One of the things you’ll notice about many of the UC essay prompt 8 example essays online is that… well, they’re not quite helpful.

Why?

Well, it’s not that there’s anything wrong with the available examples online. But, it’s a problem of PIQ prompt 8 itself. In particular, PIQ prompt 8 is too obscure for many students to answer.

Take a look at the whole prompt below.

8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Things to consider: If there’s anything you want us to know about you but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t be afraid to brag a little.

University of California Website

The prompt allows for anyone to choose any topic. So, unlike prompts 1-7, 8 is open to practically any topic you wish. This is why the PIQ 8 example essays online are not very helpful; they may vary so much in topic that they’re not very relatable to readers.

That’s why we structured our article into 3 different sections.

1. How to Choose a Topic for UC Essay Prompt 8 That Fits For YOU.
2. How to Write the UC Essay Prompt 8
3. UC Essay Prompt 8 Example Essay that Worked, Accepted Into UCLA

With that, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. How to Choose a Topic for UC Essay Prompt 8 That Fits for YOU.
2. How to Write the UC Essay Prompt 8.
   • Demonstrate What You Value.
   • Show Your Unique Qualities.
   • Remember to Answer the Question: Why are You a Strong Candidate?
3. UC Essay Prompt 8 Example Essay that Worked, Accepted Into UCLA.

How to Choose a Topic for UC Essay Prompt 8 That Fits for YOU.

Here’s where most students answering the UC essay prompt 8 get tripped up. They think too much about what the RIGHT answer is.

By fishing for the “right” answer, students no longer focus on themselves. They’re too focused on thinking about which answer would actually get them accepted into their dream UC school.

Don’t focus on what you think will be the right answer. Rather, focus on what fits your character the most.

The more you try to find a topic for UC essay prompt 8 that will “guarantee acceptance”, the more disingenuous your writing will become. The topic will be more about impressing admissions officers and not about you.

In other words, write about a topic that is most accurate to your personality, character, and spirit. Don’t try to force a topic that would make admissions officers swoon, as you’ll just make yourself look like you’re gaming the system.

After all, admissions officers read these kinds of desperate essays all the time.

Now, in terms of having a topic to zero in on, we recommend doing the following exercise.

Take a look at your close friends, family, relatives, and any loved ones. Observe your conversations with them and extrapolate which topics seem to come up the most. Often, you will find these topics have nothing to do with awards, ceremonies, and other impressive things. Rather, they’re about everyday inconspicuous activities, video games, and important topics we tend to gravitate to.

Do you talk about video games with your friends a lot? Great! Write your UC essay prompt 8 about video games. Find yourself complaining to your friends about the evils of the Capitalist machine? Fantastic! Write about that!

It may seem unusual, especially since you’re willingly choosing a topic outside of achievements and other impressive feats. But, this is how you truly stand out when picking a topic for UC essay prompt 8. Your topic needs to be close to the heart, genuine, and something you know a lot about.

So, to truly demonstrate that honesty and openness of character (part of what makes the Personal Insight Questions “personal”) you need to have a topic close to you. What better topic than the one you talk most about with those close to you?

How to Write the UC Essay Prompt 8

Alright. With the sample essay in mind, here are some of our main points about what to consider. You should keep this in mind when you’re writing your own essay.

1. What kind of personality trait/characteristic do you want to portray?
2. Everyone has unique traits, but “how” are you unique?
3. Remember to talk about how you can be a strong candidate. What makes you good college student material?

1. Demonstrate What You Value

You need to remember that the UC essay prompt 8, and all the other personal insight questions, also ask you about what kind of a person you are.

The admissions officers do want you to answer the question, but you should consider that they all contain the invisible question: “What does this tell me about you?”

Now, here is what you should keep in mind. You typically cannot just talk about what kind of person you are as if you were directly responding to a prompt. We suggest being subtle about showing what kind of a person you are and what your values are. Tale the above-mentioned essay as an example. The writer is a female entrepreneur, and it shows through her language. She has a straightforward and strong temperament that places her at the top of her hierarchy, and it shows through her straightforward language. She can reserve more fancy wording for other essay prompts, but keep this one simple to imply her headstrong attitude without losing the audience’s attention.

2. How Are You Unique?

This part may require more elbow grease on your part. Speaking of elbow grease, yes, licking your elbow is a unique trait. Though the topic may not exactly be the best thing to write about, it is still acceptable. We would suggest something more suitable for a college essay, though.

The important part of this element is how this is unique. This means the readers have to be able to feel the specialty of your ability or trait through the language that you show.

In the essay example provided in this article, we believe the applicant actually did an okay job at this, but it could have been done better. The essay shows that the applicant was able to distinguish herself from the rest through her strong-willed perseverance and will. She was able to expand her horizons and take on an entrepreneurial path that many do not take. This unique path from most young women is shown here.

Beyond these basic cultural synergies, I strive to belong to an environment of innovation, across boundaries and disciplines, to improve my abilities to become an effective leader and entrepreneur.

I created this company to not only tell my own story, but share the story of others that seek more personalized skincare products that have been developed from timeless techniques derived from and not limited to Chinese, Egyptian, Italian, African, and South American traditions.

She gets into more specifics, which somewhat makes her experience more unique. The problem with this is that it is working in tangible facts. There is no marriage between facts and feeling in the language because the essay only tells. It does not show what that experience is like and how it may be different from what many other young women her age go through.

3. Remember to Answer the Question: Why are You a Strong Candidate?

This is perhaps one of the most important parts of the essay. You need to show the admissions officers that you are a strong candidate for the school. This can manifest itself in many ways, but mostly it’s incompetence.

You need to introduce some level of competence that places you higher than the rest in a certain field. This can include everything from physical things like sports to less tangible things like perseverance.

Take a look at this section of the UC essay prompt 8 example essay.  

Already, I have started a skincare company, “Attravere” (pending FDA approval), that will apply scientifically-sound principles to a new line of products that I helped design to be more honest, accessible, and innovative than major store brands… However, in order for me to realize this venture to its fullest capacity, I will need to dive into an educational system that can help support…

This part of the example essay was quite nice because it shows the reader that the applicant had the aptitude to pursue her entrepreneurial goals. It also showed that the applicant had the foresight to plan and understand that she knew the UC schools would be a good fit for her plans.

The only regret is that the essay could have included more strong imagery and use of persuasive language to convince the readers of the applicant’s good fit for the school. For instance, it would have made more sense to dedicate one whole larger paragraph to why the applicant is a good candidate because of her entrepreneurial skills. She could have drawn the parallels of her business sense to her position as a worthy student, which is exactly what most applicants should do.

Applicants answering the UC essay prompt 8 should consider drawing a parallel between their unique trait and how it makes them a good fit for the school. It is far too common for writers to get confused between the two and forget to bind them as the prompt asks.

UC Essay Prompt 8 Example Essay that Worked, Accepted Into UCLA.

“As a potential student looking in, I believe that diversity, openness, and responsibility is part of my core principles that are well-aligned with the principles of the University of California.

Even before evaluating my academic strengths for admission, I believe that the admissions office should also consider my desire to belong to a University system, such as the UC, that shares in my values of fairness in resolution, inclusiveness of different backgrounds, and intolerance to discrimination.

Beyond these basic cultural synergies, I strive to belong to an environment of innovation, across boundaries and disciplines, to improve my abilities to become an effective leader and entrepreneur. Already, I have started a skincare company, “Attravere” (pending FDA approval), that will apply scientifically-sound principles to a new line of products that I helped design to be more honest, accessible, and innovative than major store brands.

I created this company to not only tell my own story, but share the story of others that seek more personalized skincare products that have been developed from timeless techniques derived from and not limited to Chinese, Egyptian, Italian, African, and South American traditions. Using only honest ingredients, sourced locally and globally, my products will connect my potential customers to a more global perspective through skin care products that can be universally appreciated.

However, in order for me to realize this venture to its fullest capacity, I will need to dive into an educational system that can help support me in developing a world-class knowledge base and strong interpersonal skills with Professors and fellow students that can openly embrace the best aspects of different cultures, working together to “attraversiamo” (cross over) cultural boundaries.

Thus, I hope to continue my strong academic performance history in the UC while aligning myself to continue to represent their core mission now and beyond.”

Successful UC Essay Prompt 8 Example Essay –Accepted Into UCLA

Questions about the UC application essays? Are you concerned you will not write an essay that is good enough to get you accepted? We can help. Contact us for a free consultation, and we will help you analyze your admissions essay drafts.