How to Write the UC Essays: Tips + Examples

How to Write the UC Essays

The first step to writing the UC essays is picking four prompts to respond to. These eight prompts may seem intimidating at first glance, but you should give significant consideration to your choices. Do not simply pick the first four or close your eyes and see which prompts you land on. 

Picking prompts at random will force you to write responses you don’t necessarily feel connected to. If you find you’re struggling to come up with at least a 300 word response to any prompt, it’s a sign that you should choose another one. If you choose the right prompts, it should be hard for you to stop writing!

To aid you in the process, we’ll be discussing each prompt in detail, providing you with tips on how to answer them, and sharing sample responses to show you how these tips combine to create excellent essays!

Prompt One

Let’s start with the first prompt: “describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.” 

Students often misunderstand this prompt because they believe leadership is a particular role or position, such as an executive member of a club, a supervisor at a job, or the head of a volunteer organization. But, this view on leadership is limiting and, frankly, overdone. 

Unless you genuinely fit in one of these categories, and can share your unique experience as a typical leader, you should consider other ways you’ve shown leadership. Define the word in your own terms! If you led people in any way, you can write about the experience and what you accomplished in your response.

As you brainstorm ideas, ensure you write about the following:

• The skills you developed and used as a leader
• Why you assumed this role 
• The actions you took as a leader
• The impact you had through your actions

Ensure you only choose one event to describe for this prompt. Do not list all of your leadership experiences, as this goes against the premise of this prompt. Part of the difficulty of these questions is choosing just one experience to share!

However, the committee does this to learn what is most meaningful to you and to see if you can follow guidelines! 

Sample Answer

Consider this sample response of a student’s leadership experience that goes beyond a particular denomination:

While I’ve participated in several clubs where I have been given leadership titles, the one I am most proud of, and has allowed me to accomplish the most, is the role I play within my family.

From an early age, it was clear I would have to take on more responsibilities than was expected of me. After my father passed away when I was twelve years old, relatives constantly reminded me I was now the head of the house and responsible for my family. 

While I do not think they expected me to take their words to heart completely, I did. I became a leader within my own family and was more than just a big brother to my younger sibling. I knew that my sibling would look up to me for guidance and that I had to be the best role model for him. 

I took the initiative to work part-time at an Arby’s nearby to help my mother with bills, and took on various other roles to ensure my sibling grew up with the same guidance and support I did. 

I was a caretaker, a teacher, a protector, a counselor, and sometimes even a chauffeur. I got my driver’s license as soon as I turned sixteen so I could take Johnathan to all of his soccer games and play recitals.

I cannot say it was easy; sometimes it felt impossible to take on so many roles, but I persevered. I remained dedicated to my family, perfected my time management, learned how to multitask, and remained driven because I knew my hard work would result in great rewards - the success of my family. 

Jonathan is now on track to finish at the top of his freshman year. He graduated the eighth grade as valedictorian and hopes to become a pediatric nurse in the future.  

While I cannot say I am grateful for the circumstances that led me to this role, I can say I am proud of the impact I have had on my family because of it. 

Why This Works

This essay works because it is unique and highly personal. It explains the role this student plays within a community that has the most meaning to them. It offers valuable insight into how this role helped them grow and develop important, transferable traits such as perseverance, selflessness, dedication, time management, and multitasking.

Prompt Two

The second prompt reads “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.” 

Again, students should not limit themselves by viewing creativity as an artistic skill. You don’t have to be artistically-inclined to be creative! All you have to do is demonstrate your ability to think outside of the box or use your skills in an original way. 

Think about your passions, what you do in your free time, and how your creativity has influenced you.

Sample Answer

Use this example to guide you:

My friends have always responded to my love for debate with confused looks and eye rolls. In their minds, debate involves pressure, critical thinking, and conversation about uninteresting topics. But, for me, debate club has always been my greatest talent and favorite way to express my creativity.

I consider it to be a craft to take a seemingly dry topic, such as tariff imposition in developing nations, and become enthusiastic about it. During debate, we are only given half an hour to come up with our primary argument. Within this half hour, I must convince others of my opinion and examine the topic from every angle.

Once both sides have presented, it is my responsibility to then think of compelling counter arguments on the spot.  Debate is where I shine. I recognize that humans only use 10% of their brain, but it truly feels like I use 11% during these debates.

I have to carefully choose the language I use to sway the judges, disprove equally crafted opposing views, and out-think my intelligent and driven peers. Contrary to my friends’ beliefs, there is truly never a dull moment in debate—there is simply no time for one. 

It is a battle of wits, in which both teams can only use their words as their weapons. If I do not think my arguments through, it can be like bringing a sword to a gunfight. 

I have participated in debate competitions throughout high school, and have even helped my school’s team advance to the top rounds at national debate competitions. Through this experience, I have not only developed excellent critical thinking skills, but have become a more confident and articulate speaker.

My love for debate has also influenced me to pursue a career in criminal law, where my creativity and skill can be used to uphold justice and ensure the safety of society—which even my most skeptic friends won’t call boring!

Why This Works

This student explains their creativity in a way that does not relate to artistic talent. They appropriately describe how they use their creativity to excel in their passion and use examples to make their story more genuine. They also share the success they’ve had because of their creativity, which further proves their skill and ability.

Prompt Three

Students tend to struggle the most with prompt three: “what would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?”

When learning how to write the UC essays, students struggle to choose the perfect experience. For this prompt, students can easily list several of their greatest talents or skills, but it’s difficult for them to pinpoint just one to share with the judges. They wonder which talent is better than the rest and which one is the most impressive. 

Begin by listing your top talents and skills. Choose talents that you have actually put in the effort to develop. If you’re a natural singer and have done little to develop your falsetto except sing in the shower, choose another skill that required more intense practice to perfect.

Be honest and don’t be afraid to brag a little in your response! If you’re having trouble choosing a talent, ask your friends and family for assistance. 

Sample Answer

Consider this example for inspiration:

She lacked luster. She was plain-looking, with dull hair and unsymmetrical features. Her right eye seemed to droop lower than her left, giving her the appearance of a slight lazy eye. There was no sparkle in her eye, no life in her gaze. She barely seemed alive. 

She almost looked like a Tim Burton character gone wrong, although, even that description was too considerate and failed to capture her true mediocrity. 

That’s how I would describe the first ever portrait I made in middle school. While I always enjoyed sketching, it did not come naturally to me. That was until I enrolled in a summer art program offered by the City Art Lab.

During this program, I learned how to modify the pressure on my pencil to produce different textures. I learned how to add highlights and create shadows to give my sketches depth. But most importantly, I learned the importance of practice. 

I practiced my art skills that entire summer and the transformation was unbelievable. I went from creating wonky, left-behind Tim Burton characters to realistic, detailed, portraits that began to resemble black-and-white photos. 

I have taken visual arts classes throughout high school, and even won an art competition held among all sophomore students. Through all of my practice, I have learned to take risks, trust my abilities, and be open to new techniques to improve my work. 

I have begun using different mediums, such as charcoal, oil, and even acrylic. While I haven’t perfected my skills in these mediums, I am confident I will be able to with enough practice and commitment. 

Having the right mentors is important too, which is why I plan on continuing to develop my art skills at UC Irvine, through their robust visual arts program taught by talented and accomplished faculty.

Why This Works

This response opens with a hook that catches the reader’s attention so that they are intrigued to read on. Readers will also likely be surprised to learn this student is just describing a sketch, and not a real person.

They share their complete experience with art, show vulnerability by stating they struggled with their sketches in the beginning, and ultimately show their dedication by explaining how they improved their art. They also end their essay well by explaining how they plan on continuing to develop their skills at UC Irvine. 

Prompt Four

Prompt four may not apply to you, which should make choosing which questions to respond to easier! To refresh your memory, prompt four is “describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.”

You should only answer this prompt if you participated in a program, course, club, or workshop that helped you prepare for college and supplement your learning. 

In terms of an educational barrier, reflect on your life outside of school and how it impacted your academics. Was there anything that made it difficult for you to attend school, do well in a course, or study effectively? 

While this barrier does not have to be as disruptive as the death of a family member, it should still be a legitimate experience. For instance, not liking the teachers that taught the AP classes at your school does not count as an educational barrier. But, financial struggles or adjusting to a new school are appropriate to discuss in this response.

Sample Answer

Here is an example response from a student that pursued a biology course at their community college:

It is the perfect course for any students that hope to become doctors—is what my junior year AP Biology teacher Mr. Wilson told me about an eight-week introductory biology course that was being offered to high school students at our local community college.

Mr. Wilson always told us about the best opportunities to pursue if we wanted to join the medical field. It was a dream of his as well, but he always said “life got in the way” and he never took it as seriously as he should have. He warned me not to make the same mistake. If I was serious about becoming a physician, I had to prove it.

So, I enrolled in the course and was ready for a summer full of 8 am laboratories, 20-page readings, and late-night study sessions instead of sleeping in, reading mystery novels on the beach, and staying up late with my friends playing video games. But, I was willing to make that sacrifice to better prepare myself for college.

It was clear from my first class that I was in over my head. I struggled to retain the readings and had a hard time keeping up during lectures. I felt ashamed and downright defeated. I questioned if I deserved to even be a physician and wondered why it seemed to come so easily to my peers. 

But, wondering and wallowing would do me no good. So, I picked myself up and strategized. I spoke to my professor to ask for some tips. He assured me most students struggle to adjust in the beginning, but his biggest tip was to review the readings the night before our lectures, make notes during, and review those notes again after class. 

While his suggestions were time-consuming, they helped me increase my grades and I actually began to enjoy the course! I graduated with an A and learned more than just cell biology and evolutionary ecology. I learned how to manage my time better, stay organized, persevere through challenges, and to ask for help when needed! 

Why This Works

This response works because it demonstrates how the student took advantage of an educational opportunity and their realistic experience with it. They show their drive, determination, and perseverance through their story of overcoming the difficulties they faced during the program they participated in. 

They also mention their reason for taking this course was to better prepare themself for college, which also allowed them to develop study habits that will aid them throughout their post-secondary career. Both of these points will further convince the UC admissions committee of this student’s academic potential. 

Prompt Five: 

Prompt five is somewhat similar to four. It asks you to describe a challenge that you overcame to get to where you are today: “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 challenge can be more broad and does not have to be related to your education. But, you should still share how it affected your academics and any barriers it created in your education. Do not repeat the same challenge you described in prompt four.

Your response should give the admissions committee more insight into your background, experiences, life circumstances, and personality! The most important trait to demonstrate with your response is resilience. The committee wants to know you can overcome the challenges that life throws at you. 

Sample Answer

Gain a better understanding of how to write the UC essays from this sample response: 

I grew up in Mumbai, where the air was always warm and welcoming and carried the scent of flowers and cardamom. Everywhere I went, I heard my beautiful language being spoken by people in my village that knew my name and always greeted me with smiles as warm as the sun that was constantly out. 

Then, I moved to America. My father received a job opportunity that would provide us with more economic stability and a chance for a better life for me and my soon-to-be younger brother who was due to be born in a few months. America was not like Mumbai. 

We traded our small, tight-knit village for the bustling, large city Denver where no one knew my name, and I rarely heard my beautiful language. Instead, I heard a foreign language that always seemed too quick to catch. I struggled to string along even the most simple sentences. I missed the warmth of the sun and the smell of the air. 

When I started school in the sixth grade, I was an easy target for bullies. I had a thick accent and mismatched clothes. I was still learning how Westerners dressed, and I stuck out like a sore thumb—an expression that always confused me as a child.

But, I took ESL classes throughout middle school. I read in my free time and joined ESL summer programs every year. Soon, I was able to string along sentences with ease and Denver started to feel more like home. I started hearing a different beautiful language that I understood more and more every day. 

By high school, English became my favorite subject. I understood even the most complex Shakespeare plays and wrote compelling essays on them. My accent still lingers on certain words, but it only reminds me of the idyllic place that I come from. 

I am no longer ashamed of my roots, in fact, I smile when I hear the remnants of my accent. I also smile when I learn new English words, and am happy to say I am now the master of two beautiful languages.

Why This Works

This response shares a story that is clearly meaningful to the student. It revolves around their upbringing, a major event in their life, and the challenges they faced because of this change. They show persistence and resilience and provide concrete examples of how they overcame the odds and perfected their English.

Prompt Six

Everyone has a favorite subject, which is what prompt six focuses on: “think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.”

This response is popular amongst students because they know exactly which subject to talk about! There is usually an academic subject that students excel in, spend their free time developing, and just can’t seem to get enough of.

You likely even have a topic in mind as you read this! Use that topic and demonstrate how you’ve developed your interest through additional courses, programs, extracurriculars, internships, or jobs. Talk about what you learned from participating in these activities and how this subject has influenced your post-secondary career path.

Sample Answer

The best way to grasp how to write the UC essays is to learn by example! Here’s a sample response to prompt six:

Logophile. 

It doesn’t sound like a pleasant word. In fact, most people ask me to repeat myself when I describe myself as one. But, it is the only word that captures how important writing and reading is to me. Every definition of the word states logophiles are lovers of words, which is exactly what I am, no more and no less. 

English was always my favorite subject. My mother constantly reminds me of how I would pretend to write even when I couldn’t. It was only ever just scribbles, but she was convinced those scribbles held meaning to me. 

I would scribble on lined paper for hours until I began learning the alphabet and how to make those scribbles mean something to someone other than myself.

Throughout middle school, I spent all of my free time reading. You would never see me without a book, and I would read an average of three novels each week. 

I loved how words came together to create wonderful stories that I could immerse myself into. I marvelled at the amazing gift author’s had to be able to give life to words that had such little meaning on their own. I knew, someday, I would also be able to create worlds out of words. 

I took all of the English courses offered at my school, and supplemented these classes with writing camps and workshops led by real authors during my summers. By my sophomore year, it was a notebook that I always carried around with me. I found inspiration in everything. 

I looked at the tan line where my biology teacher’s wedding ring must have been and wrote a story about their doomed love. I submitted it for a nation-wide junior writing competition and won second place. 

This summer, I will be participating in a writing internship offered by a local news station. While I will mainly be writing investigative work, I hope to expand my writing skills and learn new techniques through it.

I plan on developing my skills even further at UC Merced, through their Karen Merritt Writing Program.

Why This Works

This student not only describes why they love English and writing, but provides some background information to demonstrate how long they’ve been honing their writing and reading skills. They explain how they’ve already developed their skills and how they plan on further enhancing them at UC Merced. 

Prompt Seven: 

Prompt seven is fairly straightforward. It asks “what have you done to make your school or your community a better place?”

But, there is also some leeway with this prompt. There are several communities that you’re part of, so do not feel obligated to just focus on your school or local community. There are likely several meaningful groups in your life. Choose one that you have made the largest impact on. Perhaps it’s a school club, your work community, or family. 

Define community as you see fit and explain your role in it. Focus on one or two major ways you’ve contributed to this community and the impact it has had on you and your community members. 

We have a fourteen-day adoption policy. Animals that are not adopted within two weeks of entering the shelter are likely to be euthanized. We simply do not have the room or resources to keep them longer. Considering she’s a black cat, it’s highly likely she will not be adopted. 

That’s what I was told when I surrendered an injured black cat to my local animal shelter. I found Midnight cowering under my car during a hail storm. It was clear she once belonged to someone, she had a tattered collar, but she must have been abandoned recently. 

Her nails were beginning to grow out and her fur was matted and unbrushed. After hearing about her chances of adoption, I researched the phenomena of black pet deaths.

Out of all of the other pets, black dogs and cats were not only the least likely to be adopted, but were euthanized at the highest rates. By day thirteen, no one had adopted Midnight, so I did. 

But, I knew just saving one cat wasn’t enough. So, I brought up the issue to the other members of our Animal Activist club at school. I was an executive member of the club, and my peers agreed we had to do more for the black pets in our community. So, we set up two bake sales and three fundraisers throughout my junior year of high school.

We raised over $20,000 that we donated to our local animal shelter for what was coined the “Black Pet Initiative”. With this money, all of the black pets at the shelter were groomed, professionally photographed, and given the best chances of being adopted. 

Any leftover funds were used to provide the shelter with more resources to keep their animals for longer before they were euthanized. 

Our initiative has had great success so far. Mandy, the adoption coordinator told us there was a 50% increase in black pet adoptions so far, and that she only expects it to grow as they receive more donations through the social media presence we created for them on TikTok and Instagram.

Why This Works

Above all else, there is clear passion in this answer. Readers can feel how important the issue being discussed is to this student, and the personal anecdote of Midnight adds to this. The student also clearly explains the role they played in their community, how they  contributed to, and the extent of their contributions!

Prompt Eight

The final UC personal insight question gives you a chance to share anything about yourself that is missing from your application or didn’t fit into the other essay prompts: “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?”

If, after reading through all of the prompts, none of them allow you to share more about a trait, experience, or talent you feel makes you a strong UC candidate, use this response to share it.

Don’t be afraid to brag a little here! You have free reign to discuss whatever you think will impress the admissions committee!

Sample Answer

Here’s an example to help you brainstorm:

A year ago I decided to work at my neighbor’s new restaurant that they were struggling to keep afloat. I saw it as an opportunity to help my parents pay bills and to save up for a car, which I felt I desperately needed at the time. 

I only planned to work there during the summer, but my neighbors said I was an asset to their team and could continue working reduced hours during the school year if I wanted. The money was good, and I knew I would be helping out neighbors I’ve known my whole life.

So, I continued working throughout my junior year, and still work there now in my senior year. It has been a demanding job, especially as business picked up last year. I made numerous mistakes in the beginning, like punching in take-out orders as dine-in orders, dropping plates, and overbooking our waitlist.

There were days I considered quitting, but I pushed through. Over time, I learned the ins and outs of the diner. I’ve become one of the restaurant's star waitresses, and have even won employee of the month five months in a row.  

Working in this industry has made me feel like a bigger part of society. I have the ability to make a person’s day better and always offer kind conversation to people who often need it most. It has made me a better listener, communicator, and harder worker.

It has been a personally fulfilling experience--there’s just something about being part of people’s celebrations and sharing moments with strangers that’s indescribable. These special moments are what inspired me to continue working in this industry, but not as a waitress. 

I hope to become a co-manager at my neighbor’s restaurant to have an even bigger impact on my community. I know getting a degree is the next step in this aspiration. 

Why This Works

This student shares more about their work experience and what led them to pursue a degree at UC. It offers more insight into the type of person they are, what they value, and the importance of community to them.

Tips For Writing the UC Application Essays

Reviewing sample answers and getting inspired from them is an excellent first step when learning how to write the UC essays. Once you’ve made it past the brainstorming phase, consider implementing these tips into your supplemental essays:

Use “I” Statements

Throughout your personal insight questions, you should use “I” statements. Make yourself the protagonist of all of your stories and do not use third-person narration. This can make your answers confusing and less personal!

Be Sincere

Your personal insight questions will give the admissions committee a glimpse into who you are outside of the classroom. While your numbers will give them a sense of your academic potential, your essays will give them a sense of the person you are and what you can contribute to their community.

Be sincere in your answers. Show your enthusiasm about the topics you’re writing about, and be honest! You do not need to have jaw-dropping, tragic, or life-changing stories to write compelling UC essays. 

Your feelings towards these experiences, what you learned from them, and the impact it had on others will make your responses unique and interesting!

Get Feedback

Your friends, family, and other members of your community that know you best can offer you valuable feedback on your essays. If they feel you’re selling yourself short, or your answers do not reflect your personal story, you can revise them to be more accurate! 

At the same time, however, you do not want to lose your unique voice by accepting all of the suggestions of your peers and family members. You are still the best narrator of your own story! 

On the other hand, if you’re unsure how to write the UC essays and need more expert guidance, consider scheduling a consultation with an admissions counselor to make sure your personal statement stands out!

Edit, Edit, Edit

Grammar and spelling errors can be distracting for your readers and reduce the efficacy of your words. Ensure you proofread your work several times before you submit it so your answers are clear and powerful!