Welcome to my Classroom!

All seniors must complete a personal statement. Here are some things you should know:

1. If you DO NOT plan to apply or attend a 2 or 4 year university YOU STILL MUST submit an essay to me.
2. Basic Requirements:
3. Must be typed and in MLA format
4. Unless you have specific requirements from the university  you're applying to, the essay should be 2-3 pages.
5. You should write at least one rough draft before submission.

Here are the prompts--please choose one of the following to respond to. IF you are applying to the UC system, please follow the guidelines for responding to 4 of 8 possible questions (see below). If you would like to use one of the 8 UC as the prompt you'd like to respond to, but do not plan to attend a UC, you may, but please make sure  you write at least 2-3 pages for the response:

1. If you could choose to be anyone for a day (fictional or nonfictional), who would you choose and how does this choice reflect the kind of person you are or want to be?
2. Identify a person who has had a tremendous impact and influence on your life and explain how that influence has shaped you into the person you are today.
3. Write about a time in your life when everything changed in the blink of an eye. How did this experience reshape you? What did you learn from it?
4. UC PROMPTS:

Freshman applicants: Personal insight questions: Here is the link for guidelines: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/personal-questions/freshman/

Answer any 4 of the following 8 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?

COMMON APPLICATION PROMPTS:

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. [No change]

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? [Revised]

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

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. [No change]

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

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