Notes from Dr. Rebecca Notes from Dr. Rebecca Joseph’s UC Personal Joseph’s UC Personal Statement SeminarStatement Seminar

FeracoFeraco

Myth to Science FictionMyth to Science Fiction

16 September 201116 September 2011

The UCs allow you to split the word count The UCs allow you to split the word count between your essays however you wish, between your essays however you wish, but Joseph says they prefer the essays to but Joseph says they prefer the essays to be roughly equal in length – 525-475, or be roughly equal in length – 525-475, or 600-400 at the most. 600-400 at the most. (There’s an exception for (There’s an exception for extraordinaryextraordinary

circumstances – if you participated in circumstances – if you participated in something that disrupted your time in high something that disrupted your time in high school, for example.) school, for example.)

Also, if you go too far over the 1,000-word Also, if you go too far over the 1,000-word limit – Joseph recently said up to 1,090 limit – Joseph recently said up to 1,090 words, which is actually words, which is actually muchmuch higher than higher than she’s said in the past – a red sign will pop she’s said in the past – a red sign will pop up on the site, and you won’t be allowed up on the site, and you won’t be allowed to proceed. to proceed.

Here is a list of the criteria the UC Here is a list of the criteria the UC system weighs while considering you system weighs while considering you for admission:for admission:

1) GPA: 10th- and 11th-grade marks 1) GPA: 10th- and 11th-grade marks for initial admissions decisions, with for initial admissions decisions, with 12th-grade mark checks prior to 12th-grade mark checks prior to matriculationmatriculation

2) Rigor of Academic Workload2) Rigor of Academic Workload 3) Test Scores3) Test Scores 4) Essays* and Activities4) Essays* and Activities

* Essays often ultimately make or break * Essays often ultimately make or break admissions decisions, particularly when admissions decisions, particularly when candidates are grouped closely candidates are grouped closely together.together.

Your senior-year grades are just as important as Your senior-year grades are just as important as those from your sophomore and junior years, but those from your sophomore and junior years, but they won’t see those until they won’t see those until afterafter you’ve been you’ve been accepted. accepted.

Note, however, that universities tend to accept Note, however, that universities tend to accept more candidates than they can ultimately take. more candidates than they can ultimately take.

Admissions officers understand that some Admissions officers understand that some students who are accepted will not attend, and students who are accepted will not attend, and thus try to admit enough students to leave thus try to admit enough students to leave behind a solid class after attrition. behind a solid class after attrition.

If they end up with more people who intend to If they end up with more people who intend to attend than they expected, you can be at risk if attend than they expected, you can be at risk if your marks fall. your marks fall.

You are not officially at a university until you You are not officially at a university until you have matriculated; when the schools check your have matriculated; when the schools check your grades in June, they reserve the right to revoke grades in June, they reserve the right to revoke your admission.your admission.

Ask yourself: What do I need to explain Ask yourself: What do I need to explain about myself that will result in my being about myself that will result in my being desired by a campus? desired by a campus?

What do I have to contribute, and what What do I have to contribute, and what are my best qualities? are my best qualities?

What are the two stories that What are the two stories that wouldn’t be wouldn’t be apparent from my transcriptapparent from my transcript that could that could make a difference to an admissions make a difference to an admissions official?official?

It’s important to remember that, although It’s important to remember that, although an interesting topic is advantageous, an interesting topic is advantageous, there’s no topic they get bored with; all there’s no topic they get bored with; all that matters in your ability to tell the tale. that matters in your ability to tell the tale. That said, you want to choose a topic that That said, you want to choose a topic that

allows you to tell said tale; don’t settle allows you to tell said tale; don’t settle oror overextend.overextend.

These aren’t just stories you’re telling, These aren’t just stories you’re telling, although the stories are important; the although the stories are important; the qualities you choose to display to a qualities you choose to display to a college (through showing, not telling) are college (through showing, not telling) are just as critical. just as critical.

If you don’t know what you want to do, If you don’t know what you want to do, you can say what kind of person you are. you can say what kind of person you are.

But you have to talk about who you are But you have to talk about who you are now...no matter what.now...no matter what.

They’re looking for truth, unique stories, They’re looking for truth, unique stories, and writing skills. and writing skills.

You have two to five minutes to grab a You have two to five minutes to grab a reader’s attention, so be aware of your reader’s attention, so be aware of your audience.audience.

Think of Prompt #1 as an “Outside-In” Think of Prompt #1 as an “Outside-In” essay – start from outside yourself to essay – start from outside yourself to show how you became the person you are show how you became the person you are – and of Prompt #2 as an “Inside-Out” – and of Prompt #2 as an “Inside-Out” essay. essay.

For each one, Joseph suggests using an For each one, Joseph suggests using an Into – Through – Beyond approach: Into – Through – Beyond approach: Into Into Be as specific as you can while Be as specific as you can while

“hooking” your audience.“hooking” your audience. Through Through Specify the context – who, what, Specify the context – who, what,

where, when, how, why – and show what where, when, how, why – and show what developed over time. What’s the overall developed over time. What’s the overall experience? What does this reveal about you?experience? What does this reveal about you?

Beyond Beyond Connect to your present and future. Connect to your present and future. How has this strengthened your life? The How has this strengthened your life? The ending should convey characteristics – the ending should convey characteristics – the summary statement or “moral.”summary statement or “moral.”

NoteNote: The Common Application does NOT : The Common Application does NOT want a moral at the end; Joseph advises want a moral at the end; Joseph advises deleting your last paragraph of the UC deleting your last paragraph of the UC essay if you’re reusing it for that purpose.essay if you’re reusing it for that purpose.

Joseph advises that you re-use your Joseph advises that you re-use your essays: if you’ve written an excellent one essays: if you’ve written an excellent one for the UC application, for example, use it for the UC application, for example, use it again for the common application.again for the common application.

Finally, the “Activities” field shifts from Finally, the “Activities” field shifts from year to year. year to year.

If you’re given a box rather than a simple If you’re given a box rather than a simple field, you owe it to yourself to use that field, you owe it to yourself to use that space to your benefit. space to your benefit.

Describe all your activities – highlighting Describe all your activities – highlighting leadership and initiative – as insightfully leadership and initiative – as insightfully as you can.as you can.