Many applicants to the most selective university programs share high grades, high test scores, solid recommendations and generous doses of community service and volunteer activities. Yet, if they want to set themselves apart from the pool of exceptional students, a significant research experience in STEM or the social sciences helps.
By default, the UCPIS is important because there are not many ways to evaluate applicants: no recommendations unless requested by a specific campus; no SAT or ACT scores. This leaves an applicant’s activity list (containing up to 20 activities); your transcript which you input into your application; and your four UCPISs.
After years of steady service, the UC Personal Statements are being retired, replaced by a set of Personal Insight Questions.
To inveterate college counselors in California there are likely twangs of nostalgia associated with losing, “Tell us the world you come from…” and coaxing a story out of an applicant to fill the page and expose his or her soul todiscerning, oftentimes, overloaded readers from the UC admissions offices.
The good news is that the new UC Personal Insight Questions might also serve to begin and structure the college application process.
