Dear Frustrated Applicant,
As you probably know, the UC application got two times harder this year than it was in previous years. Instead of asking for two essays, they're asking for four. Yes, they're shorter -- but, really, that makes it even harder to craft a beautiful essay. The good news is, whether you're applying to Berkeley, UCLA, Santa Barbara, UCSD, Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UC Merced, or any combination thereof, you only need to fill out one application. To help you get started, I'm sharing an excerpt from my upcoming book about college admissions about how I would answer the third essay prompt. If you need additional advice or feedback, contact me or check out my Services and Prices page.
Start by carefully reading the entire prompt:
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you? Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? Here’s the thing about this prompt: it’s going to be super easy for some students… and less so for others. For example, say you won the California Science Fair, or you’ve published a paper in a scholarly journal, or you’ve got a patent pending. Then you might see this prompt and think, Yes! This is where I will shine! In that case, Awesome! Cruise on forward with this, making sure to respond to as much of the prompt as makes sense. But say you’re a student who’s good, but not amazing, at piano, tennis, math, and volunteering. It may feel like none of these qualities are necessarily essay-worthy. Say you’re someone who hasn’t “found your passion” yet. You could definitely still answer this.At the very least, take a few minutes to reflect on this. What if you had to answer? What would you say? Don’t be afraid to think outside the box! This could end up being your answer for this or a different essay. As always, try to think of at least 5-10 ideas before you start writing about anything. Brainstorming is crucial. But it should also be a fun way to reflect -- not just on what you've done, but also how and why. To give you an example, here's my (hypothetical) brainstorm: Latin and Greek. My school is known for its difficult classical languages program. I’ve always loved the classics, and have won a few state and national awards. In addition to becoming a very logical, algorithmic thinker, I also intrinsically enjoy Latin. Playing. I love coming up with fun ideas and getting people motivated to do fun things, even when they think they're "too busy." This is an important part of life, and I even have a blog about it. The Creative Conversation. I'm really good at talking to strangers, and it makes every day an adventure. Sports. I already wrote an essay about sports (see prompt 1 – leadership). But the fact is, I am incredibly good at most sports I’ve ever tried. Sports have made me strong and confident, and they have opened a lot of doors for me. This could be worth writing about again, but only if what I say is completely different from my other sports essay. Shopping at Rite Aid. It’s the only store in my town, and I’m really good at finding exactly what I need – or at least improvising with what’s available. This could be a really cute essay, where I use objects I buy at the store to talk about different experiences, talents and values in my life. I’ve got to be honest – I love the Rite Aid idea. It’s artistic and memorable – a super different take on this prompt. It’s just… the execution would be tough. With some big metaphor like that, execution is everything. There's a big risk the whole thing would flop or feel forced -- especially since that kind of writing isn't my forte. I also love the Latin/Greek idea – but remember, Prompt 6 asks about your favorite subject in school, so that might be a better fit for that prompt. Unless you have more than one favorite subject in school! In which case, this is your chance to write about both! One could be about the classes you do the best in, and the other about the ones you’ve found the most interesting. Because I’ve spent so much time on Latin and Greek – and because so many people have asked me, “Why do you want to study a dead language?” – I think this might be a good chance to illustrate purposeful and mindful decision-making. Here’s my essay: 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? “GUM? HOW DARE YOU!? I’LL RIP YOUR TONGUE OUT!” A familiar voice fills the corridor as I sprint up the stairs to Greek class. If I hurry, I’ll make it before Dr. Morgan locks the door and refuses entry to late arrivers. (I’ve been shouting, “Hold the door!” since waaaay before it was cool.) Welcome to the Exeter Classics Department. Anyone who’s studied a dead language would probably agree that that the field attracts a certain… type. We’re all weirdos. That’s why I love it. That, and the fact that humans reach a state of “flow” upon achieving the right combination of challenge and mastery. Latin and Greek are the hardest classes I’ve ever taken – but my algorithmic thinking style has helped me excel, even while being drilled and berated by 80-year-old scholars in corduroy jackets and checkered bowties. This helped me build academic confidence. I used to be proud of my running medals and basketball trophies. Now, it’s all about the Latin and Greek awards. (Is it dorky that I sewed one onto my backpack?) Moreover, it helped me cultivate a disciplined, analytical approach to problem solving. Word order doesn’t matter; when the subject of a sentence is a quarter of the way down the page, the verb is in the first line, and there are about twelve clauses and conjunctions in between -- not to mention several figures of speech (including the word “salt,” which I’m supposed to magically know means “ocean” because it’s a metonomy) -- translations get tricky. If you want to understand what it’s like to do Latin homework: 1. Take the previous sentence 2. Remove the punctuation 3. Put it in a blender 4. Write an eloquent translation 5. Identify the figure of speech in that sentence.* The classics helped me think in if-then, while, and for-loop statements. I’m rocking my Introduction to Computer Science class, because programming is Greek to me. I probably won’t pursue this passion in college, per se. But I’m certain that I will use the aptitudes I’ve developed in every single class. *It’s an onomatopoeia – kind of. *** So, funny story – that was originally meant to be a straightforward essay that explained my passion for language. But it ended up taking on a lot of my personality and really offering a glimpse into my life. Concerns with this essay: 1. It's super colloquial. With an all-caps hook sentence followed by the word “waaaaay,” I a third-party reader might love it -- or they might hate it. (In my defense, I would have preferred to just write way, in italics, but the UC website won’t let me.) This is why it's important to get a second opinion. 2. Pop culture reference. Two issues with this. One, there’s a risk the reader won’t get the joke, and it will fall flat on its face. Two, it might detract from the flow of this story. I think “hold the door” is ubiquitous and timely enough to take the risk, but obviously, ALWAYS get a second opinion. 3. The super long sentence. I was trying to show the reader what it’s like to be me. But is it distracting from, you know… me? Is it clear by the end of the next paragraph what I was trying to do there? Did I spend too much time talking about Latin, and not enough talking about my skills? Or is it important to say demonstrate why my skills are so impressive? Answer this by getting a second opinion. But here’s what I like: 1. I connect why being good at Latin/Greek makes me good at other things. 2. It shows that school is important to me. 3. It sounds like me. Perhaps more than any of my other essays. 4. Having the “answer” at the bottom. Again, it’s risky -- but it's super different! And it’s clever enough that they might have to stop and think about why that sentence was “kind of” onomatopoetic. Now it's your turn! Take a stab at your first draft. Remember: there’s no right or wrong way to answer this question. And remember: contact me or check out my Services and Prices page if you want more help.
3 Comments
6/23/2022 10:51:18 pm
Your greatest talent or skill could be something that comes naturally to you or something that you’ve worked hard to develop. It could be a creative talent like writing or painting or a more practical skill like cooking or carpentry. Whatever it is it should be something that you’re passionate about and that you enjoy doing.
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1/24/2024 08:56:02 pm
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AuthorEva Glasrud completed her B.A. and M.A. at Stanford. She is now a college counselor and life coach for gifted youth. Archives
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