<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>