NOTE: This post is about picking UC PIQs. Guides for writing essays:
This guide is in two halves: an overview of the UC PIQs + objectives and an outline for each one.
Part 1: Overview
Basic Info
Pick 4 out of 8 topics
The word limit is 350—a lot less than Common App!
The answer to the prompt's question needs to be clear from your essay.
For example: “What is your greatest skill?” If we can’t figure out the 1–2 word answer to this question by the end of the essay, you’ve messed up!
Some prompts are equivalent
1 & 7: leadership + teamwork (interpersonal)
2, 3, 6: skills + passions (personal or interpersonal)
4 & 5: challenge (personal or interpersonal)
8: free choice (personal or interpersonal)
Ideal Topics Breakdown
1 interpersonal essay about leadership
1 interpersonal essay about collaboration
1 meaningful engagement essay about an academic interest
1 meaningful engagement essay about an extracurricular
You may not have good case studies for all the topics in my ideal breakdown. In that case, choose quality case studies over filling out these topic categories.
A single leadership or collaboration essays could also involve an academic or extracurricular interest. If you have one essay accomplish two goals, that gives you the freedom to have one of your essays be on a quirkier topic (if you want).
Reinforce or Diversity?
Let's say your transcript and resume already show a strong background in chemistry. Should you write about chemistry in any of your essays?
Probably at least one. The essays and the rest of your application will be considered together, so you don't need to remind us that you like chemistry. But it does make sense to talk about if it's one of your passions.
Students ask me about this all the time. I think there's value to reinforcing an interest shown in other parts of your application AND showing a side of yourself that we don't see in the rest of the application.
See my blog post on meaningful engagement for more info on "how much" you should emphasize a passion.
Misc. Topic Tips:
Stick to events within the past 2–3 years
If you do the same topic twice (like music), do one essay about meaningful engagement and one about an interpersonal skill
Don't do all three "skills + passions" essays
Don't do all four about the same topic
8 isn't necessarily good unless you have a strong idea. UCs are asking questions 1–7 because they care about that info!
Choosing an "impressive" topic is less important than choosing one that reveals personal
Part 2: Specific PIQs
1. Leadership
Objectives:
show through cause and effect how you had a positive impact on a group
imply personal growth in a leadership or collaboration skill
Outline:
Intro (25% of essay): introduce your goal or problem, role, and thematic trait
Process (60% of essay): show what you did, interactions with others, and obstacles
Conclusion: (15% of essay): your success implies personal growth in the thematic trait
2. Creativity
Objectives:
Show meaningful engagement.
Show personal growth in a thematic trait.
Don't make this a static "I love [X]" essay! You need to change in some way.
Outline:
Intro (25% of essay): introduce your interest, goal or problem, and thematic trait
Process (60% of essay): show what you did and obstacles
Conclusion: (15% of essay): your success implies meaningful engagement + personal growth
3. Greatest Talent/Skill
Objectives:
Show meaningful engagement with an extracurricular
Show personal growth
Don't just make this a static "I love [X]" essay!
Outline:
Intro (25% of essay): introduce your interest, goal or problem, and thematic trait
Process (60% of essay): show what you did and obstacles
Conclusion: (15% of essay): your success implies meaningful engagement + personal growth
4. Educational opportunity/barrier
Objectives:
Show an interpersonal skill OR meaningful engagement with an academic field
Show personal growth in the category you chose in the previous bullet point
Outline:
Intro (25% of essay): introduce your interest, goal or problem, and thematic trait
Process (60% of essay): show what you did + obstacles + interactions with others (if relevant)
Conclusion: (15% of essay): your success implies personal growth
5. Challenge
Objectives:
Show an interpersonal skill OR meaningful engagement with an academic field
Show personal growth in the category you chose in the previous bullet point
NOTE: The "affect" this had on your academic achievement needs to be positive (because it's the key lesson you learned regarding your thematic trait)
Outline:
Intro (25% of essay): introduce your interest, goal or problem, and thematic trait
Process (60% of essay): show what you did + obstacles + interactions with others (if relevant)
Conclusion: (15% of essay): your success implies your personal growth
6. Pursuit of academic interest
Objectives:
Show an interpersonal skill and/or meaningful engagement with an academic field
Show personal growth in the category you chose in the previous bullet point
Don't make this a static "I love [X]" essay! You need to change in some way.
Outline:
Intro (25% of essay): introduce your interest, goal or problem, and thematic trait
Process (60% of essay): show what you did + obstacles + interactions with others (if relevant)
Conclusion: (15% of essay): your success implies personal growth
7. Improve Community
Objectives:
show through cause and effect how you had a positive impact on a group
imply personal growth in a leadership or collaboration skill
Outline:
Intro (25% of essay): introduce your goal or problem, role, and thematic trait
Process (60% of essay): show what you did, interactions with others, and obstacles
Conclusion: (15% of essay): your success implies personal growth in the thematic trait
8. Free Choice Tips
Consider emphasizing one of the Give & Take skills.
Make sure the essay features growth or change and isn't just "I love [X]!" or "My dream is to [X]!"
Interpersonal essays are usually stronger because we learn about how you interact with others.