Students Freaking Out About New UC Essay Prompts

June 22, 2016 – – Berkeley, California – This year’s batch of college applicants were caught off guard by the University of California’s new ‘personal insight’ questions. For many high school seniors who find personal essays daunting, the unfamiliar prompts have intensified the anxiety.

“Think of it as your interview with the admissions office,” the new U.C. instructions advise. “Be open. Be reflective. Find your individual voice and express it.”

Lesley Quinn, a Berkeley writer and editor who provides admissions essay coaching (ForCollegeEssayHelp.com) to students worldwide, urges students to relax. “It’s true that successful essays from years past can no longer be used as good examples,” she said. “But having four shorter essays will allow students to create a more complete and multifaceted portrait of themselves – and U.C. is digging because they want to know who you are, not just what you know.”

A lot of high schoolers imagine that they don’t have much of an autobiography yet. “But there are important pointers for students to keep in mind,” Quinn remarked. “Forget looking great academically for a minute, and think back over your life. For example, can you remember a moment you were a mentor to someone who needed help? Or, something you did that was creative – even if it seems quirky? Or, what was the hardest challenge you’ve faced? The point of the essay is not to show off your accomplishments, it’s to show the admissions officers that you gained insight from the experiences – and how that changed who you are, and built your character.”

A lot of students freeze up, she said. “Students should take each of the four essays one at a time, so they’re not overwhelmed. Think back over what’s happened to you for an experience that, maybe wasn’t terribly dramatic, but that had a juicy insight for you. Write that story, before going on to the next one.” These are short essays, just 350 words each. “Make every word earn its right to be in the story,” Quinn said.

Competition is stiff, so plan on spending some time on them. “Stand-out essays, no matter what the prompt, go through multiple drafts,” she adds. “That means students must tolerate a bad first draft, but with each new draft, their theme, structure, flow, and conclusion will get clearer and stronger.”

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Contact Quinn & Associates:

Lesley Quinn
510-842-3939 / 510-842-8908 (fax)
lesley@lesleyquinn.com
4658 San Sebastian Avenue
Oakland, CA 94602

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