Prepping for UC Interviews

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PERSONAL INSIGHT QUESTIONS

UC applicants are asked to respond to 4 out of 8 questions, and each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.

Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you... But you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

THE UC INSIGHT QUESTIONS:

  1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

  2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.

  3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

  4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

  5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has the challenge affected your academic achievement?

  6. Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influence you.

  7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

  8. What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?

Visit https://www.ucal.us/personalquestions for more information and to download student worksheets. ►

💡SUGGESTIONS FOR ANSWERING PERSONAL INSIGHT QUESTIONS...

Answer the question. Take time and think before you start writing. Use details and examples to make your point. Write to add context and depth, not to fill space. Show them “who” you are. Remember, it is a personal insight, so the use of “I” and “me” are okay!

Give yourself time to edit. Start writing to address the subject, then go back and review the word count, content and overall message.

Brainstorm topics. When you are composing your Personal Statement, consider including:

  • Personal triumphs/challenges – If you decide to talk about a challenge or triumph, do not forget to explain what you learned from the experience.

  • Leadership opportunities – Define your leadership role, your accomplishments and what you learned from the experience.

  • Experiences outside the classroom – Consider experiences that have made an impact on your life (e.g. travels, church or temple, work, youth group or your family.

  • Disabilities – If you are living with a disability, talk about it! What does it mean to live with your disability?

Stay Focused. Avoid common mistakes:

  • Inappropriate use of humor

  • Creative writing (poems, scene-setting or clichés)

  • Repetition – Give them new information they cannot find in other sections of your application

  • Acronyms – they won’t look them up, so spell it out and explain what it is, when necessary