Personal Statement
c a l i f o r n i a
Berkeley
Why is the personal statement so important?
As a vital part of your application, the personal statement—consisting of responses to two prompts—is reviewed by both the Admissions and the Scholarship Offices. At Berkeley we use the Personal Statement to: • discover and evaluate distinctions among applicants whose academic records are often very similar; • gain insight into your level of academic, personal and extracurricular achievement; • provide us with information that may not be evident in other parts of the application. PROMPT #1
The Personal Statement for Freshmen
TOPICS FOR FRESHMEN APPLICANTS
Please read the complete information about the Personal Statement provided in the application. These are the prompts you will be asked to answer:
Describe the world you come from—for example, your family, community or school—and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. PROMPT #2 Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
u n i v e r s i t y
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What does Berkeley look for in my personal statement?
We consider: • your academic accomplishments, beyond your transcript; • your initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence, service to others, special potential and substantial experience with other cultures; • any unusual circumstances or hardships you have faced and the ways in which you have overcome or responded to them; and • all achievement in light of the opportunities available to you.
Do I have a better chance of being admitted if I write about unusual circumstances or hardship?
Not necessarily; having a hardship is no guarantee of admission. If you choose to write about difficulties you have experienced, you should describe: • how you confronted and overcame your challenges, rather than describing a
Berkeley
Why is the personal statement so important?
As a vital part of your application, the personal statement—consisting of responses to two prompts—is reviewed by both the Admissions and the Scholarship Offices. At Berkeley we use the Personal Statement to: • discover and evaluate distinctions among applicants whose academic records are often very similar; • gain insight into your level of academic, personal and extracurricular achievement; • provide us with information that may not be evident in other parts of the application. PROMPT #1
The Personal Statement for Freshmen
TOPICS FOR FRESHMEN APPLICANTS
Please read the complete information about the Personal Statement provided in the application. These are the prompts you will be asked to answer:
Describe the world you come from—for example, your family, community or school—and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. PROMPT #2 Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
u n i v e r s i t y
o f
What does Berkeley look for in my personal statement?
We consider: • your academic accomplishments, beyond your transcript; • your initiative, motivation, leadership, persistence, service to others, special potential and substantial experience with other cultures; • any unusual circumstances or hardships you have faced and the ways in which you have overcome or responded to them; and • all achievement in light of the opportunities available to you.
Do I have a better chance of being admitted if I write about unusual circumstances or hardship?
Not necessarily; having a hardship is no guarantee of admission. If you choose to write about difficulties you have experienced, you should describe: • how you confronted and overcame your challenges, rather than describing a