For my UC personal statement should I what should I write about?

How to Write a Personal Statement for UC

• Answer:

  A personal statement is a key part of the University of California application package, whether you're an incoming freshman or a transfer student. This essay is meant to demonstrate your personality in addition to your academic and extracurricular achievements, and it is the sole opportunity for admissions officers to get a glimpse of your true character. Thus, making sure you follow certain guidelines and write and edit your personal statement carefully is key to your chances of acceptance. Difficulty: Moderately Challenging Things You'll Need UC application Word processor Proofreaders Instructions Carefully read and make sure you understand the two UC personal statement prompts before brainstorming for your essay and know that each response must be at least 250 words and no more than 1,000 words. Brainstorm essay ideas by asking yourself questions related to the prompt. California Colleges advocates using a "Level of Questions" strategy while brainstorming. Using this strategy, answers to the first level of questions provide detail about information on your application (for example, what classes do I excel in?). Level 2 questions are more open to interpretation, perhaps explaining why you're interested in a certain subject. The third level includes bigger issues not included in the application but supported by its contents, such as "How can I make a contribution to society using my math skills?" Review the expectations for personal statements before you begin writing, and keep the characteristics of a quality essay in mind. These factors include being honest and reflective, aiming for quality of content over quantity, including an attention-catching introduction to reel the reader in, and conforming to essay guidelines and style rules such as correct grammar and syntax. Write the first draft of your personal statement, where you'll try to capture and organize the main ideas of your essay and clearly state the concept. There should be an introductory paragraph with a thesis statement expressing the main idea of your essay, two to four supporting paragraphs with examples to illustrate your thesis statement, and a concluding paragraph that summarizes everything up in a heartfelt way without repeating points from the body of the essay. Revise your first draft with your readers (college admissions officers) in mind, asking yourself whether the introduction, body and conclusion of the essay are clearly distinguished. You should also check that the topic sentence of each paragraph is supported by evidence in the body of the paragraph, and that your ideas flow smoothly from one paragraph to another. Verify that the primary points of your essay are all supported with clear, meaningful explanations illustrating those main ideas. Read over your essay to check for accuracy and style--make sure you understand the meaning of any rarely used vocabulary you may have included and never use a long, complicated words when a simpler one will do. Also, make sure the essay conveys your own thoughts and personality rather than trying to be someone you're not. Give your personal statement to teachers, friends and parents to read and ask for their feedback. While you don't have to listen to all their suggestions, these readers may be able to give you some helpful tips that will make for a better, more polished essay. Read through your essay personally to make sure you've avoided some common mistakes, including repeating information already in the application, discussing the college's prestigious reputation or money, relying on gimmicks or cliches rather than quality content, or complaining about an obstacle in your life rather than telling how you overcame it. Proofread the essay carefully one final time after making any necessary changes as outlined above. Make sure there are no spelling or grammatical errors and that you have conveyed your message in the most concise, stylish manner possible. Tips & Warnings Tip: Give yourself ample time to proofread your personal statement. A good rule of thumb is to write the first draft, then set it aside for a few days before revising to get some perspective on your ideas.