Research Opportunities
Ralph Becker
The Importance of High School Research

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.

The Importance of High School Research

UC Personal Statement

The New UC Personal Insight Questions

The New UC Personal Insight Questions

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.

Making Your UC Personal Statement

Making Your UC Personal Statement

For the first time in recent history, the UC Admissions site goes live on the same day as the Common Application: August 1st.

If you’re going to be a senior next year, it might not be a bad idea to celebrate by writing the first draft of your UC Personal Statement now. As the websites at most the UC campuses advise, applicants should take ample time to brainstorm, write, revise and burnish their essays. It is essential to do as good a job as possible on the personal statements as they are key components in the UC selection process at most of the campuses.

Applying to the University of California

Applying to the University of California

On November 1st, the University of California began accepting applications for fall 2014. This column contains a number of frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the application timeline and details, selecting majors, submitting test scores and the UC Personal Statements.  Although many of the answers can be found on the UC Admissions site, most applicants have little time to scour a 45 page PDF to unearth them. I, on the other hand, run into many of these every day.

Selecting a Topic for your College Essays

Selecting a Topic for your College Essays

If you go to the ‘California Colleges’ website dedicated to perfecting the Personal Statement for the UC Application, http://californiacolleges.edu/admissions/university-of-california-uc/personal-statement.asp, you’ll be told that

“The UC personal statement is a preview to the kind of writing you'll be doing in college and on college placement exams.

Unknown Audience: You will be writing for a community of strangers.

Writer-Determined Topic: You will pick the topic for your response.

Dig Deeper: Analysis and reflection are keys.”