Michaela Wakeman is in the Career Center if you need help with understanding the new application process. Photo by John Le.By Maria Philopes & Amy Vu, Staff Writers
As seniors approach the application time for colleges and universities in and out-of state, it is important for them to be aware that the 2016 University of California (UC) applications have been revised. The public UC schools decided to change the personal statements in order to know more about the students who are applying. Instead of the required two prompts, applicants now must directly answer four of eight personal insight questions.
In order get to know students on a more personal level, the UC admissions boards have only included questions that ask about specific aspects of the students’ lives. For example, the second personal insight question inquires about instances when the student has demonstrated his or her creativity. Questions like these prompt the students to dig deep into their lives and share their unique qualities with the admissions officers.
The main focus of these new personal statements is to understand which insight questions best apply to the individual student. In fact, because the questions are highly specific, the final question was intended to allow the student to write about what had not been asked in the previous questions.
A significant change to the personal statement is that students are no longer required to answer in the form of essays.
“It is personal insight questions for you guys to look inside yourselves and answer the questions. Don’t write essays,” Michaela Wakeman, the college and career specialist, said. “It is important now that the applicants try to distinguish themselves by focusing on instances in their life where they stood out. This can be as simple as taking care of a younger sibling at home, or being a leader in a club. It is vital that students understand that there are no right or wrong answers.”
In addition to that, Wakeman warns that students should not try to appeal to the admissions officers by producing sob stories or only talking about their academics. This is because the transcripts already provide the officers with the students’ classes and grades, which often demonstrate their academic strengths and/or weaknesses. If there is a specific event that happened in the student’s life, he or she must try to show how they have grown as a result.
Wakeman also reminds that the most important thing to keep in mind while answering these questions is to remember that the answers should reflect the personality of the writer. This is the writer’s chance to show what makes him or her different; therefore, the best time to start looking at these questions and drafting the responses is now as it will benefit every senior greatly if he or she applies early instead of at the last minute.
The other parts of the UC application have stayed the same as before.
Additional information about the UC application may be found here.
