How to write your personal insight questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Davis
1

I’m applying to a few uc schools and i’m curious what they look for in their personal insight questions. I told a story in two of my essays which were well written and eloquently worded to provide a story arc. However one of my friends that attends a UC currently says that I should remove that and write my essays more like it is an interview. She says that they don’t need a beautifully written story over an essay that resembles how I would respond in an interview.

Does anyone know the pros and cons to both sides and which the UC’s likely prefer? I can see the benefits to writing both ways, i’m just unsure if the whole interview thing is actually true.

2

Yes it says on the UC Application that it should be like an interview. And your friend is right it should not be a story. It should be a short answer to the questions. You should avoid writing a story but a little background isn’t bad just make sure it’s brief and most of your answer is answering the question.