Personal Statement 2015 - 2016

•  Why do I need to write this? 1.  This is YOUR

opportunity to introduce yourself and note the personal things that have occurred in your life.

2.  If a personal statement is not done, your application is incomplete.

The Purpose of the Personal Statement

•  2 Prompts •  Students Respond to

BOTH Prompts –  A maximum of 1,000

words total •  Students Choose the

Length of Each Response –  If they choose to

respond to one prompt at a greater length, we suggest the shorter response be no less than 250-300 words.

The UC Personal Statement 2015-2016

Describe the world you come from-for example, your family, community or

school-and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Prompt #1

Prompt 1

Tell us about a personal quality, talent,

accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What

about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate

to the person you are?

Prompt #2

Prompt 2

10. Start Thanksgiving Weekend!!!!!

9. Answer 1 Prompt with 1000 words and ignore the other one

8. No creativity, attention getters or quotes

7. No Slang or foul language

6. Choose rough draft readers by picking people that already think you’re perfect. Your favorite people read with a bias, and we, UC strangers, are not grading grammar or misspelled words

The Top 10 of HORRIBLE UC Personal Statements

5. Don’t be Culturally, Geographically or Educationally Offensive

4. Always remember it is a statement, not a story. Only talk about recent (9th-12th grade) items and watch out for vivid/graphic imagery

3. Do not Use SAT Words, big words, thesaurus words

2. No arrogance, but please show confidence

The Top 10 of HORRIBLE UC Personal Statements

# Do not show preference to one UC Campus when ALL campuses that

the student selected are reading the same application!

The Top 10 of HORRIBLE UC Personal Statements

•  Use the Additional Comments box for clarification and expansion on important details:

–  Additional Names –  Visa Issues –  If you are in foster care –  Additional Activities

•  The Additional Comments Box is NOT for more grade

explanation, or stating that you really want to get into a UC. You can give academic history information in the Educational History Box

The Additional Comments Box

The Additional Comments Box

QUESTIONS?

Thank You for Listening!

University of California, Irvine Office of Admissions