Personal Statements / PIQs

Personal Statement vs. Personal Insight Questions

Personal Statement

For Private Colleges & Universities

Common App: Select 1 of 6 topics, up to 650 words - https://www.commonapp.org/apply/essay-prompts

Private / Out-of-State Colleges may have their own

Personal Insight Questions

For UC's (University of California)

Choose 4 of 8 topics, up to 350 words each

Tips for personal insight questions: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-freshman/personal-insight-questions.html

Personal Statement / PIQs for Seniors

Resources:

EAOP Writing the Essay Guide: http://eao.sa.ucsb.edu/students-resources/applying-to-college/writing-the-essay
Guide on writing a personal statement: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/the-free-guide
The College Essay Guy guide: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/sub-ceg-for-schools-student-registration-uc-piq-fall-2020
The College Essay Guy PIQ examples: https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/uc-essay-examples-personal-insight-questions
Winning Ivy Prep PIQ tips and examples: https://winningivyprep.com/category/uc-essay-example/
Five ways to avoid cringe-worthy essay: https://collegeadmissionsstrategies.com/five-ways-to-avoid-that-cringe-worthy-essay/
11 Tips for your Common App Essay: https://advcp.com/blogeditor/essay-tips
3 Steps to Writing a Strong College Essay: https://www.collegeconfidential.com/articles/3-steps-to-write-a-good-college-essay/?utm_source=platform&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL1022
Emory University's Strong Personal Statements blog series: https://blog.emoryadmission.com/?s=personal+statements
Johns Hopkins University Essays That Worked (example student personal statements): https://apply.jhu.edu/application-process/essays-that-worked/

Do:

Be clear and concise
Include current context of who you are
If you share a past experience, include how it relates to the present
Use details and examples
Reflect on experiences
Describe how academics / events / experiences have influenced you / affected who you are today / shaped your values or goals; what you have learned from situations

Don't

Be too wordy or descriptive
Only focus on the past
Focus on others
Add fluff

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