How do I prepare for the college application process?

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TIP #4: If you are applying to a University of California (UC) campus, begin drafting your responses to the required UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)

• UC Personal Insight QuestionsThe personal insight questions are about getting to know you better — your life experience, interests, ambitions, and inspirations. Think of it as your interview with the admissions office. Be open. Be reflective. Find your individual voice and express it.  There are no right or wrong answers to these questions. They are about you and your life thus far. PIQ Instructions:

• Respond to any 4 of the 8 questions

• All 8 questions are given equal consideration in the application review process

• Responses can be up to 350 words

• Present your information and ideas in a focused, thoughtful manner. Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words.

• Use specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make. Focus your examples on the present and near past.

• Write about yourself. Your personal triumphs or challenges, leadership opportunities, and experiences outside the classroom and why they matter and/or have shaped who you are.

• Use your own voice. Your answers should reflect your ideas and be written by you alone. Use "I" and "my" statements in your responses.

• If you participate in a college access program, highly consider writing about your experience by answering questions #4 or #8.

PIQ Questions:

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. 

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. 

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? 

4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. 

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?

6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. 

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? 

8. 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?

Additional Comment Section

• This section is at the END of the Personal Insight Section

• You should not use this to continue your responses to the PIQ, but it is highly encouraged that you do not leave blank. Try and identify another experience you have not already mentioned in your application and write about it!

• Use to clarify or expand important details about your academic history or life that may not be explained anywhere else on the application and that you HAVE NOT already mentioned in your prompts. 

• It is ok to write about 2-3 topics within this section.

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TIP #5: If you are applying to universities via the Common App, begin drafting your Common App Essay

• Not all schools on the Common Application require essays - competitive schools usually do.

• Students must respond to 1 of 7 essay topics. Responses can be 250 - 650 words.

• Some schools will have additional supplemental essays you need to respond to. You will see the prompts once you add the school on your Common App.

Essay Topic Options:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

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TIP #6: If you are 1st generation low-income student applying to a California State University (CSU), you should apply to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) which is part of the CSU application - prepare responses to short prompts (2500 character limit for each response):

• Briefly describe your family's economic background. Include information about your financial challenges. 

• Why would you like to attend college? Discuss your career and personal goals. Are there any particular circumstances, school experiences, or persons that influenced your preparation or motivation to attend college (e.g., cultural/financial background, family, teachers, schools you attended)? Please explain. 

• Briefly discuss your academic background. Did you utilize any additional support at your high school, such as tutoring? Do your grades in high school and/or college reflect your academic ability or potential? 

• List any volunteer, extracurricular activities, or work experience in which you are or have been involved in the past two years. 

• Is there any additional information you would like EOP to consider in determining your admission to the program?

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TIP #7: Think about which teachers you will ask for letters of recommendation and send them a professional email asking them if they would write you a letter of recommendation for your college and/or future scholarship applications.

• Prioritize asking your 11th-grade teachers in core subject areas (English, history, math, and science).

• CSU Application: The application for admission does not require letters of recommendation for admission. Only the EOP program requires 2 recommendations.

• UC Application:  The application for admission does not require letters of recommendation for admission. UC Berkeley invites some applicants to submit letters of recommendation.

• Common App and Privates: While some colleges do not require any letters, some require up to 3! 

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TIP #8: If you are a student-athlete hoping to play college sports, make sure you visit the NCAA Eligibility Center and complete the required steps/paperwork.

NCAA Eligibility Center:

• Certifies a student’s initial eligibility to practice, compete, and receive aid during his/her first year at Division I or II schools (based on grades and test scores).

• Students interested in playing athletics in college should register with NCAA Eligibility Center  ASAP!

• Division I or II: Students need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school. Students should create a Certification Account

• Division III or Undecided: Students need to create a free Profile Page if they plan to compete at a Division III school or are not yet sure where they want to compete. Students will get an NCAA ID and will receive important reminders.

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TIP #9: If you are in the top 5-10% of your class, and you have a dream private school in mind, consider applying via Early Decision or Early Action

• Early decision (ED) and early action (EA) plans can be beneficial to students — but only to those who have thought through their college options carefully and have a clear preference for one institution.

• Early decision plans are binding — a student who is accepted as an ED applicant must attend the college. Early action plans are non-binding — students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the normal reply date of May 1.

• Approximately 450 colleges have an early decision or early action plans, and some have both. Some colleges offer a non-binding option called single-choice early action, under which applicants may not apply for ED or EA to any other college.

ED applicants

• Receive an early admission decision (usually by December).

• Agree to attend the college if accepted and offered a financial aid package for consideration

• Apply to only one college early decision.

• Apply to other colleges under regular admission plans.

• Withdraw all other applications if accepted by ED.

• Send a nonrefundable deposit well in advance of May 1.

EA applicants

• Receive an admission decision early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February).

• Consider an acceptance offer; do not have to commit upon receipt.

• Apply to other colleges under regular admission plans.

• Give the college a decision no later than the May 1 national response date.

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TIP #10: If you are in the top 5-10% of your class, are low-income, and are interested in attending a top private university, consider applying to Questbridge National College Match Program

• The QuestBridge National College Match is a college and scholarship application process; you can apply for free to the nation’s best colleges and be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship from the college. Watch our video to learn more.

• Match Scholarship Recipients are granted early admission to one of QuestBridge's college partners with a full four-year scholarship, worth over $200,000.

• Financial Aid Package covers Tuition and fees, Room and board, Books and supplies, and Travel expenses

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TIP #11: If you are interested in attending college out of state, consider options you have through the Western Undergraduate Exchange Program (WUE) - which can save you money on out of state fees. 

• Start by checking your eligibility - you must be a resident of a WICHE region state or territory

• Review the list of participating WUE schools and degrees 

• Review requirements - Institutions may require a minimum GPA, exclude selected majors, have early application deadlines, and/or limit the number of students awarded the WUE rate. 

• Apply directly to the college - Contact the school’s admissions, financial aid, or scholarship office to let them know you’re seeking WUE. 

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TIP #12: If you haven’t started, now is the time to explore majors! Begin by reviewing the  WHY DO SELF AND CAREER EXPLORATION MATTER? section of this website and some fun facts about majors:

• A major is a specific subject area that students specialize in. Typically, between ⅓ and half of the classes you’ll take in college will be in your major or related to your major.

• Not every major is available at every school (do your research).

• On your college applications you will select a 1st choice and 2nd choice major (be prepared).

• Undeclared or undecided option is available on most college applications. This option does not increase your chances of admission. 

• Some careers require specific majors, and some do not (do your research).

• You are allowed to change your major decision when you are in college.

• Some areas of study (such as psychology)  allow you to pick between a Bachelor's Degree in Science (BS) or Bachelor's Degree in Arts (BA) - The BS option typically requires more math and science courses.

• At some colleges, you can:

• Major in two fields (double major)

• Have a major and a minor (a specialization that requires fewer courses than a major)

• Continue into a 5th year and receive a Master’s degree

• Create your own major

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TIP #13: Sign up to attend all college fairs or college rep visits organized in your school or community!

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TIP #14: If your school has a BRAG SHEET that seniors complete and share with teachers when requesting letters of recommendation, start yours! This document usually allows you to add all of the activities you have been involved in during high school.

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TIP #15: Narrow down your college list and make sure you are applying broadly to all the systems.

• Private recommendations:

• Should not all be in the most and extremely selective category (less than 35% admitted).

• Prioritize private schools with generous financial aid packages

• If you need to narrow down, prioritize schools using the Common App

• California State University (CSU) recommendations: 

• Include at least 1 CSU that prioritizes the county where you go to school and that is NOT Impacted - CSU Local Admission

• Make sure you do not only apply to CSU campuses that are impacted at every level - CSU Impaction

• University of California (UC) recommendations: Do not just apply to the most and extremely selective campuses. Below are general selectivity rates.

• Most Selective: UCLA: Most selective 

• Extremely Selective: UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, and UC San Diego

• Very selective: UC Davis

• Moderately selective: UC Santa Cruz and UC Riverside

• Least Selective: UC Merced

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TIP #16: If you took community college courses (dual or concurrent enrollment) during middle or high school, request an official transcript for the college(s) and give them to your school counselor so that they can add your courses and grades earned onto your high school transcript.

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TIP #17: Get organized! Start by creating a Gmail account that you will only use for college and financial aid admission purposes. Keep track of all of the accounts you will create!

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TIP #18:  Learn about your financial aid options by reviewing the “How do I pay for college?” section of this website. There is a specific section for undocumented students.

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TIP #19: Stay on track with your admissions and financial aid application deadlines by following a college checklist!

• 12th Fall 4-year College Checklist

• 12th Spring 4-year College Checklist

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TIP #20: Get as much done before senior year begins!

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