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Learn what topic you should pick when writing admissions essays for the UC personal insight questions.
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UC Personal Insight Questions Guide and Tips

Writing Admissions Essays: Tips for the UC PIQs

The University of California applications have opened up, and it is CRUNCH TIME. There are a whopping 8 different topics for the UC Personal Insight Questions (UC PIQs). While we can’t cover everything about writing admissions essays in this article, we will list the reasons for choosing or avoiding each prompt, plus the components that go into a strong response to each prompt. and if you are still unsure you plan on taking, start with finding your passion

PIQ 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.”

This prompt is perfect if you’ve had a leadership experience that required you to work through challenges. Make sure your role was significant; otherwise, it will be difficult to come up with the nuances that add substance to the story.

Use this essay to define and illustrate what leadership means to you, shown through your actions, trials, tribulations, responses, and ultimate results.

PIQ 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.”

This prompt isn’t just for art majors; almost any activity is an opportunity to display creative thinking. The topic you choose to write about should be something you’ve done repeatedly, as you want to demonstrate persistence.

To show off your creative side, dive into the details about your process; don’t just talk about the results you’ve achieved. Make sure you discuss the importance of creativity. When writing admissions essays, don’t just list your awards and activities. Instead, emphasize the meaning of this activity to you.

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

Good topics for PIQ 3 include everything from personal hobbies to extracurricular activities and athletics. Be careful not to write a stereotypical sports story about persistence or overcoming. Instead, dig deeper to identify additional skills you also gained through an activity that set you apart from average students.

Then demonstrate how you gained that skill by describing at least two separate experiences or examples in which you developed your talent. This will prove that you stuck with your skill and developed it over time.

It’s also best practice to show how you used this skill to invest in others. Remember, greatness should be defined as something greater than self-service.

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

Educational opportunities don’t have to be academic in nature. Any experience that helped you grow as a person and gain something valuable counts: summer programs, clubs, athletics, and work experiences, for example. Make sure you include a clear takeaway and explain why this opportunity is important for your future.

For an educational barrier, the key is to describe not just the problem but also the solution you achieved. How did you overcome the barrier, and what did you learn about yourself as a result?

PIQ 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?”

This prompt is perfect if you encountered a challenge that ended positively or taught you something about yourself. Avoid writing about death, depression, and DRAMA. This essay isn’t about other people; it’s all about YOU, YOU, and YOU.

Also avoid any challenges that reek of privilege. For a strong response, you need to choose a challenge that was truly significant, as this will make your victorious conclusion that much more impactful.

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

This is a good prompt to write if you haven’t addressed the reason for pursuing your major in any other prompt. If you have not really furthered your interest in any subject outside of class, however, this topic is not for you.

Strong response comes from explaining what about this subject inspires you. Make sure to include concrete examples of how you’ve furthered this interest outside of class through additional studies, readings, and experiences.

Weak responses only discuss class experiences without demonstrating any initiative that the student took to learn more personally. Weak essays also tend to lack specifics describing which aspects or topics within the subject most excite you.

 PIQ 7: “What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?”

This prompt isn’t just about good intentions; rather, it’s only appropriate for experiences where you can point to concrete results demonstrating that you made a significant difference.

A strong response here just requires you to be vulnerable. Describe initial challenges and feelings you faced when getting started with your project or experience. Then compare that with how you grew along the way to show your progress.

Don’t list several unrelated volunteer experiences. Instead, stay focused on diving into the details of how you engaged in one core project that made a real difference.

PIQ 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?”

The wildcard prompt can be dangerous or powerful, depending on how you use it. We recommend using this prompt to highlight a character attribute that’s somewhat unique or out of the ordinary. You can also use PIQ 8 to tell the story of overcoming a challenge that didn’t have an academic component.

If you’re sharing about a character trait, give 1-2 hallmark experiences that demonstrate that characteristic in action. Don’t use this prompt to discuss a stereotypical trait, like perseverance or acceptance, as that won’t make you stand out.

Writing Admissions Essays for the Best Public Universities in the US

Alright… that’s the total of the 8 prompts summed up with our best tips and tricks. For more help, check out this YouTube video, where we go over further tips for acing the UC PIQs.Thanks to our partners, you can find ties online to suit every preference and budget, from budget to top-of-the-range super stylish models.

We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with an experienced school counselor here.

See you soon!

Ariana Lee

Senior Admissions Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 12

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing their stories. There's so much to discover about a person. It's very rewarding when my students get comfortable and know that I'm there for them.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Swim, read, write, sing, enjoy nature, and play with my two crazy boys.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Do what you love, and everything else will fall into place.

Julian Hoffman

Special Programs Manager

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 5

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Hearing each student's unique stories, guiding them in discovering their passions, and helping find their voice!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I am a figure skater, world traveler, dessert aficionado, and devotee of the Pioneer Woman, the Barefoot Contessa, and Maneet Chauhan!

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Work hard now -- procrastinate later!

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life.

Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived.

So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

Bernie Nguyen

Admissions Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 5 years high school mentoring experience. I was heavily involved in it all throughout college and after graduating.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing about their passions and what they genuinely love to do. It also makes me extremely happy to.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I recently picked up the electric guitar! I also have multiple aquariums, and founded a company that built body armor.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't go down a path just because you think that's "what you're supposed to do." Life is more diverse and unexpected than any of us could ever know.

Joanna Yang Yowler

Senior Essay Editor & Program Specialist

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 15

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing students' stories and seeing their faces light up when they talk about their passions and dreams.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Cook, write, draw, save Azeroth .

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Pursue dreams that matter to you and don't be afraid of forging your own path to where you want to go.

Graham Traylor

Senior Applications Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 7 years

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: One of my favorite experiences working with students is opening student's eyes to possibilities they didn't know would be an option for them.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I like to stay active playing sports / running, but most of the time I am hanging out with my wife and daughter (usually with college sports on in the background).

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: It's possible there could be several colleges that are a good fit for you. Don't lock in on just one preferred option, and work toward finding places you can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

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Tylar Pendgraft

Director of Programs

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 12

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love how open students are to learning and trying new things. As mentors, we get to see so much growth simply because our students are so open to new experiences and are looking forward to applying their learning and other skills.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I like to read and write. I also spend a lot of time just watching--my dogs, birds, trees. I also enjoy baking and cooking (even though I'm terrible at baking).

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: It's never too early or late to start practicing self-care. Build moments of joy and celebration into your week. Give yourself a treat for working hard. It's important to have things to look forward to. If you can get into the habit now, you'll have a much more balanced college experience.

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Anika Sharma

Essay Editor

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 2

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: As a major advisor for students interested in the humanities, I’ve found it immensely rewarding to offer an outlet for students to explore ideas that they often don’t get to delve into at school. Watching a student light up when they realize that there is in fact a community around their specific interests is easily the best part of the job.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time, I love to be outdoors - I've been hiking around the Bay Area and recently started biking again. I also volunteer at community gardens and trail restoration projects in San Francisco. When I'm not outside, you can find me reading visionary fiction, practicing yoga and qigong, or cooking.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: My advice for high school students is to focus on the present! Use this time to learn more about yourself and the world around you. Solid values and a sense of self will allow you to make challenging decisions for the future and create the life you want.

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Tushar Singla

Chief Technology Officer

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 4

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Watching them accomplish great things.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Watch Formula 1, play ice hockey, and watch TV.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Spend time exploring different things -- you have a long time to become an expert.

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Dan Zhou

Chief Executive Officer

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 16

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Inspiring a student towards self discovery, and wanting to learn about everything there is in the world. Reaching this moment can take time, but it's what makes it worth it every time.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Outdoors hiking, photography, gardening, and reading.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Do the thing that moves you, or be moved by forces not your own. The choice is yours.

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