virtuoso_735

I've already written two of my 200 word essays for the UC application, the ones on talent/contribution and the educational opportunities one. Now for the third topic, which is pretty much open-ended, I don't know what to write. I'm not exactly sure what the UC's want either. Do they want a creative, private-school type of essay that shows personality, or do they want a straightforward essay? Should I write about my disadvantages (economic, mainly), or is it topic like "Why I want to go to college" good enough? I really don't know what to write aobut. Please help.

Aspen D

There is no xyz formula for "what they want"........you're gonna hate this and think its useless...but be YOU.

jh12000

Basically, all colleges prefer essays that "show personality". Whatever you decide to write about, just make it so that your personality shines. If your disadvantages reflect how much you were able to overcome despite all your hardships, it's probably a good idea to write about them. However, be careful not to make it sound like an excuse for underachievement.

virtuoso_735

Okay thanks.

confused_junior

i'm also having trouble with this topic too...i've written a rough draft and i'm not sure if the topic is good or not..i'm basically writing about my grandma and my responsibilities at home..any input? thanks

Rick Tyler

The key to a work of fiction is that the reader has to connect with a lead character (or VERY small set of characters) who is experiencing the most important thing that has ever happened to that character. Think about the great movies you've seen or novels you've read, and most of them will follow this rule.

I suggest you follow this in your open-topic essay. Even if nothing that dramatic has happened to you in your life, and not everyone has suffered great drama or trauma, there is something that made you realize or discover what you are, what you believe, or what you need to do. It might be something small that somehow caused you to reevaluate How Things Are for you. My son picked a small thing. He wrote about his experience as a 13-year-old Patrol Leader in a Boy Scout troop. It's a pretty mundane story, but he got to write about something that has changed how he behaves as a leader. You just need to find your own patrol leader story.

carolyn

Actually, the UC personal statement essays are a bit different than most college essays. The UC readers do not want to see a wildly creative essay, or an essay that shows more about your personality than your accomplishments, or an essay that uses "fictional techniques" to build drama. Keep in mind that the UC readers are looking for specific things to check off in the comprehensive review process (leadership, challenge, special talents, etc.), and they also want the personal statement to build upon the other information in your application. You want to make it as easy for them to find those things by presenting yourself in a fairly straightforward way.

And, there is indeed an "XYZ" formula for what the UCs want on those personal statement essays. In fact, they're pretty clear about it, and it is to your advantage to conform to what they want as much as possible. You might want to read through the UC tutorial on the personal statement which explains EXACTLY what they are looking for. The best UC essays will conform to this format, and it is best to be pretty specific and organized, even at the expense of creativity: https://www.ucgateways.org/index.cfm...el2=2&level3=0

carolyn

This link may also help --- it comes from a counselor newsletter that I receive from the University of California system:
http://www.ucop.edu/pathways/ucnotes...statement.html

Excerpt:
The open-ended prompt asks students to share "anything" they would like UC to know. "Anything" does not mean "everything," Gullatt says. Some students are tempted to write about what they're interested in, though it may not advance their case that they should be admitted.

"Anything," she says, "means one really strategically chosen topic."

A strategic answer highlights or explains what's in the application itself.

One example: A young mother's community college grades were lower one year because her husband was unemployed and she had to work full-time to support her family. The next year, with her husband employed again, she could work fewer hours and study more, and her grades rose dramatically. The bare facts are there in her transcript. But the personal statement gives significance to the transcript, telling the story of a young woman with a high level of self-discipline and sense of responsibility: obviously desirable qualities in a UC student.
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You may also want to go to the www.ucop.edu/pathways site and do some research about how points are assigned in the comprehensive review process.

angelflower

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