1. February 19, 2015 WACAC Share, Learn and Connect
What we Want to Know: The UC Personal Statement & First Generation College Students
February 19, 2015
WACAC Share, Learn and Connect

2. Presented by:
Hong Pham, Interim Director
Early Academic Outreach Program

3. Background Transfer student: SDSU
BA, English (SDSU); MA, Higher Education Leadership (CSUS)
UC Davis EAOP: 8 years
Diverse students and families; 98% 1st generation
Comprehensive Review/Holistic Review reader (7 years)

4. My Gifts
Hand: Something that I do well Head: Something that I know a lot about Heart: Something that I am passionate about

5. Activity: Gift Exchange
Introduce yourself to someone in the room. Share one of your gifts.

6. Goals & Objectives
Understanding the role and use of the personal essay
Tips for a strong personal statement
Strategies to support students

7. The Challenge
Guiding students to share context, leadership, and why their grit matters.

8. Purpose of the Personal Statement
Opportunity to provide information that supports and adds to the review process – providing context for student achievement
Helps readers know and understand applicants – content is key

9. Holistic Review Factors
GPA (a-g courses)
Exam scores (ACT with Writing, SAT Reasoning)
# of a-g courses
# honors, AP, IB courses
ELC status
Strength of senior year
Context of academic performance

10. Holistic Review Factors
Outstanding performance in a subject(s)
Outstanding work in a special project in any academic field
Recent, marked improvement
Leadership, special skills/talents
Completion of special projects within context of high school curriculum
Context of academic achievement
Location of high school/residence

11. UC Personal Statement Prompts
Two questions
Students respond to both questions.
A maximum of 1,000 total for both prompts
Students must stay within the word limit.
Students choose length of each response.
Shorter response should be at least 250 words.

12. Prompt #1
Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.  

13. Prompt #2
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

14. Three Tips for a Strong Personal Essay
Go deep, not wide
Focus on the path to victory
Make this about you

15. All About You – Finding a Topic
In general, the UC values:
Demonstrations of leadership
Team captain
President/Vice President of a club or organization
Lead in a major activity
Leadership role in family
Special skills/Talents
Translating for family/community members
Speech/debate winner
National Merit Semi-Finalist
Lead in a school play
Winner of an art contest

16. All About You – Finding a Topic
Students are encouraged to write about special circumstances that have influenced their educational experience:
Topic areas
1st generation college student
Refugee, immigrant experience
Parental role in family
Personal challenges beyond student control
Contributions to the school (ROTC, club & community involvement)

17. Strategies for Students

18. Brainstorm List all activities you have been involved with.
Does not need to be limited to what happened at school
Your home and community are a part of who you are

19. Outline
Introduction: I learned a lot from starting the first poetry club at my school
I love poetry and wanted to share this
Other people who like poetry
People who are interested
People who want to learn
Etc
What I did
Convinced my English teacher to be the advisor
Made signs to recruit members
Etc...
What I learned
Lesson/Skill 1
Lesson/Skill 2
Lesson/Skill 3

20. Free Write
I always wondered why everyone doesn’t love poetry the way that I do. Hmmm…maybe they are scared to admit it. There’s poetry everywhere – in music, greetings cards, books. I wanted to make a club so I can share this passion with other people, people who like it, people who are scared, people who are curious. I didn’t know where to start so I asked my favorite teacher. She said she was too busy, but I didn’t want to give up…

21. Accomplishment: Poetry Club
Word Web
Accomplishment: Poetry Club
I love poetry
No poetry club at my school
Created the first poetry club at my school
I shared my passion with others
It enhanced my writing, leadership, and organizational skills because I practice them so much with myself and others.

22. General UC Tips Apply broadly!
Describe your achievements and challenges
Don’t wait until the last minute