10 Tips for Writing UC Personal Insight Answers

Author: Miriam Schaffer

High school seniors planning to apply to the University of California (UC) will benefit by beginning to work on the personal insight portion of their application. The UC application now includes eight personal insight questions and applicants are required to answer four of them with a maximum of 350 words each.

The UC personal insight questions connect with UC’s comprehensive review, which is a process that the UC evaluators use to consider applicants beyond test scores and grades to evaluate a student’s academic achievements “in light of the opportunities available to them and the capacity each student demonstrates to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus.” Click here to go to the UC website and read more about comprehensive review.

Tips for Writing UC Personal Insight Answers

1. Remember the goal of the essays is to help the admissions committee to get to know you better. Write answers to the questions that showcase your personality and accomplishments.
2. You cannot tell your entire life story.  Focus on specific instances that bring your achievements and character to light. Think of each answer as a snapshot of who you are and what you have accomplished.
3. Remember the evaluators are reading lots of applications. To stand out, be sure to answer the question, and also include some specific and if possible, out-of-the-ordinary elements, so it does not seem to be the same typical answer that dozens of students submit.
4. Be careful with humor. If you think something’s funny, but it’s actually not amusing, or in poor taste, your answer will be unsuccessful. Have a teacher, counselor, college advisor, or others read your work and give you honest feedback.
5. Each of your personal insight responses should be read and commented on by others prior to submittal. In addition to receiving feedback on the topic, make sure you have your work proofread and have any grammatical errors corrected.
6. When beginning on each answer, write down ideas that come to mind and include specific examples that relate to your ideas.
7. Consider making each of the four answers different so that you are not repeating yourself. After completing all four, think about whether the answers “paint” a picture of who you are, your character, personality, achievements, and values.
8. You might want to end each of the 350 word personal insight answers by explaining how you benefitted, or what you learned from the instance you have described.
9. Don’t just say that you are imaginative or a math whiz, give an example, and explain why that is important and any impact it has on your life, your community, or maybe the world.
10. You can conclude your answers by commenting on how you hope what you have learned will be a part of your college studies, or perhaps your future.

Get Help Writing Your UC Personal Insight Answers

Sometimes students feel stuck and don’t know how to start writing. Colleges for You works with students from start to finish. We will help you with brainstorming ideas to develop your personal insight answers, work with you on edits all the way until your work is ready to submit with your application. To get started on your UC personal insight answers, contact us. There’s a lot of work to be done to create winning work. Don’t wait until the last minute.

UC has a tip sheet to help freshman applicants with writing answers to the personal insight questions. 

• Written By: Miriam Schaffer
• September 05, 2016

New Coalition of Colleges and Universities Join Together to Prepare Students for College Application Process

Author: Miriam Schaffer

A coalition of colleges and universities is coming together with what the goal of improving the college admission application process for students. The coalition is developing a free platform of online tools to supposedly streamline the experience of planning for applying to college. The platform was scheduled to be available to students beginning in January 2016, but is now expected to be launched four or more months later.  

The coalition is called The Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. It currently includes more than 80 public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. including some of the nation's top tier higher education institutions such as Amherst College, Brown University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University and more. Click here to see the full list. 

Later this year the Coalition will share details about its college planning and application tools that will streamline the admissions and financial aid processes and allow students to begin planning for college early in their high school years. The online tools will include a digital portfolio. The platform has the goal of leveling the playing field for students applying to college. 

Many Coalition schools will accept applications through the portal next summer, while others are still deciding when and how to use the application feature of the new system. 

Go to the Coalition's website, www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org for more information, and also check back on this site for updates and details. 

• Written By: Miriam Schaffer
• October 01, 2015

FAFSA Filing Date

Author: Miriam Schaffer

For students attending college in 2018-2019, The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be submitted beginning October 1, 2017.

Tax returns from 2016 will be used so the applicants do not have to estimate. The benefit of the October filing date is that students may receive their financial aid packages more quickly. 

Colleges for You advises students on their college applications, including college essays and personal statements, from Walnut Creek, Danville, Alamo, Concord, Pleasant Hill and other San Francisco Bay Area cities. 

Click here for more information on the FAFSA.

• Written By: Miriam Schaffer
• May 22, 2017

California State University College Night in San Jose

Author: Miriam Schaffer

Learn about California State University campuses at California State University (CSU) College Night at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Wednesday, September 27 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. The Santa Clara Convention Center is located at 5001 Great America Pkwy in Santa Clara. Parking is free.

The event is free and is open to students, parents, and educators. Attendees can learn about all 23 CSU campuses, meet with CSU campus representatives, receive answers to questions, and participate in CSU admission and financial aid workshops.  

RSVP to SJSU.EDU/SOAR

Questions? Send an email to outreach@sjsu.edu, or call 408-924-2564.

• Written By: Miriam Schaffer
• May 22, 2017

UC undergrad application to be available August 1

Author: Miriam Schaffer

High school seniors and others seeking undergraduate admission to the University of California for fall 2015 admission will be able to get started on the application on August 1, 2014, two full months earlier than in previous years. 

The August 1 application puts the UC application on a similar timeline as other selective research universities in the nation.

UC has its own application and does not use the Common App.

The August 1 date does not impact the application submittal date. Applicants will still need to submit the application between Nov. 1 and 30. 

• Written By: Miriam Schaffer
• April 27, 2014