For high school seniors applying to the UC system, November is often spent polishing up the Personal Insight Questions on the UC application. UC Personal Insight Questions (or UCPIQs) are shorter responses required for application to any college in the University of California system.
For the past 20 years, we at Green Ivy have been supporting students in developing strong, reflective responses that showcase their unique voices and personal experiences to the admissions committee. After attending the UC Counselor Conference a few weeks ago, we wanted to share some key takeaways and tips for putting your best foot forward with these responses.
- It’s not an essay.
The first thing UC admissions officers want to make clear to students about UCPIQs is that they are not intended to be 4 mini Personal Statements. While there is a generally agreed-upon structure to the Common App essay– an initial hook, leading into an engaging narrative that demonstrates personal growth, and followed by a concluding paragraph of reflection– the UCPIQs are not scored on structure or style at all. Instead, the UC admissions officers recommend students imagine that someone is sitting in front of them asking these questions, and to respond as though it were an interview. There is no introduction or conclusion necessary; one single text block is just fine. Clear and informative wins over flowery and effusive. 
- Focus on actions taken and impact.
The UCPIQs are intended to be informative, so responses should be chock-full with concrete examples. Admissions readers want to hear about the students’ life experiences– at the core of the questions is, the UC admissions team shared, “What have you done with available opportunities?”
- Demonstrate self-advocacy.
Remember that the UCPIQs are one of the few opportunities in this application to share who you are on a personal level, outside of courses, grades and activities, since the UC system doesn’t accept recommendation letters. Rather than creating pressure, they want to emphasize how liberating and important it is that students speak in their own voice. There are so many dimensions of being a high schooler that can’t be captured by courses and grades, and this is the place to expand on experiences that have been defining.
- “Insight” is crucial.
Though UCPIQs emphasize a factual tone over storytelling, and a conversational voice over eloquent language, they still strongly value the reflection involved in each response. Along with specific examples, admissions readers want to know the “why” behind each experience. Consider, why do you play this sport/do this service activity/practice this talent or skill? How has this experience informed your academic future and made you a better candidate for UC? Remember that the activities list already provides a space for you to give an outline of what occupies your time; the UCPIQs are the place to highlight and expand on specific experiences that have shaped your perspective and outlook.
- Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.
The UC admissions team makes a point of reassuring students that “sharing struggles is never going to affect them negatively,” writing responses are a chance to give context for what they have been able to achieve and what their experience has been. However, this vulnerability should be approached with intention and care; students should never feel pressured to talk about something that they haven’t processed or don’t feel ready to reflect on quite yet.
We hope that these tips help quell some anxieties as students finalize their responses in the coming week! Remember that not only is the application process comprehensive– meaning that no one aspect will make or break your application status – but you are more than any essay, test score, or admission outcome.
You can do this!