UC Personal Statement Prompt #1

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

<p>The prompt says: 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.</p>

<p>I plan to major in aerospace/mechanical engineering but I find it extremely difficult to write my personal statement connecting my world to why I want to be an engineer. </p>

<p>Question: For the personal statement, do I necessarily have to write why I want to be an engineer or can I personalize it with my dream/aspirations being that I want to be an leader/role model/person of understanding? </p>

<p>My world is growing up in a place very different from where I went to high school. I want to explain how that place is part of who I am; however, I am having trouble relating it to why I want to be an engineer (I want to work with airplanes because I like the thought of freedom in the air).</p>

2

<p>I think your PS should be more genuine. Don’t forcefully weave a topic into your PS if it doesn’t work. It might work against you :(!</p>

<p>The topic is somewhat open ended, so it doesn’t really have to explain why you want to major in x major, etc…</p>

3

<p>If you talk about why you want to be an engineer then your personal statement should reflect your passion about the major. You mentioned that you like the freedom of flying, so you should talk about that and how you first became interested in flying. The point of the personal statement is for admissions to try to get a sense of who you are. You need to come across as an interesting person.</p>