Emphasis is on the UC application

Personal Statement

Activities

On-line Application

Personal Statement

• Enables applicant to make the best case possible for admission.

This is not a sad story to make the reader feel sorry for you.

If it has nothing to do with admissions, then it was a waste of your and the reader’s time.

Personal Statement• Adds clarity, depth and meaning to

information collected in other parts of the UC application

You can’t fill in the “holes” of the application until you have completed the application

Readers will ask….

What does this have to do with the application?

Do the application first !!!!!!

Question #1

Rationale: • The University seeks to enroll students who

take initiative in pursuing their education (for example, developing a special interest in science, language or the performing arts, or becoming involved in special programs such as EAOP, MESA, Puente, or COSMOS). This question seeks to understand a student’s motivation and dedication to learning.

Question 1• How have you taken advantage of the

educational opportunities you have had to prepare for college?Pick one thing and go in depth.

Not a list of what you did.

How did this activity or pursuit make you better able to be successful at the University?

Why should they think you will be more successful than you would have been had you not taken advantage of these opportunities.

Did you do this because you have a passion for something in particular?

Advice• Don’t tell them….

• Show them

– “I am an exciting person” ….(that is telling them)

– Let them come to the conclusion that you are an exciting person based on the essay.

Question 1Write based on the Rationale they gave you.

That is why they gave it to you!

Rationale: The University seeks to enroll students who take initiative in pursuing their education (for example, developing a special interest in science, language or the performing arts, or becoming involved in special programs such as EAOP, MESA, Puente, or COSMOS). This question seeks to understand a student’s motivation and dedication to learning.

Question 1

• EAP, MESA, Puente, Cosmos– These are UC programs

• If you did any of these…– How did it change you, or how did it change

how you approach your academics?

Question 1

• Key terms– Initiative– Motivation– Dedication

– Don’t tell them….show them!

Question 2

Rationale: • The University welcomes the

contributions each student brings to the campus learning community. This question seeks to determine an applicant’s academic or creative interests and potential to contribute to the vitality of the University

Question 2

–Tell us about a talent, experience, contribution or personal quality you will bring to the University of California.

Notice the “OR” !!!!

Question 2

Quality vs. Quantity• Your personal qualities

– Responsibility– Resiliency– Organization– Discipline

– Organize family, cook dinner, etc.

This is taking on a lot of responsibility.

Question 2

• Do you run your own business?

• Do you organize events?

• Do you have something you are passionate about?

• Are you involved in activities that bring people together?

• What can you give that makes the campus better for everyone?

Question 3Rationale: • This question seeks to give students the

opportunity to share important aspects of their schooling or their lives — such as their personal circumstances, family experiences and opportunities that were or were not available at their school or college — which may not have been sufficiently addressed elsewhere in the application.

Question 3

• You must fill out the application before you can say what was not addressed in the application.

– Did you have a dip in grades?– Did the types of classes you were taking change?– Did you not take the types of classes that you were

capable of taking?– Are you missing community service, clubs, sports, or

some other activity?– Did you have a time when you weren’t in a regular

school setting?

Question 3

• Is there anything you would like us to know about you or your academic record that you have not had the opportunity to describe elsewhere in this application?

Question 3

Complaint by readers…

Kids think this is a dumping ground….

the essay should have something to do with the application.

Question 3

They ask for ‘anything’ in the question.

How many things is “anything”?

1

Question 3Cinderella and Level 3 questioning

Level 1:Details

How many sisters does Cinderella have?

Level 2: Topic Sentence

Why does the stepmother hate her?

Level 3: Thesis statement

Why do women think that they need a man to save them?

Question 3

Level 1: How many Honors and AP classes?

Level 2: Why does the student work?

Why did the grades drop?

Level 3: Why is it so important for the student to do well?

Question 3

• The “so what” test…

– My parents divorced…..so what?– It effected my grades….so what?– This is what I did to overcome…so what?– This is how I approach challenges differently

Question 3

Avoid cliches.

If you use a quote (not necessarily encouraged), make sure you attribute it to the author.

Don’t say it….show it.

Advice

Don’t leave the reader feeling down when they evaluate your essay.

End on a positive note.

Answer Level 3 Questions

• Level one: What does it say?

• Level two: What does it mean?

• Level three: Why/how does it matter?

Question 3

Make sure this question relates to the application… tie it together.

Don’t go over the word limit.

Relax

Step 7: The Personal Statement

Use this box to clarify other information in application

Limit: 250 words

Different names

1 course in college to fulfill a-g

Language validated through test

On-line tutorial for writing the personal

statement…

www.ucgateways.org

Activities

• They don’t need to know about 1 day activities (unless that is all you have).

• They are looking for sustained activity– If you did beach clean-ups…lump them

together with a common start and end date…

list the total hours of your beach clean-ups combined.

Activities

• Key Club – various activities– No Points

• Key Club – helped tutor students, gave school tours– Points

Activities

Your Activities and Community Service do not need to come from RBHS.

Clubs

• Don’t assume they know what a club is.

Give them an idea of the type of service the club does.

Awards

• Put most significant awards first

• Many students don’t have much here

• Silver-star- no points Same for CSF and NHS Unless you did “an activity” as a part of the

program

Awards

• Athletic Awards– include

• All conference• CIF champions

• Scouting

• Music

• etc

Leadership

• Any positions since 9th grade– Especially

• President, vice-president• Section leader• Eagle Scout• Religious school teacher• Coach for younger kids• Etc.

Hours

• Hopefully you kept a log of activities

• Estimate the number of hour that you participated in your activities

• List activities that you plan on being involved in this year. Estimate an end date if the activity is ongoing.

Prep Programs

• AVID

• Test Review

• Summer Programs (not our summer school)

• Programs that help you prepare for college or career

Work Experience

Getting Started…ALL first-time applicants start here!

Review links, including scholarship info and checklist

Take the virtual tour

On return visits, log in under “Retrieve Your Application”

ELC-evaluated students access their personalized applications here

Helpful HintsSAVE Constantly!

– You will be logged out and lose your work!!!

Click on information iconto learn moreabout an item

Click on question-mark to get detailed instructions

Click “show me how” to see virtual tour

• Your user name can not be retrieved

• Turn off spam-blockers (or you may not get your email from the University)

• SSID #– this is optional– at this time only the registrar has a copy of it

(The person you see for transcripts.)

Do not use your browser back and forward arrows.

Use the arrows in the program

It will reset the timer for you.

You are a freshman, even if you come in with enough college credits to be a sophomore.

Many schools do not accept sophomores.

Why does it say NH (non honors) for my Honors Class?

• Don’t worry!

• They know it was an honors class.

• The NH just means that it is not on a 5.0 scale.

Fee Waiver• Up to 4 schools

• Apply for fee waiver in the application

• If you were turned down …and

there is a family illness, lost job, or some other recent event…

Chose pay by mail and write a letter requesting a fee waiver.

Time Line• 3-4 weeks later

– You will get a written confirmation and an ID #.

– Save the ID #– You will need it for further communication

• MARCH

They will post admission status on-line

Q & A

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