The UC application looks relatively straightforward when you open it. Everything is in one place online, the questions seem short, and the instructions are clear. However, UC admissions are different from other college systems, so there are a few things you need to know. All nine campuses at the University of California use the same application.
Due to this, even minor mistakes could hurt your chances at multiple schools. Fortunately, avoiding the most common problems is easy once you know how. In this post, we’ll go over five typical errors students make in their UC applications, so you can ensure yours is top of the pile.
1) Rushing the Personal Insight Questions
The Personal Insight Questions are short, but important. They’re an area where lots of students seek professional help with UC applications. It’s your opportunity to show UC readers (admissions officers) who you are, what you care about, and how you think.
However, just because the answers are short doesn’t mean you should write a quick response and move on. That usually leads to vague, flat responses. You need to inject a good dose of meaningfulness. Slow down, and select a real moment from your life. Explain what happened and what you learned.
2) Not Explaining Activities Clearly
The activities section seems simple enough, yet it’s another place where you can lose points if you’re not careful. A title like “volunteer”, “club member”, or “team captain” doesn’t say much or explain what you did. Instead, use a few short details to explain your impact and add context. For instance, if you were a tutor, mention the number of students, their ages, and what you helped them achieve.
3) Leaving Out Important Context
The UC application gives you space to add context that doesn’t neatly fit anywhere else. Don’t skip this part or repeat things you’ve already mentioned. Use it to explain the bigger picture of your life. Maybe you work after school or weekends, take care of siblings, or look after another family member. Perhaps you overcame some personal challenges due to life-changing events like a move, illness, or family stress. Give the reader the information they need to understand your grades, responsibilities, and schedule.
4) Submitting Without Reviewing Everything
By the time you reach the end of your UC application, you’ll be tired of looking at your own writing. It’s tempting to hit submit and walk away. However, it’s essential to review your work. After writing the first draft, take a break and come back to it to make edits, ideally after a good night’s sleep. You’ll notice improvements you couldn’t see the first time around. A good tip is to read your answers out loud. They should flow naturally. Once you’re happy, get a friend, teacher, tutor, or mentor to read it. A fresh pair of eyes can catch things you missed.
Endnote
Your UC application should be exciting, not stressful! It’s your chance to demonstrate who you are and what you’re about. Once you know some of the mistakes that other students have made, it’s easy to learn from them and avoid them in your application. You could also get a little professional help to ensure your application is clear, confident, true to yourself, and fits what the UC system is looking for.
