Okay. You’re about to start the Personal Insight Questions for the University of California undergraduate application. It’s stressful, we know!
Read on or watch below for expert tips on what the “PIQs” are and how to go about answering them. Angelica Moore, UC’s director of admissions policy and communications, answers some of the most common questions about PIQs.
What are the Personal Insight Questions, and what kind of topics will they be covering?
The Personal Insight Questions are about getting to know you better. We want to hear about your accomplishments, talents, interests, and experiences … all the things that make you a great UC applicant. This is just one part of the application we consider when making our admission decision. But it’s really important because it provides context for the rest of your application.
You can express who you are and what matters to you, not only in how you respond to the questions, but also through your selection of questions to answer. That doesn’t mean that some questions are better than others; we want you to choose the questions that resonate with your own experiences.
There are eight questions to choose from. First-year applicants will pick four questions to answer. Transfer applicants will choose three questions to answer, plus one required question.
So, which ones do I pick? Does it matter?
You choose which questions YOU want to answer. But you should select the questions that feel most relevant to your circumstances. Remember, we want to learn about your life experience so we can better understand you as a UC applicant.
All questions are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing one question over another. Your responses will not hurt you; they can only enhance our understanding of you as an applicant.
I guess I’m not sure what UC is looking for in my answers. Is there something specific UC campuses are looking for?
There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about sharing your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own words, in your own unique voice. The best responses are those that are authentic, and best represent who you are.
I’m not the best writer. Do I need to worry about my writing and vocabulary?
The Personal Insight Questions are not a writing test. But you should be sure to give yourself plenty of time to prepare and revise your answers. Typos, spelling errors and grammatical mistakes are distracting and can get in the way of what you're trying to communicate.
We know you’re creative and passionate, and we want your answers to be the start of a dialogue between you and UC. When it comes time to write, just remember to use your own voice and proofread your work … and then proofread it one more time.
OK. I think I get it. So, how do I start?
Give yourself plenty of time. Start working on the Personal Insight Questions as soon as you can. Remember this is just one of many things we consider when we review your application. Your responses can only add value to the application.
Go to our admissions website, which has the questions, along with worksheets, writing tips and suggestions for how to get started.
Relax. Use your own voice. There is no need to try to get the attention of the reader — you already have it! So take a deep breath, give it your best shot, and know that no decision is ever based on the personal insight responses alone.
