Ariana Rivero
Crimson Chronicle Reporter
While a flurry of early action, early decision, and scholarship deadlines are coming up, it’s easy to put off the University of California (UC) application. It’s important to remember though that the UC application is due December 1, therefore it’s time to lock in!
The University of California application is straightforward, with one centralized application for all UC Schools.
To get started, make sure to create an account and be sure to use your personal email, as your school email shuts down after you graduate.
The most significant part of the application are the Personal Insight Questions, also known as PIQs. If you are struggling with brainstorming ideas for your writing, there are resources available for you!
Our school’s onsite college center, located in room 231, is an amazing resource for any students looking for guidance when it comes to college! Seniors use this resource to ask questions about applications, to get insight on your writing, and as a quiet place to work on applications and writing.
College counselor Julia Pelikhova and our UCLA Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP) advisor, Natalie Bonilla, are in the college center and are able to help with writing and the application process.
The college center also has College Peer Counselors who are ready to help! Peer counselors are students who have experience with CSU, UC, and the Common Application and are there to support you! Many Peer Counselors have already completed their UC application or PIQs and are able to guide you through yours.
The College Essay Guy is a great online resource when it comes to writing your PIQS as well as any other essays or supplemental writing. You’ll be able to see examples of what a good response looks like for the different PIQ prompts as well as tips on how to write a successful essay.
General Tips
One of the best ways to ensure that you are effectively answering the PIQ prompts is to make outlines! This makes the process much more seamless and you’ll have your writing organized.
Another tip is to just start writing! For many of my PIQs I’d just brain dump and write everything that came to mind, to then cut it down as I began to finalize my writing. This process is better known as free flow writing and is a great way to combat procrastination, which is something that could hinder progress on the UC application.
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Make sure to take advantage of these resources, and don’t be afraid to ask for help!
