Eva Glasrud completed her B.A. and M.A. at Stanford. She is now a college counselor and life coach for gifted youth.
[This article is part of a new series where we will be dissecting each of the UC essay prompts in depth, providing examples and tips on how you can make your application stand out.]
Click here to read yesterday’s post about UC Prompt #2.
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This is one of the more straightforward prompts that can seem easy to answer if you have a tangible talent that you want schools to know about. Maybe you’re a music prodigy or you can bake the most amazing cakes or you’ve been an undefeated Debate champion. In that case, you’re in luck! This prompt is as close to a no-brainer as you’ll get.
But what if you don’t feel like you have any talents? I mean seriously, there’s no shame in feeling like you’re not particularly good at anything remarkable, because trust me, you’re not alone. But there is a way to write this essay even if you don’t have any tangible talents that you could theoretically perform at a talent show. In fact, less defined talents could make for more unique essays that stand out from the thousands of people who will write about their piano.
In fact, a better way to think about this prompt is, “What’s something you’re passionate about and how have you realized and developed that passion?”
I would also like to emphasize that the talent itself is not as important as the journey you took to develop that talent . Maybe your talent is as ridiculous and quirky as being really good at whistling. Clearly, that’s not something that is going to make much of a contribution to the world, but admissions officers can see a lot about your character if you tell this story correctly. Perhaps you started out unable to make a single note, but through years of practice, you managed to figure out an entire Mariah Carey song from start to finish beautifully. Sure, this might be a slightly sillier example, but the point is that the latter half of this prompt is more important than the former.
Now if you do have a significant talent that you must write about, this prompt can be an easy trap for you to fall into. For example, if you’re a really talented pianist, it can be easy to simply describe each of your concerts and awards to answer this question. Boring! Instead, ask yourself what specific moments led to your love of the instrument or maybe how your talents have grown with your own personal growth.
With this essay, it’s extremely crucial to exercise an appropriate amount of humility . The entire college application process rests on your ability to subtly brag about yourself without crossing the line into arrogance. Watch your tone in this prompt in particular. Stay humble by admitting your early failures and emphasizing the obstacles you had to face.
How you might structure this essay:
What were the beginnings of this talent?
What were some setbacks and obstacles you faced while developing this talent?
How did you overcome those challenges?
Are there any shining moments of success with this talent? (Ex. concerts, awards, etc.)
What did you learn from this journey and how will you apply it to other challenges?
The bottom line is, focus on your journey of developing this talent rather than the talent itself.
If you found this article helpful, check out the rest of our series below:
UC Essay Prompts Explained Writing UC Prompt 1 Tips: Leadership Experience Writing UC Prompt 2 Tips: Your Creative Side Writing UC Prompt 3 Tips: Greatest Talent Writing UC Prompt 4 Tips: Educational Experiences Writing UC Prompt 5 Tips: Significant Challenge Writing UC Prompt 6 Tips: Favorite Subject Writing UC Prompt 7 Tips: Improving your Community Writing UC Prompt 8 Tips: How do you Stand Out?
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Welcome to Thinque Prep's series on the UC Personal Insight Question responses. You can access other posts in the series at the following links...
10 Top Tips for Your Best UC Personal Insight Question Responses
Guide to UC PIQ #1: Leadership Experience
Guide to UC PIQ #2: Creativity
Guide to UC PIQ #4: Greatest Educational Opportunity/Barrier
Guide to UC PIQ #5: Greatest Challenge
Guide to UC PIQ #6: Favorite Academic Subject
Guide to UC PIQ #7: Community Service
Guide to UC PIQ #8: Free Response
This post will focus on the third Personal Insight Question option, which is concerned with your greatest talent.
Here's the text of PIQ #3 , straight from UC's website :
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Many students read this prompt and start stressing about having to choose their strongest talent. After all, it's almost impossible to objectively decide what you're "best" at when you're choosing out of a pool of both highly specific skills, like baking, coding, or translating, and more general ones like problem-solving, practicing empathy, or thinking outside the box.
The good news is that you don't really have to identify your "greatest" skill for this essay. You don't even have to write about something you're great at! Your topic just has to be something you've put consistent effort into (rather than something you picked up last week), because the reader will want to see how you've worked to improve that skill over time. With that being said, I do have a few suggestions regarding what not to choose to write about, keeping in mind the context of this essay alongside your other application materials.
First, I encourage you to remember that the PIQ responses represent an opportunity to show other sides of you that admissions officers might not encounter elsewhere in your application. If you choose to write about how you’re “hardworking” or “a great student” for PIQ #3 , those qualities are probably going to be things application readers can already ascertain from other areas of your application, like your transcript. Don't become obsessed with making sure PIQ responses mention things totally different than what’s communicated by your transcript or activity list, but just keep the possibility of redundancy in mind when choosing topics.
Speaking of redundancy, if you choose to answer PIQ #2 (about expressing your creative side) and this one, make sure your responses are about different topics. For example, don’t write about you express your creative side through painting for PIQ #2 then go on to say your greatest talent is painting for PIQ #3 . Again, take advantage of the opportunity to show variety.
One more thing regarding topic choice: I don’t recommend picking a sport for this prompt. The point is not to convince the reader you're great at a sport; it's to show them that you're a well-rounded, self-aware person who's taken time to cultivate positive qualities. If you're still stuck on writing about a sport, try this inversion: instead of saying your greatest talent is basketball and mentioning your commitment to developing team morale as just one element of that, instead claim that your greatest skill is your ability to encourage others, then give examples of ways you’ve done this on and off the court. It’s more interesting, more specific, and more focused on your personality rather than your athletic ability.
No matter what talent you choose, your response should answer these essential questions:
What's the talent or skill?
What was your skill level at first?
What's your skill level now?
What specific things have you done to cultivate this skill?
How do you demonstrate it today?
What has your journey of improvement taught you?
What's important about this PIQ is that your response to it should show a clear narrative of growth . Beginning by sketching out some rough answers to the questions above is a great place to start. Then you can improve over the course of every draft, coming back to your writing, adding more detail, cutting material that might have gone a little off-topic, organizing your writing into paragraphs, and polishing your spelling and grammar.
My other suggestion? Ask someone to read your writing. Give them the 6 questions above and ask how well they think you answered them. Friends and family can be excellent readers. You should also consider having a professional writing coach check out your work. Thinque Prep's college counseling and essay help services can help you out at any step in the essay-writing process, from brainstorming to your final draft.
Finally, let's check out a real example response to PIQ #3 .
From my experience in Model United Nations, I have seen that words possess the power to sway the masses and evoke change. Through MUN, I developed my greatest skill: public speaking. However, my initial struggles with stage fright made the program difficult. Yet when I witnessed my peers improve their abilities, I was inspired to continue. After each speech, each comment, each conference, I improved. My knees no longer shook, the tremble in my voice faded, and my tone grew confident.
MUN offered an exciting way to measure progress. I was granted awards for demonstrating skills such as research, problem solving, and leadership. This kept me motivated as I participated in numerous conferences, discussing a wide range of world crises. The peak of which was when I attended a national conference hosted at the University of Chicago and debated the prospects of nuclear energy in a global context.
Representing Botswana, I had to ensure that the concerns of countries with developing economies were heard by the committee. Working in such a fashion lent me a shift in my perspective that was sorely needed. As Americans, we feel it is our privilege to exist in all spheres of global influence. Yet what about the voices of those less fortunate? If we hope to avoid a crisis as threatening as climate change, then we must not only hear the voices of developing countries, but include them in our solutions for a better future.
Not only do words hold the power to influence the populace, but they possess the ability to impact the world. My newfound superpower has helped me serve as an effective Tennis Captain and as Vice President of the Culinary and Nutrition Club. I have become more social and have built genuine relationships with others. As I transition into college, I look forward to applying this skill to more vital concerns. While working as a scientist, I am excited to use my passion for public speaking as a means of educating the public and leading the next generation of minds through the many global crises we have encountered.
Ready to get more in-depth with the next question? Check out Guide to UC Personal Insight Question #4: Greatest Educational Opportunity/Barrier for more insight on how to make your UC application essays shine.
Nina Calabretta is a college English instructor, tutor, and writer native to Orange County, CA. When she’s not writing or helping students improve their skills as readers, writers, and critical thinkers, she can be found hiking the local trails with friends and family or curled up with a good book and her cat, Betsy. She has been part of the ThinquePrep team since 2018.
With offices located in beautiful Orange County, ThinquePrep specializes in the personalized mentorship of students and their families through the entire college preparation process and beyond. With many recent changes to college admissions - standardized tests, financial aid, varied admissions processes - the educational landscape has never been more competitive or confusing. We’re here from the first summer program to the last college acceptance letter. It’s never too early to start thinking about your student’s future, so schedule your complimentary consultation today!
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Sample essays with explanations of their strengths and weaknesses
Every applicant to one of the University of California campuses must write four short essays in response to the UC application's Personal Insight questions. The UC essay examples below reveal how two different students approached the prompts. Both essays are accompanied by an analysis of their strengths and weaknesses.
The strongest UC essays present information that isn't available elsewhere in the application, and they paint the portrait of someone who will play a positive role in the campus community. Let your kindness, humor, talent, and creativity shine, but also make sure each of your four essays is substantive.
As you figure out your strategy for responding to the UC Personal Insight questions , keep in mind that it's not just the individual essays that matter, but also the full portrait of yourself that you create through the combination of all four essays. Ideally, each essay should present a different dimension of your personality, interests, and talents so that the admissions folks get to know you as a three-dimensional individual who has a lot to contribute to the campus community.
For one of her Personal Insight essays, Angie responded to question #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.
Here is her essay:
I’m not great at drawing. Even after taking the required art classes in elementary and middle school, I don’t really see myself becoming a famous artist anytime soon. I’m most comfortable creating stick figures and notebook doodles. However, my lack of innate talent hasn’t kept me from using drawing communicate or entertain through cartoons.
Now, like I said, the artwork itself isn’t going to win any awards, but that’s only part of my creative process. I draw cartoons to make my friends laugh, to make my siblings feel better if they’re having a bad day, to poke fun at myself. I don’t make cartoons to show off my artistic ability; I make them because I think they’re fun to create, and (so far) other people enjoy them.
When I was about seven or eight, my sister got dumped by her boyfriend unexpectedly. She was feeling really down about it, and I was trying to think of something I could do that would cheer her up. So I drew a (pretty bad) likeness of her ex, made better by some rather unflattering details. It made my sister laugh, and I like to think I helped her through her break-up, even if only a little bit. Since then, I’ve drawn caricatures of my teachers, friends, and celebrities, ventured a little into political cartooning, and started a series about my interactions with my idiotic cat, Gingerale.
Cartooning is a way for me to be creative and express myself. Not only am I being artistic (and I use that term loosely), but I’m using my imagination to create scenarios and figure out how how to represent people and things. I’ve learned what people find funny, and what is not funny. I’ve come to realize that my drawing skills are not the important part of my cartooning. What is important is that I’m expressing myself, making others happy, and doing something small and silly, but also worthwhile.
Angie's essay comes in at 322 words, a little below the 350-word limit. 350 words is already a small space in which to tell a meaningful story, so don't be afraid to submit an essay that's close to the word limit (as long as your essay isn't wordy, repetitive, or lacking substance).
The essay does a good job showing the reader a dimension of Angie that probably isn't apparent anywhere else in her application. Her love of creating cartoons wouldn't appear in her academic record or list of extracurricular activities . Thus, it's a good choice for one of her Personal Insight essays (after all, it's providing new insight into her person). We learn that Angie isn't just a good student who is involved in some school activities. She also has a hobby she is passionate about. Crucially, Angie explains why cartooning is important to her.
The tone of Angie's essay is also a plus. She has not written a typical "look how great I am" essay. Instead, Angie clearly tells us that her artistic skills are rather weak. Her honesty is refreshing, and at the same time, the essay does convey much to admire about Angie: she is funny, self-deprecating, and caring. This latter point, in fact, is the true strength of the essay. By explaining that she enjoys this hobby because of the happiness it brings other people, Angie comes across as someone who is genuine, considerate, and kind.
Overall, the essay is quite strong. It is clearly written, uses an engaging style , and is free of any major grammatical errors . It presents a dimension of Angie's character that should appeal to the admissions staff who read her essay. If there is one weakness, it would be that the third paragraph focuses on Angie's early childhood. Colleges are much more interested in what you have done in recent years than your activities as a child. That said, the childhood information connects to Angie's current interests in clear, relevant ways, so it does not detract too much from the overall essay.
For one of his University of California Personal Insight essays, Terrance responded to option #6: Describe your favorite academic subject and explain how it has influenced you .
Here is his essay:
One of my strongest memories in elementary school is rehearsing for the annual “Learning on the Move” show. The fourth graders put on this show every year, each one focusing on something different. Our show was about food and making healthy choices. We could pick which group to be in: dancing, stage design, writing, or music. I chose music, not because I was interested in it the most, but because my best friend had picked it.
I remember the music director showing us a long row of various percussion instruments, and asking us what we thought different foods would sound like. This was not my first experience in playing an instrument, but I was a novice when it came to creating music, deciding what the music meant, and what its intent and meaning was. Granted, choosing a güiro to represent scrambled eggs was not Beethoven writing his Ninth Symphony, but it was a start.
In middle school, I joined the orchestra, taking up the cello. Freshmen year of high school, I auditioned for, and was accepted into, the regional youth symphony. More importantly, though, I took two semesters of Music Theory my sophomore year. I love playing music, but I’ve learned that I love writing it even more. Since my high school only offers Music Theory I and II, I attended a summer music camp with a program in theory and composition. I learned so much, and I’m looking forward to pursuing a major in Music Composition.
I find writing music is a way for me to express emotions and tell stories that are beyond language. Music is such a unifying force; it’s a way to communicate across languages and borders. Music has been such a large part of my life—from fourth grade and on—and studying music and music composition is a way for me to create something beautiful and share it with others.
Like Angie's essay, Terrance's essay comes in at a little over 300 words. This length is perfectly appropriate assuming all of the words add substance to the narrative. When it comes to the features of a good application essay , Terrance does well and avoids common pitfalls.
For Terrance, the choice of question #6 makes sense—he fell in love with composing music, and he is entering college knowing what his major will be. If you are like many college applicants and have a wide range of interests and possible college majors, you may want to steer clear of this question.
Terrance's essay does a good job balancing humor with substance. The opening paragraph presents an entertaining vignette in which he chooses to study music based on nothing more than peer pressure. By paragraph three, we learn how that rather serendipitous introduction to music has led to something very meaningful. The final paragraph also establishes a pleasing tone with its emphasis on music as a "unifying force" and something that Terrance wants to share with others. He comes across as a passionate and generous person who will contribute to the campus community in a meaningful way.
Unlike the California State University system , the University of California schools have a holistic admissions process. The admissions officers are evaluating you as a whole person, not just as numerical data related to test scores and grades (although both are important). The Personal Insight questions are one of the primary ways the admissions officers get to know you, your personality, and your interests.
Think of each essay as an independent entity, as well as one piece of a four-essay application. Each essay should present an engaging narrative that reveals an important aspect of your life as well as explain why the topic you've chosen is important to you. When you consider all four essays in combination, they should work together to reveal the true breadth and depth of your character and interests.
Click here for the Freshman Version
Click here for the Transfer Version
Important note: The University of California admissions people would like you to refer to these prompts as “personal insight questions” instead of “essays” or "UC personal statement.” Why? Because sometimes, students link the word “essay” with an academic assignment, which is not precisely what UCs want.
The University of California school system includes ten universities across the state. The UC system have their unique ways of doing things —they have a separate application and a separate list of essays to write.
Below there is a compilation of some of the best UC essay examples/UC personal statement examples.
Check out some of our articles that might help you;
How to Write a Good Personal Statement for College With Examples
Top Personal Statement Example for College
How To Write Effective Common Essay 2021 (With Examples)
Check out 8 UC essay prompts from UC prompts website .
1. Never forget to connect your personal insight questions to 13 points of a comprehensive review.
How do I know you should do this? The UC directors have openly said that the questions correlate directly to the review points. So as you’re trying to decide your four topics, ask yourself: How will this help me on the 13 points of comprehensive review?
( Important Tip : Your essay question responses could connect to several of the 13 points.)
2. Use several resources the UCs have provided For good contextual advice, click here. For basic writing advice, click here .
3. Know that it’s perfectly fine to answer your personal insight questions in a direct, straightforward way.
How do I know? Because at a conference recently, one of the UC directors said publicly, “It’s perfectly fine to answer the questions in a direct, straightforward way.” And the other UC directors approved.
Also, one director said it’s fine to just write bullet points in your response. ( A high school counselor raised her hand and asked, “Really? Bullet points? Like, really really?” and the UC Director was like, “Yes.”)
It’s totally your personal choice to provide bullet points? It may feel a little uncanny. But remember that at least a few of the UC directors have said it’s okay.
4. Write your essay in a way that a UC reader could glide your responses to the personal insight questions and get your main points.
Why? Because the reader will spend around six to eight minutes on your application. Not on each essay, but on your whole application.
I just want to point out that it’s perfectly fine--and smart--to get straight to the point.
5. If you’re applying to private schools through the Common App, it can be beneficial to write an essay that’s wise, well-crafted, and shows your core values.
So, why take the time to write a stand-out essay?
There is a chance you might use your UC Personal Insight Question essay for other schools. Because many selective schools require supplemental essays (i.e: essays you write in addition to your main, 650-word Common App personal statement), a good idea is you can write an essay that works for both the UCs and other private schools
Michigan Supplement: Everyone belongs to many different communities and/or groups defined by (among other things) shared geography, religion, ethnicity, income, cuisine, interest, race, ideology, or intellectual heritage. Choose one of the communities to which you belong, and describe that community and your place within it. (250-word limit).
UC Personal Insight Question 7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words).
It is one of the great essays and also one of my favorites, an intelligent move. The author answered both prompts at once, you get deeper with the answer for both. It also saves you a lot of time.
The good news is you can do this for multiple prompts.
For more insights check out how to answer the UC essays in this guide.
Prompt: Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
“Capitalism causes extinction! nuclear war is imminent!”
Initially, the debate seemed nonsensical: lambasting opponents while arguing improbable scenarios. But over time I’ve learned that it’s more than the competition that drives me to stay up all night looking for evidence: I love learning about the political and ideological underpinnings of our society and the way they shape us.
On an easy debate tournament weekend, I research foreign diplomatic agendas and synthesize the information into coherent debate evidence. When tournaments become more hectic, however, I delve deeper into the works of philosophers and social critics and translate the knowledge into debate argumentation. While researching foreign policy, a critical theory like Heideggerian phenomenology, and constitutional details, I’ve developed an ability to critically analyze argumentation, make sense of the world around me and creatively express myself in an academic setting.
My hard work has paid off. In the past four tournaments, I’ve received a Top 10 speaker award for the varsity division consisting of about 50 debaters. This trend has increased my credibility in my debate league to such a level that my partner and I were invited to participate in a series of public debates at LA City Hall to defend the water policy for the drought. The opportunity allowed me to actually impact the public’s awareness and accept a larger responsibility in the workings of my community.
More importantly, however, the debate has taught me to strategically choose my battles. When I prepare my arguments, I know that I can’t use all of them at the end of a round. I have to focus. I’ve learned to maximize my strengths and not try to conquer everything. Moreover, I’ve learned to be responsible with my choices. A wrong argument can mean losing if we can’t defend ourselves well. Not only do I now know how to zoom in from a bigger picture, but I also know how to pick the right place to zoom in to so I can achieve my goal.
The debate has turned me into a responsible optimizing, scrutinizing, and strategizing orator.
I was part of making silent history at our school this past year. As a part of the Community Outreach Committee of Leadership Class, I contacted the local Food Bank and together with the help of the student body, donated over 600 pounds of canned food for Thanksgiving. Noticing a bulk of unused VHS tapes in our school’s basement, I did some research and discovered that discarding these is harmful to the environment. I found an organization that employs people with disabilities to recycle these tapes, and soon our school shipped over 400 VHS tapes to their warehouse in Missouri. We received overwhelming gratification from them as no other school, even in their own community, had done something like that. Watching a small grassroots initiative in our community benefits people I was unlikely to ever meet made me feel connected to the world at large and showed me the power of putting actions to your words.
As a member of Leadership, I have also spent countless hours preparing for and facilitating New Student Orientation, Homecoming, and Grad Night, among many other programs. Seeing a gap in our care of the student body, I also expanded the New Student Launches Program to include not just freshmen, but all new transfers, regardless of grade level.
Leadership is my own personal critic. It forces me to constantly weigh the pros and cons of how I carry myself, how I speak, and how I listen at every single event we put on for the student body. It has taught me to look objectively and weigh the wants and needs of every student. It has shown me the importance of listening, not just hearing.
Leadership is the ability to make each student a part of something so much bigger than themselves. It holds me accountable and keeps me engaged with my fellow humans even when I’m exhausted. It has allowed me to leave a legacy of purpose. Through vulnerability in times of stress and joy in times of celebration, grooming myself into a better leader has also made me a better student, friend, and daughter.
Check out this video to get a more clear idea THE ESSAYS THAT GOT ME INTO ALL OF THE UCs + Tips on how to choose prompts & approach them | 2020
I am twenty years old and I already have kids. Well, 30 actually, and they’re all around my age, some even older.
After a brief few months of training, I was posted to Officer Cadet School as an instructor. It was my job to shape and mold them; I was ready to attempt everything I’d learned about being a leader and serve my new cadets to the best of my abilities. I trained my cadets by encouraging teamwork and learning, trying to somehow make the harsh military training fun. I became very close to them in the process.
Leadership was enjoyable until I discovered one of my cadets had cheated on a test. In the military, cheating is resolved with an immediate trip to the detention barracks. Considered worse than jail, the record leaves a permanent mark. If I pressed charges, that’s where my cadet would end up.
My heart sank. He was also my friend.
After much deliberation, I decided there was only one resolution. I could not, with good conscience, let this go. It would set precedence for the rest of my cadets. It was painful and brought a few tears, but I could not show any wavering or doubt, at least not in front of them. I charged him, and he went to the detention barracks and eventually was discharged. The acceptance I had felt from my cadets was replaced with fear.
I found leadership is not all about making friends and having others listen to orders. The rest of my platoon learned, and didn’t repeat the mistake. While I was never again “one of the guys,” I found pride in the growth of my team. A few weeks later I ran into my old cadet. Despite his hardship, he acknowledged his responsibility and the experience had motivated him as he struggled to recreate his life.
As president of the Robotics Club, I find building robots and creatively solving technical problems to be easy tasks. What’s difficult and brings more meaning to my work is steering the club itself.
After three years of battling the geeky-male stereotype our club was labeled with, I evolved our small club of 5 techies into a thriving interdisciplinary hub of 80 distinct personalities. Because our club lacks a professional instructor, I not only teach members about STEM-related jargon that I learned from hundreds of Google searches but also encourage constructive debates ranging from topics like Proportional-Integral-Derivative Error Correction Algorithm to how someone should fix her mom’s vacuum cleaner. In this way, I provide beginners with an atmosphere that reflects my own mentality: proactive listening without moralization or judgment.
I also like sharing insights outside the club. In my mathematics class, for example, I sometimes incite intense discussions during lectures on abstruse topics like vectors or calculus by offering examples from my experiences in the lab. In this manner, I not only become an integral part of the intellectual vitality of STEM-related classes at school, but also show people with all kinds of interests and backgrounds how to employ technical intuition when solving problems and, in some cases, I even inspire students to join the Robotics Club.
As an introverted leader, I try to listen first and use my soft-spoken attentiveness to invite dialogue that improves team chemistry. With this ability, I have learned to control the momentum of official debates and basketball matches. Thus, whether my team wins or loses, the external pressure of either suffering a setback or enjoying an achievement rarely affects my team's composure, which helps us maintain our consistency and resolve.
As I visualize myself building projects with a group of coders in the future, I believe that my discreteness, experience in robotics, practical tenacity, and absolute love for innovating technology will be vital for all my endeavors.
Prompt: Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem-solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistic, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
Some people speak Chinese, others Spanish; I speak HTML. Language is intricately beautiful, with sentences flowing all within grammar constraints creating a masterpiece bound by rules. If poetry in English can be considered art, so too can programming. Just as every sentence in English has a meaning and purpose, every line of code invokes a function.
Instead of communicating with people, coding is essentially having a conversation with computers, directing them onto what is desired. Unlike people, however, computers don’t have imagination, and therefore require users to be precise in every word and sentence they depict. Just as an artist expresses imagination with a pen, a programmer uses a keyboard.
Aside from being just a program, websites bring people closer together. Because Singapore is incredibly small, in order for my school to challenge its athletes, we have to go overseas to play against other schools. Forming a league called IASAS, schools visit each other and compete. The only issue with this is how expensive it is to travel, resulting in the teams flying without family or friends. Competitors often feel alone and unwelcome in a foreign school.
A website was the perfect solution for this: after much planning and deliberation, I formed a team to make a site where parents and friends could encourage their athletes! We started by brainstorming how to avoid cluttering the website and how best to keep it simple whilst connecting people together. Using flowcharts and diagrams, I used design principles to make it visually pleasing whilst maintaining structure and foundation. Focusing on supporting the athletes, guests were able to leave comments, get live scoring, and videos of the games.
The site allows parents and friends to encourage their students during some of the most significant tournaments of their high school careers. Creativity serves many functions, and mine intends to bring people closer together.
Decorum, delegates.
As the preceding caucus wraps up, young delegates dressed in their most chic outfits (hey, it's not called MODEL United Nations for nothing) scurry to get one more signatory to support their resolution.
For my first conference, I signed up to represent Russia in the General Assembly. Being the naive yet ambitious freshman that I was, I thought it a great honor to represent one of the Permanent Five. According to feedback from my chair, I was overly democratic and too accommodating (and with due cause, I sponsored a resolution with Ukraine), to an extent that it hurt my performance.
Three months later, I accepted the Distinguished Delegate Award in ECOSOC for The Bahamas, a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). I broke away from the connotation of another tourist destination to voice some of this country's biggest challenges as well as successes, particularly towards climate change.
I had not blatantly followed the 'power delegate', but stood my ground and made a powerful coalition with numerous other SIDS to become a resolution bloc, embodying the primary value my mentor, Senator Steve Glazer, impressed upon us as interns: "Represent the people of your district, not political parties or special interests".
Creativity is finding the peripheral introverted delegates and persuading them to add numbers to your cause. Creativity is navigating around the complexities of a capitalistic society designed to benefit only the top percentile in industrialized countries. Creativity is diplomacy, an art of itself. The ability to build bridges and forge new alliances in the wake of greed and power (believe me, the high school MUN circuit is equally, if not more, cutthroat than the real political arena) is a skill needed for the ever-complicated future.
MUN has taught me the practice of rhetoric and the relevance of ethos, pathos, and logos. I have learned to listen to opposing viewpoints, a rare skill in my primarily liberal high school.
I see MUN as a theatre production, where success is determined by how well you, in essence, become and portray your country to an audience of the world i.e., the United Nations.
Prompt: What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
With a blackened Q-tip, I gave him eyelids and pupils and smoothed the rough edges of his face. I used an eraser to shave down the sharpness of his jaw and add highlights to his skin. After scrutinizing the proportions, I smiled at the finished pencil portrait. Kim Jong-dae was now ready to be wrapped as the perfect present for my friend.
Aside from Korean pop singers, I’ve drawn a variety of other characters. From the gritty roughness of Marvel comics to the soft, cuteness of Sanrio animals, I’ve drawn them all as a creative touch to top off birthday presents. It’s simply the way I choose to express myself when words cannot suffice.
But being an artist comes with its own social expectations. At school, it’s made me the “art girl” who is expected to design the banners and posters. At home, it’s prompted long distant relatives -- regardless of how much I actually know them -- to ask me to draw their portraits. In addition, whenever my parents invite coworkers to my house, I’ve had to deal with the embarrassment of showing my whole portfolio to complete strangers.
On the bright side, being an artist has taught me to take risks and experiment with new techniques and media. It’s taught me to draw meaning and intent with minimal words and text. It’s taught me to organize and focus, by simplifying subjects and filtering out the insignificant details.
Most of all, art has made me a more empathetic human. In drawing a person, I live in their shoes for a moment and try to understand them. I take note of the little idiosyncrasies. I let the details--a hijab, a piercing on a nose, a scar on the chin--tell me their personality, their thoughts, their worldview. I recognize the shared features that make us human and appreciate the differences in culture and values that make us unique. And it’s from this that I am able to embrace the diversity and complexity of people beyond a superficial surface and approach the world with an open heart and an open mind. (347)
Prompt : Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Freshman year, I fell in love with the smell of formaldehyde for its promise of an especially exciting day in Biology. Although my school’s STEM education excelled in theory and concepts, career-focused hands-on experience was lacking and I grew nostalgic for dissections. By junior year, I still had almost no idea what I would do in the future. When asked, I’d mumble a response about biochemistry or technology without daring to specify a job.
Then, I discovered MIT’s Women’s Technology Program and its mission to allow high school girls with little experience in engineering and CS to explore the fields. Naturally, I applied in a blink, and somehow even got accepted.
When I started the program, I never expected to become so enamored with computer science. Every day, I took pages of notes during the class lecture, then enthusiastically attacked the homework problems during the evening. In fact, most nights I stayed late in the computer lab trying to finish just one more (optional) challenge problem or add more features to already completed programs. The assignments themselves ranged from simply printing “hello world” to completing a functional version of Tetris. One of my favorite programs was a Hangman game that made sarcastic remarks at invalid inputs.
However, some programs were notoriously difficult, sparking countless frustrated jokes among the candidates: a version of the card game War overly prone to infinite loops, a queue class apparently comprised entirely of index errors. The sign-up list for TA help overflowed with increasing frequency as the curriculum grew more difficult. So, after I finished a program, I often helped my peers with debugging by pointing out syntax errors and logical missteps. In the final week, I was chosen to be a presenter for CS at the Final Dinner, speaking about the subject I loved to program donors and peers alike.
In that amazing month, I discovered a field that blends creativity with logic and a renewed passion for learning and exploration. Now, imagining my no-longer-nebulous future brings excitement.
And somehow, that excitement always smells faintly of formaldehyde.
If given an eye test with the standard Snellen Eye chart (y’know, the one with all the letters on it) you will be asked to stand 20 ft away, cover one eye and read off the letters from the chart as they get increasingly smaller. If you can read up to the lines marked “20” at 20 feet away, you have normal 20/20 vision and your eyes can separate contours that are 1.75 mm apart. Knowing visual acuity is important because it helps diagnose vision problems.
But the challenge? Usually, people have to go into eye doctors and get an eye test to determine their acuity. However, since more than 40% of Americans don't go to an eye doctor on a regular basis and access to eye care is extremely rare and usually unavailable in third world countries, many people who need glasses don't know it and live with blurred vision.
To tackle this problem, I’ve spent the last four months at the Wyss Institute at Yale University working on an individual project supervised by Yale Medical School professor Maureen Shore. I’m coding a program that measures visual acuity and can determine what glasses prescription someone would need. My goal is to configure this into a mobile app so that it's easy for someone to determine if he or she needs glasses. I hope to continue using my programming skills to make the benefits of research more accessible.
If this technology isn't accessible to society, we’re doing a disservice to humanity. The skills, experience, and network I will build at the computer science department will help me devise solutions to problems and bring the benefits of research to the public.
On the first day of school, when a teacher plays “Two Truths, One Lie” I always state living on three different continents. Nine times out of ten, this is picked as the lie.
I spent my primary education years in Bangalore, India. The Indian education system emphasizes skills like handwriting and mental math. I learned how to memorize and understand masses of information in one sitting. This method is rote in comparison to critical thinking but has encouraged me to look beyond classroom walls, learning about the rivers of Eastern Europe and the history of mathematics.
During seventh grade, I traded India’s Silicon Valley for the suburban Welwyn Garden City, UK. Aside from using Oxford Dictionary spellings and the metric system, I found little to no similarities between British and Indian curricula. I was exposed to “Religious Studies” for the first time, as well as constructional activities like textiles and baking. I found these elements to be an enhancing supplement to textbooks and notes. Nevertheless, the elementary level of study frustrated me. I was prevented from advancing in areas I showed an aptitude for, leading to a lack of enthusiasm. I was ashamed and tired of being the only one to raise my hand. Suddenly, striving for success had negative connotations.
Three years later, I began high school in Oakland, California. US education seemed to have the perfect balance between creative thinking, core subjects, and achievement. However, it does have its share of fallacies in comparison to my experience in other systems. I find that my classmates rarely learn details about cultures outside of these borders until very late in their careers. The emphasis on multiple-choice testing and the weight of letter grades has deterred curiosity.
In only seventeen years, I have had the opportunity to experience three very different educational systems. Each has shaped me into a global citizen and prepared me for a world whose borders are growing extremely defined. My perspective in living amongst different cultures has provided me with insight on how to understand various opinions and thus form a comprehensive plan to reach a resolution.
In 10th and 11th grade, I explored the world of China with my classmates through feasts of mapo tofu, folk games, and calligraphy . As I developed a familial bond with my classmates and teacher, the class became a chance to discover myself. As a result, I was inspired to take AP Chinese.
But there was a problem: my small school didn’t offer AP Chinese.
So I took matters into my own hands. I asked my AP advisor for a list of other advisors at schools near me, but he didn’t have one. I emailed the College Board, who told me they couldn’t help, so I visited the websites of twenty other high schools and used the information available to find an advisor willing to let me test at his or her school. I emailed all the advisors I could find within a fifty-mile radius.
But all I got back were no’s.
I asked myself: Why was I trying so hard to take an AP test?
After some thought, I realized the driving force behind my decision wasn’t academic. I’d traveled to Taiwan in the past, but at times I felt like an outsider because I could not properly communicate with my family. I wanted to be able to hear my grandpa’s stories in his own tongue about escaping from China during the revolution. I wanted to buy vegetables from the lady at the market and not be known as a visitor. I wanted to gossip with my cousins about things that didn’t just occur during my visit. I wanted to connect.
Despite the lack of support I received from both my school and the College Board, I realized that if I truly wanted this, I’d have to depend on myself. So I emailed ten more advisors and, after weeks, I finally received a ‘maybe’ telling me to wait until midnight to register as a late tester. At 12:10 am on April 19, I got my yes.
Language is not just a form of communication for me . Through, Chinese I connect with my heritage, my people, and my country.
Prompt: Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
When I was fifteen years old I broke up with my mother. We could still be friends, I told her, but I needed my space, and she couldn’t give me that.
She and I both knew that I was the only person that she had in America. Her family was in Russia, she only spoke to her estranged ex-husband in court, her oldest son avoided her at all costs. And yet, at fifteen years old, I wasn’t equipped to effectively calm her down from her nightly anxiety attacks. At forty-three, she wasn’t willing to believe that I did love her, but that I couldn’t be responsible for stabilizing her life.
Moving in with my dad full time felt like I was abandoning her after tying a noose around her neck. But as my Drama teacher (and guardian angel) pointed out, my mother wasn’t going to get better if I kept enabling her, and that I wasn’t going to be able to grow if I was constrained by her dependence on me.
For the first time, I had taken action. I was never again going to passively let life happen to me.
During four long months of separation, I filled the space that my mom previously dominated with learning: everything and anything. I taught myself French through online programs, built websites, and began began editing my drawings on Photoshop to sell them online. When my dad lost his third job in five years, I learned to sew my own clothes and applied my new knowledge to costume design in the Drama Department.
On stage, I learned to empathize. Backstage, I worked with teams of dedicated and mutually supportive students. In our improv group, I gained the confidence to act on my instincts. With the help of my Drama teacher, I learned to humble myself enough to ask for help.
On my sixteenth birthday, I picked up the phone and dialed my mom. I waited through three agonizingly long pauses between rings.
“Hi mom, it’s me.”
Prompt: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
When I was 10, my dad told me that in and on my body, bacteria outnumbered human cells. For a 10-year-old, this was a horrifying idea. I squeezed my forearms tightly in an attempt to squish the foreigners to death. I showered in way-too-hot-for-ten-year-olds water. I poured lemon juice all over my body.
Today, however, I’m no longer terrified of hosting minuscule pals; instead, I embrace them as a way to be surrounded daily by microbiology. Ever since my sixth-grade teacher showed my class a video on Typhoid Mary and taught us about pathogens, I’ve been fascinated by and with cells. I decided then that I wanted to be a doctor and study microbiology.
Over the summer, I shadowed Dr. Wong Mei Ling, a General Practitioner. I observed case after case of bacterial interactions on the human body: an inflamed crimson esophagus suffering from streptococcus, bulging flesh from a staph infection, food poisoning from e.coli-laden dishes. I was her researcher, looking up new drugs or potential illnesses that cause particular symptoms.
Intrigued by the sensitive balance between the good and bad bacteria on our bodies, I changed my lifestyle after researching more about our biological processes. I viewed my cheek cells through a microscope in AP Bio, and I realized that each cell needs to be given the right nutrients. Learning about foods enhancing my organ functions and immune system, I now eat yogurt regularly for the daily intake of probiotics to facilitate my digestion.
As a future pediatrician, I hope to teach children how to live symbiotically with bacteria instead of fearing them. I will stress the importance of achieving the right balance of good and bad microbes through healthy habits.
Rather than attempting to extinguish the microbes on me, today I dream of working in an environment loaded with bacteria, whether it’s finding cures for diseases or curing kids of illnesses. As a daily reminder, the minute microbes in and on me serve as a reminder of my passion for the complex but tiny foundation of life. (342 words)
Prompt: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
So many of my friends had eating disorders. Scrolling through poems written by students at my school on a poetry publishing site, I was shocked by the number of girls starving or purging in attempts to love themselves. Before finding out about their struggles, I thought I was the only girl hating my reflection. Almost all the girls I knew at SAS were hiding their insecurity behind a facade of “health choices”.
Knowing I wasn’t alone in my fears, I found the courage to take my own first steps. I joined House of Pain (HOP), an exercise club my PE teacher recommended. Although I initially despised working out, I left the gym feeling strong and proud of my body. Over the first weeks, I even developed a finger-shaped bruise on my bicep as I checked it daily. I began to love exercise and wanted to share my hope with my friends.
Since my friends hadn’t directly acknowledged their eating disorders, I had to engage them indirectly. I intentionally talked about the benefits of working out. I regularly invited them to come to the HOP sessions after school. I talked about how fun it was, while at the same time mentioning the healthy body change process. I was only their coach but felt their struggles personally as I watched girls who couldn’t run 10 meters without gasping for air slowly transform. Their language changed from obsessing with size to pride in their strength.
I was asked to lead classes and scoured the web for effective circuit reps. I researched modifications for injuries and the best warmups and cooldowns for workouts. I continue to lead discussions focusing on finding confidence in our bodies and defining worth through determination and strength rather than our waists.
Although today my weight is almost identical to what it was before HOP, my perspective and, perhaps more importantly, my community is different. There are fewer poems of despair and more about identity. From dreaming of buttoning size zero shorts to pushing ourselves to get “just one more push up”, it is not just our words that have changed.
I have lived in the Middle East for the last 11 years of my life. I’ve seen cranes, trucks, cement mixers, bulldozers, and road-rollers build all kinds of architectural monoliths on my way to school. But what really catches my attention are the men who wear blue jumpsuits striped with fluorescent colors, who cover their faces with scarves and sunglasses, and who look so small next to the machines they use and the skyscrapers they build.
These men are the immigrant laborers from South-Asian countries who work for 72 hours a week in the scorching heat of the Middle East and sleep through freezing winter nights without heaters in small unhygienic rooms with 6-12 other men. Sometimes workers are denied their own passports, having become victims of exploitation. International NGOs have recognized this as a violation of basic human rights and classified it as bonded labor.
As fellow immigrants from similar ethnicities, my friends and I decided to help the laborers constructing stadiums for the 2022 FIFA world cup.
Since freedom of speech was limited, we educated ourselves on the legal system of Qatar and carried out our activities within its constraints. After surveying labor camps and collecting testimonials, we spread awareness about the laborer’s plight at our local community gatherings and asked for donations to our cause. With this money, we bought ACs, heaters, and hygienic amenities for the laborers. We then educated laborers about their basic rights. In the process, I became a fluent Nepalese speaker.
As an experienced debater, I gave speeches about the exploitation of laborers at gatherings. Also, I became the percussionist of the small rock band we created to perform songs that might evoke empathy in well-off migrants. As an experienced website developer, I also reached out to other people in the Middle East who were against bonded labor and helped them develop the migrant-rights.org website.
Although we could only help 64 of the millions of laborers in the Middle East, we hope that our efforts to spread awareness will inspire more people to reach out to the laborers who built their homes.
Prompt: Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
Hunger. Flames licking my face. Thirst. Unknown creatures circling me restlessly. Aching. The darkness threatening to swallow me. Desperation. I asked for this.
Nine long days in the jungle with only a day's worth of rations, the Jungle Confidence Course was designed to test our survival capabilities. To make matters worse, I had to carry a bunch of heavy military equipment that had no use to me for the purpose of the test. Dropped in the middle of Brunei, no matter which way you walked the terrain always went up. So why on earth would anyone volunteer this?
I was hungry. Not in the physical sense, even though I was starving for those nine days, but rather due to an incurable thirst. Every Singaporean male citizen is required to serve two years in service to the country essentially delaying our education and subsequent entrance into the workforce. Most people, including my friends, see this as something terrible and try to avoid it altogether by flying overseas. Others look for the easiest and most cushiony job to serve during the two long years rather than be another military grunt.
As for myself, since I had to do it why not do the best I can and hope to benefit from it? I’ve been hungry, cold, exhausted beyond the point of belief, yet I’m still standing. I sacrificed lots of free time, lost friends, ended up missing lots of key family moments due to training but I don’t regret a thing. Helicopter rides, urban warfare, assaulting beaches, all in a day’s work. Movies became reality accomplishing tasks once impossible.
Aspiration drove me then and still continues to pilot me now. All these experiences and memories create a lasting impact, creating pride and the motivation to continue forward. I could have given up at any point during those long nine days, but with every pang of hunger, I made myself focus on what I wanted.
To be the best version of myself possible, and come out of this challenge stronger than ever before. What’s the point of living life if you have nothing to be proud of?
What’s the most logical thing an electrical engineer and his computer science-obsessed son can do in the deserts of Qatar? Gardening.
My dad and I built a garden in our small rocky backyard to remind us of our village in India, 3,419 km away from our compact metropolitan household in Qatar. Growing plants in a desert, especially outdoors without any type of climate control system, can seem to be a daunting task. But by sowing seeds at the beginning of winter, using manure instead of chemical fertilizers, and choosing the breed of plants that can survive the severe cold, we overcame the harsh climate conditions.
Sitting in the garden with my family reminds me of the rain, the green fields, the forests, the rhythmic sound of the train wheels hitting joints between rails (to which I play beats on any rigid surface), and most of all, the spicy food of India. The garden is my tranquil abode of departure from all forms of technology, regrets about the past, and apprehensions about the future. It contrasts my love for innovating technology and thus maintains a balance between my heritage, beliefs, busy lifestyle, and ambitions.
Unfortunately, my family and I enjoy the garden for fewer months each year. The harsh climate is becoming dangerously extreme: summers are increasingly becoming hotter, reaching record-breaking temperatures of about 50॰C, and winters are becoming colder, the rains flooding areas that only anticipate mild drizzles. Climate change has reduced our season for growing plants from six months to four.
But we’ve agreed to keep our agricultural practices organic to improve the longevity of the garden’s annual lifespan. I’ve also strived to extend the privilege of a garden to all families in our Indian community, giving space for those who, like us, long for something green and organic in the artificial concrete jungle where we reside. We share harvests, seeds, and experiences, and innovate organic agricultural methods, in the gardens we’ve all grown.
So, what makes the Computer Science obsessed applicant from India unique? Balance.
This Article is intended to help you brainstorm and begin writing your personal statement essay and all the other college essays. This is a key step to write persuasive college essays
So how would you go about making a letter of continued interest while you’re on the waiting status? Here’s a guide we’ve got for you.
It’s quite a hard decision to make - choosing a college major. This guide will help you brainstorm, research and decide on the college major that is a perfect fit for you
by j9robinson | Apr 19, 2016
(yes, uc essay prompt 3 can be about almost anything).
I believe all students who need to answer four of the new University of California “ Personal Insight Questions ” should seriously consider the third one, otherwise known as UC Essay Prompt 3.
If you’re a student who has focused on one special talent or skill in your life, and are recognized in that field as “among the best,” this is your chance to share that in detail.
However, you don’t need to be a star at your talent or skill to write an effective essay about it.
And your talent or skill doesn’t even need to be impressive.
Here is UC Essay Prompt 3 in full (the following three paragraphs):
What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?
Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?
UC essay prompt 3 mainly needs to feature something that you are passionate about.
As long as you can show why you love it and how hard you have worked at it, almost any activity could be a great topic.
If you are a star at ice-skating or drama or coding, again, this is your big chance to share your story about this passion.
Even if you have included this talent or skill heavily in your application (listing accolades and awards), you can still write about it for UC essay prompt 3.
This is your chance to go beyond your impressive status with this talent or skill and share how you got into it, what inspired you, how hard you worked and what obstacles you overcame to excel.
The most important part of this essay would be to explain why your impressive status matters—to you, to others and to the world.
Has it changed you? Does it define you? What does it mean to you?
The biggest pitfall with writing about how great you are at something is that you can come across as bragging or full of yourself.
Even though the UC admissions page literally asks you to brag a little, it’s wise to watch your tone in UC Essay Prompt 3.
The best trick to walking that tone tightrope of talking about a talent or skill and remaining humble is to think of some type of problem you encountered as you developed it over the years.
This “problem” can be an obstacle, challenge, mistake, set-back; there are many types of problems.
If can be something that happened to you, or something within you, such as a fear, phobia, obsession, etc.
The idea is that you start UC essay prompt 3 by sharing a moment or incident that illustrates that problem, or one “time” that involved that problem, and go from there.
By starting at a low point in your journey developing your talent or skill, you can then go into how you handled the problem and explain what you learned and why that mattered.
This approach to writing about yourself helps keep your essay first-person “voice” humble and likable.
Of course you include how far you came with your talent or skill, and include details to show how good you are now, but you focus on how and what you learned along the way.
Even if you have a talent or skill that you are still working on, consider writing about it for UC Essay Prompt 3 —especially if it’s something unusual or unexpected.
If you excel at something that many students also could be good at, spend more time trying to come up with something unique or unexpected about your talent or skill to help you stand out.
Based on what I’ve seen my former students write about over the past eight years, I would say these activities would include these popular high school activities: playing band instruments, sports, acting, computer coding, etc.
It really all comes down to what you have to say about your talent or skill, more than how great you are at it.
If you have an unusual talent or skill, I would highly encourage you to write about for UC Essay Prompt 3.
Are you the one of the best skimboarders in the world? Write about it!
However,iIf you mainly love skimboarding as a favorite hobby, then you need to make sure you have something valuable and unique to say about why that talent matters to you and the world.
RED FLAG (especially in California) : Possible overdone topics: Skateboarding. Skiing. Surfing. Just saying.
Are you an excellent glassblower?
Or do you help with making floats for the Rose Bowl Parade?
Have you raised a family of ostriches?
Are you known for making an unforgettable grilled cheese sandwich?
Can you blow tiny bubbles through your nose?
(Okay, you get the point.)
These types of quirky talents and skills could make terrific topics for UC essay prompt 3.
Again, it’s all what you have to say about that talent—why it matters to you and the world.
Trust me, hundreds of students will be writing about their piano playing or singing or dancing or photography. And this is fine.
If you want to stand out with your essay, and write about one of these popular talents and skills, look for something unexpected, unusual or highly personal to say about it.
If you write about an offbeat talent or skill for UC essay prompt 3—skipping stones, hacking computers, lucid dreaming, knitting dog sweaters, etc.—make sure to include what you have learned from this ability and why it matters.
Like almost all personal essays, mundane (everyday/ordinary) topics often make better topics than so-called impressive ones.
I repeat—it’s all what you have to say about it.
The UC provided these extra tips in its Personal Insight Questions worksheet to help you brainstorm UC essay prompt 3:
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? List three of your talents or skills:
Were these talents or skills the same a few years ago? What changed? What improved? Which one of the three talents or skills you listed is the most meaningful or important to you and why? Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent?
Learn all about The New UC Essay Prompts and also 21 Tips to Help Answer the New UC Essay Prompts .
If you need more help with these, I offer tutoring and editing services. Learn more on my SERVICES page.
Hi, I have a question what could be regarded a skill or talent. Would learning a language be considered a skill if it’s the language you speak at home? I’ve tried to improve my vocabulary independently but I wouldn’t say it’s required much effort since it was my first language. I was planning on showcasing how I’ve used it to translate.
I’m not sure I completely understand your question. You speak a language at home, but since you keep trying to build your vocabulary you want to know if you can write about that as a skill for this essay? I think you could, and you are on the right track by finding something specific to say about it, such as how you use it to translate. I’m not sure what you mean by translate, but those are the details that could make this mini-essay interesting and meaningful. You want to show how you learned the skill, and then explain why that matters to you and in the world. Good luck! JR
Transfer student here.
The skills and talents that are mentioned here are more concrete. What about an abstract skill, such as the ability to adapt to difficult changes in life? Brief summary – difficult childhood developed this skill; became very useful as I graduated HS early and attended CC at a young age. Also contributed to my success in courses I have/am taking at a university.
Is this too broad of a topic?
Side note – I’m taking these UC courses through a program offered by my community college
Hi John, This is a great question. What you are describing sounds more like a personal quality. I would look for ways to showcase that quality through the other prompts, such as No. 8 asking about what “sets you apart” from other students (which is a wide open prompt). You could use a talent or skill that is more figurative, such as “my ability to debate” or “my talent guessing what others are thinking.” But if the examples offered by the UC are all on the concrete side, I would take their cue and give them what they are asking for. Hope that helps. JR
Would being a renaissance man be considered a talent or skill worth writing about ?
Hi Ash, I actually really like that idea. I think you will need to make the case as to why it’s a talent or skill. Just support your opinion and general points with specific details. Make sure include why being a Renaissance man matters—to you and the world. Best, JR
Would being a good listener count as a skill? Otherwise I would put baking cinnamon rolls…
They are both skills. I like the idea of baking cinnamon rolls, mainly because it seems like it would be more interesting to read about. But it all depends on what you have to say about that skill, and why it matters. Try writing out the one you like the best and see how it goes. At least you have a back-up idea. Good luck! Janine Robinson
Thanks for posting this. I have some questions about in terms of what you said that “why it matters to you and the world”. Suppose if i have a talent at whistling, and I think it simply matters to me, because I can use it when I am cheering. Or suppose I am good at cleaning bathroom or my room and I enjoyed to do those things, and this matters to me because it made me feel happy and proud myself when my family compliment me for what I did. What college wants me to write about the reason why the talent matters? I am kind of lost.
Great question. They want to know why that talent matters beyond just your ability to do it. What did you learn about yourself in the process of learning that talent? How can that talent affect or help you and/or others? If you are good at cleaning the bathroom, why does that talent matter? The talent is not just cleaning the bathroom, but the larger skill of being clean and orderly. So ask yourself: How does being able to be clean and orderly serve you in other ways (besides cleaning the bathroom?) in your life and with others? Look for the quality behind the talent to expand upon why “it matters” in the larger sense.
Hope that helps! JR
Great question. When I suggest that you explain “why something matters to you and world,” I’m trying to help you share why you think something (a skill, talent, etc.) has value to you–beyond the obvious. Hope that helps. JR
Would being good at a specific video game count as one? Say 0.171% of the top, out of nearly 2 million.
Hello! Would possessing both technical and artistic skills count as a talent?
Hi Christine,
The prompt asks you to write about a skill OR talent. So why not write about one of those as a skill? I would pick one of your technical or artistic skills to showcase, but it’s up to you. (It does ask you to feature “your greatest”) Best, JR
Well, is Singing” a talent? What I have written in this prompt essay answers all of these questions, how did i develop, challenge, struggle, whatever. I don’t know my consulter said this goes under the creativity? what do you think? Although I want to mention my struggle towards how have developed it. Because singing didn’t come naturally. I had to work it through the years to make it what it is today.
Hi Jehan, Singing is a talent. You could feature it in this prompt or in others (creativity; challenge, leadership; standing out, etc…), depending on what you want to say about it. It’s all about what you have to say about it: what first inspired you, what you learned from developing it, what it taught you (beyond singing), how you use it, why it matters to you, on and on. Good luck! Janine
How about personal skills, such as patience, gained when going through a long distance relationship? Would this topic work for this prompt?
Hi Kurtis, I think patience could be a skill (an ability/expertise), especially if it’s something you have developed. In general, I try to steer students away from writing about romantic relationships in essays. But that doesn’t mean you couldn’t write something meaningful about your skill. I would focus on what you learned about this skill, and how you developed, and why it has value to you (beyond the relationship). Good luck! JR
My son wants to write about video games. how he find a way to improve and be better. Also, thru it, he makes new friends. Would this work for this promt? Thank you so much.
Sorry to day these seem written about quite a bit. I would avoid as topic unless your son can think of something unique to say about them and what he has learned from playing them. It’s possible, but needs to go the extra mile. Might want to brainstorm other topics. JR
Playing video games is a skill. What your son needs to so is to explain why this skill has value. And if it has helped him make friends, that could work. Good luck, Janine
Hi j9robinson, a transfer student here; I’m just wondering if it is possible at all to ask you to review my essays just briefly and comment if I’m on the right track or not. Could that be possible for you to do at all for a prospective UCLA transfer student?
Hi Alexis, I review and edit essays, including the UC Personal Insight Questions. But I charge for my services. Find details on the Services tab at the top of my web site. Then email me any further questions. Good luck! Janine
Would the ability to play chess exceptionally well be considered a talent?
Would helping other people be consider a skill?
That’s a tough question. I would say it is a skill, but very general. To write about your ability to help others as a skill, try to focus in on a skill you have that’s more specific, which you use to help other people. Think about what skills you use when you help people. A skill is an ability, an expertise or something you do well. If you can frame what you do in that light, you could write about it for this prompt. If you write about how you are really good at something abstract, such as “helping people,” you need to make sure to describe what exactly you do, how and why you are good at it, and why your skill matters. Hope that helps! Best, Janine
I’m writing about playing the piano, and since piano is popular, I have to set my essay apart. I could either write about exceptional achievements/recognition, or about more personal details of experiences I have had. Which do you think would have a greater impact?
Hi Sneha, You are right: When you feature a talent that is written about a lot (like piano, soccer, singing, etc.), try to find something unique or unexpected to say about why you do it, or what you get out of it, or what it has taught you. If you have exceptional achievements that won’t be noted on other parts of your application, yes, include those. But I would start with and emphasize the more personal experiences and lessons. Best of luck. And great question! Janine
Is being multilingual a skill? Or like, being bilingual and currently self-learning another language.
Yes, it’s an awesome skill! Just make sure to explain why it has value to you, others and the world in your essay. JR
Scratch that, is self-learning a new language a skill? It’s too long and I felt that I should focus on the new language since it’s the most recent and the one I worked hardest at
Would it be too repetitive to write about how I developed a great passion and skill for a sport (Prompt #3) and then write another essay about my experience as team captain in that sport and the positive influence I had on others (Prompt #1)?
Hello, i was wondering if as a talent i should write about baking ever since i was young and how that has allowed me to create gifts for others and why i love it so much. Or should i write about a skill of communication and how building that kill has affected my life and how it will better my future? Thank you!
I was planning on writing about how I enjoy analyzing dreams and how the psyche/subconscious works. Would that be considered a skill? I was debating on either writing about that or writing about how I enjoy helping others, etc.
Hello. Does learning a new language count as a skill?
However, I do not quite understand the question, Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom?
I’ve been doing nail art for a long time and I’ve made designs and stickers to help my friends so biting their nails.. So I don’t really know if I should consider this a talent?
Awesome topic! Go for it! JR
Would playing the chinese yoyo be counted as a skill/talent? It involves a bit of risk-taking but I’m not sure if that’s a good enough quality of myself that I can write about. It also represents my culture in a way since I’m Chinese.
Love Chinese yoyo as a skill/talent! Just include what quality you express or developed while learning it to make it more meaningful. Best of luck! JR
I noticed you said that we must write about why our talent or skill is significant to the world and others. I throw shot put and discus and I’m a captain for my school’s team. How would I go about explaining its significance? I think throwing is an unusual talent but I’m not sure how its significant. :/
Awesome question. Here’s one way to explain how your talent or skill has value beyond just your ability to do it: Think of a quality you use while doing it, or a quality you developed or tested while learning/practising that skill or talent. Examples for shot put: focus, grace, strength (mental), determination, precision…. To make it even more personal, think about what quality you bring to shot put that is unique to you; what is your “style” with the shot put. Once you find a quality or value you use with your talent or ability, you can then explain why that has meaning to you, and to others and the world. Why does that quality or value matter…in other parts of your life…in your future? Hope that helps. ha
Would having good handwriting be considered a skill..?
Would being good at building robots be a good topic?
Im having trouble expanding my ideas on writing about photography. I have completed multiple friends senior pictures along with anniversaries, and hold the position of AVID historian. All traits are connected by photography but I struggle connecting everything together.
Hi, what if I want to pursue a carrier in film making and I’m applying to the film school, can i use photography/filmmaking/storytelling as a talent or are those too overdone? or do you recommend I do it on my sense of humour instead?
I would definitely write about your photography/filmmaking/storytelling as your talent over a sense of humor, especially if these are topics you will or might pursue in college. JR
Hi! Would you consider the ability to converse with anyone a skill ? I feel like it is more of a personal quality; however, with today’s society it is very rare to find teenager’s who love to speak with other people, speak in front of crowds, ect. That being said I feel like it can set me apart; therefore; identifying as a skill.
Is coffee brewing a skill? I was tired of buying an expensive cup of coffee that didn’t even taste good so I decided to make my own. Now I can make a delicious cup of coffee without even trying. I get really happy when my friends and family enjoy the coffee I make.
Elizabeth, I love your idea, just make sure you explain why this skill has value beyond jist making good coffee. One way to do that would be to share what personal quality you developed in honing your skill (precision, creativity, integrity, etc). Good luck! Janine
Hi. Can my talent be my innate desire for a challenge? How my curiosity has driven me to undertake challenging activities, and how these activities have gradually made me work well under pressure. I want to reflect how this skill of mine will help me deal with the challenging and rewarding curriculum that the UC’s offer. Alternatively, could I write about how I have always liked building things myself as opposed to buying something ready-made? I would prefer the 1st topic.
Hi, Is playing card games a skill? I’m really good at it and never lose. Or maybe baking cakes?
Write a three paragraph essay about one of your talents or strengths.and I am so confused!!!
Hello there,
I am thinking about writing about my talent for snapping. I can snap my fingers really fast and I could say that I am proud of it, and it is a unique topic. Would that make an interesting topic? If you think it would, I have another question: I want to make this essay about snapping but also something beyond that, whether it be something about my character or something else…any ideas for how I could intertwine that? So for instance, if I want to say I am persistent and hardworking and intertwine those qualities in this essay, do you have any ideas on how I could do that? Hopefully that makes sense.
Your question is awesome! When you write about any of your talents or skills, it’s critical to include WHY THEY MATTER (have value) to you and the world. You can talk about your talent, and how you developed it, and how good you are at it. But then you must go into why that talent has meaning to you, and explain why and how. With snapping, I would try to find example of when you have used it. Has it helped your in certain situations in any way? Do you keep rhythm with it? I agree it’s a unique topic, however, if your snapping serves no purpose then it will not make sense to feature it here. If you believe your snapping reflect a quality that you have, then you could make the case for the value of that quality to show why your talent has value. Just don’t push it too far if it doesn’t make sense. Good luck!
I think I can write about either of two topics. One is that I know how to fix the bike when it breaks down. the other is that I love (and also good at) teaching or telling other people about the subjects I know. Like tutoring my cousins or friends who need help. Would those two topics work for this prompt? Also which would be better in terms of uniqueness.
I like your idea about fixing bikes. It seems more immediate and interesting than the tutoring (many students write about this as a topic, even though it’s obviously a wonderful experience.) You might find that you can work in the tutoring even if you start with the bikes—as long as it also illustrates something about the main point you want to make about yourself in your essay. Good luck! Janine
Is running considered a skill/talent?
Can I write about running as a skill/talent?
Yes, running can be both a skill and/or a talent. If you write about for this prompt, however, make sure to explain why it has value to you beyond simply running well. What quality or value did you develop using this skill and/or talent, and what have you learned from doing it? Good luck! Janine
Hi! Can I use I’m instead of I am in UC personal insight questions?
Can i write creativity and innovation as part of this
Hello, Would it be good to write about giving advice as a skill?
Hey! I started a business in an entirely new market in India (Korean products and korean music merchandise). I was thinking about writing about the difficulties I’m facing while doing this. Oh and I’m doing this entire thing all alone. And I did a business of $1500 in the first month alone (its a lot if you count it in Indian rupee). Thanks!
Thank you so much for posting this, I really appreciate it! I have been practicing Lucid Dreaming for over a year now, but that did not come to mind as a “talent,” when reading prompt 3. I saw it on this website as something that would be good to write about, and now that I think about, there is so much this ‘skill’ has helped me in.
Hello. What do you think of being observant as a skill? I find observing to be a way to know a little bit about someone or to notice the beauty around. I am more aware and that is how I learn. I was going to talk about I used to be self-critical about myself before and was focused too much on myself/thoughts then later grown from that (with detail).
Hey! I wanted to say that your tips were super helpful to me and I appreciate it 🙂 I also wanted to ask about my topic. I’m having a hard time deciding and I have only come up with running and window shopping. I think window shopping is super unique and running is more on the safe side. What do you think?
Window shopping, 100% yes! Way more unique than running. Love it! Janine
Thank you for the tips, Would playing the guitar and drawing be considered a talent/skill? And if they do, which would you consider writing about?
Thank you for your great suggestions! I’m planning on writing about my talent of recognizing various common plants and my knowledge of the history of plants,but I’m not sure how to build an essay on this. Should I include some interesting incidents I had with plants, like a conversation with my friend about a tree?
Hi Anna, I love your topic idea. And yes, you need to find some real-life moment, experiences, incidents that relate to this interest that you can share in your essay to make it come alive for the reader. (Yes, the “time” you talked to a tree could be an interesting anecdote!) I would recommend you read more posts on my blog to learn how to do this.
Try this post to get you started: http://www.essayhell.com/2016/02/write-college-application-essay-3-easy-steps/
Good luck! Janine
Hi how are you, I am struggling to think of something for this one but immediately I thought of how I am really good at working with kids and it definitely shaped my goals and the career I want to pursue. Would you say working with children can be considered a skill?
Hi thank you so much for your helpful suggestions. Immediately after reading this prompt I thought of how I am really good at working with kids and it’s definitely shaped my interest and the career I want to pursue. Would you say working with kids can be considered a good skill?
Do you think optimistic as a talent or skill?
Hello there! I came across this article for the UC Essay Prompts and wanted to ask a quick question: would knowing how to sew, being bilingual, and knowing a lot of U.S. History be considered skills? And if so, which should I write about? I’ve done a few sewing projects, have helped translate for my parents while searching for apartments, and gotten a high score on the APUSH exam. I just feel very stuck.
Thanks a ton, Rachel.
I am writing about Music and writing music and things I read. One of my greatest skills is incorporating music and writing into other aspects of my life. I have loved music and writing since a very young age. I have learned to play multiple instruments. One of the instruments is the piano. I learned to play the piano when I was five years old and have developed playing piano ever since. Another instrument that I know how to play is the kebero, which is a traditional African drum used in religious and traditional music.
Hi, I am usually the one my friends go to when they require help for their problems. Would being an adviser for my friends be considered as a skill?
Sure! I love that idea. Try to give your essay a focus by choosing one core quality or characteristic that you developed or used by taking on this adviser role with your friends. Read my other posts for more info on exactly how to write your essay! Good luck! Janine
Hello, I was looking to write about my skill/talent when it comes to fashion-sense. I actually created a clothing brand which has gotten positive feedback throughout my school and several sales. Is this a stretch?
Hi, I am thinking of writing about being charismatic but as an introvert. Would that be considered a trait/skill?
Hello. I need help. I can’t seem to decide if being focused and persistent are a talent
Can leadership be called a skill?
Hi, Would running be counted as a skill, adding up to overall development and achievements ?!
Hi, would speaking Russian and acting as a translator for my overly critical Russian grandmother, whenever she comes to the United States, count as a talent? Although, it was my first language I ended up losing the tongue as I assimilated too much into American culture, so to speak. Also, the “skill” is meaningful to me in that it has allowed me to connect with my Russian heritage and family. I was considering whether I should add how I sometimes change the meaning of her overly critical, oftentimes rude words, into something sweeter, implying a double meaning in that I am not only a translator in terms of language, but also a translator in terms of changing the “bad” into “good.” Not sure if this essay is better to write for PIQ#3 or PIQ#8 or for none at all. Thanks!!:)
What do you think about writing about backpacking as a skill?
I think so.
Hi would shopping or cooking be considered a talent?
Definitely!
Would making people laugh be a skill?
I think so! Lol.
Would being inquisitive or focused a good skill to put down?
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Additional UC Essay Example and Resources. So, what'd you think of the UC essay example? Let us know what you're thinking of writing about for UC Personal Insight Essay prompt 3! Here are 20 UC Essay Examples that got acceptances to at least UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego; Check this resource out if you need UC Personal Insight tips!
8 Outstanding UC Essay Examples (Graded by Former ...
To clarify, this example essay belonged to a previous client of ours who had two weeks' worth of our writing and editing services. The UC prompt 3, also known as the talent and skills prompt, is one of the most important questions in the personal insight section. This is because it is the time for you to showcase your strengths in conjunction ...
How to Write the UC Essay Prompts 2023/2024 (+ Examples)
Prompt #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. (max: 350 words)". Creativity takes so many different forms.
Prompt 3: Greatest Talent or Skill. UC Example Essay #8: "The Art Girl". Prompt 4: Significant Opportunity or Barrier. UC Example Essay #9. UC Example Essay #10. UC Example Essay #11: "Two Truths, One Lie". UC Example Essay #12: Prompt 5: Overcoming a Challenge. UC Essay Example #13: "Breaking Up With Mom".
A step-by-step guide to conquering all UC personal insight questions (PIQs), with examples of all UC essay prompts and an analysis of successful UC essays (Note: This article can also be found in our free, 110-page comprehensive guide to writing every college essay, How to Get Into America's Elite Colleges: The Ultimate Guide .
UC Essay Prompt #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. UC Example Essay: When I was just two-years-old, my mom enrolled me in ballet classes—and I hated them.
Here are 20 UC essay examples (also called UC Personal Insight Essay Examples) from students of ours that have been accepted to at least UCLA or UC Berkeley. If you have writer's block and want to jumpstart your UC personal insight essay writing process, then these UC essay examples will most definitely help :). ... Personal Insight Prompt 3 ...
In the third step, the college admissions counselor completes a thorough edit and revision of the each essay draft, modifying structure and word choice to better express the student's ideas and overall message. An essay might take several edits to complete. Below is an example of ONE edit. University of California: Prompt #3 - Edits.
1- Connect your talent or skill to your personal values, beliefs, or life experiences. 2- Highlight any unique or innovative approaches you have taken in developing your talent. 3- Demonstrate how your talent or skill aligns with your academic or career goals. 4- Showcase the impact and significance of your talent beyond personal achievements ...
UC Prompt #3 Example Essay. You can find an example essay for UC Prompt #3 on our UC Example Essays post. UC Prompt #3 Final Takeaways. Prompt #3 isn't for everyone, but it can be a great way to write about something memorable, highlight a special skill that few people possess, or demonstrate a significant perspective or ability to persevere. ...
The key words in the prompt are "develop" and "demonstrate.". The prompt wants you to focus on a skill or talent that you worked on over time, got better at, and used for some purpose that's meaningful to you. Develop: The focus of the essay should be on your improvement. All personal college essays should be about growth over time ...
12 Great University of California Essay Examples
How to Write a Perfect UC Essay for Every Prompt
[This article is part of a new series where we will be dissecting each of the UC essay prompts in depth, providing examples and tips on how you can make your application stand out.] Click here to ...
2. Pop culture reference. Two issues with this. One, there's a risk the reader won't get the joke, and it will fall flat on its face. Two, it might detract from the flow of this story. I think "hold the door" is ubiquitous and timely enough to take the risk, but obviously, ALWAYS get a second opinion. 3.
College Prep. Writing UC Prompt 3 Tips: Greatest Talent Essay. [This article is part of a new series where we will be dissecting each of the UC essay prompts in depth, providing examples and tips on how you can make your application stand out.] Click here to read yesterday's post about UC Prompt #2. Prompt #3: What would you say is your ...
Personal insight questions - UC Admissions
10 Top Tips for Your Best UC Personal Insight Question Responses. Guide to UC PIQ #1: Leadership Experience. Guide to UC PIQ #2: Creativity. Guide to UC PIQ #4: Greatest Educational Opportunity/Barrier. Guide to UC PIQ #5: Greatest Challenge. Guide to UC PIQ #6: Favorite Academic Subject. Guide to UC PIQ #7: Community Service.
UC Sample Essay, Question #2. For one of her Personal Insight essays, Angie responded to question #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.
10 UC Essay Example: "Two Truths, One Lie". On the first day of school, when a teacher plays "Two Truths, One Lie" I always state living on three different continents. Nine times out of ten, this is picked as the lie. I spent my primary education years in Bangalore, India.
UC Essay Prompt 3: Talents and Skills