PIQs / Personal Statements

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College Info Subpages

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
Personal Statement Writing Fall 2022

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