So…one of the UC prompts for this year is “What is the one thing that you think sets you apart from other candidates applying to the University of California?”
I’m not sure how to approach this question. I feel like its best to talk about a trait or a personal philosophy, because talking about something literal (ex. I have 11 fingers) is a little…silly? On the other hand, if I talk about a trait, then isn’t that assuming that other candidates don’t have that trait? For example, if I put something like…I always give 200%, then I’m saying that other candidates only give 100%? I don’t want to seem too full of myself. What’s the best way to approach this question?
You can talk about an experience you had and what you’ve learned about it, or something you are passionate about. For example, you can say about a volunteer experience you had at a hospital and have been exposed to pediatric robotic surgery at Boston Children’s hospital where they are making advancements to expand robotic surgery from urology to cardiology, and neurology, and you aim to become a pediatric robotic surgery because that volunteer experience opened your eyes to a whole new world. I believe that sounds better than someone saying “I work harder than the next guy” Talk about something you are passionate about and tie it in with an experience you had that discovered that passion, then you will be fine.
Humility and self-awareness are certainly good things in a maturing student. In this prompt, the ask is for you to pick something that makes you memorable, or changes the culture there somehow. Think how you have changed the culture in your own local environment (leading Relay for Life, or raising organic kale, whatever). Think about how those actions change your local environment. Give one example and you will stand out from the myriad of applicants who provide none.
There’s a person who wrote in asking about whether she should write about her time as a pig farmer. You know: Yes!!! That sets that person apart. You don’t have to have done “pig farmer” or “robotic surgery” but it is helpful if you have something that evokes a distinct image. You can hear the admissions counselor’s talking amongst themselves: Oh do you mean the amazing pig farmer? or the robotic surgeon? You can do just as well in creating a visual handle for yourself with other experiences. Walking a handicapped person across the ice, for example . . . They will more likely remember your application if you give them a visual handle to hold onto.
One approach may be to tell your essay as a story, in images, as that helps bring it to life. "The pig lay on the sweet-smelling straw. She grunted gently as the piglets were born. One got trapped between her 2000 pound bulk and the water trough. A sudden lurch from the mom and the newborn could die. If I could reach between mom and the water trough, I could move the blind newborn to safety. Mom was feeling vulnerable. That made her especially dangerous . . . " is more memorable than, say: "My family has been raising pigs since 1975. My first memory of a pig was when she was giving birth. One of the pigs got stuck between the mom and the water trough . . . " You can bury your lede at the end: "what sets me apart is that I’m a risk taker with determination and good planning. I took the risk and saved the baby pig. " Best of luck