8 Mistakes To Avoid When Writing UC Personal Insight Questions

Summary

In this video, the host advises on avoiding eight common mistakes when crafting UC personal insight questions, emphasizing the importance of concise storytelling, focusing on future aspirations, and not overemphasizing empathy. Tips include not repeating accomplishments, not complaining about circumstances, and repurposing common application essays for UC prompts. A free training link and a Facebook group for college admissions support are also shared.

Takeaways

• 📚 Listen to the end of the video for the best tip on personal insight questions for UC applications.
• 🔗 Subscribe to the channel for notifications on new videos about college essays, volunteering, and summer programs.
• 🎓 The speaker attended UCLA and then transferred to USC, gaining insights into UC applications.
• 🚫 Avoid repeating your accomplishments in all four personal insight questions; use the 350-word limit wisely.
• 🤔 Discuss setbacks and hardships without complaining; show growth and maturity.
• 📉 Keep storytelling concise; focus on values and qualities you want to demonstrate, not just the narrative.
• 🌟 Mention your future goals and dreams to show readiness and potential.
• 📈 Choose a prompt that best represents your values, even if it's challenging, to showcase your strengths.
• 🤝 Emphasize empathy and kindness, but balance it with rigor, independence, and problem-solving abilities.
• 🎨 Be creative but don't overdo it; the essay's purpose is to show your potential, not just creativity.
• 🔄 Repurposing common application essays for UC personal insight questions is a strategy, but ensure the core message remains intact.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about avoiding common mistakes when writing UC (University of California) personal insight questions for college applications.

What is the speaker's background in relation to UC applications?

The speaker attended UCLA for a year and then transferred to USC, and has helped hundreds of students get accepted into their dream UC schools.

What is the first mistake mentioned in the video that students should avoid when writing their personal insight questions?

The first mistake is repeating accomplishments over and over again in the personal insight questions.

Why is it important not to complain about one's circumstances in the personal insight questions?

Complaining about circumstances can show a negative mindset, whereas discussing setbacks and hardships in a way that demonstrates growth and a willingness to learn from them shows a positive, mature attitude.

How does the speaker suggest handling storytelling in the personal insight questions?

The speaker advises against focusing too much on storytelling due to the 350-word limit per question, suggesting to summarize the story and focus on the values and qualities to be demonstrated.

What is the significance of addressing one's future in the personal insight questions?

Addressing one's future goals, dreams, and career plans shows colleges that the applicant is ready, independent, and has potential.

Why should students not choose a prompt just because it's easier to answer?

Students should select prompts that best represent their values and qualities, even if they seem uncomfortable or challenging, to showcase their depth and suitability for the university.

What is the speaker's stance on emphasizing empathy and kindness in the essays?

While empathy and kindness are important, the speaker advises not to overemphasize them, as UC schools also value rigor, independence, and problem-solving abilities.

What advice does the speaker give regarding being unique or creative in the essays?

The speaker advises not to try too hard to be creative or emotional, as the essays should focus on showcasing the applicant's identity and potential.

How can students repurpose their common application essays for the UC personal insight questions?

Students can repurpose their common application essays by condensing them to fit the 350-word limit of the UC personal insight questions, ensuring the meaning and values are preserved.

What additional resource does the speaker offer for those interested in college admissions strategies?

The speaker offers a free training on college admissions strategies and invites viewers to join a Facebook group called 'Conquer College Admissions' for more support and information.

Outlines

00:00

📚 College Essay Mistakes to Avoid

The speaker introduces a video discussing common mistakes to avoid when writing personal insight questions for UC (University of California) applications. They highlight the importance of not repeating accomplishments, not complaining about circumstances, focusing on storytelling, and not addressing future goals. They also stress the need to select prompts that best represent one's values and qualities, even if they seem challenging. The speaker shares their experience with UC applications and offers a free training for more college admission strategies.

05:02

🎓 Crafting Effective College Essays

In the second paragraph, the speaker continues with more advice on writing college essays, warning against trying too hard to be unique or creative, which can detract from the essay's purpose of showcasing the applicant's potential. They also advise against reusing common application essays without proper adaptation for UC's personal insight questions. The speaker offers a free training and invites viewers to join a supportive Facebook group for college admissions preparation, emphasizing the importance of community and shared knowledge in the college application process.

Keywords

💡Personal Insight Questions

Personal Insight Questions are part of the University of California (UC) application process, where students are asked to write short essays about themselves. These questions are designed to provide a more comprehensive view of the applicant beyond grades and test scores. In the video, the speaker discusses common mistakes to avoid when answering these questions, emphasizing the importance of using the limited word count effectively and showcasing personal growth and potential.

💡UC Applications

UC Applications refer to the process of applying to undergraduate programs at the University of California schools. The video speaker shares their experience and knowledge about these applications, having attended UCLA and later transferring to USC. They also mention helping hundreds of students get accepted into UC schools, indicating the significance of understanding the application process for success.

💡Word Count

The word count in the context of the video refers to the limit of 350 words for each Personal Insight Question in the UC application. The speaker advises applicants to be mindful of this constraint and to use the space wisely, avoiding repetition and focusing on conveying their unique qualities and experiences.

💡Setbacks and Hardships

Setbacks and hardships are life challenges that the speaker acknowledges as part of the teenage experience. They advise applicants to discuss these challenges in their essays but in a way that demonstrates resilience and a growth mindset, rather than simply complaining. This approach shows colleges that the applicant has the potential to overcome obstacles.

💡Storytelling

In the context of the video, storytelling refers to the narrative style some applicants might use in their essays. The speaker cautions against spending too much word count on setting the scene for a story, as the focus should be on demonstrating personal values and qualities within the limited space.

💡Future Goals

Future goals are an essential aspect of the Personal Insight Questions, as they allow applicants to express their aspirations and plans beyond high school. The speaker emphasizes the importance of addressing these goals to show colleges that the applicant is forward-thinking and has potential.

💡Prompt Selection

Prompt selection is the process of choosing which Personal Insight Questions to answer as part of the UC application. The speaker advises students to select prompts that best represent their values and qualities, even if they seem challenging, to showcase their depth and readiness for college.

💡Empathy and Kindness

Empathy and kindness are qualities that the speaker encourages students to discuss in their essays, but they caution against overemphasizing these traits at the expense of demonstrating other important qualities like rigor and competitiveness. The video suggests a balanced approach to showcasing personal values.

💡Creativity

Creativity in essay writing refers to the unique and innovative ways applicants can express themselves. The speaker advises against trying too hard to be creative, as the primary goal is to authentically represent oneself and one's potential. A little creativity can enhance the essay, but it should not overshadow the applicant's message.

💡Common Application

The Common Application is a platform used by many colleges and universities for students to apply. The speaker suggests repurposing essays written for the Common Application for the UC Personal Insight Questions, provided they are condensed to fit the word count and maintain the intended message.

💡Conquer College Admissions

Conquer College Admissions appears to be a community or resource mentioned by the speaker, where they host live videos and share strategies for college admissions. This indicates the existence of a supportive network for students and parents navigating the college application process.

Highlights

Introduction to the video on avoiding mistakes in writing UC personal insight questions.

Offering a free training and resources for college admissions strategies.

Personal experience sharing: Transferring from UCLA to USC for a business degree.

Mistake #1: Repeating accomplishments in multiple personal insight questions.

Mistake #2: Complaining about personal circumstances in essays.

Mistake #3: Over-emphasizing storytelling at the expense of word count.

Mistake #4: Neglecting to address future goals and aspirations.

Mistake #5: Choosing an essay prompt for its ease rather than its representation of self.

Mistake #6: Over-emphasizing empathy and kindness without balance.

Mistake #7: Trying too hard to be unique or creative in essays.

Mistake #8: Not repurposing common application essays for UC personal insight questions.

Advice on how to repurpose common application essays effectively.

Invitation to join a Facebook group for college admissions support.

Encouragement to like and comment on the video for more content.

Sign-off and预告 of upcoming video on college admissions.

Transcripts

hi everyone and welcome back to my

channel today I'm going to be sharing 8

mistakes that you should avoid at all

costs when writing your you see personal

insight questions make sure to stay

tuned until the end of this video

because I'm going to be sharing my best

tip with you

at the very end and I'm also going to be

sharing a link to a free training that

you could attend so that you can find

more College omission strategies that

helped hundreds of my students get

accepted and click the subscribe button

so that you'll be notified when I

release a new video about college essays

mission volunteering summer programs

anything related to college admissions

so if you didn't know I actually

attended UCLA for about a year and then

I decided to transfer to University of

Southern California not because I don't

like UCLA or anything like that but it's

just that at the time even now you CLE

doesn't offer business degrees to

undergraduate students and so I

transferred a USC to study just so I

know quite a bit when it comes to UC

applications and UCS a and in addition

to me getting accepted I helped hundreds

of my students get accepted into their

dream UC schools UC Berkeley UCLA all

the you C's mistake number one repeating

your accomplishments over and over again

students try to mention their

accomplishments and all four of the

personal insight questions there's no

need for you to talk about how you want

your competition or that you worked on a

research project with the professor more

than once

keep in mind you only have 350 words per

question so you really want to utilize

the space wisely mistake number two

complaining about your circumstances

life is hard even for a teenager even

for a high school student

I know it's hard I've been there you

have family issues friend issues peer

pressure societal standards you name it

it's important to talk about your

setbacks and hardships but not in a way

that

sounds like you're complaining this

mindset shows that you didn't just give

up or you didn't just complain about

your circumstances but you wanted to

grow you want it to be more mature you

want it to learn from the mistakes and

that shows a growth mindset mistake

number three focusing way too much on

storytelling unlike the common

application essay you see personal

insight questions are only 350 words per

prompt that is very short so make sure

that you're not wasting that space

talking about a story setting the scene

describing the character telling us

about the climax and the conclusion just

summarize it just so that you get the

point across and then you want to focus

on the values and the qualities that you

want to demonstrate mistake number four

not addressing your future at all I know

that most of the essays the essays that

you write for colleges are intended for

you to share your past story and your

life thus far but you also want to make

sure that you're sharing your future

goals your future dreams your future

career and let them know that you are

ready that you are independent that you

are mature and that you're smart at the

end of the day colleges are looking for

students who have potential mistake

number five

choosing a prompt because it's easier to

answer I knew in high school we are

taught that we should be choosing a

prompt that we can actually answer to as

full as capacity however with these you

see personal insight questions you want

to select for that will best represent

your values and qualities even if that's

picking a prompt that seems sort of

uncomfortable to answer or the ones that

you feel like you have no idea where to

begin mistake number six too much

emphasis on empathy and kindness I'm a

huge advocate of talking about empathy

compassion kindness and a lot of my

students essays however

after working through thousands of these

UC essays I realized that yes empathy

and kindness is important and you should

be addressing them but not to

excessively you see schools focus a lot

on rigor whether you are independent or

you are able to solve a problem with a

given amount of resources and much more

and so you want to focus on that rigor

and competitiveness and that you're

ready to learn while balancing out the

kindness and empathy component as well

mistake number seven trying too hard to

be unique or creative this is an advice

that I use for all of my essay tips and

strategies and don't try too hard to be

creative the reason for that is because

the purpose of writing these essays to

show who you are and what potential you

have and so yes a little bit of

creativity here and there assigned but

you don't want to spend so much of your

energy and space trying to be creative

or too emotional because that's not the

reason why they want to read about your

essay if you do want to add in a

creative element or you want to add

something unique or catchy I usually

advise my students to spend about five

to seven percent of your total to

account doing that mistake number eight

our last one for today not repurposing

your common application or supplemental

essays so here's what you can do the

common application is say that you've

wrote you can repurpose that and use it

for one of your you see personal insight

questions so usually the common

application essay or supplemental essays

the word count is about 350 500 around

there and so what you can do is use that

and condense it so that it fits into the

personal insight questions for you see

applications obviously you want to make

sure that you don't lose any meaning or

the values that you try to demonstrate

in your common application

say and all of those qualities are

directly transferred into your you see

personal insight questions as well as it

you guys you have that eight mistakes

that you should never ever make when

you're writing your you see personal

insight questions also if you want to

learn more about college mission

strategies and tips I have a free

training on that and the link is down

below so if you want to join a community

of students and parents just like you

preparing for the college remission

process I have an awesome Facebook group

called conquer college remissions where

I host live videos share strategies and

updated news and college admissions and

so much more so be sure to click on the

link below our Facebook group is conquer

college mission and I'll see you in

there you like this video on you see

personal insight questions and all the

mistakes that you should be avoiding

please click like below and leave a

comment letting me know which prom you

are going to start working on right now

at this moment as always I'll be back

with a new video on college remission

and I'll talk to you guys racing bye

everyone