ucf college essay prompts

Once you write a first draft, put it in a drawer for a week. Taking some time away from it will allow you to come back to it with fresh eyes. Then, try to read your essay from the perspective of someone who knows nothing about you. Would they be able to understand the story? Do you explain clearly what you learned? Does your intro grab the reader's attention?

It can also be helpful to ask someone you trust, such as a parent, teacher, or peer, to read your essay and give you feedback. Really listen to what they say and think about how you can improve your writing.

Finally, try reading your essay aloud. This will help you catch any weird or awkward phrasings.

What's Next?

If you're struggling with how to approach your personal statement, consider looking at some college essay examples .

The essay is just one part of the college application process. Check out our guide to applying to college for a step-by-step breakdown of what you'll need to do.

Finally, if you're planning to take the SAT or ACT , consider taking a look at our expert test-prep guides for some helpful advice on whatever you might be struggling with.

Alex is an experienced tutor and writer. Over the past five years, she has worked with almost a hundred students and written about pop culture for a wide range of publications. She graduated with honors from University of Chicago, receiving a BA in English and Anthropology, and then went on to earn an MA at NYU in Cultural Reporting and Criticism. In high school, she was a National Merit Scholar, took 12 AP tests and scored 99 percentile scores on the SAT and ACT.

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• Resources/Links (Undergraduate)
• FAQs (Undergraduate)
• Check Application Status
• Graduate Admissions
• Resources/Links (Graduate)
• FAQs (Graduate)

Undergraduate Applications

We’ve made it easier than ever to apply to UCF. Whether this is your first time in college, you’re transferring from another institution or you’re enrolling from another country, we’ve streamlined the process to make it as clear and quick as possible. In fact, there are only two steps.

Before You Get Started…

Make sure you’ve reviewed UCF’s undergraduate admissions requirements in the official Undergraduate Catalog before you apply. For details, visit the Undergraduate Admissions website .

Steps to Apply

1. complete and submit the online application.

When you’re ready, fill out the undergraduate application online .

2. Submit required documents

After completing your application, you’ll receive an email with specific instructions for submitting required documents based upon your student type. For more information about requirements, visit the Undergraduate Admissions freshman or transfer pages.

International students must also submit required immigration documents as necessary. Review the undergraduate admissions process on the UCF Global website .

Undergraduate Admissions Deadlines

International, after you apply.

After clicking submit, you can track your application status in your Future Knight Portal .

UCF operates on a rolling admission basis. You will receive an admission decision once we have received all of your supporting documentation. Transfer students will receive a transfer credit summary once admitted.

Resources for Undergraduate Applicants

Admissions requirements.

• Freshman (FTIC) Admissions
• Transfer Admissions
• International Undergraduate Admissions
• Online Undergraduate Admissions

More Information

• Find a Degree
• Office of Undergraduate Admissions
• Transfer & Transition Services
• Financial Aid

Visit the UCF Admissions FAQs for frequently asked questions about the undergraduate application process and requirements.

Graduate Applications

Now is the time to push yourself to new possibilities. Graduate school is your chance to make important discoveries, master cutting-edge skills and advance both your knowledge and your career. With an advanced degree from UCF, you’ll make a big impact on the world.

Make sure you’ve reviewed UCF’s graduate admissions requirements in the official Graduate Application Deadlines and Requirements before you apply. For details, visit the Graduate Admissions website .

1. Choose your degree

UCF offers more than 100 graduate degree programs. Find the master’s degree , doctoral program or graduate certificate that’s right for you.

Or, learn more about UCF’s top ranked online master’s programs .

2. Review and complete any pre-application requirements

3. complete and submit the online application.

When you’re ready, fill out the graduate application online . A non-refundable $31 application fee is required to submit your application.

4. Submit required documents

The documents listed below are required for admission into all graduate programs:

• One official transcript (in a sealed envelope) from each college/university attended*
• Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores or General Management Admissions Test (GMAT) scores (for doctoral programs and certain master’s programs)
• Immunization Form

Some programs may require additional documents. Review your program’s graduate admissions requirements to ensure you’ve submitted everything needed for your program.

International students must also submit required immigration documents as necessary. Review the graduate admissions process on the UCF Global website .

After clicking submit, you can track your application status through your Applicant Portal .

UCF operates on a rolling admission basis. You will receive an admission decision once we have received all of your supporting documentation.

Resources for Graduate Applicants

• College of Graduate Studies Admissions
• International Graduate Admissions
• Online Graduate Admissions
• Explore Graduate Programs
• College of Graduate Studies

Visit the UCF Graduate Admissions FAQs for frequently asked questions about the graduate application process and requirements.

• First Year Entry
• University Honors Admissions

Students applying to the Burnett Honors College should show clear evidence of academic talent, motivation, intellectual curiosity and creativity.

The admission process involves a comprehensive review of the applicant's academic background, standardized test scores, personal statement, activities, and interests. Admission to the Burnett Honors College is very selective, and Honors students typically represent the top 8% of freshmen at UCF.

After being admitted to UCF, the Burnett Honors college will send an invitation to apply to the University Honors Program directly to academically talented students. However, any high-achieving incoming freshmen interested in applying may request an application. Applications are available between September 15th and March 15th.

If you have questions about your application, please contact us at [email protected].

The Burnett Honors College has a rolling admissions process. Typically, applicants receive a decision within 3-5 weeks after they apply. Because the Burnett Honors College accepts a limited number of students each year, students should submit their University Honors application as early as possible.

All materials must be received by the application deadline in order for the applicant to receive full consideration.

To be considered, an applicant must be a FTIC (first time in college) student for the summer or fall semesters. Students who earn an AA degree as part of a dual enrollment program and are admitted to UCF as first time in college (FTIC) can only apply to the University Honors program as freshmen (FTIC).

Applicants must submit a University Honors application and official high school transcript directly to the Burnett Honors College. In addition, official SAT and/or ACT test scores should be submitted to UCF.

Students are encouraged to submit additional information which illustrates their talents, skills and/or interests. This information may be a significant factor in the BHC admissions decision.

Students may submit their BHC University Honors application before they are admitted to UCF, however our team cannot review the application until acceptance to UCF has been granted.

Academic Performance:

• Weighted High School GPA
• Senior Class Rank
• SAT and/or ACT scores
• Advanced Course Work (AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, AICE)

Other extraordinary accomplishments also play an important role in the decision process.

Important Dates

September 15 - University Honors Application Available

• You can request an application online  here  (log in with username and password "honors")
• You can check your application status (once submitted)  here  (log in with your UCF NID and password)

January 15 - University Honors Priority Application Deadline (postmarked)

• Students must be admitted to UCF and submit a complete Honors application by the Honors Priority Application Deadline to be considered for the  Honors Enhancement Scholarship
• Students who apply early to the Burnett Honors College will also receive an earlier decision, which will allow early access to Honors benefits such as Honors Housing Room Selection* (in Tower 3 at Knight’s Plaza) and Honors Orientation registration (*Access to Honors Housing in Tower 3 requires a valid UCF on-campus housing contract (learn more at www.housing.ucf.edu ))

March 15 - University Honors Application Deadline (postmarked)

• Applications received after the deadline will be considered on a space-available basis

May 1 - University Honors Reply Form Deadline (postmarked)

• Seats are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats are not considered reserved until (a) University Honors Student Reply Form is received AND (b) the student has submitted their  UCF enrollment deposit
• A student's seat is not confirmed until they receive a confirmation letter from the Burnett Honors College
• Students who have a confirmed seat in the Burnett Honors College will see "Confirmation Complete: Yes" when they log in to track their application status ( here ). University Honors Student Reply Forms received after the deadline will be considered only on a space-available basis

ONE-ON-ONE VISITS

Coming to campus and want to see what the Burnett Honors College has to offer? Then schedule a one-on-one visit! These 30-45 minute visits will be scheduled with an Honors staff member and one of our Honors Student Assistants, and will also include a tour of the Burnett Honors College building.

If you are interested in scheduling a One-on-One Visit to learn more about the Burnett Honors College, please call us at (407) 823-2545 or email us at [email protected] with your name, intended major, planned start semester at UCF, and availability. Appointments are generally available Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 4:30, year-round except for holidays. Please allow at least 24 business hours for scheduling a visit.

VIRTUAL ONE-ON-ONE VISITS

AN AFTERNOON AT THE BURNETT HONORS COLLEGE

Cannot attend an Open House? Want to visit the campus on a weekday when Fall or Spring terms classes are in session? Then plan to spend an afternoon at the Burnett Honors College. You will meet Honors staff and students, and will have the opportunity to ask questions about the academics, the extracurricular activities, and the special programs that the Burnett Honors College has to offer. Honors students can share their experiences and give you the student perspective. The number of available seats per session is 30, and prior advanced reservation is highly recommended. Reservations can be made by submitting this online form  this online form .

Upcoming Event Dates:

• Monday, February 19th, 2024: 3:30-4:30 PM
• Monday, March 11th, 2024: 3:30-4:30 PM
• Friday, March 15th, 2024: 3:30-4:30 PM
• Friday, March 29th, 2024:  3:30-4:30 PM

More dates may be added later, so please check back again!

Enhancement Scholarship

All freshmen that apply by January 15 are automatically considered for the Honors Enhancement Scholarship. Scholarships are awarded based on the academic credentials of the student (test scores, high school GPA and class rank). The scholarship is $2,000 and is disbursed in two equal installments of $1,000 during the first and second semesters at UCF.

Note: This scholarship is awarded only during the first year at UCF, and it is not recurring.

National Merit Finalists

Students who are designated National Merit Finalists by the College Board will be accepted to the Burnett Honors College, provided that they submit a complete application by the deadline.

Provost Scholars

Students who are awarded UCF's Provost Scholarship will also be given special consideration.

Seat Reservation

Students admitted to the Burnett Honors College are required to confirm their participation and reserve their seat for the Fall semester. The Honors Student Reply Form is emailed to all admitted students starting in mid-February, and is due no later than May 1. Students who submit the UCF enrollment deposit after May 1 are automatically placed on a waitlist.

BHC class size is limited, so we encourage admitted students to reserve their seat as soon as possible. Students must complete steps 1 & 2 below to reserve their seat (and should complete step 3 as soon as possible):

Submit the UCF enrollment deposit to Undergraduate Admissions

Submit the completed Honors Student Reply Form by email to [email protected].

Register for a UCF Freshman Orientation session here .

Register for Orientation

Note: Students who reserve their seat after the class has filled are placed on the waitlist. Waitlist position is based on the date of the enrollment deposit to UCF and date of enrollment for Orientation; and not on the date of admission to the Burnett Honors College or the date of submission of the Honors Student Reply Form. Students can check their waitlist position here (log in with the UCF NID and NID password).

Ready to Apply?

The deadline to apply for Fall 2024 is March 15, 2024 (postmarked). Only applications received before the deadline are guaranteed consideration. Late applications will be considered only on a space-available basis.

Students who apply late should be in the top 5% of UCF's incoming freshman class in all areas (test scores, GPA, and other academic accomplishments). To request* a late application, you may send an email requesting an application with your name, email address, and UCF ID** to [email protected] . Applications will be sent via email in .pdf format.

*We reserve the right to not send application packets to students who request late applications based on their academic credentials or on the class becoming full.

**The UCF ID is a seven-digit number used to identify you in University systems. To obtain your UCF ID, go to myUCF , log in using your NID and password, click Student Self Service > Personal Information > UCF ID Info. This page will display your UCF ID, your NID, and your UCF ID Card number, once you have been issued one.

There are also two additional opportunities to join the Burnett Honors College once you have started at UCF as an incoming freshman: Second Year Entry for University Honors , and our Honors Undergraduate Thesis programs.

Home — Essay Samples — Education — College Tuition — Why Are You Interested in UCF: Dream School

Why Are You Interested in Ucf: Dream School

• Categories: College Tuition University

About this sample

Words: 609 |

Updated: 7 November, 2023

Words: 609 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Video Version

Prompt Examples for the “UCF Application” Essays

• Why UCF: Your Personal Connection Discuss your personal connection to the University of Central Florida. What specific experiences or aspects of UCF, such as campus events or location, have drawn you to this university?
• Academic and Career Goals at UCF Share your academic and career aspirations and explain how UCF’s academic programs align with your goals. How do you envision UCF helping you achieve these goals?
• The Role of Family in Your Educational Journey Reflect on the influence of your family in shaping your educational values and aspirations. How has your family’s emphasis on education and independence impacted your decision to apply to UCF?
• The Importance of Hard Work and Dedication Discuss the values of hard work, dedication, and independence instilled by your family. How do you plan to apply these values to your academic and personal life at UCF?
• Your Dream College: UCF Explain why UCF is your dream college. What specific features, such as academics, extracurricular activities, and location, make UCF your top choice? How do you plan to make the most of your time at UCF to achieve your educational and personal goals?

Works Cited

• University of Central Florida. (n.d.). About UCF. Retrieved from https://www.ucf.edu/about-ucf/
• University of Central Florida. (n.d.). College of Nursing. Retrieved from https://www.nursing.ucf.edu/
• University of Central Florida. (n.d.). UCF Campus Life. Retrieved from https://www.ucf.edu/campus-life/
• Plescia, M., & Chong, K. (2020). The impact of student-faculty relationships on student engagement and retention. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 57(3), 365-378.
• Washington, M., & Burdett, T. (2018). The impact of extracurricular activities on student engagement and well-being. Journal of College Student Development, 59(4), 426-434.
• Perna, L. W., & Titus, M. A. (2004). The relationship between parental involvement as social capital and college enrollment: An examination of racial/ethnic group differences. The Journal of Higher Education, 75(5), 534-564.
• Schneider, B., & Stevenson, D. (1999). The ambitious generation: America’s teenagers, motivated but directionless. Yale University Press.
• Buchmann, C., DiPrete, T. A., & McDaniel, A. (2008). Gender inequalities in education. Annual Review of Sociology, 34, 319-337.
• Elder, G. H. Jr., Eccles, J. S., Ardelt, M., & Lord, S. (1995). Inner-city parents under economic pressure: Perspectives on the strategies of parenting. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57(3), 771-784.
• Day, J. C. (1996). Population projections of the United States by age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin: 1995 to 2050. U.S. Bureau of the Census.

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How to Write Your College Essay: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Getting ready to start your college essay? Your essay is very important to your application — especially if you’re applying to selective colleges.

Become a stronger writer by reviewing your peers’ essays and get your essay reviewed as well for free.

We have regular livestreams during which we walk you through how to write your college essay and review essays live.

College Essay Basics

Just getting started on college essays? This section will guide you through how you should think about your college essays before you start.

• Why do essays matter in the college application process?
• What is a college application theme and how do you come up with one?
• How to format and structure your college essay

Before you move to the next section, make sure you understand:

How a college essay fits into your application

What a strong essay does for your chances

How to create an application theme

Learn the Types of College Essays

Next, let’s make sure you understand the different types of college essays. You’ll most likely be writing a Common App or Coalition App essay, and you can also be asked to write supplemental essays for each school. Each essay has a prompt asking a specific question. Each of these prompts falls into one of a few different types. Understanding the types will help you better answer the prompt and structure your essay.

• How to Write a Personal Statement That Wows Colleges
• Personal Statement Essay Examples
• How to Write a Stellar Extracurricular Activity Essay
• Extracurricular Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Diversity College Essay
• Diversity Essay Examples
• Tips for Writing a Standout Community Service Essay
• How to Write the “Why This Major” Essay
• How to Write a “Why This Major” Essay if You’re Undecided
• How to write the “Why This College” Essay
• How to Research a College to Write the “Why This College” Essay
• Why This College Essay Examples
• How to Write The Overcoming Challenges Essay
• Overcoming Challenges Essay Examples

Identify how each prompt fits into an essay type

What each type of essay is really asking of you

How to write each essay effectively

The Common App essay

Almost every student will write a Common App essay, which is why it’s important you get this right.

• How to Write the Common App Essay
• Successful Common App Essay Examples
• 5 Awesome College Essay Topics + Sample Essays
• 11 Cliché College Essay Topics + How to Fix Them

How to choose which Common App prompts to answer

How to write a successful Common App essay

What to avoid to stand out to admissions officers

Supplemental Essay Guides

Many schools, especially competitive ones, will ask you to write one or more supplemental essays. This allows a school to learn more about you and how you might fit into their culture.

These essays are extremely important in standing out. We’ve written guides for all the top schools. Follow the link below to find your school and read last year’s essay guides to give you a sense of the essay prompts. We’ll update these in August when schools release their prompts.

See last year’s supplemental essay guides to get a sense of the prompts for your schools.

Essay brainstorming and composition

Now that you’re starting to write your essay, let’s dive into the writing process. Below you’ll find our top articles on the craft of writing an amazing college essay.

• Where to Begin? 3 Personal Essay Brainstorming Exercises
• Creating the First Draft of Your College Application Essay
• How to Get the Perfect Hook for Your College Essay
• What If I Don’t Have Anything Interesting To Write About In My College Essay?
• 8 Do’s and Don’t for Crafting Your College Essay
• Stuck on Your College Essay? 8 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Understand how to write a great hook for your essay

Complete the first drafts of your essay

Editing and polishing your essay

Have a first draft ready? See our top editing tips below. Also, you may want to submit your essay to our free Essay Peer Review to get quick feedback and join a community of other students working on their essays.

• 11 Tips for Proofreading and Editing Your College Essay
• Getting Help with Your College Essay
• 5 DIY Tips for Editing Your College Essay
• How Long Should Your College Essay Be?
• Essential Grammar Rules for Your College Apps
• College Essay Checklist: Are You Ready to Submit?

Proofread and edited your essay.

Had someone else look through your essay — we recommend submitting it for a peer review.

Make sure your essay meets all requirements — consider signing up for a free account to view our per-prompt checklists to help you understand when you’re really ready to submit.

Advanced College Essay Techniques

Let’s take it one step further and see how we can make your college essay really stand out! We recommend reading through these posts when you have a draft to work with.

• 10 Guidelines for Highly Readable College Essays
• How to Use Literary Devices to Enhance Your Essay
• How to Develop a Personalized Metaphor for Your College Applications

CollegeVine's essay prompt database

Find your college’s application essay prompts for 2023-24

Latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools.

At CollegeVine, our goal is to make the college application process a little less stressful, so we’ve compiled the latest essay prompts for the top 100 schools in one easy, searchable database.

Also, every year we create free guides on “ How to Write X School’s Essays ” for the top 100 schools. In these guides, we give you tips and tricks on how to approach each prompt. As such, our prompt database also contains a link to each school's Essay Breakdown.

Manage your college essays in one place for free.

Citations and Writing (+styles for Chicago, Turabian, etc.)

• Citation Management
• APA Style Guide
• MLA Style Guide
• Other Style Guides
• Citing Government Documents
• Citation Tools

Guides for Writing Application Essays

• Citing Specific Databases
• Annotated Bibliography
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Grammar & Writing
• UCF Writing Center

University Writing Center - Student Resources

• Guidelines for Writing Your Personal Statement
• Writing Personal Statements

The following books focus on various types of essays and cover letters, but much of the guidance provided may be useful for other applications as well.

See also Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviews

Search the UCF Library Catalog for other books on college admissions essays , including:

• Graduate Admissions Essays: Write Your Way into the Graduate School of Your Choice Call Number: UCF Rosen General Collection --LB 2366.2.A84 2000 ch2ck availability

• Accepted! 50 Successful College Admission Essays Call Number: UCF Main Library Reference -- LB 2351.52.U6.T3 2002 ch2ck availability

• << Previous: Citation Tools
• Next: Citing Specific Databases >>
• Last Updated: Apr 20, 2023 5:26 PM
• URL: https://guides.ucf.edu/citations

2023-2024 Common App essay prompts

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We are pleased to announce that the Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2023-2024.

It’s not just for the sake of consistency that we have chosen to keep the essay prompts the same for the upcoming application year. Our past research has shown that overall satisfaction with the prompts exceeded 95% across our constituent groups - students, counselors, advisors, teachers, and member colleges. Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations.

We know some schools are beginning to have conversations with juniors and transfer students about their college options. As we’ve always said, this is not a call for students to begin writing. We hope that by sharing the prompts now, students will have the time they need to reflect on their own personal stories and begin thinking about what they want to share with colleges. As you assist students with their planning, feel free to share our Common App Ready resource on approaching the essay (in English and Spanish ). You can also visit our YouTube channel to view our breakdown of all 7 Common App essay prompts . 

"Moving forward, we want to learn more about who is choosing certain prompts to see if there are any noteworthy differences among student populations." Meredith Lombardi, Director, Education and Training, Common App

Students who are ready to start exploring the application can create their Common App account prior to August 1. With account rollover , we will retain any responses to questions on the Common App tab, including the personal essay.

Below is the full set of essay prompts for 2023-2024.

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

We will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. 

News and updates

Common App’s Student Advisory Committee

Driving Growth: See how these universities boosted enrollment

Financial aid is complicated

Freshman requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)
• GPA requirement
• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
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Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
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• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
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AP & Exam credits

Applying as a freshman

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Personal insight questions

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Applying as a transfer

Types of aid

• Grants & scholarships
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• Who can get financial aid
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• Estimate your aid

Apply for financial aid

• Cal Dream Act application tips
• Tuition & cost of attendance
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• Santa Barbara
• Campus program & support services
• Check majors
• Freshman admit data
• Transfer admit data
• Native American Opportunity Plan
• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

• All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.  
• Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. You may use the additional comments field to note extraordinary circumstances related to COVID-19, if necessary. 

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

Need more help?

Download our worksheets:

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