How to Write the UC Berkeley Supplemental Essays and Stand Out in the UC Application

UC Berkeley—a global epicenter for activism, academic rigor, and innovative thought. Located in the Bay Area, with its iconic view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Berkeley is a university where intellectual curiosity meets a passion for change. Known for its history of social movements, groundbreaking research, and proximity to Silicon Valley, Berkeley attracts ambitious students ready to challenge conventions and make an impact.

Let’s craft essays that celebrate your unique perspective while aligning with Berkeley’s values. Spoiler alert: It’s not about listing achievements—it’s about telling your story.

The UC Personal Insight Questions

General Strategy for the UC Prompts

The UC application is unique. There’s no “Why Berkeley?” question or space to outline how you’ll fit in—instead, it’s all about sharing the life experiences that have shaped you. Your essays will be sent to all UC campuses, so focus on creating a personal narrative that resonates universally.

Tips for All Prompts:

• Get Specific: Use vivid examples to bring your story to life.
• Go Beyond the Resume: Admissions officers want to know who you are, not just what you’ve done.
• Reflect Deeply: Don’t just describe events—share how they shaped your values and goals.
• Balance Your Responses: Highlight a range of qualities—leadership, creativity, resilience, intellectual curiosity, and community impact.

1. Describe an example of a leadership experience in which you’ve positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

Berkeley's community thrives on collaboration. Leadership doesn’t have to mean captain of the debate team; it’s about how you’ve inspired or supported others.

Tips:

• Think Beyond Titles: Did you organize your siblings during a family crisis? Mediate between friends? Lead quietly from behind the scenes?
• Focus on Impact: Highlight how your leadership created change or growth.
• Example: "When our school’s theater program faced a financial crisis, I didn’t just raise funds; I reignited a community’s passion for the arts. Late-night brainstorming sessions led to bake sales, trivia nights, and even a neighborhood talent show. The night the curtains rose on our spring play, I realized leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about building bridges and inspiring belief."

2. 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.

Berkeley's creativity isn’t limited to the arts; it’s about original thinking in any context.

Tips:

• Redefine Creativity: Did you innovate a family recipe? Design a spreadsheet that transformed your club’s operations?
• Emphasize Process: Share how you approach creative challenges and what excites you about the work.
• Example: "Coding became my art form the day I realized algorithms could tell stories. When my cousin struggled with dyslexia, I spent months experimenting with gamification, creating an app where letters danced and words lit up with each correct answer. Watching her rediscover joy in reading, I learned that creativity lies in crafting solutions that feel personal and transformative."

3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?

Here’s your chance to showcase something you’re genuinely proud of—but remember, depth beats breadth.

Tips:

• Get Personal: Choose something meaningful, even if it seems small.
• Show Growth: Highlight how you’ve nurtured this talent through effort and persistence.
• Example: "Cooking isn’t just a skill; it’s my love language. Every Sunday, I blend recipes from my Vietnamese heritage with the flavors I’ve discovered—French soufflés, Japanese matcha crepes—turning meals into cultural exchanges. Food is how I bring people to the table, weaving stories and connections with every bite."

4. Describe how you’ve taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you’ve faced.

This prompt is about showing initiative and resilience. Whether it’s a program you seized or a barrier you overcame, focus on the lessons learned.

Tips:

• Highlight Growth: Did this experience change how you see yourself or your potential?
• Be Specific: Detail what you did and why it mattered.
• Example: "When I joined a summer coding bootcamp, I was a novice surrounded by prodigies. Debugging until dawn and pitching a group project to industry leaders felt like climbing Everest. By the end, I didn’t just build an app—I built confidence and uncovered a knack for tackling complex puzzles."

5. Describe the most significant challenge you’ve faced and the steps you’ve taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

Challenges reveal character. Berkeley wants to know how you face adversity and grow from it.

Tips:

• Be Honest: Share a real struggle, but focus on your response and growth.
• Link to Academics: Show how the challenge shaped your educational journey.
• Example: "The hospital became my second home when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. Between managing her appointments and keeping up with school, I found strength I didn’t know I had. Late nights translating medical jargon turned into a fascination with healthcare policy—how systems shape lives and how I could someday make them better."

6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you’ve furthered this interest inside and/or outside the classroom.

This prompt is for showcasing intellectual curiosity.

Tips:

• Go Deep: Focus on one subject and your unique connection to it.
• Show Initiative: Highlight independent projects or experiences.
• Example: "Biology feels like decoding the poetry of life. Volunteering at a wildlife rescue, I’ve watched swans relearn to fly and owls find their rhythm after injury. These moments fuel my fascination with ecosystems, reminding me that every small intervention ripples outward in the intricate web of nature."

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?

Berkeley values students who contribute to the world around them.

Tips:

• Focus on Action: Highlight what you did and the impact it had.
• Example: "During the pandemic, I saw how isolation crushed my peers’ spirits. Organizing a virtual peer support group wasn’t just about grades—it was about hope. Weekly check-ins, shared playlists, and mindfulness workshops created a sanctuary where 50 students found connection in a disconnected world."

8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admission to the University of California?

This is your catch-all prompt to add something unique or tie your essays together.

Why UC Berkeley Stands Out

UC Berkeley isn’t just another elite university. It’s where the Free Speech Movement started, a leader in sustainability, and a global research hub. Its location near Silicon Valley provides access to cutting-edge industries, while its activist spirit empowers students to drive change. Berkeley is for those who dare to think differently and act boldly.

Final Thoughts

UC Berkeley isn’t looking for perfect students. They want thinkers, builders, and changemakers—students who see challenges as opportunities. Use these prompts to tell your story, highlight your growth, and show how you’ll contribute to Berkeley’s vibrant community.