UC Personal Statements

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

<p>The one piece of advice I received over and over again from this year’s graduating seniors was to think about my personal statements over the summer. I’ve been looking at the three short answer prompts for UC’s (<a href=“http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/how_apply/personal_statement.html[/url]”>http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions/undergrad_adm/apply/how_apply/personal_statement.html</a>), and I’m getting a little freaked out by the first prompt:</p>

<p>Freshman applicants only: How have you taken advantage of the educational opportunities you have had to prepare for college?</p>

<p>I have no idea what I can write about for the first prompt because I’ve never participated in any “educational preparation programs” or “summer enrichment programs.” (Though I really regret not taking an initiative in looking for programs that interested me in past summers now…)</p>

<p>I know I’m not supposed to stray too far from the prompt or else my essay will be deemed “off topic” and awful things will happen, but what can I write about without experience in the kinds of programs listed as part of the prompt?</p>

<p>I’m only planning on applying to UC’s, and my stats are pretty borderline for my target campuses, so I need to make my personal statements good!</p>

<p>Any advice will be greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>Educational opportunities are the classes/programs you have been in since you started your education. You can talk about teachers, programs, coaches, the librarian, science olympiad, your principal etc. Be creative and think about where in your education you have been most influenced by someone/something. Somewhere along the line you have been influenced, it could even be in a negative way. Talk about your struggle to realize and then overcome that struggle, or the postive influence and the resulting changes in your life. No one goes through school without being influenced by others; you just need to capture that influence and make it palpable.</p>

3

<p>Thank you so much for the awesome advice! Just from reading your response, I got a few ideas I could work with already. :)</p>

4

<p>Hey dude, no problem.</p>

5

<p>Maybe talk about a sport also</p>

6

<p>I would love to, but I'm just about the least athletic person ever and I've never been on any kind of sports team before. -_-</p>