How to Write the UC
Personal Insight Questions
A live online video course for high school students and college counselors.
- Live Q&A sessions with Ethan, plus 20+ on-demand video lessons
- 30+ real sample Personal Insight Questions
- Covers all 8 PIQ prompts, the Activities List and Additional Comments
- Pay-what-you-can spots available — no one is turned away for lack of funds
A live, step-by-step, pay-what-you-can course
For helping students write outstanding responses to the University of California Personal Insight Questions.
Live sessions: Saturday, October 3rd & Saturday, October 17th
(or get started writing today)
What’s in the course
Guided lessons and videos that teach simple, practical tools for writing your UC Personal Insight Questions.
Get inspired by what other students have done well in their Personal Insight Questions.
Brainstorm, outline, and up-level an outstanding application. Pay-what-you-can spots are available — no one is turned away for lack of funds.
Knock out the applications for all 9 UC campuses.
If you’re not satisfied, get a no-questions-asked refund.
How do you stand out in just 350 words?
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The University of California schools have some pretty specific things they’re looking for in their application.
This live course provides a step-by-step guide to understanding what those things are, and how you can answer each of the eight possible UC Personal Insight Questions in a way that helps you stand out, show what you care about, and how you’ll contribute to your future UC campus.
Along with two live Q&A sessions with me, Ethan, this course includes all the resources and exercises you need to tackle the UC Personal Insight Questions, the Activities List, and Additional Comments sections.
Live session schedule
SESSION 1: Saturday, October 3rd
SESSION 2: Saturday, October 17th
Both sessions run 9:00am–12:00pm Pacific Time (12:00–3:00pm Eastern Time).
Want to know what we’ll cover on both days? You can view the syllabus here.
Start writing today
I designed this course so you can go through it whenever (and wherever) you want. You’ll get access to every single lesson and resource as soon as you register.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS
- As soon as you register, you’ll have a series of lessons and videos to go through, plus some assignments to complete.
- You’ll meet with me live for two sessions where I’ll walk you through specific parts of the process, review real students’ works-in-progress, and answer tons of questions.
- You’ll learn how to outline, draft, and revise until your Personal Insight Questions, Activities List, and Additional Comments section is awesome.
From tearing apart my essays multiple times over the summer workshops, to helping me find value in the UC essay everyone told me not to submit (the spongebob memes and tacos one if you recall), to truly transforming my personal statement into something that is ME, I’m immensely grateful.
Ali
UC Application Course Student
Video module overview
MODULE 0: APPLICATION ESSENTIALS + PRE-WORK
- 7 Essential Tips for Applying to the UC Schools
- What are the 13 elements of comprehensive review?
- Creating your preliminary UC Activities List and Additional Comments section
MODULE 1: BRAINSTORMING + CHOOSING YOUR UC PIQ TOPICS
- How to pick your 4 UC Personal Insight Question topics
- Why you should outline your PIQs before writing
- Getting feedback on your PIQ topics (optional)
MODULE 2: WRITING YOUR FIRST DRAFTS
- How to structure any PIQ
A step-by-step guide for standing out on each of the 8 topics, including:
- Prompt 1 – Leadership
- Prompt 2 – Creativity
- Prompt 3 – Greatest Talent or Skill
- Prompt 4 – Educational Opportunity or Barrier
- Prompt 5 – Significant Challenge
- Prompt 6 – Favorite Subject
- Prompt 7 – Community Service
- Prompt 8 – What sets you apart? (AKA topic of your choice)
- Writing your first drafts
MODULE 3: REVISING THE FIRST DRAFT
- Getting feedback on your PIQ topics (optional)
- Revising a narrative PIQ (writing about a challenge)
- Revising a montage PIQ (not writing about a challenge)
- How to start your PIQs
- Writing your second draft (optional)
MODULE 4: TAKING THINGS TO THE NEXT LEVEL (THE GREAT PIQ TEST)
- Getting feedback on your second drafts
- How to make your PIQs more insightful
- Editing for “flow”
- Writing your next drafts
MODULE 5: REFINING
- The Great Personal Insight Question Test (AKA making sure your essay is doing its job)
- Polishing and grammar
- What to do when you’re done
Ready to write standout PIQs?
Watch live or any time
THE COURSE INCLUDES:
6 HOURS OF LIVE Q&A
Join me live for two Saturday mornings where I’ll walk through answering each Personal Insight Question and answer any and all of your college application questions.
10+ VIDEO LESSONS
Video lessons and Q&A sessions guided by Ethan Sawyer, featuring real students’ example essays with step-by-step guides and exercises.
30+ EXAMPLES + WORKBOOK
I’ll analyze past students’ PIQs, and share a downloadable Google Doc workbook so you can get started right away.
100% MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Don’t love it? Just request a refund up to 30 days after you registered.
I’d like to thank you for letting me join the UC Application course you gave in the beginning of this year for free. There’s no way I could have afforded it but you made it possible. Finally, I’ve committed to go to Stanford and I’m feeling very thankful for the opportunity you gave me. Thank you and keep it up!
Hassan F.
Stanford Class of 2021
This course gave me a fresh approach for how to structure student sessions. The tools and resources are invaluable! It’s exciting to be able to put these new techniques in action in order to help my students write the best personal statements possible. Thank you so much for a fabulous course!
Kelsea C.
High School Counselor
My daughter had a bit of a struggle starting her college essays. Ethan’s resources, enthusiasm, and experience actually got her moving! I really appreciate the low price of this course. For us, Ethan’s support feels priceless. Highly recommended!
Emily S.
Parent
Who is College Essay Guy?
Ethan Sawyer is a nationally recognized college essay expert and sought-after speaker. Each year he helps thousands of students and counselors through his online courses, workshops, articles, products, and books, and works privately with a small number of students. A graduate of Northwestern University, Ethan holds an MFA from UC Irvine, two counseling certificates, and is certified in Myers-Briggs and hypnotherapy. He lives in Los Angeles with his beautiful wife, Veronica, and their amazing daughter, Zola.
What you’ll walk away with
Learn how to choose your four prompts and how to make your answers stand out.
Find out what UC admissions officers are really looking for.
Watch the videos whenever and wherever you want.
Students finish the course with compelling and memorable responses to the UC Personal Insight Questions.
Parents and counselors get all the tools they need to help their students through the writing process.
Watch and work from anywhere — you’ll have access to the lessons for a full year.
Before this course, I had one extracurricular activity that overlapped in all four of my Personal Insight Questions. Afterwards I was amazed how the BEABIES, Feelings and Needs Exercise, and example essays helped me discover aspects of myself that I never thought I’d feel comfortable talking about. Now all four of my essays focus on different aspects of me which I’m proud of.
Shazaib
Student
This workshop gave me better insight into how to help students with their Personal Insight Questions. Ethan provided me with valuable techniques and skills that I was never taught in my graduate education. These will be absolutely essential when helping my students with writing their Personal Insight Questions during application season!
Danielle
High School Counselor
Applying to other colleges outside of the UC system?
Register for this course and get 50% off the on-demand version of the How to Write the College Application + Supplemental Essays course, my step-by-step video course on writing awesome supplemental essays for the most popular colleges.
How? Register below and you’ll be taken to the discounted offer.
How to Write the UC Personal Insight Questions
How to Write the UC Personal Insight Questions
- Live Q&A sessions with Ethan
- 20+ video lessons, watch anytime
- Downloadable workbook & exercises
- All 8 Personal Insight Question prompts
- Activities List & Additional Comments sections
Pay-what-you-can
Access is really important to me. In fact, it’s at the heart of most everything I do, and it’s why so many resources on my site are free.
Can’t afford the suggested price? I offer pay-what-you-can spots for low-income students. Reach out below to request a spot.
Got a question?
How do I log in?
If you have purchased any of our online video courses or live webinars, you can log in by going to the website menu bar > Log In > Online Courses. You can view that page here. From there you can access all of your products in your library.
If you already have access to our Choose Your Own Adventure Tool, go to the menu bar, click “Log In,” and click “Choose Your Own Adventure Tool.”
What’s the homework?
You can find the homework in your course syllabus! Between sessions, we’ll ask you to complete optional brainstorming exercises or work on your essays in preparation for the next live session.
How long do I have access to the course?
Students have access to the course for one year from the date of purchase.
Are essay reviews included with the course?
Unfortunately we have a small team and are not currently able to guarantee essay reviews as a part of this course. We recommend Prompt for one-time essay revisions.
However, sometimes Ethan may ask for students to submit a few essay drafts to review during the live sessions as an example for the group. In this case, we will let you know during the course where to send essays for a potential review.
Can I get a discount?
Access is really important to all of us at College Essay Guy. It’s at the heart of most everything Ethan does and is why so many resources on the site are free. As this is something we are passionate about, we have an option to submit a pay-what-you-can request on each of our course pages.
What if I can’t afford it?
As with all my courses and resources, I have pay-what-you-can spots available for low-income students. Just click the orange button above.
What if I have another question?
My FAQ page has you covered. Or, if you can’t find the answer there, shoot an email to my team: [email protected].