UC Prompt #8: Filling in the Picture
by Drew C.
UC prompt #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?
Sometimes opened-ended prompts are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the question frees you up to write about almost anything, including how great you are. On the other hand, that very freedom can easily lead you astray, because you can end up writing a soggy word salad of self-promotion.
It helps to think of this final prompt as your chance to fill in the picture. Remember: these schools are simply trying to get to know you better, and the prompts are just a means to that end.
So look at the essays you’ve already written and ask yourself: What’s missing? If there’s something about your identity, personality, experience, or academic achievements that didn’t quite seem to fit when you answered the other three prompts, this might the one for you. You could highlight a special accomplishment, a specific career ambition, or a unique way you foresee yourself contributing to the school. Help them see how your skills and talents would enrich their university.
The UC’s own guidelines say “Don’t be afraid to brag a little,” so feel free to advertise yourself as an excellent candidate. But make sure that you’re still writing a focused, coherent essay. Choose the most essential—or the most impressive—quality that you want to be sure they know about, and structure your essay around that. Don’t just put your resume in paragraph form and call it a day.
Here are a few tips to make your UC Essay Prompt #8 stand out:
- Keep your essay focused and specific. Don’t try to include every wonderful thing you’ve ever done.
- Avoid repeating material from your other UC essays.
- Whatever you choose to write about, remember that your ultimate goal is persuading your reader that you are a strong candidate for admission.
