How to Write a UC Essay and Personal Statement
Having an effective personal statement is essential in gaining admittance into the University of California system. Whether you apply as an incoming freshman or a transfer student, the purpose of the personal statement essay is to demonstrate why you would fit into a particular UC campus. It is a reflection of your personality and expresses your academic and extracurricular achievements as well as your life aspirations. The personal statement allows the faculty of admissions a brief glimpse of your character. Taking special care to follow certain guidelines can improve your chances of admission.
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Instructions
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Spend some time to carefully review the UC personal statement guidelines and procedures. Know that they require a minimum of 250 words and a maximum of 1,000 words. Once you understand the university's expectations for the personal statement, brainstorm ideas and facts you would like to include in the essay.
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Begin the brainstorming process by using a "Level of Questions" strategy that many representatives of California Colleges advocate. The first level of questions brings to light information about you that can also be supported by your application, such as subjects you excel in or extracurricular activities you enjoy. The second level of questions is open to interpretation and may include why you have interest in a particular subject. The third level of questions involves larger issues that are not necessarily indicated in your application. This final level would include thoughts such as how you plan to make a contribution to society using your special gifts or talents.
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Remember the expectations and characteristics that define the UC personal statement essay. Rather than try to impress the faculty members with ideas you think they might appreciate, it is recommended that you remain honest and reflective throughout the process. Quality is valued over quantity, so engage the reader and give him a taste of who you are and what you have to contribute.
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Practice organizing your thoughts by writing a first draft of the UC personal statement. This would include an introduction with a thesis statement, between two and four paragraphs to support your thesis statement, and a concluding paragraph to summarize the personal statement. The thesis statement is essentially a question you wish to prove and answer throughout the essay. It should include an argument, supporting points and the significance of the argument.
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Revise any necessary sections of the draft, making sure your points are well delivered and clearly distinguished. Make sure the paragraphs easily transition from one to the next. Review the essay thoroughly to check for accuracy, style and comprehension. To help with this process, you may want to have teachers, friends and family members review your essay to gain their feedback.
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Write the essay according to UC guidelines after you have carefully constructed the draft, and proofread the essay multiple times to ensure accuracy and an engaging delivery.
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Tips & Warnings
Allow yourself to spend time writing the essay, giving careful thought to its content rather than rushing through it at the last minute. Setting it aside for a few days at a time between drafts and reviews will allow you time to refresh your thoughts and offer new insight to its content.
Rather than typing the essay directly onto the UC application, it is much easier to have the final draft saved as a Word document and then copy and paste this directly onto the application.
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