By default, the UCPIS is important because there are not many ways to evaluate applicants: no recommendations unless requested by a specific campus; no SAT or ACT scores. This leaves an applicant’s activity list (containing up to 20 activities); your transcript which you input into your application; and your four UCPISs.
How the UCPISs are used is different on each UC campus. UCLA uses them as key components of their holistic review of each applicant. UC Riverside oftentimes doesn’t review them at all.
If you turn to the UC’s Admissions Site, it offers 13 ways applications are reviewed and states: “As we consider each individual application…we look beyond grades.” (https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-freshman/how-applications-are-reviewed.html). The first criterion cited, however, is grades-‘Academic GPA in all completed a-g courses.’ Let’s be realistic. Grades are one of the key tools in forecasting future academic performance. Then there are other factors including outstanding performance in specific subject areas or academic fields, and improvement in academic performance. Special talents, projects and circumstances are also taken into account.
Some of the factors from the UC List of 13 can be addressed in your UCPISs. Outstanding work or performances in projects or subject areas, special projects undertaken such as ‘intensive study and exploration in other cultures.’ These can be mentioned in both your activity list and your UCPIS of choice. Certain qualities that you believe will gain the attention of the readers, such as discovering a gene that causes fibromyalgia, might warrant more than one reference on your application. It’s like advertising: the more impressions made the more likely the reader is to take note.
How is It best to make impressions on UC Admissions?
Treat your UCPIS as if it were a face-to-face interview. You want to explain your life experiences, interests, ambitions, and inspirations. When addressing these topics, you want to offer context: share details about your home, community, school, and work and then support what you’re explaining with concrete examples about how you dealt with challenges, motivated a team member, or got a project back on course. The reader wants to gain insights into your ‘academic, personal and extracurricular achievements.’ And like most interviews, you want to keep things positive, upbeat, and productive.
There are rules. The readers in UC admissions do not want stories, nor do not want you to write how you came to your conclusions, ideas, or beliefs. Moreover, they specifically want you to avoid: quotes or dialogue, philosophy, clichés, excessive background information or slang.
Though misspellings and bad grammar are OK (this is according to UC Admissions not me) it’s still a good idea to proofread your application before pushing the submit button. Don’t use fancy multisyllabic works, like the one I just used: use specific regular vocabulary.
The key to this and any interview is to explain your unique talents and how you plan to enrich and apply them at the UC school of choice. Get across honestly what matters to you, your hopes, ambitions, life experiences and inspirations. Throughout your UCPIS you’re attempting to unveil your qualities (strong intellectual curiosity, empathy for others, dedication to learning, idealism, drive, willingness to accept change and even activate change when needed). Probably the best way to consider this effort is to imagine yourself as part of the admissions team: what type of person would you be looking to admit? Why?
Make each of the 350 words count. Make them describe the qualities that capture your essence. Keep them simple and direct and all should then fall into place.