledge of the outside business world, volunteered for several hours for the betterment of others, transferring with 4.0 GPA, etc.</p>

<p>How and what can I do in order to make my personal statement stand out from the rest of the applicants?</p>

<p>My second semester is coming to an end, and I am currently the vice president of Indonesian Association, president of Alpha Beta Gamma honor society, 4.0 GPA, working as both math and econ tutor in school, teacher's assistant for the Business department, teacher's assistant for economics department and instructor's assistant for the math department. I am planning to join one more club next year - Phi Beta Lambda Business club.</p>

<p>It seems difficult to get out of the typical norm because of the specific questions posted. I have tried looking at other discussions, and I found many unique and interesting personal statements because the questions are very general (e.g <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/92141-uc-personal-statement.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-los-angeles/92141-uc-personal-statement.html&lt;/a&gt;). But IF I were to write, for example, about my exceptional experience as a teacher's assistant, then I would not have the chance to discuss the leadership skills I have gained being a vice president and president of two clubs.</p>

<p>What can I do?</p>

<p>Please understand that I humbly present my queries for the sole benefit of mine, and I hope no one sees it as someone who tries to show off or gain attention. I seek the community's help and suggestion, and any critics, comments and suggestions are welcomed with open arms.</p>

2

<p>I had the same dilemma. I’m also an international student from a California Community College, but I’m applying to Haas this year. For the first prompt, I think what you can do to make your personal statement stand out is to be personal on the reason “how your interest in the subject developed” part. Perhaps by writing about an anecdote or personal experience that influenced you to major in Business. You don’t really have a lot of room to maneuver on the “describe any experience you have had in the field such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities” part. But, you can also personalize the “what you have gained from your involvement” part. If you can slightly deviate from the typical “I gained leadership experience” and “I overcame this challenge,” you’d do fine. For example, perhaps you can say that from your involvement, you were inspired to start your own business and that has revamped you as a person. It might only be a slight deviation, but it makes you “stand out” from the other applicants. Those are the things that I did on my application.</p>

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<p>Again, I faced the same dilemma as you. What my Professor suggested was to focus on a specific position (Which for me was my position as a VP of the Business Club). I think you can discuss the leadership skills on the second prompt if you want to, but I focused more on my specific characteristic to make it “stand out.”</p>

<p>Also, from Haas’s website, “On January, Students will be e-mailed instructions from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions which will include the Haas Self-Reported Academic Record, additional essay questions and resume template.” As you can see, there are additional essay questions, so maybe you can even talk further about your previously untold experience here. I don’t know what the essay questions are because they will send the questions out on January.</p>

<p>And from one of your EC, I’d assume you’re an Indonesian? If yes, I’m also an Indonesian and it’s nice to see another Indonesian applying for Haas. You have strong ECs and if you’re able to maintain a 4.0 GPA and finishes all the pre-requisites, you’re a competitive applicant for Haas. If I get accepted and decided to attend Haas, I guess I’ll see you there two years from now. Good luck.</p>

3

<p>Another DVC student, that is great to know. I look forward to having you in the club next semester. We have a lot planned for our members.</p>

4

<p>Thank you for your generous reply.</p>

<p>Cresent, yes I am an Indonesian. Are you? What a small world, I just joined this forum through google and another fellow countrymen is the first to reply me.</p>

<p>I wish you the best of luck. Are you fine with sharing your personal statement for Haas? I have an army of personal statements by my side, but only one from Indonesia.</p>

5

<p>Russkiy_Bear, are you in PBL too? I look forward to meeting you next year (:</p>

6

<p>^^ is that you Bob?</p>

7

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<p>If I get accepted, sure.</p>

8

<p>I wouldn’t worry <em>too</em> much about the UC essays if your objective is Haas because they hardly look at them. I spoke to them, and aside from making sure you didn’t cut and paste, their main focus is on their own essays and resume. And yes, that is somewhat disappointing to hear after you’ve spent so much on your first set of essays.</p>

9

<p>I’m not sure if you’re right, MB260E… Because last year alone, I knew more than 4 people who are rejected from Haas even when they’ve gotten 4.0, and I think being an international student alone is not the reason. and Haas have pointed out that their admission is 35% PS.</p>

10

<p>Yes, I knew people who had 4.0 GPA’s as well that were rejected…but I never said that was the issue. I also never said anything about being an international student. I said to keep your focus on the Haas Essays and don’t stress <em>so</em> much on the UC questions. However what you do is ultimately up to you, good luck as an international student, CA needs the added revenue.</p>

11

<p>OH i see… I thought the Haas questions is what you were referring to as dont stress on it so much. Any tips for the Haas questions btw?</p>

12

<p>Yes, I am the Vice President of Finance.</p>

13

<p>^^^ OMG, for a loooong time, I thought u r Michael.</p>

14

<p>Hahahaha, no. I am not Michael.</p>

15

<p>oh, i go to DVC too</p>

16

<p>Geez, are all of the Haas admits from DVC/Foothill? Or is it simply because not enough SoCal students are serious enough about getting into Haas?</p>