<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>
<p>
</p>
<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>
<p>
</p>
<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>