uc essay 3

Successful UC Essay Prompt 3 Example Essay

In this article, we will cover one of our successful UC Essay Prompt 3 examples. We’ll also cover some of the elements that made the essay strong and stand out from the rest. You can incorporate these into your own essay to boost its strength and, ultimately, help you stay competitive in the UC admissions process.

To clarify, this example essay belonged to a previous client of ours who had two weeks’ worth of our writing and editing services.

The UC prompt 3, also known as the talent and skills prompt, is one of the most important questions in the personal insight section. This is because it is the time for you to showcase your strengths in conjunction with other highly competitive applicants.

If your talent or skill does not demonstrate the characteristics and attributes that make you a great candidate, it can be especially harmful to your application. This particular PIQ is a time to show your strengths; so, don’t take the half measure. Go the whole way.

You may also want to consider taking a look at their tips here .

With the help of our expert consultants and editors , we helped our client use their essay to get himself into UC Santa Barbara . His stats were as follows:

Applicant Stats

• UC GPA: 3.5
• Awards / Honorable mentions: none
• Extracurriculars: President of Fashion Club

This may seem like a slim academic profile. Well, it is. Most students with a GPA of 3.5 will find it difficult to get accepted into schools such as UC Santa Barbara. But, essays that can play into the student’s strengths can turn the tides and give them the advantage that they need to enter their reach school.

As with all of our articles covering UC PIQ Example Essays, we first explore the most important sections of the “Things to consider” section that we recommend that you… well, consider. You can check it out in the first section of the table of contents below.

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Table of Contents

• Understanding the UC Essay Prompt 3 and ‘Things to Consider’ Section.
• UC Essay Prompt 3 Example Essay.

Transitions

Change over time, humility in the wake of oppression, understanding the uc essay prompt 3 and ‘things to consider’ section ..

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?  (350 words or fewer) UC Essay Prompt 3

“If there’s 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? UC Essay Prompt 3 ‘Things to Consider’

Notice the “why” in “Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?” This is something that some applicants can forget, and this mistake is devastating for those writing the UC essay prompt 3.

Note that you don’t need to write why the talent or skill is meaningful to you in full detail. It doesn’t need to be very long and drawn out. Just remember to answer the question. If you disregard this, it can paint a bad light on your ability to follow instructions and notice details.

In addition, you need only to imply why it is important.

The gravity of the events you write should give it away already. Why is it meaningful? Well, 2-3 paragraphs of deep imagery about your emotional attachment to tennis may explain more than enough! Much like the application essay that we had edited here, it’s filled with imagery. But, we didn’t have full paragraphs dedicated to why it was important to make friends since the language insinuated it.

Let’s take a look at the example essay below.

UC Essay Prompt 3 Example Essay .

“In China, there is no Sun: the heavy, oppressive smog shields me from ever seeing the light. I didn’t live in China anymore, so when I stepped out of the plane to Los Angeles, I was greeted by a warm embrace– warm to the skin, warm to the heart, and just warm enough to be discomforting to the body and remind me that I was no longer in my hometown. American culture, American spirit, all within view. I loved Los Angeles, and I loved not having a looming cloud of smog shrouding me from the sun, but it didn’t feel like home. c Home was in China, a battlefield with a competitive challenge at every corner: students tore each other apart for the highest marks in an attempt to impress their families. I was groomed from a young age to be the quintessential, well-rounded student who never made mistakes and learned a million useless talents for my family to brag about when relatives came over for dinner. The culture was not like this in the states. Soon I was used to sitting by myself in the lunch halls; I didn’t like the loneliness, but I especially didn’t like getting used to it. I envied those who were surrounded by friends. I was frustrated. I was hurt. But I knew better, I swallowed the butterflies in my stomach and digested them. I was still quite socially awkward when I made my first friends, but I owe it to them that I learned that most of my social anxiety is unneeded. I learned that everything will be “like, all chill man”. In Los Angeles, my new home, there is always Sun wherever I go. No longer does the oppressive smog guard me from the light’s rays. It is bright, a little bit uncomfortable at times, and everything that the people of Los Angeles stand for, but learning to bask in its light instead of being shrouded in smog has kept me from hiding behind the clouds. I learned for the first time in my life how to shine.” Example Essay That Worked for UCSD

What Makes This Essay Strong?

Here are a few considerations to take when looking at our UC Essay Prompt 3 example essay. These elements made the essay stronger than most other essays and can be applied to your own.

Remember that you don’t have to have all of these elements in your essay. These are just factors that help our clients write a strong essay that we believe would help your essay stand out as well.

Right after the first paragraph’s deep imagery, our client masterfully transitioned from dynamic descriptions to pragmatic background information.

“In China, there is no Sun: the heavy, oppressive smog shields me from ever seeing the light. I didn’t live in China anymore, so when I stepped out of the plane to Los Angeles, I was greeted by a warm embrace– warm to the skin, warm to the heart, and just warm enough to be discomforting to the body and remind me that I was no longer in my hometown. American culture, American spirit, all within view… …I loved Los Angeles, and I loved not having a looming cloud of smog shrouding me from the sun, but it didn’t feel like home.”

This provides a nice and soft transition from the strong imagery of the first paragraph from before to one more dry. This doesn’t mean non-fancy and dry text is bad in the application essay. It actually gives a good break from too much imagery in the Personal Insight Question essay.

Properly transitioning between ideas in your essay is crucial to providing a streamlined reading experience to your admissions officers. The admissions office will be processing hundreds and even thousands of college application essays. Thus, having a streamlined writing style that transitions between ideas without getting too choppy in paragraphs is vital to an essay that doesn’t lead to more bumps in the road.

Another element that worked very nicely in this essay is demonstrating change over time.

When providing advice and editing for our client, we made it crystal clear that changes over time in the essay would be useful for the UC PIQs. This goes for just about every UC Personal Insight Question, but it’s especially important for the 3rd PIQ.

When colleges ask, “How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time…” the change over time is the crucial part you can’t forget. It shows that not only are you capable and talented; but, you’re also able to develop in the future during your time at the University of California.

We also want to note that transitions shouldn’t be choppy or sudden. Describe in great detail the pain and struggle that went through the self-improvement journey for your skill or talent before bragging about the results. That way, admissions officers will more easily believe your story and give your application the weight that it deserves. Having positive change over time also shows that you are continuing your journey to improvement and have not stagnated.

This is an important one.

Admissions officers in this current year have far too many applications to read. Many of these applications have something along the lines of tragedy and great sorrow. In short, a lot of applications look like this:

“Life was unfair to me, please feel sorry for me and let me into your fine school!”

Of course, this doesn’t look very good at all. We knew our applicant had a hard social life to get through, but we made sure he was humble about it and not trying to sound like he was throwing a pity party. In addition, the demonstration of humility will show that you have the proper character to belong in a learning setting.

Note that you don’t have to have suffered oppression to be humble. If you came from less-than-destitute beginnings, you can still demonstrate your maturity and humility in the essays. In fact, it’s a very strong factor that shows admissions officers that you have the temperament and qualities they need to build a great college campus community.

Looking for more good UC Personal Insight Question 3 examples? Is UC Berkeley your favorite school and you can’t wait to go there to join other academically obsessed kids? Send us a message and talk with one of our expert admissions consultants!

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UC Personal Insight Essay Example: Greatest Talent or Skill

by Winning Ivy Prep Team | Feb 11, 2023 | UC Admissions

Here’s an UC Personal Insight Essay example  about your greatest talent or skill (also known as UC Essay Prompt 3). This is a UC essay prompt that many students gravitate towards, so the key is to make sure that you have your own unique angle on the essay topic! 

Table of Contents

UC Personal Insight Essay Best Practices

The student who wrote this UC Personal Insight essay got into all the UCs he applied to, including UCLA and UC Berkeley — woohoo! Don’t worry, we got you: We only pick the best UC essay examples here at Winning Ivy Prep 💪.

UC Essay Example Prompt 3

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill how have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time.

Submerged in the murky waters of the Pacific, I blindly reached out for my surfboard…

…and panicked. My board was nowhere to guide me, and the massive wave that had pulled me under had completely discombobulated me. Which way was up? 

When I was 8, my parents bought me a foam Costco “surfboard.” I vaguely remember actually “surfing,” but that first day on the water cemented my love for the ocean. As I grew older, surfing became a weekend ritual: Saturday mornings, my brother and I piled into Dad’s minivan, playing 70s rock on our drive to [beach]. 

I loved paddling and learning how to read the waves. Surfing was meditative, and called for a blend of intuition and technique to carve the waves.  

My sophomore year, however, school and Biology Club meetings competed for my time. My dad began traveling more, leaving my brother and me to continue our ritual. 

I now found myself impatiently bobbing atop the waves, anxious of all the schoolwork I had to complete. Ironically, I was a better surfer now, but I no longer experienced that meditative nirvana that drew me to surfing. 

During the “storm of the decade,” my brother and I were adamant to continue surfing. In that choppy ocean, we waited. 

Impatiently, I charged towards the mouth of the next wave–and wiped out. However, in my distracted mental state prior, I hadn’t secured the leash to my ankle fully, separating me from the board. PANIC!

Somehow–lungs and eyes burning–I managed to swim towards my board, 70-feet away. 

I sprawled out on the beach like a starfish, completely shaken. 

My accident reminded me what initially drew me to surfing: I loved the zen-like focus that was required once I caught a wave. Surfing taught me to be calm in the face of pressure, and to be prepared for the next wave ahead. Like surfing, college will be full of unanticipated waves and challenges that will push my boundaries. I’ll tackle each with a grounded approach, knowing each obstacle is a chance to grow and learn alongside my peers. 

Additional UC Essay Example and Resources

So, what’d you think of the UC essay example? Let us know what you’re thinking of writing about for UC Personal Insight Essay prompt 3!

• Here are 20 UC Essay Examples that got acceptances to at least UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego
• Check this resource out if you need UC Personal Insight tips ! 
• Check out our UC GPA Calculator (did you know UCs calculate their own UC GPAs?)

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UC Essay Prompt 3: Talents and Skills

by j9robinson | Apr 19, 2016

What Are You Good At?

(yes, uc essay prompt 3 can be about almost anything).

I believe all students who need to answer four of the new University of California “ Personal Insight Questions ” should seriously consider the third one, otherwise known as UC Essay Prompt 3.

If you’re a student who has focused on one special talent or skill in your life, and are recognized in that field as “among the best,” this is your chance to share that in detail.

However, you don’t need to be a star at your talent or skill to write an effective essay about it.

And your talent or skill doesn’t even need to be impressive.

Here is UC Essay Prompt 3 in full (the following three paragraphs):

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’s 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, 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?

UC essay prompt 3 mainly needs to feature something that you are passionate about.

As long as you can show why you love it and how hard you have worked at it, almost any activity could be a great topic.

If you are a star at ice-skating or drama or coding, again, this is your big chance to share your story about this passion.

Even if you have included this talent or skill heavily in your application (listing accolades and awards), you can still write about it for UC essay prompt 3.

This is your chance to go beyond your impressive status with this talent or skill and share how you got into it, what inspired you, how hard you worked and what obstacles you overcame to excel.

The most important part of this essay would be to explain why your impressive status matters—to you, to others and to the world.

Has it changed you? Does it define you? What does it mean to you?

How to Toot Your Own Horn in UC Essay Prompt 3

The biggest pitfall with writing about how great you are at something is that you can come across as bragging or full of yourself.

Even though the UC admissions page literally asks you to brag a little, it’s wise to watch your tone in UC Essay Prompt 3.

The best trick to walking that tone tightrope of talking about a talent or skill and remaining humble is to think of some type of problem you encountered as you developed it over the years.

This “problem” can be an obstacle, challenge, mistake, set-back; there are many types of problems.

If can be something that happened to you, or something within you, such as a fear, phobia, obsession, etc.

The idea is that you start UC essay prompt 3 by sharing a moment or incident that illustrates that problem, or one “time” that involved that problem, and go from there.

By starting at a low point in your journey developing your talent or skill, you can then go into how you handled the problem and explain what you learned and why that mattered.

This approach to writing about yourself helps keep your essay first-person “voice” humble and likable.

Of course you include how far you came with your talent or skill, and include details to show how good you are now, but you focus on how and what you learned along the way.

Even if you have a talent or skill that you are still working on, consider writing about it for UC Essay Prompt 3 —especially if it’s something unusual or unexpected.

If you excel at something that many students also could be good at, spend more time trying to come up with something unique or unexpected about your talent or skill to help you stand out.

Based on what I’ve seen my former students write about over the past eight years, I would say these activities would include these popular high school activities: playing band instruments, sports, acting, computer coding, etc.

It really all comes down to what you have to say about your talent or skill, more than how great you are at it.

If you have an unusual talent or skill, I would highly encourage you to write about for UC Essay Prompt 3.

Are you the one of the best skimboarders in the world? Write about it!

However,iIf you mainly love skimboarding as a favorite hobby, then you need to make sure you have something valuable and unique to say about why that talent matters to you and the world.

RED FLAG (especially in California) : Possible overdone topics: Skateboarding. Skiing. Surfing. Just saying.

Are you an excellent glassblower?

Or do you help with making floats for the Rose Bowl Parade?

Have you raised a family of ostriches?

Are you known for making an unforgettable grilled cheese sandwich?

Can you blow tiny bubbles through your nose?

(Okay, you get the point.)

These types of quirky talents and skills could make terrific topics for UC essay prompt 3.

Again, it’s all what you have to say about that talent—why it matters to you and the world.

Trust me, hundreds of students will be writing about their piano playing or singing or dancing or photography. And this is fine.

If you want to stand out with your essay, and write about one of these popular talents and skills, look for something unexpected, unusual or highly personal to say about it.

If you write about an offbeat talent or skill for UC essay prompt 3—skipping stones, hacking computers, lucid dreaming, knitting dog sweaters, etc.—make sure to include what you have learned from this ability and why it matters.

Like almost all personal essays, mundane (everyday/ordinary) topics often make better topics than so-called impressive ones.

I repeat—it’s all what you have to say about it.

More Brainstorming Ideas for UC Essay Prompt 3

The UC provided these extra tips in its Personal Insight Questions worksheet to help you brainstorm UC essay prompt 3:

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? List three of your talents or skills:

Were these talents or skills the same a few years ago? What changed? What improved? Which one of the three talents or skills you listed is the most meaningful or important to you and why? Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent?

Learn all about The New UC Essay Prompts and also 21 Tips to Help Answer the New UC Essay Prompts .

If you need more help with these, I offer tutoring and editing services. Learn more on my SERVICES page.

96 Comments

Hi, I have a question what could be regarded a skill or talent. Would learning a language be considered a skill if it’s the language you speak at home? I’ve tried to improve my vocabulary independently but I wouldn’t say it’s required much effort since it was my first language. I was planning on showcasing how I’ve used it to translate.

I’m not sure I completely understand your question. You speak a language at home, but since you keep trying to build your vocabulary you want to know if you can write about that as a skill for this essay? I think you could, and you are on the right track by finding something specific to say about it, such as how you use it to translate. I’m not sure what you mean by translate, but those are the details that could make this mini-essay interesting and meaningful. You want to show how you learned the skill, and then explain why that matters to you and in the world. Good luck! JR

Transfer student here.

The skills and talents that are mentioned here are more concrete. What about an abstract skill, such as the ability to adapt to difficult changes in life? Brief summary – difficult childhood developed this skill; became very useful as I graduated HS early and attended CC at a young age. Also contributed to my success in courses I have/am taking at a university.

Is this too broad of a topic?

Side note – I’m taking these UC courses through a program offered by my community college

Hi John, This is a great question. What you are describing sounds more like a personal quality. I would look for ways to showcase that quality through the other prompts, such as No. 8 asking about what “sets you apart” from other students (which is a wide open prompt). You could use a talent or skill that is more figurative, such as “my ability to debate” or “my talent guessing what others are thinking.” But if the examples offered by the UC are all on the concrete side, I would take their cue and give them what they are asking for. Hope that helps. JR

Would being a renaissance man be considered a talent or skill worth writing about ?

Hi Ash, I actually really like that idea. I think you will need to make the case as to why it’s a talent or skill. Just support your opinion and general points with specific details. Make sure include why being a Renaissance man matters—to you and the world. Best, JR

Would being a good listener count as a skill? Otherwise I would put baking cinnamon rolls…

They are both skills. I like the idea of baking cinnamon rolls, mainly because it seems like it would be more interesting to read about. But it all depends on what you have to say about that skill, and why it matters. Try writing out the one you like the best and see how it goes. At least you have a back-up idea. Good luck! Janine Robinson

Thanks for posting this. I have some questions about in terms of what you said that “why it matters to you and the world”. Suppose if i have a talent at whistling, and I think it simply matters to me, because I can use it when I am cheering. Or suppose I am good at cleaning bathroom or my room and I enjoyed to do those things, and this matters to me because it made me feel happy and proud myself when my family compliment me for what I did. What college wants me to write about the reason why the talent matters? I am kind of lost.

Great question. They want to know why that talent matters beyond just your ability to do it. What did you learn about yourself in the process of learning that talent? How can that talent affect or help you and/or others? If you are good at cleaning the bathroom, why does that talent matter? The talent is not just cleaning the bathroom, but the larger skill of being clean and orderly. So ask yourself: How does being able to be clean and orderly serve you in other ways (besides cleaning the bathroom?) in your life and with others? Look for the quality behind the talent to expand upon why “it matters” in the larger sense.

Hope that helps! JR

Great question. When I suggest that you explain “why something matters to you and world,” I’m trying to help you share why you think something (a skill, talent, etc.) has value to you–beyond the obvious. Hope that helps. JR

Would being good at a specific video game count as one? Say 0.171% of the top, out of nearly 2 million.

Hello! Would possessing both technical and artistic skills count as a talent?

Hi Christine,

The prompt asks you to write about a skill OR talent. So why not write about one of those as a skill? I would pick one of your technical or artistic skills to showcase, but it’s up to you. (It does ask you to feature “your greatest”) Best, JR

Well, is Singing” a talent? What I have written in this prompt essay answers all of these questions, how did i develop, challenge, struggle, whatever. I don’t know my consulter said this goes under the creativity? what do you think? Although I want to mention my struggle towards how have developed it. Because singing didn’t come naturally. I had to work it through the years to make it what it is today.

Hi Jehan, Singing is a talent. You could feature it in this prompt or in others (creativity; challenge, leadership; standing out, etc…), depending on what you want to say about it. It’s all about what you have to say about it: what first inspired you, what you learned from developing it, what it taught you (beyond singing), how you use it, why it matters to you, on and on. Good luck! Janine

How about personal skills, such as patience, gained when going through a long distance relationship? Would this topic work for this prompt?

Hi Kurtis, I think patience could be a skill (an ability/expertise), especially if it’s something you have developed. In general, I try to steer students away from writing about romantic relationships in essays. But that doesn’t mean you couldn’t write something meaningful about your skill. I would focus on what you learned about this skill, and how you developed, and why it has value to you (beyond the relationship). Good luck! JR

My son wants to write about video games. how he find a way to improve and be better. Also, thru it, he makes new friends. Would this work for this promt? Thank you so much.

Sorry to day these seem written about quite a bit. I would avoid as topic unless your son can think of something unique to say about them and what he has learned from playing them. It’s possible, but needs to go the extra mile. Might want to brainstorm other topics. JR

Playing video games is a skill. What your son needs to so is to explain why this skill has value. And if it has helped him make friends, that could work. Good luck, Janine

Hi j9robinson, a transfer student here; I’m just wondering if it is possible at all to ask you to review my essays just briefly and comment if I’m on the right track or not. Could that be possible for you to do at all for a prospective UCLA transfer student?

Hi Alexis, I review and edit essays, including the UC Personal Insight Questions. But I charge for my services. Find details on the Services tab at the top of my web site. Then email me any further questions. Good luck! Janine

Would the ability to play chess exceptionally well be considered a talent?

Would helping other people be consider a skill?

That’s a tough question. I would say it is a skill, but very general. To write about your ability to help others as a skill, try to focus in on a skill you have that’s more specific, which you use to help other people. Think about what skills you use when you help people. A skill is an ability, an expertise or something you do well. If you can frame what you do in that light, you could write about it for this prompt. If you write about how you are really good at something abstract, such as “helping people,” you need to make sure to describe what exactly you do, how and why you are good at it, and why your skill matters. Hope that helps! Best, Janine

I’m writing about playing the piano, and since piano is popular, I have to set my essay apart. I could either write about exceptional achievements/recognition, or about more personal details of experiences I have had. Which do you think would have a greater impact?

Hi Sneha, You are right: When you feature a talent that is written about a lot (like piano, soccer, singing, etc.), try to find something unique or unexpected to say about why you do it, or what you get out of it, or what it has taught you. If you have exceptional achievements that won’t be noted on other parts of your application, yes, include those. But I would start with and emphasize the more personal experiences and lessons. Best of luck. And great question! Janine

Is being multilingual a skill? Or like, being bilingual and currently self-learning another language.

Yes, it’s an awesome skill! Just make sure to explain why it has value to you, others and the world in your essay. JR

Scratch that, is self-learning a new language a skill? It’s too long and I felt that I should focus on the new language since it’s the most recent and the one I worked hardest at

Would it be too repetitive to write about how I developed a great passion and skill for a sport (Prompt #3) and then write another essay about my experience as team captain in that sport and the positive influence I had on others (Prompt #1)?

Hello, i was wondering if as a talent i should write about baking ever since i was young and how that has allowed me to create gifts for others and why i love it so much. Or should i write about a skill of communication and how building that kill has affected my life and how it will better my future? Thank you!

I was planning on writing about how I enjoy analyzing dreams and how the psyche/subconscious works. Would that be considered a skill? I was debating on either writing about that or writing about how I enjoy helping others, etc.

Hello. Does learning a new language count as a skill?

However, I do not quite understand the question, Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom?

I’ve been doing nail art for a long time and I’ve made designs and stickers to help my friends so biting their nails.. So I don’t really know if I should consider this a talent?

Awesome topic! Go for it! JR

Would playing the chinese yoyo be counted as a skill/talent? It involves a bit of risk-taking but I’m not sure if that’s a good enough quality of myself that I can write about. It also represents my culture in a way since I’m Chinese.

Love Chinese yoyo as a skill/talent! Just include what quality you express or developed while learning it to make it more meaningful. Best of luck! JR

I noticed you said that we must write about why our talent or skill is significant to the world and others. I throw shot put and discus and I’m a captain for my school’s team. How would I go about explaining its significance? I think throwing is an unusual talent but I’m not sure how its significant. :/

Awesome question. Here’s one way to explain how your talent or skill has value beyond just your ability to do it: Think of a quality you use while doing it, or a quality you developed or tested while learning/practising that skill or talent. Examples for shot put: focus, grace, strength (mental), determination, precision…. To make it even more personal, think about what quality you bring to shot put that is unique to you; what is your “style” with the shot put. Once you find a quality or value you use with your talent or ability, you can then explain why that has meaning to you, and to others and the world. Why does that quality or value matter…in other parts of your life…in your future? Hope that helps. ha

Would having good handwriting be considered a skill..?

Would being good at building robots be a good topic?

Im having trouble expanding my ideas on writing about photography. I have completed multiple friends senior pictures along with anniversaries, and hold the position of AVID historian. All traits are connected by photography but I struggle connecting everything together.

Hi, what if I want to pursue a carrier in film making and I’m applying to the film school, can i use photography/filmmaking/storytelling as a talent or are those too overdone? or do you recommend I do it on my sense of humour instead?

I would definitely write about your photography/filmmaking/storytelling as your talent over a sense of humor, especially if these are topics you will or might pursue in college. JR

Hi! Would you consider the ability to converse with anyone a skill ? I feel like it is more of a personal quality; however, with today’s society it is very rare to find teenager’s who love to speak with other people, speak in front of crowds, ect. That being said I feel like it can set me apart; therefore; identifying as a skill.

Is coffee brewing a skill? I was tired of buying an expensive cup of coffee that didn’t even taste good so I decided to make my own. Now I can make a delicious cup of coffee without even trying. I get really happy when my friends and family enjoy the coffee I make.

Elizabeth, I love your idea, just make sure you explain why this skill has value beyond jist making good coffee. One way to do that would be to share what personal quality you developed in honing your skill (precision, creativity, integrity, etc). Good luck! Janine

Hi. Can my talent be my innate desire for a challenge? How my curiosity has driven me to undertake challenging activities, and how these activities have gradually made me work well under pressure. I want to reflect how this skill of mine will help me deal with the challenging and rewarding curriculum that the UC’s offer. Alternatively, could I write about how I have always liked building things myself as opposed to buying something ready-made? I would prefer the 1st topic.

Hi, Is playing card games a skill? I’m really good at it and never lose. Or maybe baking cakes?

Write a three paragraph essay about one of your talents or strengths.and I am so confused!!!

Hello there,

I am thinking about writing about my talent for snapping. I can snap my fingers really fast and I could say that I am proud of it, and it is a unique topic. Would that make an interesting topic? If you think it would, I have another question: I want to make this essay about snapping but also something beyond that, whether it be something about my character or something else…any ideas for how I could intertwine that? So for instance, if I want to say I am persistent and hardworking and intertwine those qualities in this essay, do you have any ideas on how I could do that? Hopefully that makes sense.

Your question is awesome! When you write about any of your talents or skills, it’s critical to include WHY THEY MATTER (have value) to you and the world. You can talk about your talent, and how you developed it, and how good you are at it. But then you must go into why that talent has meaning to you, and explain why and how. With snapping, I would try to find example of when you have used it. Has it helped your in certain situations in any way? Do you keep rhythm with it? I agree it’s a unique topic, however, if your snapping serves no purpose then it will not make sense to feature it here. If you believe your snapping reflect a quality that you have, then you could make the case for the value of that quality to show why your talent has value. Just don’t push it too far if it doesn’t make sense. Good luck!

I think I can write about either of two topics. One is that I know how to fix the bike when it breaks down. the other is that I love (and also good at) teaching or telling other people about the subjects I know. Like tutoring my cousins or friends who need help. Would those two topics work for this prompt? Also which would be better in terms of uniqueness.

I like your idea about fixing bikes. It seems more immediate and interesting than the tutoring (many students write about this as a topic, even though it’s obviously a wonderful experience.) You might find that you can work in the tutoring even if you start with the bikes—as long as it also illustrates something about the main point you want to make about yourself in your essay. Good luck! Janine

Is running considered a skill/talent?

Can I write about running as a skill/talent?

Yes, running can be both a skill and/or a talent. If you write about for this prompt, however, make sure to explain why it has value to you beyond simply running well. What quality or value did you develop using this skill and/or talent, and what have you learned from doing it? Good luck! Janine

Hi! Can I use I’m instead of I am in UC personal insight questions?

Can i write creativity and innovation as part of this

Hello, Would it be good to write about giving advice as a skill?

Hey! I started a business in an entirely new market in India (Korean products and korean music merchandise). I was thinking about writing about the difficulties I’m facing while doing this. Oh and I’m doing this entire thing all alone. And I did a business of $1500 in the first month alone (its a lot if you count it in Indian rupee). Thanks!

Thank you so much for posting this, I really appreciate it! I have been practicing Lucid Dreaming for over a year now, but that did not come to mind as a “talent,” when reading prompt 3. I saw it on this website as something that would be good to write about, and now that I think about, there is so much this ‘skill’ has helped me in.

Hello. What do you think of being observant as a skill? I find observing to be a way to know a little bit about someone or to notice the beauty around. I am more aware and that is how I learn. I was going to talk about I used to be self-critical about myself before and was focused too much on myself/thoughts then later grown from that (with detail).

Hey! I wanted to say that your tips were super helpful to me and I appreciate it 🙂 I also wanted to ask about my topic. I’m having a hard time deciding and I have only come up with running and window shopping. I think window shopping is super unique and running is more on the safe side. What do you think?

Window shopping, 100% yes! Way more unique than running. Love it! Janine

Thank you for the tips, Would playing the guitar and drawing be considered a talent/skill? And if they do, which would you consider writing about?

Thank you for your great suggestions! I’m planning on writing about my talent of recognizing various common plants and my knowledge of the history of plants,but I’m not sure how to build an essay on this. Should I include some interesting incidents I had with plants, like a conversation with my friend about a tree?

Hi Anna, I love your topic idea. And yes, you need to find some real-life moment, experiences, incidents that relate to this interest that you can share in your essay to make it come alive for the reader. (Yes, the “time” you talked to a tree could be an interesting anecdote!) I would recommend you read more posts on my blog to learn how to do this.

Try this post to get you started: https://www.essayhell.com/2016/02/write-college-application-essay-3-easy-steps/

Good luck! Janine

Hi how are you, I am struggling to think of something for this one but immediately I thought of how I am really good at working with kids and it definitely shaped my goals and the career I want to pursue. Would you say working with children can be considered a skill?

Hi thank you so much for your helpful suggestions. Immediately after reading this prompt I thought of how I am really good at working with kids and it’s definitely shaped my interest and the career I want to pursue. Would you say working with kids can be considered a good skill?

Do you think optimistic as a talent or skill?

Hello there! I came across this article for the UC Essay Prompts and wanted to ask a quick question: would knowing how to sew, being bilingual, and knowing a lot of U.S. History be considered skills? And if so, which should I write about? I’ve done a few sewing projects, have helped translate for my parents while searching for apartments, and gotten a high score on the APUSH exam. I just feel very stuck.

Thanks a ton, Rachel.

I am writing about Music and writing music and things I read. One of my greatest skills is incorporating music and writing into other aspects of my life. I have loved music and writing since a very young age. I have learned to play multiple instruments. One of the instruments is the piano. I learned to play the piano when I was five years old and have developed playing piano ever since. Another instrument that I know how to play is the kebero, which is a traditional African drum used in religious and traditional music.

Hi, I am usually the one my friends go to when they require help for their problems. Would being an adviser for my friends be considered as a skill?

Sure! I love that idea. Try to give your essay a focus by choosing one core quality or characteristic that you developed or used by taking on this adviser role with your friends. Read my other posts for more info on exactly how to write your essay! Good luck! Janine

Hello, I was looking to write about my skill/talent when it comes to fashion-sense. I actually created a clothing brand which has gotten positive feedback throughout my school and several sales. Is this a stretch?

Hi, I am thinking of writing about being charismatic but as an introvert. Would that be considered a trait/skill?

Hello. I need help. I can’t seem to decide if being focused and persistent are a talent

Can leadership be called a skill?

Hi, Would running be counted as a skill, adding up to overall development and achievements ?!

Hi, would speaking Russian and acting as a translator for my overly critical Russian grandmother, whenever she comes to the United States, count as a talent? Although, it was my first language I ended up losing the tongue as I assimilated too much into American culture, so to speak. Also, the “skill” is meaningful to me in that it has allowed me to connect with my Russian heritage and family. I was considering whether I should add how I sometimes change the meaning of her overly critical, oftentimes rude words, into something sweeter, implying a double meaning in that I am not only a translator in terms of language, but also a translator in terms of changing the “bad” into “good.” Not sure if this essay is better to write for PIQ#3 or PIQ#8 or for none at all. Thanks!!:)

What do you think about writing about backpacking as a skill?

I think so.

Hi would shopping or cooking be considered a talent?

Definitely!

Would making people laugh be a skill?

I think so! Lol.

Would being inquisitive or focused a good skill to put down?

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UC Essay Examples – Personal Insight Questions 1-8

December 29, 2023

When applying to any of the University of California schools , you’ll face a series of supplemental essays in which you are asked to quickly and, with sufficient detail, provide personal insight into who you are as a person. These essays can be confusing to students, who might be used to writing the Common App essay , which asks for a well-written story in 650 words. The UC essays (see UC essay examples below), by contrast, ask you to provide as much concrete detail as possible while showcasing your positive traits. This means your writing will need to be as efficient as possible. To be clear, that means cutting down on flowery descriptions and pulling out the clear details about your achievements while leaving enough space for mature reflection and forward thinking. 

(For help with writing efficiency, check out our tips in our Why This College Essay blog post . For tips on how to get started, check out our Overcoming Challenges Essay blog post .)

In the following examples, we’ll show you some example responses to the first four UC prompts while talking you through what works and what doesn’t. 

UC Essay Prompt #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.

UC Example Essay: 

It was the third night in a row that we couldn’t get it together. My school’s mock trial team was finally going to the state championship after years of working together, but we couldn’t agree on how to build our prosecution. The “case” was that several people had died during a rock concert when the crowd became violent. We needed to decide if we should “sue” the event space or the artist, and the group was split around two natural leaders. 

Mark, our lead attorney for the last two years, wanted to build a logical argument that the event space intentionally oversold the show, creating danger. Emma, our star witness, said that we needed to build the case around sympathy for the families and sue the artist, who had inspired the violence.

UC Essay Examples (Continued)

I had watched Mark and Emma disagree over the last two years. They were two very different people who loved arguing, and the rest of us often had to wait through it. I typically hang back and observe, but we were down to the wire, and I realized someone needed to speak up. I came up with an idea and pulled aside some of my friends to explain my thoughts. They agreed, and encouraged me to step up. 

I surprised myself when, in a moment of silence, I opened my mouth. I calmly explained that we didn’t have to abandon either strategy and that we could, in fact, combine them to greater effect. Because I had taken time to convince the rest of the team before speaking, they rallied around me, and Mark and Emma had no choice but to agree. I realized at that moment that groups need people who are willing to listen, strategize, and then put a plan into motion, and that I have a strength for this style of leadership. Since then, I’ve started speaking up more, specifically in my robotics club, where I recently led us to second place at the 24-Hour Code-athon. I look forward to bringing those skills to my classes and volunteer work at UC. 

Analysis: 

The first thing we should note about UC’s essays is that they are asking about important parts of your life, but they want brief responses. Because UC is sorting through so many applications, we want to be sure that you are providing as much concrete detail as possible and showcasing as many positive traits about yourself as possible in these quick responses.

What I’ve written here attempts to combine a single story with positive traits that a more introverted student might possess. So, it’s a story about the development of someone’s leadership style in a single moment in time. But, there’s another way to write this essay. 

Another Option for UC1: 

A more extroverted student who has been prone to leadership activities all throughout their high school experience could write an incredibly successful essay that simply focused, paragraph by paragraph on quick snippets that showcased their leadership throughout time. For example: 

• Paragraph 1: I learned I was a natural leader the first time I successfully rallied my rhythm gymnastics team after our star tumbler got injured during a competition.
• Paragraph 2: I then became our team captain, working to institute a new bonding retreat at the start of each year to bring the team together.
• Paragraph 3: I took that same sense of leadership to my volunteer work at the local food bank, where I have worked with my colleagues to create a conversation hour. Every Wednesday, we invite volunteers and clients to a collective meal where we share stories, tough spots, and triumphs.
• Paragraph 4: While I won’t be dancing competitively in college, I plan to continue my volunteer work with the Meals on Wheels chapter at UC, bringing food and friendly conversation to people in the community, rooted in my practice and experience with community building and bonding in high school. 

No matter what your experience is, you really want to focus on direct, deliverable moments in time that showcase what you’ve done. If you have a ton of leadership experience, try to showcase as much as you can while meeting the word count. If you have less experience but a really compelling story, focus on quickly laying out the basics of the story and then building power in the essay by reflecting on your leadership style.

In the end, make sure you comment on how you will bring your leadership style to campus, being as specific as possible. 

If I edited the above essay even more, I would further condense the story and elaborate more on how I’ve applied what I’ve learned. I mention the robotics club and winning second place at the 24-Hour Code-athon, but I could have saved some space above and expanded on it to show that I have the capacity to build my skill set over time. I could have also talked about the deliverables from the mock trial experience. Did we win our case? How does the story end? If I gave this essay another pass, I would focus a bit less on the story and balance things out more with what happened as a result of my leadership revelation.  

UC Essay Prompt #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.

When I was just two-years-old, my mom enrolled me in ballet classes—and I hated them. Because I was young and she wanted me to do it, I danced for another nine years, until I finally gave up ballet for the soccer field. What I hadn’t realized was that everything I learned in ballet would quickly translate to make me a star player on the field. I knew how to turn on a dime, I could jump over a slide tackle faster than anyone else, and I never took it that seriously when we lost (the show must go on, after all). This led me to being named captain of my varsity team, where my team has nicknamed me The Swann—a combination of the football player who used ballet to train, Lynn Swann, and the famous ballet, Swan Lake. 

UC Personal Insight Questions Examples (Continued)

I realized quickly that my creativity could have this extracurricular quality no matter where I went. In my high school’s annual Physics-in-the-Raw Competition, I used famous chase scenes from my favorite black and white movies (I’m a big fan of Vertigo and Chinatown ) and pulled all the data I could from the movies themselves to crunch the numbers and show whether or not the actual chase would have played out like that in real life. I even filmed shot-for-shot remakes on my phone using Matchbox cars—in black and white, of course. My AP Physics teacher never stopped laughing, even as they noted that my calculations were correct. I was the first 11th grader to win the competition in the school’s history, and I have my creativity to thank for it. 

I’ve expressed interest in both English and Physics as a double major, but I’m excited to talk to my future advisers about what might be possible for me in Interdisciplinary Studies. When I let myself think creatively, I wonder about the possibility of bringing ballet back into my life—and what it might look like to combine my love of physics with the beauty of dance and literature, all on the UC campus.  

Here’s a cheeky example from a dream student whose only obstacle in life is that they didn’t really like ballet. I wrote this essay as a way to show you how you can quickly combine story with concrete elements. Look at how we jump into the essay. The first sentence I actually typed was “Creativity is one of my favorite things about me,” and then deleted it after I wrote the rest of the paragraph. I realized quickly that it was a placeholder for what I was attempting to show throughout the rest of the essay. If you find yourself writing bland or empty sentences like that in your UC essays, you should delete them, too. 

Then, look at what happens along the way. I try to list vivid-yet-concrete examples of my creativity ( I knew how to turn on a dime, I could jump over a slide tackle faster than anyone else, and I never took it that seriously when we lost ), and then I take what I learned about myself (that I have an “extracurricular sense” of creativity) and show the achievement that best showcases that sensibility on display: I was the first 11th grader to win the school physics competition because I’m so creative. I don’t need to over-explain the connection: it’s there for my readers and they can easily see how the experience in the first paragraph leads to the second experience. 

Finally, I take the chance to project myself onto the UC Campus by talking earnestly about an interest I have in the Interdisciplinary B.A. This moment is effective because I’m not promising anything or using overextended language to build a fake version of myself on campus, but because it makes sense that this type of student would be interested in this type of major. I demonstrate that I’ve done some research and that I’m thinking critically about how I would fit in on campus. 

If I edited this essay into another version, and I had another set of accomplishments to showcase, I would skip talking about the Interdisciplinary major and talk instead about that third accomplishment.  

UC Essay Prompt #3: 

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

I stepped onto the pad and looked over at my coach. She gave me the sign: breathe in, breathe out, pull. One kick to the right to loosen my tight hip, and I lowered my hands to the bar. In the 2022 USA Powerlifting High School Nationals, I set a personal deadlift record of 242.5 pounds, putting me in fifth place. When the rankings shook out, my coach screamed and hugged me: she knew what it had taken me to get here. 

Something about powerlifting always compelled me. I was tiny at the start of my journey in ninth grade, but I decided to just keep with it. My coach laid out a progressive plan for me, and I followed it to a T. I was making steady progress all through fall of sophomore year, and I even won a regional title.  I broke my right leg in a skiing accident that winter and was devastated. But I remembered all the progress I had made and didn’t want to stop. I watched practice with my cast on, doing seated, upper-body lifts when my coach said it was safe. 

In the meantime, I focused on my academics. I turned around my AP Chemistry grade by showing up to afterschool tutoring and finally making flashcards the way my teacher had recommended, dedicating an extra 30 minutes to chem every day.  I realized I could apply my same sense of persistence and tenacity to the classroom, too, and it paid off: I got a 5 on the AP Chemistry exam. 

My coach wasn’t surprised when she saw me back at the barbell a week after my cast was off. Over the next year, I dedicated myself to rebuilding the muscle I had lost by following an increased- calorie diet and working accessory lifts to challenge myself. I realized I could see precisely what my ability to perform sustained, focused effort got me: a comeback fifth place ranking at a national competition in the sport that I love. I can’t wait to apply my focus to my major at UC. 

Many students think about “skill” or “talent” as a discrete thing. For example, this student could have simply written about being really good at powerlifting. However, if we take one step back, we can see that the student’s true talent (and the more interesting thing to say) is that they are really good at persistence, tenacity, and sustained, focused attention on a goal. This is a tremendous thing to talk about when it comes to applying to college, because going to university is a project in your sustained focus over the course of four years. 

That meant that it was important to also bring in an academic component to the essay to showcase how this student was skilled in persistence in another realm. In this context, obviously, the academic realm is incredibly important. Drawing the parallel with the AP Chem course shows the reader that the student also understands how their skillset works in an abstract way. 

I’ll repeat the same editing principle here that I’ve said above: if the student had other stellar examples of exhibiting persistence and focus, I would cut down on the storytelling elements, and I would include those pieces, instead. If you’re working on an essay for which you have a lot of solid examples, you can think of your response to the prompt like a vividly conceptualized list. You can showcase your personality through your language choices, and you can tell the story of your achievements, but again, worry less about setting the scene and more about highlighting your successes. 

UC Essay Prompt #4: 

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

As a gifted student, I was shocked when my favorite teacher asked me if I had ever considered getting examined for ADHD. My grades had been slipping that semester, but it was just because I wasn’t working hard enough to stay organized, right? My teacher indicated that he knew I was working really hard already, and that maybe, I would benefit from a little help. 

When my diagnosis came back as primarily inattentive ADHD, I felt both surprise and grief. My psychologist talked to me about how my hyperfocus had been likely sparked when I was a little kid in elementary school, but that, as time went on, it was easier and easier for me to become bored in school. Even if the classes were more challenging, the repetition of the structure wasn’t. I had enough coping mechanisms to do “well enough,” but if I wasn’t being challenged, my inattention could be taking over and making me lose out on reaching my goals. 

Working closely with my parents, my psychologist, and my teachers, I was able to build a plan for myself to get back on track. I chose for myself that I wanted to start treatment without medication, so I did counseling to put my time in high school in perspective, and I started practicing mindfulness meditation, which has been a revelation. When I focus on the fact that every day is a new opportunity to learn something new, I can really savor those opportunities. The semester that I received my diagnosis, I stabilized my grades and my 4.0 GPA before anything started to slip, thanks to my careful teacher. 

When I come to UC, I know I may be faced with challenges to my inattentive ADHD as time goes on, however, I now know what warning signs and how to rely on my support networks. I look forward to volunteering as a peer mentor to share my tips, tricks, and to help other students identify when they need help, as well. 

Writing about mental health and learning disabilities can be tricky. In every case, you need to be sure that you’re demonstrating a clear arc of overcoming something. There is no shame in actively dealing with a mental health problem or diagnosis, but when it comes to writing your college admissions essays, you want to be sure that you have a demonstrable positive outcome that you can discuss if you choose to go down this path. 

So, I wanted to show an example of someone who had that clarity of overcoming their diagnosis with a demonstrable stabilization of their GPA. Pay attention to the way in which the essay departs from the identification of the problem, the diagnosis, and then focuses mainly on the solutions that the student finds. Leaving the essay in a place of generosity where the student wants to extend what they’ve learned to others around them solidifies their success and showcases that they truly have overcome this educational barrier. 

Of course, there are other significant educational barriers that someone could talk about. They could include structural barriers within a school system or unfortunate events, like surviving a wildfire or a flood, that can demonstrate a student’s perseverance. To write this essay in the opposite direction, about a significant educational opportunity, might entail writing about an invitation to speak at an important event, an opportunity to travel to a foreign country, or the chance to participate in an extracurricular activity that led to a particular success. Were you asked to help start your school’s award-winning field hockey team? That would be an excellent thing to write about. 

To view all of the full list of prompts and other helpful tips, check out our other UC Essay blog post, here . And when you need help crafting and editing your UC essays, reach out to College Transitions for a free consultation and to get started. 

Now let’s dive into the next series of supplemental prompts, UC Personal Insight Questions 5 through 8. 

UC Essay Prompt #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?

When I was five years old, my mother decided to separate from my father because of his addiction. I have learned to understand the details based on what my mother does not say. My mother tried to help him overcome his illness. She had hoped that doctors, rehab, and twelve-step programs would have stopped him from becoming violent. She was wrong. I grew up without him. 

Last year, out of the blue, my father started showing up outside of my high school, telling me he wanted to see my mom again. It became severe enough that the police issued a restraining order. I haven’t seen him since. 

But I suffered. The idea that he could appear outside of my school at any moment made me paranoid. I was scared for my mother, and I wanted to believe that the restraining order would be sufficient, but then I stopped trusting myself. What if something happened and no one believed me? I had never experienced anxiety before, but all of the sudden, I was having tunnel vision and couldn’t be alone. 

My physics teacher, Mr. Bevelacqua, noticed first. He saw that my grade had slid from an A to a C- in five weeks, and he rightly assumed that, if it was happening in his class, it was happening in others. I loved his class and sense of humor, so I felt comfortable enough confiding in my teacher about my fears. He helped me talk with the school psychologist, who suggested a course in mindfulness and a series of conversations with the police. I created healthy boundaries for myself and developed a mindfulness routine with my mother that has benefited both of us.

Now, my grades are back up, and I’m helping Mr. Bevelacqua tutor other students for the AP Physics exam. I’ve even started attending Alateen meetings, where I’ve made close friends who have experienced similar things. Sharing our experiences has almost helped them dissolve. I’ve learned that, even though I’ve thought I should be ashamed of my father, I can talk openly about my experiences—and maybe even help myself and others.  

This essay is a completely fictional one in which I’m imagining a rather difficult experience that triggers a mental health episode in a student. You’ll see that I spend the first three, quick paragraphs detailing the challenge and the final paragraph outlining the steps the student has taken to overcome the problem. The student shows self-awareness by confiding in a favorite teacher about what’s happening, then the student doesn’t hesitate to take the teacher’s advice, then the advice pays off and we see the positive effects of the student’s willingness to address their fears and work with the people they trust around them.  

I want to point out that both sections are fairly concrete. I take some creative liberties in the first paragraph in order to artfully describe a situation of domestic violence, but for the most part, I’m stating directly what happened. This doesn’t mean excluding difficult details, like the anxiety attacks and fear, but it does mean that I’ve avoided overly flowery language. 

Writing about heavy things doesn’t mean that your prose has to be particularly heavy. In fact, writing about particularly difficult things in plain, straightforward ways —without the use of too many colorful adjectives—can help communicate the painfulness even more. You don’t want to smother your reader in emotion; you want to lead them to their own emotional reaction through the things that happened. Restraint in prose can help to achieve this goal. Let the painful things be painful. They will do the work for you. 

That is all to say: when you’re tackling this essay, you don’t want to bleed on the page. Oftentimes, students who have suffered traumatic, difficult things believe that they need to convey the full weight of their distress to admissions officers. To be clear, your trauma and your suffering matters, but admissions officers are reading the full breadth of painful experiences from across the spectrum of human existence. Adversity and suffering visit us all, and the unfortunate pain of these events is highly relative.

Admissions officers are interested in seeing what you do with your pain. You want to focus on the tangible, provable things that you have done to overcome your challenges. Those things could be big or small. It would have been enough for this student, for example, to have simply found a productive mindfulness meditation routine that they practiced with their mother, and then described their newfound perspectives that came from that practice. You don’t have to do twenty things to prove that you’re emotionally mature enough to attend college; but you do want to prove that you’re doing well despite adversity. 

UC Essay Prompt #6: 

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Standing in front of the seven-foot-tall, room-length canvas for the first time, I was overwhelmed. Then, slowly, I realized what Warhol was doing. Here was Elvis, the iconic American figure of rock ‘n’ roll, stamped out eleven times, his pistol pointed at us, his larger-than-life body repeating like a film strip left on the cutting room floor and then splayed out before us, so that we could see each instance of his fame, however fleeting, now indelible. 

Going to the Andy Warhol Museum in my hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania opened my eyes to the world of Art History, and as soon as I realized I could study it, I ran full speed ahead. To compete in National History Day, I underwent a six-month research process in the Warhol Museum archives, reading Warhol’s journals, correspondences, and making analytical reviews of drafts of his earlier, un-exhibited works. I made a thirty-minute documentary about Warhol’s work, including interviews I conducted with experts, museum curators, and with the only living family member who knew Warhol when he was still alive. With my documentary, I progressed to the national competition and placed as an honorable mention in the individual documentary category. 

Growing out of that experience, I worked with my AP History teacher to establish a connection with Duquesne University Art History Professor Laney McGunnigan, with whom I completed a semester-long independent study project on the development of pop art in the twentieth century. This fall, I will be assisting Professor McGunnigan in cataloging the body of Diego Rivera’s work held at Fallingwater, in order to assist with a larger place-based analysis on the intersection of diverse artistic movements hidden across the greater Pittsburgh area. 

I am thrilled by the possibility of studying under UCLA Department Chair Saloni Mathur. The Fallingwater project has opened my eyes to the influence of colonialism and post-colonialism in Art History, and I am deeply interested in the possibility of an interdisciplinary approach that involves anthropological practices like those I engaged during my Warhol documentary production process. 

For this essay, you want to choose that interest toward which you’ve put the most effort during your time in high school. It’s kind of like a “Why This College?” essay, but it’s about a subject, instead. In this fictional example essay, I’m drawing on a personal experience with creating a Warhol documentary in high school (true story!) and how an incredibly diligent and well-resourced student might have expanded that experience into further study (that part is fiction). No matter the level of involvement, you want to pull out all of the details about what you’ve done as a high school student as you’ve pursued a particular interest. 

You can see that I’m naming names throughout the essay, and also that I’m talking about how I’ve used my academic network to further my interest. For example, I say that I worked with my AP History teacher to make a valuable connection with a professor—don’t leave those things out. Seemingly small conversations and connections that lead to bigger things are worth including in this essay because they demonstrate your pursuit. Show the reader the steps you took along the way to get to where you are; every step counts—and you can always pare down the word count later.  

The opening lines are deceptively normal. Yes, they paint a quick scene for the reader. However, they’re also showing how I got interested in art history to begin with. The reader can see the first moment of inspiration outside of the classroom, and how I pull that inspiration into my academic life. 

Finally, I closed the essay by doing some quick research into the Art History department at UCLA. I might not know a ton about anthropology as a high school student, but I do know that I did interviews for my documentary. A good essay coach (like someone from College Transitions) could help you make the elegant connection between the work you’ve already done and the academic interests of the faculty in the department where you’d like to study. 

UC Essay Prompt #7: 

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

I can’t begin to tell you how the opioid epidemic has ravaged my community. In the last three years, three graduating seniors and eight recent graduates have died from heroin-related overdoses. The most recent death was my best friend Evan’s older brother; he had been a star soccer player and he went on to study communications at Regional State University. When Evan called to tell me what happened, I did the math silently as I listened to my friend cry: his brother overdosed at the age of 23. 

In the weeks following the funeral, I felt a heaviness I had never felt before. I’m pretty introverted; to say that I’ve never had anyone offer me drugs is an understatement. It’s the same with Evan. Even though his brother had gotten into drugs, we never saw them, which made the whole thing all the more painful, scary, and confusing. We felt hopeless. I watched Evan start to plummet. 

It was then that I heard a news story about a Harm Reduction group out of Chicago. It was the first time I’d ever heard of harm reduction, but Evan and I took the idea and ran. In just four months, we contacted the National Harm Reduction Coalition and set up a voluntary Narcan Network through our school. We built a program where kids and their parents can get trained on how to use free Narcan kits that we receive through donations we organized with NHRC.

We got trained, and we have trained more than two hundred people in our monthly sessions. The community support has been overwhelming. Parents who have had kids die or go to rehab have become integral parts of our project, and we’ve helped them start a monthly support group. If someone takes a kit, they don’t have to report using it to us, but through voluntary reporting, we know that our kits have been used at least twenty times so far. Twenty lives, twenty families, twenty more reasons to keep doing what we do. We like to think that Evan’s brother would be proud. 

In this essay, you can see that I dedicate a fair amount of time to the problem. The first two paragraphs set up what happened to the student and their best friend’s family. If I were editing this essay—and the student had a substantial amount more to say about the Narcan group—I might shorten those two paragraphs and leave space at the end for more reflection and balance, especially if the student had more achievement-oriented information to include. 

Writing about the positive things you brought to the situation is the crucial part here. The admissions officers want to know about the context for the solution, yes, but the more important thing here is your character that has allowed you to improve your community. You need to provide significant, concrete details that demonstrate your contribution to your school or community. In this case, the student is able to provide a time frame, the name of outside organizations with which they organized, the number of people trained, and an approximate number of lives saved . This is a Herculean effort that I invented for the sake of this prompt, however, I’m using it to show you the kinds of information you should provide. 

Maybe you didn’t create a live-saving program at your school, but perhaps you organized a fundraiser that brought in hundreds of dollars for cancer research or even your marching band’s annual competition trip. Tell us that. And tell us how you did it. Maybe you organized the calendars of thirty different students to do tabling during different periods of the school day. Maybe you held a week’s worth of car washes in the parking lot of your local library, and you had to coordinate the efforts between the library staff and fifteen volunteers. Or perhaps you were in charge of keeping the cash box, opening a bank account, and ensuring the safe transfer of funds to the organization.

Those are the kinds of concrete details this essay wants to see. Be sure to gas yourself up and don’t be afraid to sound like you’re “bragging:” UC wants to see your personal achievements.  

Essay Prompt #8: 

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? 

Well, why don’t you take a crack at it? 

For this essay, I’ll reiterate those best practices for all of your UC Personal Insight Essays . You want to quickly describe, in concrete language, a situation that distinguishes you from others. Then, you want to use numbers, names, responses, and your personal process to show very clearly how you overcame a situation, created something beneficial, committed yourself to a positive outcome, helped your family, helped your friends, helped your community, and on and on. Don’t take this opportunity to flex your creative writing muscles. Do stick to demonstrative outcomes. Don’t worry about winning the Pulitzer Prize for literature.

Again, UC essays are different from the storytelling you’re expected to do in the Common App essay . Do concern yourself with communicating the clear, discrete benefits of your work on a project, course, or group of people. Don’t worry about “bragging.” Your 350 words will go by fast! Gas yourself up while you can. 

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Brittany Borghi

After earning a BA in Journalism and an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa, Brittany spent five years as a full-time lecturer in the Rhetoric Department at the University of Iowa. Additionally, she’s held previous roles as a researcher, full-time daily journalist, and book editor. Brittany’s work has been featured in The Iowa Review, The Hopkins Review, and the Pittsburgh City Paper, among others, and she was also a 2021 Pushcart Prize nominee.

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Blog > Essay Examples , UC Essays > 9 Outstanding UC Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions Officers)

9 Outstanding UC Essay Examples (Graded by Former Admissions Officers)

Admissions officer reviewed by Ben Bousquet, M.Ed Former Vanderbilt University

Written by Kylie Kistner, MA Former Willamette University Admissions

Key Takeaway

We talk a lot about essays in the college application process. And for good reason. Essays are one of the most critical parts of your application, and the University of California Personal Insight Questions are no different. Even though they’re quite different from personal statements or supplemental essays , UC essays serve a similar purpose: to help admissions officers get to know you and envision you on their campus.

But the tricky thing about UC essays is that they have a very particular style and form. If you don’t write your UC essays in the right way, you risk tanking your application.

Writing them the right way, however, can land you in the admit pile.

Let's start by looking at an example essay. Then we'll dive into the prompts themselves, go over some strategy, and and look at even more examples. Ready?

UC Example Essay - Prompt #7

We’ve got an extra example for Prompt #7: . This one comes from the Essay Academy , our digital college essay course. It’s about a student’s initiative to bring literacy to their community. Take a look:

This writer makes it very clear what community they’re talking about. They state the problem (libraries closing down), their solution (filling the library gap through book club), and the action steps they took to make their community a better place.

Along the way, we clearly see their strengths: they are willing to take initiative and to think critically about what the community needs. The essay also answers the entire prompt and meets the style and tone requirements of UC essays. It’s clear, action-oriented, and to-the-point. Excellent!

Now, let's actually take a look at the prompts.

The UC Personal Insight Question Prompts

The University of California system, which consists of nine campuses across the state, requires students to apply directly via their institutional application portal. That means that you won’t be submitting your Common Application to them or writing school-specific supplemental essays. Instead, you’ll choose four of the following eight prompts to respond to.

Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.

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.

What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

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?

Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

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?

Once you have your prompts chosen, the essays themselves should be no greater than 350 words each.

Together, your essays should be different but cohesive enough to tell a fairly complete story of who you are.

Before we get to the examples, we have a few tips to keep you on track.

How to Write the UC Personal Insight Questions

Okay, so we actually have a whole other comprehensive guide to the UC essays that breaks down the process in extreme detail.

So for now, we’ll just go over the essentials.

What’s helpful about the UC PIQs is that we don’t have to guess what admissions officers are looking for—the UCs tell us directly in the Points of Comprehensive Review . Read through all thirteen points, but pay special attention to #10. That’s where your essays will be doing the heaviest lifting.

With that in mind, there are four rules for writing UC essays that you should stick to like glue:

Answer the prompt.

We’ll say it again for the people in the back: answer the prompt! The UC essay prompts ask very specific questions and contain multiple parts. If you misinterpret the prompt, you may end up writing the completely wrong essay.

You might find that diagramming or annotating the prompts helps you pull out the important pieces. Break down what each of your chosen prompts asks you to do, and list out all the questions in order. That way, you’ll make sure you’re not missing anything.

Skip the fluff.

Your personal statement likely has some creative descriptions or metaphors. You may have even incorporated figurative or poetic language into your supplementals. And that’s great. In fact, that’s encouraged (within reason, of course).

But UC essays are different. They’re all business.

Whereas your personal statement might open with an attention-catching hook that describes a scene in vivid detail, your UC essays should jump straight in. In general, your essay should be organized in a clear way that tells a straightforward story.

Focus on action steps.

As we saw in the Points of Comprehensive Review, admissions officers want to learn about how your concrete experiences have shaped you. That means that your essays should revolve around action steps rather than, say, 350 words of intense personal reflection. What those action steps should look like will depend on the prompts you’ve chosen. But by the end of your essay, your admissions officers should know what you’ve done and why.

Show a strength.

In the UC essays, it’s easy to get caught up in the details of the prompt and style of the essay. But don’t lose sight of the purpose of any college essay in the process: to showcase a strength to your admissions officers.

Every UC essay you write should correspond with a specific strength. That might be wisdom, artistry, good judgement, entrepreneurship, leadership—you get the idea.

Let’s say you want one of your essays to demonstrate leadership. The idea isn’t that you come out and say, “This shows that I am a leader.” Instead, by the end of the essay, after reading about everything you’ve done and reflected on, your admissions officers should sit back in their chair and say, “Wow, that student is a leader.” You’ll see what we mean in the examples.

Because of all these golden rules, your UC essays will look quite different than your Common Application essay or supplementals. They’ll probably look quite different from any essay you’ve written.

That’s where examples come in handy. Ready to dive in?

UC Prompt 1: Leadership

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.

Prompt 1 Example Essay

When we moved to a new neighborhood, my dad always complained about the house next to us. Full of weeds and random objects, it had clearly been neglected(( Notice how, at least compared with common application personal essays, the tone of this essay is much more staid?)) .

I didn’t pay much attention to his complaints until one day when I saw that our neighbor was an elderly man. He was struggling to bring his trash to the bins outside. Suddenly, it all clicked. If taking out the garbage was a challenge, then surely he wasn’t able to do yard work. That’s why it looked neglected.

My dad always taught me that leadership isn’t about giving orders. It’s about doing what needs to be done(( A direct, succinct definition of leadership.)) . With this advice in mind, I decided that I would help our neighbor.

After my realization, I went and knocked on our neighbor’s door. I introduced myself and learned that his name was Hank. When the time was right, I informed him that I’d be cutting our grass the following weekend and would love to cut his as well. Hank initially refused.

Speaking with Hank, I learned that leadership is also about listening to people’s needs(( Showing a lesson from the experience.)) . In that moment, Hank needed to be reassured that I wanted to help. I told him it would be easy for me to cross over to his yard while I had the equipment out. He finally agreed.

The next Saturday, I got to work. The job would be bigger than I expected. All the objects needed to be picked up before I could mow. I decided to enlist the help of my two younger siblings. At first, they said no. But a good leader knows how to inspire, so I told them about Hank and explained why it was important to help. Together, we cleaned up the yard. Now, each time I mow our lawn, I mow Hank’s afterward.

Through this experience, I learned that leadership is about seeing problems and finding solutions. Most importantly, it’s about attitude and kindness(( The author of this essay does a good job staying focused on a clear definition.)) . The neighborhood is grateful that the eyesore is gone, Hank is grateful for the help, and I am grateful for my new friend.

Word Count: 343

UC Essay Checklist

Does the writer convey a strength?

Yes. The writer shows initiative in seeking out the neighbor and willingness to help in all the hard work they did.

Is every part of the prompt answered?

Yes. Since this prompt has an “or,” we know that the writer doesn’t have to meet every single criterion listed. They respond to the “positively influenced others” part of the prompt, which we can see through their interactions with their neighbor.

Does the writer adhere to UC conventions?

Yes. The essay is straightforward and clearly organized. The writer lists action steps in chronological order.

UC Prompt 2: Creativity

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.

Prompt 2 Example Essay

As a cellist, I express my creativity through music(( Directly answering the prompt up front. )) . Whether I’m playing in a symphony, chamber orchestra, quartet, or solo performance, I bring my art to the world with my instrument. My creativity has transformed me from a small child playing out of tune to a solo artist featured in my state’s youth symphony.

I’ve loved music from a young age, and I began playing the cello when I was six years old. What began as a hobby to keep an energetic child engaged has become my life’s purpose.

At first, I only played along with my private lesson teacher, Ms. Smith. I loved dancing my fingers across the fingerboard, plucking the strings, and making screeching noises with my bow. Ms. Smith told my parents that I had promise but needed to develop discipline. Despite my young age, I listened. By the time I reached middle school, I had made principal cellist in my school’s orchestra. Leading a section of fellow cellists brought my creativity to a whole new level. Not only was I expressing myself through my own music, but I also expressed myself through my leadership. With a subtle nod or an expressive sway, I learned to shape the music those behind me played. I felt most comfortable and free when I was playing my cello.

That feeling only grew as I moved into high school. In ninth grade, I landed my first solo. With it came a new creative sensation: stage fright(( This part of the essay distracts a bit from the main theme.)) . Until then, I’d only experienced positive emotions while playing. I needed to make solo performance more positive. With endless practice and exercises like playing for the public on the sidewalk, I learned that solo performance is simply a way to share my love of music with those around me.

Now, as principal cellist of my state’s youth orchestra, I jump at the chance to perform any solo I can get. Getting to this point has taken me countless late nights practicing in my bedroom and weekends spent in rehearsals. But without my cello to express my creative side, I wouldn’t be me.

Word Count: 347

Yes. The writer is an artist—a musician specifically. Their creativity shines through.

Yes. This prompt is pretty straightforward: “Describe how you express your creative side,” which the writer does by describing their love of the cello. Notice how the writer doesn’t just say they’re creative because they play the cello. They describe that creativity in detail.

Mostly. The short paragraph about stage fright takes us on a slight detour from the prompt. To make this essay even better, the writer could have eliminated that anecdote or reframed it to be more about creative expression.

UC Prompt 3: Talent or Skill

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Prompt 3 Example Essay

How many toes does an armadillo have? What were the main causes of the Crimean War? Who discovered atoms? When my friends or family have questions, they come to me for answers. I am an expert researcher. Although my passion for research began as a fun hobby, it has evolved into one of my greatest skills(( The writer opens with an interesting but not too out-there hook and then gets straight to answering the prompt.)) .

My first real mystery came when I was in ninth grade. My mom wanted to track down an old friend from high school but hadn’t had any luck searching on her own. Having grown up with the internet, I was my mom’s best chance. Not sure where to begin, I took to YouTube tutorials. Using the few family details my mom remembered, I tracked down the friend’s brother then found the friend’s married name(( Here’s a great example of what the skill looks like.)) . Alas–we found her on social media. I felt triumphant as I saw the happiness wash over my mom’s face.

Since then, my skill has grown exponentially(( And here the writer gets at the “developed and demonstrated the talent over time” part of the prompt.)) . Combining my natural curiosity with my love of history, I’ve advanced my research skills by volunteering with my local library for the past two years. I have learned about how keywords and search engines work, practiced cataloging and archiving, and waded my way through the intricacies of the library’s database technology. Suddenly, researching wasn’t just about finding people’s Facebook profiles. It was about having any information I wanted to find at my fingertips.

Access to information is more important now than ever. That’s why I decided to put my research knowledge to work. Part of being a good researcher is teaching others how to access information too, so I founded the SOHS Research Club. We begin each meeting by raising the hardest question we can think of, and I use the projector in the library to walk club members through my research process. Members have all gone on to share their knowledge with their friends and family. The SOHS Research Club has spread information literacy to my whole community(( Gesturing to the greater significance of the skill)) .

Looking ahead to all the ways my research skills will improve in college, I know that I’ll be ready to find an answer for anything.

Word Count: 350

Yes. We see that they’re not only skilled at research but also that they want to support their community.

Yes—but. The prompt asks about your greatest talent or skill . It also asks how you have developed and demonstrated that talent over time. The writer does answer these questions, but I’d like to see more about when the SOHS Research Club took place as part of this development.

Yes. The essay is clear, organized, and to-the-point.

UC Prompt 4: Educational Opportunity or Barrier

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

Prompt 4 Example Essay

I jump at any chance to get my hands dirty. I am an aspiring ecologist. I’m lucky enough to live in a college town, so I was elated last semester when a postdoctoral fellow invited me to join her research team(( Okay, looks like this writer is addressing the “how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity” part of the prompt.)) .

Although at first(( Good signposting and transitions. UC essays should be clear and straightforward. This writer easily walks us through the step-by-step of what happened.)) I was intimidated by the prospect of working alongside college students and faculty, I decided to embrace the opportunity to learn what being an ecologist is really like.

The project involved studying Asclepias syriaca populations in my local park. More commonly known as Milkweed, this flower species has a long and important history in North America, particularly for Indigenous people. After learning about its history as a food source, medicine, and critical part of ecological function, I couldn’t wait to be part of the research.

As a research assistant, I helped with data collection. We began by using twine to section off population groups in the park. Then, every week I returned to the populations to collect information about population growth. I counted the number of flowers in the population, and, with a clear ruler, I measured and recorded the height of every individual flower.

The work was tedious. On my hands and knees, I squinted at the millimeter markings, trying to obtain the most accurate measurements possible. Each week, I’d return home with muddy jeans and a smile on my face.

Participating in this research project taught me that being an ecologist is about much more than looking at plants(( Going beyond the research to reflect on lessons learned—nice!)) . It’s also about learning from mentors and engaging with and having respect for the historical context of the plants we study. Being a scientist is also not as glamorous as movies like Jurassic Park lead on. Instead, science requires careful planning, patience, and hard work.

But what I learned the most from this educational opportunity is that science doesn’t exist in some nebulous place. It exists right here in front of me. I look forward to continuing to use science to serve my community.

Word count: 328

Yes. We see their intellectual curiosity and willingness to learn through their research journey.

Yes. We have another “or” prompt! This time they’ve chosen to focus on an “educational opportunity,” which is the research project. They certainly explain how they “took advantage” of it.

Yes. There’s no fluff, just a coherent narrative focused on actions the writer took.

UC Prompt 5: Challenge

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?

Prompt 5 Example Essay

While most kids fear monsters, my greatest fear has always been tests. Since elementary school, I’ve dealt with incapacitating test anxiety. I’d sit down for a spelling test and faint from anxiety(( Straight into answering the prompt)) . Math tests in middle school would make me run to the bathroom ill. By the time I reached high school, where the testing stakes became even higher, my test anxiety increased exponentially.

More than normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, it is a diagnosis I wrestle with daily. Test anxiety caused me to miss a number of tests that I had no option to re-take. It’s caused me to receive abysmal scores on standardized and state tests, which has had repercussions in the classes I’m allowed to take(( Strategically, this was a good prompt for this student to answer because it gives them a way to contextualize any poor grades they earned early in high school. It also gets at the “academic achievement” part of the prompt.)) . My test anxiety has been the greatest challenge of my life. In a school system so reliant on testing, it has completely affected my ability to achieve academically.

By the time I took the PSATs, I couldn’t even move my hand to write my name. I knew something had to change. I reached out for help. My mom knew I had been struggling but didn’t understand the extent of my illness. Together, we contacted my school counselor, who told us how to find a therapist.

With my doctors, I worked to mitigate the effects of my test anxiety on a medical and psychological level(( Action steps! This prompt requires you to talk about the specific steps you took to overcome the challenge. The writer does exactly that in this paragraph.)) . I began taking beta-blockers that helped slow my heart rate, thus tricking my body into being less anxious. Alongside that, I spent months working through the reasons my brain interpreted testing as such a threat. I learned to appreciate my intrinsic value instead of relying on external factors like test scores. And rather than viewing tests as chances to fail, I began to understand them as opportunities to showcase my growth.

Now, after two long years of effort, I can take any test with ease. Since learning how to manage my disorder, I’ve successfully taken my driver’s test, SATs and ACTs, and all seven of my AP exams. I’m looking forward to all the tests I’ll take in college(( And we end on a very positive note that shows lots of growth)) .

Yes—which is difficult with this prompt. The writer doesn’t get bogged down in the challenge of having test anxiety. Instead, they use this prompt as an opportunity to show a strength: resilience to overcome such a difficult problem.

Yes. And this prompt has multiple parts, too. It wants you to describe 1) a challenge, 2) the steps you’ve taken to overcome the challenge, and 3) how the challenge affected your academic achievement. This writer does all three.

Yes. The writer doesn’t provide any poetic descriptions or metaphors. They say what they mean.

UC Prompt 6: Academic Interest

6.  Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.

Prompt 6 Example Essay

Sitting in front of my baby cousin, I held my hands in front of my face. I quickly snapped them down and exclaimed, “Peek-a-boo!” Delighted, he erupted into laughter. From the perspective of my more developed brain, this game is quite boring. It’s overly repetitive, and the outcome—my face reveal—is basic and consistent. But to a brain that hasn’t yet gone through the sensorimotor phase of development, the game is a downright hoot. What I perceive as boring is actually magic to a baby’s mind. Without the concept of object permanence, my cousin thinks that I disappear completely behind my hands. When my face returns, he marvels as I inexplicably materialize in front of him. It’s no wonder he can play peek-a-boo for hours.

Since I took IB Psychology my sophomore year, I have been fascinated with child psychology(( It takes a paragraph before we get to the prompt (which is too long), but I like the nerdiness the writer shows in the intro)) . No matter when or where we are born, we all undergo similar stages of development that help us understand the world around us. Imagine Albert Einstein chewing on a rock or Genghis Khan taking his first steps. Researching child development unlocks something universal and equalizing about the human experience.

Because of my interest in child psychology, I decided to get more involved with my community. I began by volunteering in a psychology lab at my local university. While there, I get our child participants settled before sessions. Occasionally I get to help with data collection. I also landed a job as a teacher’s aide at a nearby Head Start, where I feed lunches, play, and read. In both of these activities, I’ve learned so much about how to interact with toddlers, to think like they think, and to help them grow into kind and happy children(( This paragraph shows exactly how they’ve furthered their interest.)) .

My school doesn’t offer any additional psychology courses, so I took a community college class this summer. I’m looking forward to taking more advanced psychology classes as a psychology major, and I’m eager to bring the research skills I’ve been developing to one of the UC’s many child development labs. One day, I hope to use all these skills as a child therapist.

Word Count: 348

Yes. The student is very intellectually curious about child development—a perfect strength for this prompt.

Yes. The writer talks about an academic subject, child development, and describes how they advanced that interest through a research lab, classes, and a job at Head Start.

Yes—but. Overall, the essay does a great job adhering to UC essay conventions. But the first paragraph almost doesn’t. As it is, the writer stays focused on telling the story. However, it takes up quite a bit of space in the essay without really conveying much about the writer’s journey. If there were a metaphor or any poetic language in there, it would have been too far. Same goes for the snippet about Einstein and Genghis Khan—it adds personality but is close to overdoing it.

UC Prompt 7: School or Community

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Prompt 7 Example Essay

Nourishing loved ones by cooking for them is one of my biggest passions. But my hobby has become more difficult since moving to a food desert. Food deserts are areas without easy access to grocery stores or healthy foods. These disparities are clear in the school cafeteria, with the majority of students eating processed school lunches or packaged foods brought from home. I decided to do something about it.

The idea came to me one day as I made my way from AP Biology to my cooking elective. We needed a school community garden(( The writer sets up the stakes in the introduction so we truly understand the situation here)) . If we couldn’t access fresh foods in our neighborhood, then we would grow our own. We just needed a space to grow them and money to buy supplies.

I began by finding a spot to plant our garden. My friends and I walked around the entire school and decided that the courtyard would be the perfect place. After explaining my idea to the Assistant Principal, I got permission to proceed.

Next(( This paragraph is full of good action steps)) I raised money for the supplies. With $20 in seed money from my parents, which I promptly paid back, I drew and printed stickers to sell at lunch. The stickers were anthropomorphized vegetables. They cost $0.10 per sticker to make, and I sold them for $1.00 each. Soon enough, I had not only raised enough money to set up the garden, but I had rallied the whole school around my cause. Thirty of my classmates showed up, vegetable stickers on their water bottles, to help me plant the garden.

For the last year, we’ve maintained a spread of seasonal vegetables in the garden. We bring a basket to the cooking elective teacher each week so students can practice cooking with fresh vegetables, and we hold a daily farm stand at lunch(( And we see that they are legitimately improving their community)) . At the stand, students can grab whatever fresh produce they want to add to their lunch.

My school’s garden nourishes my community, and I am nourished every day by the fact that my efforts have made a true difference to those around me.

Word Count: 341

Yes. The writer shows really great initiative and community understanding in their willingness to start a community garden from scratch.

Yes. With only one question, this prompt is pretty straightforward. And the writer’s answer is simple: to make their school community a better place, they made a community garden.

Yes. The writer goes into detail about every step they took to make the community garden come to life. I especially like how the writer goes beyond these details to emphasize how much the community garden impacted the school community.

UC Prompt 8: Additional Information

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?

Prompt 8 Example Essay

When I posted a TikTok video of myself studying, I didn’t expect anyone but my friends to see it. But within hours, my video had gone viral— tens of thousands of people(( That’s a lot of people. This shows the magnitude and impact of the video.)) saw the carefully-crafted shots I’d taken of my desk setup and homework timelapse. The comment section flooded. People appreciated the work I’d put into curating the perfect desk. They thanked me for inspiring them to get started on their own homework. I was overwhelmed by the response.

At first I felt really shy. What if people from school saw it and made fun of me? I kept questioning myself so much that I completely froze. Finally, one comment caught my attention. It read, “I’ve been having a hard semester and can barely get myself out of bed, let alone to do my homework. But this is so calming! Maybe I’ll try.” That comment made me realize that it didn’t matter what people at my school thought. What mattered was that I loved making that video and it had made an actual difference in the lives of the people who saw it.

And that’s when I decided to make my mark on #StudyTok(( This is a pretty unique topic that wouldn’t have necessarily fit into the other prompt categories, which makes it a good candidate for prompt #8.)) . Since that first video, I’ve posted 318 others and accumulated over 35,000 followers(( More numbers to show impact)) . I’ve had more videos go viral and reach hundreds of thousands of people looking for work inspiration. Even the videos that some would see as “fails” still reach a couple hundred people. That may not be a big deal in the Internet world, but those same people would fill up my high school’s auditorium. My goal for every video is to make my viewers feel relaxed and able to take on whatever work they have to do. It helps me and my viewers complete our work.

These videos have made me more confident and organized, and I can’t wait to continue them in college. When I get an extra assignment or have to stay up late to finish a paper, I become excited instead of frustrated because I know that the little StudyTok community I’ve created will be there right alongside me.(( This conclusion drives home the what “makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the UC” part of the prompt.))

Yes. They show creativity through their video production and leadership through their huge community impact.

Mostly. This prompt is a tricky one to answer because its components aren’t as straightforward as the others. Through such a huge impact, the writer makes it implicitly clear why this story demonstrates that they are a good candidate for admissions to the UC, but the message could be more explicit.

Yes. The writer conveys the sequence of events in a clear and organized way, and they use good metrics to show the impact of their videos.

Key Takeaways

Did you catch our golden rules throughout? Yep. That’s what makes these essays stand out, and that’s what’ll make your essays stand out, too.

And even though these essays come from different students, hopefully you also got a sense of how an admissions officer reads a portfolio of essays for a single student.

Remember: just like your other applications, your overall goal for your UC application is to create a cohesive application narrative that shows your core strengths.

Having read all these essays, you’re now well on your way to writing your own. Try jumping into the Essay Academy or our UC essay writing guide  for help getting started.

Liked that? Try this next.

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How To Answer UC PIQ Essay Prompt 3: Greatest Talent or Skill

This blog post has been updated and is accurate for the 2024-2025 PIQ prompts.

PIQ Prompt 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

The first step in effectively answering the UC admissions essay prompt about your greatest talent or skill is to fully comprehend what the prompt is asking for. Understanding the prompt will enable you to articulate your response in a meaningful and focused manner.

The UC admissions essay prompt asks you to identify your greatest talent or skill and describe how you have developed and demonstrated it over time. This prompt is designed to gauge your self-awareness, commitment to personal growth, and ability to reflect on your experiences.

To interpret the prompt correctly, consider the following key points:

1- Identifying Your Greatest Talent or Skill: Reflect on your strengths and passions to identify the talent or skill that truly defines you. It could be something you excel at academically, artistically, athletically, or in any other area of interest.

2- Development Over Time: Think about how you have nurtured and refined your talent or skill. Consider the steps you have taken to improve, whether through practice, training, mentorship, or other forms of personal growth.

3- Demonstration of Your Talent or Skill: Reflect on the ways in which you have showcased your talent or skill. This could include performances, competitions, projects, leadership roles, or any other opportunities where you have put your abilities on display.

By understanding the nuances of the UC admissions essay prompt, you will be better equipped to craft a well-rounded and comprehensive response that effectively highlights your talent or skill and demonstrates your growth over time.

Identifying Your Greatest Talent or Skill

To effectively answer the UC admissions essay prompt, it is crucial to identify your greatest talent or skill. This section will guide you through a process of self-reflection to help you determine the talent or skill that truly sets you apart. Here are some steps to assist you in the identification process:

Self-Reflection on Personal Skills and Talents

1- Take some time to reflect on your interests, hobbies, and activities that bring you joy and fulfillment.

2- Consider the things you excel at and receive recognition for, whether it's in academics, sports, arts, leadership, or any other domain.

3- Reflect on feedback you have received from teachers, mentors, or peers regarding your strengths and talents.

Why Identifying Your Greatest Skill is Important

1- Admissions committees are interested in understanding what makes you unique and how you can contribute to the university community.

2- Identifying your greatest talent or skill allows you to showcase your passion, dedication, and potential for growth.

3- It provides an opportunity to highlight your personal qualities and how they align with your chosen field of study or future goals.

How to Choose the Right Talent or Skill for the Essay

1- Select a talent or skill that genuinely resonates with you and reflects your authentic self.

2- Consider the relevance of your chosen talent or skill to your academic or career aspirations.

3- Ensure that you have sufficient experiences and examples to demonstrate your development and progress in that particular talent or skill.

By engaging in self-reflection and considering the significance of your chosen talent or skill, you will be able to identify the most compelling aspect of your abilities to write about in your UC admissions essay.

Developing Your Talent or Skill

Once you have identified your greatest talent or skill, the next step is to focus on its development. This section will outline strategies and steps to help you nurture and enhance your chosen talent or skill over time. Here's what you need to know:

Steps to Developing Your Chosen Skill

1- Break down your talent or skill into specific components or areas for improvement.

2- Set clear goals and create a plan for achieving them.

3- Seek out resources such as classes, workshops, online tutorials, or books to enhance your knowledge and understanding.

4- Practice regularly and consistently to build proficiency and improve your abilities.

5- Seek feedback from mentors, teachers, or experts in your field and implement their suggestions for growth.

6- Embrace challenges and push yourself outside of your comfort zone to expand your skill set.

Significance of Consistent Improvement

1- Admissions committees are interested in applicants who demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and growth.

2- Showcasing consistent improvement in your talent or skill reflects discipline, perseverance, and a growth mindset.

3- Highlight how you have overcome obstacles or setbacks along the way and used them as learning opportunities.

How to Show Progress in Your Skill Development

1- Keep a record of your progress, noting milestones, achievements, and areas of growth.

2- Document any formal recognition, awards, or accolades you have received for your talent or skill.

3- Create a portfolio or showcase that demonstrates the progression of your abilities through tangible evidence such as projects, performances, or artwork.

4- Provide specific examples or anecdotes that illustrate how you have developed and refined your talent over time.

By following these steps and emphasizing the importance of continuous improvement, you will be able to effectively demonstrate your dedication and growth in developing your talent or skill.

Demonstrating Your Talent or Skill Over Time

Once you have developed your talent or skill, it is essential to demonstrate your progress and proficiency over time. This section will explore various strategies to effectively showcase your growth and abilities to the UC admissions committee. Here's what you need to consider:

Importance of Providing Evidence of Your Talent Development:

1- Admissions committees value concrete evidence of your talent or skill development.

2- Providing evidence demonstrates that your talent is not just a claim but backed up by real experiences and achievements.

3- Concrete evidence lends credibility to your essay and makes your story more compelling.

Ways to Showcase Your Skill Progression:

1- Highlight significant milestones or achievements that demonstrate your growth.

2- Discuss any competitions, performances, exhibitions, or projects where you have showcased your talent or skill.

3- Include any leadership roles, mentoring experiences, or opportunities where you have shared your expertise with others.

4- Incorporate stories or anecdotes that illustrate key moments of development and highlight your dedication and passion.

5- Utilize visuals such as photographs, videos, or samples of your work to provide a tangible representation of your progress.

How to Make Your Talent Stand Out in the Essay:

1- Connect your talent or skill to your personal values, beliefs, or life experiences.

2- Highlight any unique or innovative approaches you have taken in developing your talent.

3- Demonstrate how your talent or skill aligns with your academic or career goals.

4- Showcase the impact and significance of your talent beyond personal achievements, such as community involvement or contributions to a larger cause.

By effectively demonstrating your talent or skill development over time, you can provide the admissions committee with a comprehensive understanding of your abilities, growth, and potential. Now, let's move on to the next section: "Writing the UC Admissions Essay."

Writing the UC Admissions Essay

Now that you have a clear understanding of your greatest talent or skill and have considered its development and demonstration, it's time to craft your UC admissions essay. This section will provide guidance on how to structure and write an impactful essay that effectively showcases your talent and reflects your personal growth. Let's dive in:

1- Structuring Your Essay:

• – Start with a compelling introduction that grabs the reader's attention and introduces your talent or skill.
• – Develop the body paragraphs to provide a detailed narrative of your talent development journey.
• – Use appropriate transitions to ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs and ideas.
• – Conclude your essay by summarizing your growth, emphasizing the significance of your talent, and leaving a lasting impression.

2- Incorporating Your Skill Development Story:

• – Begin by explaining why you chose your talent or skill and its personal significance.
• – Share specific experiences, challenges, or setbacks you faced during your journey of talent development.
• – Highlight key moments of growth, achievements, and milestones that demonstrate your progress.
• – Use vivid descriptions and anecdotes to engage the reader and make your story memorable.
• – Connect your talent or skill development to your personal values, aspirations, or future goals.

3- Reviewing and Refining the Essay:

• – Proofread your essay for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
• – Seek feedback from teachers, mentors, or trusted individuals who can provide constructive criticism.
• – Ensure that your essay is concise, focused, and adheres to the word limit set by the UC application.
• – Make sure your essay reflects your unique voice and showcases your personality authentically.

By carefully structuring and writing your UC admissions essay, you can effectively communicate your talent development story to the admissions committee. Remember to revise and edit your essay for clarity and impact. Now, let's move on to the conclusion and wrap up our comprehensive guide on answering the UC admissions essay prompt about your greatest talent or skill.

Final Thoughts

The UC admissions essay is more than just a box to tick; it's your platform to stand out. When addressing the prompt about your greatest skill or talent, it's not just about the achievement itself, but the journey you undertook. Be authentic, highlight your growth, and demonstrate your commitment. Your unique experiences and dedication to your talent can be the bridge to your future at the University of California. Aim for authenticity, and let your talent shine bright. Good luck!

I hope you found this guide useful. Navigating campus life can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone. Once you're accepted into college, hop onto MeetYourClass – your go-to platform to find roommates, friends, and your community. Connect with like-minded students, find your perfect roommate, and immerse yourself in campus culture. As you embark on your application journey, remember: your next chapter of friendships and experiences is just a click away. Best of luck, and we hope to see you soon on MeetYourClass!

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How to Write the “Greatest Talent or Skill” UC Essay

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Avoid re-stating your resume, how to choose your talent or skill, look for unconventional uses of your skill, how to structure this essay, notice overlaps with other essays.

The third University of California personal insight question asks students to respond to the following prompt: 

“What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? (350 words)”  

For this question, your response is limited to a maximum of 350 words. In this article, we will discuss how to avoid the most common pitfall, choosing a topic that makes your essay stand out, and structural considerations. 

For more information on University of California’s other supplemental essays and writing dos and don’ts, check out our posts on how to write University of California essays and on great University of California essay examples . 

The most common pitfall for the third University of California (UC) personal insight question (PIQ) is that students just restate their resumes rather than discussing why the activity matters and how it has impacted them. This also commonly happens in PIQ # 1, the “leadership” essay, but PIQ #3 is by far the most notorious for this mistake.

Students will often provide a list of things they did in a particular activity like they would on a resume, but, unfortunately, this can make for an incredibly boring college essay. The good news is that there are several strategies that students can use to write a strong response to this prompt that strengthens their admission prospects.

One way to write a unique and engaging response to this prompt is by choosing to focus on an intangible talent or skill. 

Typically, when people think of talents, they think of things they are good at like math, debate, journalism, writing, or even something sports related like jumping – all of which are tangible hard skills. But intangible soft skills, such as interpersonal skills, can make for strong essays particularly because they are not one of the expected, common responses.

Admissions Officers frequently see essays centered around skills like science, research, or coding. In contrast, essays about intangible skills, like resolving conflict or persevering in the face of challenges, provide students the opportunity to write an unexpected and interesting response, as well as a more deeply personal essay that highlights success strategies that boost a students performance.

Highlight Your “Spike”

This essay is a great chance to highlight your “spike” , or a specific field or domain that you are passionate about and skilled in. Students with spikes are seen as the individuals who will be leaders in their fields, demonstrating and deepening their talents and interest in their spike throughout their academic career. 

When doing this, it’s important to explore why you have built that talent, or that spike, and why you’re passionate about it. What makes this essay strong is not that you have a spike, but instead, why the topic related to your spike is interesting to you and why you enjoy it.

Another potential way to make your essay stand out is by writing about a smaller, unconventional way that you use your skill.  

For example, if research was the talent you chose, you could write about a typical use of that skill, like doing scientific or medical research. Alternatively, you could instead write about an unconventional use of that skill, like leveraging research skills to help a family member navigate the immigration system. 

This can be especially strategic if you already have more conventional examples of that skill on your resume, as this essay can then demonstrate another side of you.

As you structure this essay, it can be helpful to write about one anecdote while weaving in examples of how you built up your talent over time.

Some students choose to write about multiple shorter anecdotes for this PIQ, but this structure often does not work for a 350-word essay. This is because much of the allotted space is used to establish the plot of the multiple anecdotes, leaving not enough room remaining for the most important part: personal reflection.

Using multiple anecdotes can work better for longer essays, like the Common App personal statement which has a word limit of 650 words.

This particular prompt shares similarities with some other college essay prompts, most notably Common App Prompt #1 , “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.”

Depending on the schools you are applying to, you may find that you can successfully overlap parts of a UC PIQ #3 response with an essay for Common App Prompt #1, but keep in mind that you will not be able to write both essays identically due to the differences in the prompts and word limits.

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