Hi everyone! I'm starting to work on my UC applications and I'm not sure which essay prompts to choose among the eight options. How did you guys decide on your prompts? Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hey there! Congrats on starting your UC applications! Choosing the right prompts can indeed be tough, but here's a process you can follow to narrow down your options. First, take some time to brainstorm ideas for each prompt. Write down anything that comes to mind, even if it's not fully developed yet.
After that, review your brainstorming and identify the 3-4 stories or ideas that feel the most compelling and unique to you. Keep in mind that you want to showcase a diverse range of experiences, achievements, or personal qualities, so try to pick stories that reflect different aspects of your life. Once you have your top anecdotes, go back to the prompts and match each story with its best-fitting prompt. It's not uncommon for some prompts to work well with multiple ideas, so don't be afraid to experiment with different combinations.
Finally, start drafting your essays and see how they develop. You might find that some ideas flow better than others or that certain prompts inspire particularly strong writing, which can help you solidify your final choices. Best of luck on your UC applications!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.