University of California Essay Prompts and Tips

A. The University seeks to enroll on each of its campuses an entering class that is academically superior and that embodies a wide range of talents, experiences, achievements, and points of view. Describe the qualities and accomplishments you would bring to the undergraduate student body at the University of California.

Tips for Prompt A

This is for people who have done a lot and thought a lot. UC wants qualities--plural--and accomplishments--plural. If you don't have things to say about both, don't choose this topic. Qualities means character traits, talents, attitudes, values, ways you think. Accomplishments means impressive stuff you have DONE. The prompt also mentions "experiences," so you may include significant experiences, too, but don't discuss only experiences. Since this prompt requires you to write about several different things, one writing challenge will be to unify the essay into a satisfying, coherent whole. This will require finding meaningful relationships among the several things you write about; determining a sequence both logical and dramatic, and using smooth transitions.

B. Intellectual vitality is an important value of university life. Describe one of your intellectual achievements--such as a paper, project, production, or performance. Explain not only the achievement, but what you gained from it, as well.

Tips for Prompt B

Note that you're asked to write about only one thing--"one of your intellectual achievements"--and what you gained from it. So don't write about more than one! The writing challenge here is to have enough of interest to say about this single achievement. One dramatic strategy is to tell chronologically the preparation for the achievement, and have the achievement itself be the climax of your essay. You could tell "what you gained from it" either as you describe each preparatory step, or at the end.

Be sure to choose an achievement that is intellectual--an achievement primarily of the mind. Also be sure it falls in the same general category as the examples they give: "paper, project, production, or performance."

C. It is important for the University to understand the context of each applicant's accomplishments, both academic and nonacademic. Describe any unusual circumstances or challenges you have faced and the ways you have responded.

Tips for Prompt C

Here UC wants to know if you've had tougher obstacles to overcome than the average student, so that what you've accomplished has been in spite of these obstacles, and is therefore more impressive. This prompt is especially appropriate for ethnic/racial minorities; immigrants; people with physical, emotional, or learning handicaps; and people with especially difficult financial or family problems. If you don't fall into one of those categories, steer clear of this question.

(Don't write about the challenge of dealing with your kitten's death or the remodeling of your home.)

Tips Written by Rob Thais