If you search for UC PIQ 2 example essays online, you’ll find that many examples are… just okay.

They’re not bad. But, most UC PIQ essay examples aren’t strong and unique enough to truly move the needle in admissions. In an age of AI, students can’t afford to only be straightforward. They need to stand out.

In other words: the key to a successful UC PIQ 2 essay is to be bold.

Thus, this article will cover 2 things: our strongest UC PIQ 2 example essay, and reasons why it’s strong.

Let’s get to it.

Table of Contents

1. UC PIQ 2 Example Essay
2. What makes this UC PIQ 2 example so strong compared to other examples?
   1. It’s bold.
   2. It’s not afraid to hit at hard truths.
   3. It addresses AI in a time when creativity is questioned in admissions.
   4. It PROVES creativity by having an unconventional writing style.
   5. It deploys “show don’t tell” when implying why they’re a great candidate.

UC PIQ 2 Example Essay

Below, we’ve pasted the UC PIQ 2 essay prompt for your convenience.

Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. ​

University of California Personal Insight Question Prompt 2

Now, let’s get to the essay example.

“Creativity is dead, and we have killed it. 

Look! I stole from Nietzsche; even I’m not impervious to the death of creativity! But, it’s not just me. There’s a plague haunting my generation that I fear we’ll never quite recover from: the brutalizing death of creativity as a result of AI. 

In fact, AI has done so much harm to my everyone’s minds —and certainly including mine’s— that I genuinely fear for my future. 

It’s because of this that I no longer treat creativity as some innate talent that is granted at birth. Rather, I’ve had to train my mind to be creative and think outside the box as much as possible? 

Am I great at it? 

Well, maybe I’m not the best. 

But, I’m proud of it. Listen: I could have chosen to write about anything; so, the fact that I hold so much pride on that which would seem mediocre to others speaks volumes to how challenging developing my creativity skills in the wake of an AI era is. 

Here’s an example. 

I spent this whole October doing Inktober. 

Yeah, yeah. Call me an oldie. But, this was important to me. Creativity now more than ever before is a skill that demands honing. I vowed to myself I would learn two things. 

Anatomy. Perspective. 

I spent those grueling 31 days learning those skills and I swore I would never use AI. And, I was shocked to see how much I improved over time. No fake numbers. No fancy editing. Just raw skill. And, I think in some ways it’s this insanity that truly makes someone an artist, a creative at heart. It’s the illogical, irrational “love” for beauty despite having every reason not to —ahem, generative AI making everyone feel obsolete *cough, cough* —that makes someone truly creative. 

In fact, I think that’s a newfound appreciation I’ve developed over the years: creativity as labor and love for the process. I express creativity through labor, the extra steps that otherwise could be automated. It’s a rebellion against our modern rejection of “the process.” Sound’s irrational? Yeah? 

Sue me.“

PenningPapers, UC PIQ 2 Example Essay 2026-27, 350 words.

What makes this UC PIQ 2 essay example so strong compared to other examples?

Overall, this PIQ 2 example essay stands out significantly more. Notice how everything from the topic to the word choice is bold and hits hard? We’ll cover more of that below.

There are 5 major reasons that make our PIQ 2 essay example strong.

1. Boldness.
2. Hard truths.
3. Addressing AI.
4. Proving creativity with writing style.
5. Show don’t tell.

Implement these 5 points much like how we did in our example essay. And, your essay will look significantly stronger. Trust us. Not enough students are doing this. And, it’s worked very well for our students in the past too.

Of course, if you’re interested in receiving college essay help, or even just college consulting, major advising, and more, feel free to reach out through the contact form here.

It’s bold.

This is the most obvious point.

Nonetheless, this is crucial. In a modern admissions climate, especially for the 2026-27 admissions cycle, you CANNOT AFFORD to be generic. Admissions offices are swamped with requests.

Don’t believe us?

According to their official Common Data Set numbers…

1. UCLA alone received 145,086 first-year applicants for their 2025-26 admissions cycle.
2. Of the nearly 150k applicants, only 13,659 applicants were accepted.
3. That makes UCLA’s 2025 first-year admissions rate 9.41%.

Yikes.

With such daunting numbers, are you still confident that you ought to be reserved and simple in your UC PIQ essays? That’s why we highly recommend you be bold in your other essays too.

It’s not to say that you can’t afford to be simple and straightforward sometimes. But, you need to have at least a little bit of a shock factor in your essays. In this case, jumping straight to the problem with creativity in the wake of AI was a great way for this essay to stand out.

You need to jump right to the danger in the beginning. That’s how you can make a hook that genuinely stands out. Be bold. Hit hard. Go right to the pain source in the beginning. Even if it’s not a negative idea, just jump to the most significant, emotional part right from the first sentence.

This brings us to the next point.

It’s not afraid to hit at hard truths.

If you really want to stand out in the college admissions process, it’s very helpful to hit at a brutal, hard-to-swallow truth.

This strategy works wonderfully to achieve two things:

1. Connect emotionally with your readers.
2. Prove to readers that you’re not weak and willing to be confident in your language.

In our UC PIQ 2 example essay, you can see that we’re going straight towards the hard reality that is creative atrophy in the modern generation. Admissions officers are not stupid. They’re aware of this. And, when both you and your admissions reader understand the reality that is the decline in creativity amongst modern students, you have something to connect with them on. This emotional connection is a major advantage.

Additionally, one must remember that college has a history of standing strong on its convictions and beliefs. Just look at UC Berkeley’s history of protest and demonstrations. Make no mistake. It’s called “civil disobedience.” But, schools like UC Berkeley remember this with pride and respect for the amount of good they’ve done for the history of social justice. True change doesn’t come from being a fence sitter. There’s no better way to make your admissions officers believe you’re weak-willed than being a fence sitter. It’s about who is willing to be brave enough to go through the gates talking about the uncomfortable truths and who is not. Don’t be weak-willed. Show your admissions officers you’re not afraid to talk about that which is hard to discuss.

It addresses AI in a time when creativity is questioned in admissions.

This example essay covers one crucial element that virtually all modern college essays don’t: AI.

Disclaimer: you DON’T have to talk about AI in every UC PIQ essay. However, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND you discuss or tread the topic of AI at least once in your UC PIQs.

Most students cannot afford to avoid the topic of AI in their UC application. This is because AI tools like Claude and Chat GPT have been so heavily used in college essays (and, admissions officers can’t always detect who is telling the truth and who is lying) that most readers cannot trust students anymore.

It’s useful to have at least somewhere in your application your stance on AI usage. Prove to your readers that you’re committed to true academic excellence and won’t be lazy by relying on AI to generate everything for you. Especially for UC PIQ 2, a question about creativity, you’re going to want to demonstrate a commitment to true creativity without taking the cheap, easy way out.

It PROVES creativity by having an unconventional writing style.

Remember: UC PIQ 2 is asking to see your creativity. So, you can afford to be more unconventional and unique in your style of writing. You don’t need to be as stiff and puritanical as some other college essay questions are, such as the “why us” and “why major” college app questions that tend to be more straightforward.

This UC PIQ 2 example essay employs a more unconventional writing style that follows a smoother writing voice. We chose to write in a more dialogue-like and conversational tone to give a more down-to-earth feeling that strays from the typical rigid structure. Plus, it makes it less boring!

Having an unconventional writing structure also proves to admissions officers that you aren’t performative about your creativity. You’re not just saying you’re creative. You’re proving it through your writing voice. Remember that admissions officers need, more than anything in the 2026-27 admissions cycle, proof of your legitimacy. They’re working with a sea of AI-inspired applicants. Use this to your advantage by proving to them that you’re as creative as you say you are. Show it through your writing.

It deploys “show don’t tell” when implying why they’re a great candidate.

In the college admissions world, it’s quite common for people to recommend you be straightforward with answering the question. And, we don’t necessarily fully disagree. It can be helpful to be straight to the point.

However, it’s also important to “show don’t tell” your positive traits.

Anyone can say they’re a great leader for UC PIQ 1, or that their challenge was impactful and difficult for UC PIQ 5.

The real question is this: how likely are admissions officers going to believe you when you say that you’re creative? What about that you’re extroverted? How about your passion for engineering, or programming? Can you really have them take your word for it?

Here’s what made our UC PIQ 2 example so strong: we implied the applicant’s positive traits, not directly stated them.

Take the following quotes for example.

1. “Well, maybe I’m not the best.” 
   • Implied Trait: Humility
2. “I spent those grueling 31 days learning those skills and I swore I would never use AI. And, I was shocked to see how much I improved over time.”
   • Implied Trait: Courage, especially in trying something new and laborious.
3. “It’s a rebellion against our modern rejection of “the process.” Sound’s irrational? Yeah? Sue me.”
   • Implied Trait: Boldness and confidently assertive.

Notice how these don’t directly say that the applicant is smart, courageous, bold, etc? These quotes make the positive traits clear through implication. Additionally, admissions officers will more likely believe the characteristics about you that they can extract via inference compared to what you say on the surface.

If you need further assistance with the UC PIQs, don’t worry, we’re here to help. Schedule a free consultation with us to discuss our college essay services, and we will get back to you ASAP to help you finish your UC essays before the deadline.