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How to answer the Personal Insight Questions

Your responses to the personal insight questions are an important component of your freshman or transfer application. Your test scores and grades show us what you have achieved academically, while your responses to the prompts enable us to get to know you as an individual through your experiences and accomplishments.

Freshman Application Tips

Transfer Application Tips

Your answers provide context for the rest of the information in your application and show your personal commitment to learning, what qualities you will bring to the university and how you face life challenges. We are looking for qualities that will help you succeed at UC Davis while enriching our community.

Freshman Personal Insight Questions

Freshman applicants must respond to four short-answer prompts chosen from eight options. There is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain prompts over others, and each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.

Transfer Personal Insight Questions

Transfer applicants must respond to four short-answer prompts—one mandatory prompt and their choice of three from the other seven options. There is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain prompts over others, and each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.

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Writing a Successful Response

Your responses should elaborate upon any insights you gained or how your outlook, activities, commitment or goals have been influenced.

  • Start by reading the application instructions carefully.
  • Make sure you write the response yourself and that it’s about yourself.
  • Make a list of ideas.
  • Provide specific examples of experiences, accomplishments, etc. that occurred during or after high school that weren’t captured in your application.
  • Keep your responses focused on conveying your strengths and positive qualities.
  • Write a first draft, leave it for a day or two, and return to make revisions. Read each draft aloud to catch misspellings or awkward or inappropriate wording.
  • Review your responses as if you were making the final decision. Is this the application of a future leader?
  • Have your responses checked by a teacher, counselor or other advisor for clarity.
  • When you prepare your final draft, review it for grammar and spelling.

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Common Pitfalls

  • Writing about events that are long past
  • Reiterating information listed elsewhere in the application
  • Listing accomplishments without explanation or detail
  • Using gimmicky writing techniques, such as poems, clichés and quotes
  • Writing about somebody other than yourself (e.g. your mother, favorite uncle, etc.)
  • Rambling, unfocused thoughts
  • Being overly humorous, self-deprecating or glorifying
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Instructions for Scholarship Applicants

Some scholarship committees review your responses to the personal insight questions while other scholarships, such as the Cal Aggie Alumni Association scholarships, may require separate applications and essays. Please visit our Scholarships page to learn more about scholarships available at UC Davis.