<p>I'm interested in getting a head start on my essays and I just want to make sure the personal statements are up-to-date for 2009 graduates. Here's what they have on the page:</p>
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<p>The prompts for 2008 were changed from 2007. Previous to 2008, the prompts were the same for a number of years I believe, so I think it's unlikely that prompts will change for the 2009 year.
If you want to be absolutly safe though, I believe the 2009 applications will be out in August, maybe late August as they were last year if I remember correctly.</p>
<p>They probably won't change it again for a while, so get started!</p>
<p>The reason they changed it was to make the questions broader to allow for more diverse content in the essays that people want to write about but could not. In a sense, they are giving you more freedom with it.</p>
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If you want to be absolutly safe though, I believe the 2009 applications will be out in August, maybe late August as they were last year if I remember correctly.
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<p>October 1st, actually, but the filing period doesn't start until November 1st.</p>
<p>To the OP: the prompts you see should be the prompts that you will be writing on. I remember when the prompts were changed, and everyone was confused--did it mean the prompts were for those applying for fall 2008 admission or for those who will be applying in the fall of 2008? I asked many others (counselors, etc.) and emailed UC, and it turned out to be the former. Unless they change the prompts again--and I highly doubt they will--then you can rest assured that these prompts will be the ones on the application in October.</p>
<p>Plus, even if they get changed, you'll get practice writing college essays, as well as some ideas that you could probably use later in other essays.</p>