<p>So I received an email from UCSD requesting more information about me. It contained three questions,</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do you believe your grades and test Scores accurately reflect your academic ability and preparation? Please explain.</p></li>
<li><p>Describe in greater detail any talent, skill or ability you included in your list of extra curricular activities or mentioned in your personal statement for the UC application and how the pursuit of this activity may or may not have affected your Academic achievement thus far.</p></li>
<li><p>Are there any personal circumstances such as employment, family responsibilities or illness that have significantly hampered your ability to achieve academically thus far? How do you feel the circumstances have prepared you to overcome any personal challenges that might occur while at UCSD?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I don't even know how to respond to these question I feel like my stats aren't good enough so they're basically searching for some sob story so they can admit me. </p>
<p>And as for the main question I don't know how honest to be my father was incarcerated for 27 years for murder so I was raised by my mother who worked long hours to support us financially as best she could but as a result she never had any energy to really look after our studies I basically had to become independent at a young age but I don't want to disclose this information I feel it will have a negative affect on my admission and the email stated that my response would be crucial to my acceptance. </p>
<p>Additionally regarding question 1 I don't know how to respond I mean I have an overall 4.2 gpa not sure what my UC gpa is exactly I believe it's a 3.9 but my sat scores are not ideal but I mean I've taken a pretty rigorous coursload compared to the average student at my school should I say yes I'm confused. </p>
<p>If you've managed to read this essay thank you! I really appreciate it and thanks in advance for any responses. (If any :))</p>
<p>Answer as honestly as you can, without worrying too much about the reasons why you’re asked these supplementary questions. It’s not like you have to justify anything: you have good grades, have taken rigorous courses, and have had to become fairly self-reliant due to a somewhat unusual family situation. Address that situation in question 3, but do it in a factual way without making it a ‘sob’ story. Sort of how you did it in your post, but just a tad more formally.</p>
<p>I assume that this is similar to the supplement that Berkeley uses. It is triggered by any hint in your essay of a disability or hardship that might have caused you to perform to less than your full potential. I would guess that there was something in one of your essays that caused them to send this. It does not mean that they are not already impressed by your stats. Disclosing your personal situation will help you because it will tell them that you can achieve even more than your already very strong GPA indicates. They will be very impressed with how well you have handled yourself thus far, especially in light of your tough home situation. Your experience reflects well on you. Be proud of what you have accomplished and honest about your circumstances. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you guys so much for your responses it makes me feel a lot better! At first I didn’t know how to feel about this but you guys have eased my mind I just have one more quick inquiry, in the email it stated that this should not take more than 5 minutes to fill out, while I’m sure they do not mean this literally I’m guessing they want a more concise and to the point answer. So I’m not sure if I should write a paragraph two paragraphs a page. It’s really unclear on the length of the response, so I don’t want to overdo it and annoy the admissions officers but then again I definitely don’t want to underdo it since it is ‘crucial’ to my acceptance.</p>
<p>Disclose. It will not have a negative effect on your admission. If you research how UC scores applications, you will find that there are points given or overcoming difficult circumstances. Points can be given for a special talent, etc. It is part of the holistic review. Take this opportunity to supplement or application seriously. While you have a nice GPA, competition is fierce and you may be on the " bubble ". The answers to these questions could tip you into the “admit” pile. You can explain your circumstances without writing a sob story. Good luck to you .</p>
<p>"I don’t even know how to respond to these question I feel like my stats aren’t good enough so they’re basically searching for some sob story so they can admit me. </p>
<p>And as for the main question I don’t know how honest to be my father was incarcerated for 27 years for murder so I was raised by my mother who worked long hours to support us financially as best she could but as a result she never had any energy to really look after our studies I basically had to become independent at a young age but I don’t want to disclose this information I feel it will have a negative affect on my admission and the email stated that my response would be crucial to my acceptance. "</p>
<p>“they want a more concise and to the point answer”</p>
<p>Concise is good! (They read a zillion apps…) But fully informative, too. Just follow your gut. It’s served you well so far. (Congratulatory smile.)</p>
<p>Again i would like to thank everyone for their replies cc has been so helpful to me in my pursuit of receiving a higher education so I am very thankful for those that take the time out of their busy lives to help those like myself who don’t really have those that they can turn to with these concerns. With that said I have decided on two paragraph responses but as of now with response 3 alone I have a couple of pages so needless to say I have quite a bit of editing to do lol :)</p>
<p>I just received the same questions in an email I received two days ago. I’m just wondering the amount of people they send this to, I couldn’t find much on UCSD supplements but more on Cal and LA.</p>