The Personal Statement
The University of California has approved using two questions rather
than a single essay in the personal statement section of the 2008-09 UC application.
When you apply for admission to the University of California, you must submit
a personal statement as part of your application. This personal statement
is a very important part of your application for both admission and
scholarships and should be given special time and attention.
Even though you may apply to several UC campuses, you may submit only a
single personal statement for your application. You will find some suggestions
and opinions from admissions counselors and administrators at UC Irvine to
help you in writing your responses. While this information may not
necessarily reflect the opinions of other campuses or universities,
the material presented here should be helpful.
Why is the Personal Statement Important?
The purpose of the personal statement is to give you an opportunity to
tell us important things about yourself that are not addressed or apparent
in the application. There are also instructions relating to particular
items in the application, i.e., Special Program Participation which
requests information that you can discuss in your personal statement. In
making decisions about admission and scholarships, we want to consider
your personal attributes and gain some sense of who you are; your
experiences, accomplishments, and a variety of qualities such as
motivation, self-discipline, leadership, commitment to others, as well
as your academic record. In addition, you should include your intended
field of study and your career goals.
Each year, UC Irvine receives applications from many more students than we can
admit, and the academic records of these students are usually very
similar. In order to discover and evaluate the distinctions among these
applicants, UC Irvine looks closely at an individual's entire application. The
academic record, information about accomplishments and activities, and
the personal statement help us gain insight into a student's level of
achievement and character. Taken together, these factors enable us to
weigh what UC Irvine can offer the applicant with what the applicant can
contribute to the enrichment of the UC Irvine campus community. In some cases,
the personal statement can be a critical factor in the selection process.
Great care should be taken to make sure that the personal statement
conveys exactly what you intend it to convey.
Mechanics of Writing the Personal Statement
Carefully read the instructions printed in the application packet or in
the electronic application, especially the instructions for the personal
statement. A common mistake applicants make is to skim the instructions
contained in the application packet and rely on information received from
others. Take time to read and understand all the instructions so your
application is a true and complete reflection of you. When applicable or
appropriate, review items in the application which may ask you to discuss
(in the personal statement) the scope and context of your participation.
Instructions and Prompts for Fall 2008
- Respond to both prompts, using a maximum of 1,000 words total.
- You may allocate the word count as you wish. If you choose
to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest your
shorter answer be no less than 250 words.
- Stay within the word limit as closely as you can. A little over
- 1,012 words, for example - is fine.
Questions
Prompt #1 (freshman applicants)
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 (transfer applicants)
What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject
developed and describe any experience you have had in the field - such
as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student
organizations and activities - and what you have gained from your involvement.
Prompt #2 (all applicants)
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?
UC Irvine expects you to write the personal statement yourself; write in
your own voice. At the same time, it is probably wise to have a friend,
teacher, or parent read the statement to advise you on how well it conveys
what you want it to say, and if it reflects who you really are. Remember:
the purpose of the personal statement is to help UC Irvine know you on a personal level.
Recognize both the importance of the personal statement and the difficulty
of the task. The statement is not something that should be scribbled
just before you send your application. Give yourself enough time to
produce a thoughtful and carefully composed personal statement. It may
be a significant factor in your selection to UC Irvine.
What Does the University Look For in the Personal Statement?
Your personal statement needs to clearly convey what you think is important
for us to know about you. In reading your statement, we look for personal
characteristics that include creativity, intellectual curiosity and
achievement, personal initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence,
exceptional recognition and rare talent, the ability to overcome
hardship and get along with others, and service to others. In any
case, your statement should clearly convey what you think is important
for us to know about you and convey a sense of a full human being behind
the GPA and test scores. If you are applying to a specific major, you
should discuss your interest in your intended field of study.
What is a Good Personal Statement?
There is no single "perfect" personal statement. However, successful
statements tend to be those that reveal the individuality and appeal
of the applicant. Remember that your application will be compared to
those of other competitive students, many of whom have shared similar
experiences such as activities in student government, travel to other
countries, participation in sports, and volunteer activities. Your
approach in expressing yourself may be an important factor. What we want
to learn about you is how the activity, job, or experience you write
about has changed your attitude, solidified a belief, established a
goal, sharpened a perception, or heightened an appreciation. We look
for definitions of your values and goals, and how they have been
demonstrated in your life. We look for meaningful participation, not
just a listing of activities. We also look for a sense of your
uniqueness and the contribution to UC Irvine that you may make.
The personal statement may be the place for you to explain something
on the application that needs explaining (an out-of-character grade,
a poor term, a break in your education, or other such things). Ask
someone who knows you well (and likes you) to read the statement to
see if the real you comes across.
What the Personal Statement is Not
The personal statement should not be a sample of writing skills, although
we assume that your presentation will be grammatically correct. The
statement should not be a listing of activities and honors, since this
information can be found elsewhere in the application. It should not be
a chronicle of events or an autobiography. The statement is about You,
not about events.
Your personal statement should not be predictable and one-dimensional.
A statement that tells facts only and never mentions changes in you
doesn't add to UC Irvine's understanding of who you are. In deciding what
to write about, it is not the subject which is critical. What is
important is what you learned, how you changed, how your sense of
direction was solidified, how your image of yourself or others changed,
and so on. The operative concept here is what made you different and
unique and individual, and what wonderful things you can bring to UC Irvine
because of your experience. Avoid the personal statement that is not
you. Forcing yourself to write a humorous statement if you are a
serious person probably won't work well for you. While a sense of
humor is a valuable and appealing quality, statements that attempt to
be exceptionally funny tend to be clumsy and do not usually help your
cause.
What should I write about if I am applying to the Educational Opportunity
Program (EOP) or UCLA's Academic Advancement Program (AAP)?
EOP and AAP are programs for students, regardless of race or ethnicity,
from low income families in which the parents are not college graduates.
If you wish to apply for EOP or AAP, you should discuss your reasons.
At least one paragraph should address challenges you may have experienced
in and out of the classroom, and the benefits you feel the programs
might provide to you.
What Should I Discuss if I am a Transfer Student?
In addition to suggestions cited above, you should discuss your interest
in your intended major, describing any related work or volunteer experience
and explaining the way your interest in the field developed. In general,
your statement should focus on relatively recent activities and
experiences, although UC Irvine is interested in any special circumstances
that may have had a significant impact on you earlier in life.
What if I am Applying for a Scholarship?
The University seeks information about exceptional achievements that
qualify you for scholarship awards. Your personal statement should
elaborate on the information in the activities, honors, awards, and
employment section of the application. You should define your
motivation, achievement, leadership, and commitment.
How Will My Personal Statement be Evaluated?
Your personal statement is part of your total application. The
application and statement are reviewed by professional staff personnel
which may include Admissions and Relations with Schools counselors,
faculty members, instructors, and other campus personnel. While the
personal statement is not the deciding factor in the evaluation of
your application, it can be a very important feature in the selection
process. UC Irvine personnel look for leadership, academic curiosity, service
to others, contributions to the community around you, as well as
special interests, achievements, and aspirations.
How Do I Get More Information?
Your teachers and counselors in your high school or community college
are good sources of further information about how to write the personal
statement. You may also want to consult other resource materials in your
counseling office, career guidance center, transfer center, or local
library. Keep in mind, however, that different colleges and universities
have different essay requirements and probably look for different kinds
of information. For that reason, the essay you submit with your
application to the University of California may not be appropriate for
applications to other colleges and universities.
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