learning; any special talent, creativity, leadership experience, accomplishment, contribution or personal quality you will bring to the university; and other information that is important for us to consider, including your tenacity and/or response to life challenges. We are looking for qualities that we know will help you succeed at UC Davis and also enrich our learning community.Our application process involves comparing your application to those of other highly qualified and competitive students. Other applicants may have similar accomplishments to yours, such as serving in student governance, playing on sports teams, chairing committees or traveling abroad. Providing details and examples of your personal experience can help you stand out from the crowd. Your statement can also be very successful if it elaborates on the insights you gained, or on the ways someone or something has influenced your outlook, activities, commitment or goals.Writing a Successful StatementComposing a personal statement can be intimidating, so we encourage you to begin well before the deadline in order to take pressure off yourself and improve the quality of the final draft. Read the application instructions carefully. Make a list of ideas. Then write a first attempt, leave it for a day or two, and return to make revisions. Read each draft aloud to catch misspellings or awkward or inappropriate wording. When you prepare your final draft, correct grammar and spelling.We recommend creating the personal statement in a word processing program, then pasting it into the application. Use the Word Count feature to be sure that you are writing the appropriate length.Do:∙Write it yourself.∙Write it about yourself.∙Provide any relevant information about yourself that you don’t think is captured elsew here in the application.∙Write about experiences, accomplishments, etc. that occurred while you were in high school or communitycollege.∙Provide specific examples of your accomplishments or activities in which you’ve participated.∙Keep your statement focused.∙Avoid cliches.∙Have your statement checked by a teacher, counselor orother adviser for spelling, grammar and clarity.Read the InstructionsRead the instructions for the application carefully. The mostcommon mistake applicants make is to skim the written instructionsor to rely on misinformation received from others.Common Statement Pitfalls∙Not reading the instructions in the application.∙Not writing about recent events.∙Reiterating information listed elsewhere in the application.∙Listing accomplishments without explanation or detail.∙Using gimmicky writing techniques, such as poems.∙Writing more about an inspirational person than yourself(e.g. your mother, favorite uncle, etc).∙Rambling, unfocused thoughts.∙Being overly humorous, self-deprecating or glorifying.∙Exceeding the total maximum length of 1,000 words for thetwo responses.∙Including samples of your work, letters of recommendationor other supporting materials.The PromptsApplicants must respond to two short-answer prompts. Eachresponse may be as long as necessary, as long as the total wordcount for both responses falls within the 1,000 word guideline. Wesuggest your shortest response be no less than 250 words.Prompt 1Freshman applicants: Describe the world you come from – forexample, your family, community or school – and tell us how yourworld has shaped your dreams and aspirations.Transfer applicants: What is your intended major? Discuss howyour interest in the subject developed and describe any experienceyou have had in the field – such as volunteer work, internships andemployment, participation in student organizations and activities –and what you have gained from your involvement.Prompt 2All applicants: Tell us about a personal quality, talent,accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important toyou. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proudand how does it relate to the person you are?Contact Phone: (530) 752-2971a single personal statement for your application. You will find some suggestions and opinions from admissions counselors and administrators at UC Irvine to help you in writing your responses. While this information may not necessarily reflect the opinions of other campuses or universities, the material presented here should be helpful.Why is the Personal Statement Important?The purpose of the personal statement is to give you an opportunity to tell us important things about yourself that are not addressed or apparent in the application. There are also instructions relating to particular items in the application, i.e., Special Program Participation which requests information that you can discuss in your personal statement. In making decisions about admission and scholarships, we want to consider your personal attributes and gain some sense of who you are; your experiences, accomplishments, and a variety of qualities such as motivation, self-discipline, leadership, commitment to others, as well as your academic record. In addition, you should include your intended field of study and your career goals.Each year, UC Irvine receives applications from many more students than we can admit, and the academic records of these students are usually very similar. In order to discover and evaluate the distinctions among these applicants, UC Irvine looks closely at an individual's entire application. The academic record, information about accomplishments and activities, and the personal statement help us gain insight into a student's level of achievement and character. Taken together, these factors enable us to weigh what UC Irvine can offer the applicant with what the applicant can contribute to the enrichment of the UC Irvine campus community. In some cases, the personal statement can be a critical factor in the selection process. Great care should be taken to make sure that the personal statement conveys exactly what you intend it to convey.Mechanics of Writing the Personal StatementCarefully read the instructions printed in the application packet or in the electronic application, especially the instructions for the personal statement. A common mistake applicants make is to skim the instructions contained in the application packet and rely on information received from others. Take time to read and understand all the instructions so your application is a true and complete reflection of you. When applicable or appropriate, review items in the application which may ask you to discuss (in the personal statement) the scope and context of your participation.Instructions and Prompts for Fall 2009∙Respond to both prompts, using a maximum of 1,000 words total.∙You may allocate the word count as you wish. If you choose to respond to one prompt at greater length, we suggest your shorter answer be no less than 250 words.∙Stay within the word limit as closely as you can. A little over - 1,012 words, for example - is fine.QuestionsPrompt #1 (freshman applicants)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.Prompt #1 (transfer applicants)What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field - such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities - and what you have gained from your involvement.Prompt #2 (all applicants)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?UC Irvine expects you to write the personal statement yourself; write in your own voice. At the same time, it is probably wise to have a friend, teacher, or parent read the statement to advise you on how well it conveys what you want it to say, and if it reflects who you really are. Remember: the purpose of the personal statement is to help UC Irvine know you on a personal level.Recognize both the importance of the personal statement and the difficultyof the task. The statement is not something that should be scribbled just before you send your application. Give yourself enough time to produce a thoughtful and carefully composed personal statement. It may be a significant factor in your selection to UC Irvine.What Does the University Look For in the Personal Statement?Your personal statement needs to clearly convey what you think is important for us to know about you. In reading your statement, we look for personal characteristics that include creativity, intellectual curiosity and achievement, personal initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence, exceptional recognition and rare talent, the ability to overcome hardship and get along with others, and service to others. In any case, your statement should clearly convey what you think is important for us to know about you and convey a sense of a full human being behind the GPA and test scores. If you are applying to a specific major, you should discuss your interest in your intended field of study.What is a Good Personal Statement?There is no single "perfect" personal statement. However, successful statements tend to be those that reveal the individuality and appeal of the applicant. Remember that your application will be compared to those of other competitive students, many of whom have shared similar experiences such as activities in student government, travel to other countries, participation in sports, and volunteer activities. Your approach in expressing yourself may be an important factor. What we want to learn about you is how the activity, job, or experience you write about has changed your attitude, solidified a belief, established a goal, sharpened a perception, or heightened an appreciation. We look for definitions of your values and goals, and how they have been demonstrated in your life. We look for meaningful participation, not just a listing of activities. We also look for a sense of your uniqueness and the contribution to UC Irvine that you may make.The personal statement may be the place for you to explain something on the application that needs explaining (an out-of-character grade, a poor term, a break in your education, or other such things). Ask someone who knows you well (and likes you) to read the statement to see if the real you comes across.Admissions Phone ListThe Office of Admissions main number is 352-392-1365.Dial the four-digit extension to contact the offices below.Distance Education 7286Freshman Admission (domestic and international) 7022Graduate School Admission (domestic and international) 7300Hispanic Recruitment 7341Minority Recruitment 7341National Merit/Honors Recruitment 7022Nondegree Admission 7327Postbaccalaureate Admission 7172Professional Programs Admission 7172Readmission - Graduate 7173Readmission - Undergraduate 7158Residency (for in-state tuition purposes) 7172Transfer Admission (domestic and international) 7157Transfer Credit Evaluation 7155Welcome Center and Campus Tours 352-392-2959/admissions/page.aspx?id=575There may be personal information that you want considered as part of your admissions application. Write an essay describing that information. You might include exceptional hardships, challenges, or opportunities that have shaped or impacted your abilities or academic credentials, personal responsibilities, exceptional achievements or talents, educational goals, or ways in which you might contribute to an institution committed to creating a diverse learning environment.。