COLLEGE APPLICATION
● There is one required question you must answer
● You must also answer 3 out of 7 additional questions
● Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words
● MINIMUM OF 250 WORDS
● Which three questions you choose to answer are up to you: But you should
select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best
reflect your individual circumstances.
● 4 DIFFERENT ESSAYS NOT 1 JOINT TOGETHER
Required question
Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your
readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.
Things to consider: How did your interest in your major develop? Do you have any
experience related to your major outside the classroom — such as volunteer work,
internships and employment, or participation in student organizations and activities? If
you haven’t had experience in the field, consider including experience in the classroom.
This may include working with faculty or doing research projects.
If you’re applying to multiple campuses with a different major at each campus, think
about approaching the topic from a broader perspective, or find a common thread
among the majors you’ve chosen.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS MUST CHOOSE 3 FROM HERE

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.
Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being
a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking lead role
in organizing an event or project. Think about your accomplishments and what you
learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?
Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading
others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church in your
community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be
limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?

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.
Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that
is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity
to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the
problem?
How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom?
Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and
demonstrated that talent over time?
Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share
it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent
(although if you did and you want to talk about, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or
skill meaningful to you?
Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent?
Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what
are they and how do they fit into your schedule?

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or
worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to
your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example,
participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an
academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses
that interest you — just to name a few.
If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or
strived to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to
overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who are you
today?

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?
Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your
community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good
opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the
experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?
If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and
does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, “How has my
life changed at home, at my school, with my friends, or with my family?”

6. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or
a place – like your high school, hometown, or home. You can define community as you
see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem
that you wanted to fix in your community?
Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your
actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others
to initiate change in your community?

7. 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?
Things to consider: If there’s anything you want us to know about you, but didn’t find a
question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not
shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will
help us know you better?
From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t
be afraid to brag a little.