University of California

Help with your UC Personal Insight Questions.

Four answers, 350 words each, due November 30. I help students choose the right four PIQs and write answers that sound like them, from a former admissions reader who knows what readers look for in a few minutes.

How I help with PIQs

• Choosing your four. We start with what you most want UC to know about you, then match each story to the question it answers best, so your four answers show four different sides of you.
• Drafting and revising. One-on-one sessions over video, with detailed written feedback between them. You write every word.
• A 24-hour PIQ review. Already have drafts? Send all four PIQs and get suggested edits and detailed feedback on each one within 24 hours. See the 24-hour review.
• Fitting PIQs alongside the Common App. Applying to UC and Common App schools? We plan both so you can draw on the same experiences without repeating yourself.

What makes a strong PIQ

PIQs reward a different kind of writing from the Common App essay. They answer the question directly, show what you did with specific examples, and end with what the experience says about you. Most students spend too long setting the scene and too little on their own actions and thinking. Read my free guide: how to choose and write the UC Personal Insight Questions.

Who I work with

• California seniors applying to UC campuses
• Out-of-state and international students adding UC schools to their list
• Students who have drafts and want an expert read before November 30

All sessions are online, so students can work with me from anywhere.

Questions families ask