How to Write the UC Personal Insight Questions
A step-by-step course for helping students write outstanding responses to the University of California Personal Insight Questions.
Through a series of guided lessons and videos, I’ll teach you simple, practical tools for writing your UC Personal Insight Questions.
Get inspired by real examples of what other students did well in their Personal Insight Questions to spark ideas for your essays today!
Confidently complete applications for all nine UC campuses with one streamlined set of tools, tips, and step-by-step guides today.
Give it a try with confidence — if it’s not right for you, we’ll refund you within 30 days, no questions asked. We’ve helped thousands of students with our courses.
Access all lessons, tools, and resources anytime for a full year, so you can plan, draft, and revise at your own pace with flexible, fully self-guided support.
Create an outstanding application that showcases all of your awesomeness, highlights your story, and helps you stand out with clarity and confidence.
Write answers to the Personal Insight Questions that only you could write.
Course Description
The University of California schools have some pretty specific things they’re looking for in their application.
This 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.
This course includes all the resources and exercises you need to tackle the UC Personal Insight Questions, the Activities List, and Additional Comments sections.
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.
I’ve provided recordings of live sessions that walk you through specific parts of the process, where I 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
Course Lessons & Overview
Module 0: Application Essentials + Pre-work
In Module 0, I cover:
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7 Essential Tips for Applying to the UC Schools
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What are the 14 elements of comprehensive review?
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Creating Your Preliminary UC Activities List and Additional Comments Section
Module 1: Brainstorming + Choosing Your UC PIQ topics
In Module 1, I cover:
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How to Pick Your 4 UC Personal Insight Question Topics
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Why You Should Outline Your PIQs Before Writing
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Getting Feedback on Your PIQ Topics (Optional)
Module 2: Writing Your First Drafts
In Module 2, I cover:
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How to Structure Any PIQ
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A step-by-step guide for standing out on each of the 8 topics, including:
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Prompt 1 – Leadership
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Prompt 2 – Creativity
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Prompt 3 -. Greatest Talent or Skill
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Prompt 4 – Educational Opportunity or Barrier
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Prompt 5 – Significant Challenge
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Prompt 6 – Favorite Subject
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Prompt 7 – Community Service
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Prompt 8 – What sets you apart? AKA Topic Of Your Choice
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Writing Your First Drafts
Module 3: Revising the First Draft
In Module 3, I cover:
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Getting Feedback on Your PIQ Topics (Optional)
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Revising a Narrative PIQ (Writing about a Challenge)
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Revising a Montage PIQ (Not Writing about a Challenge)
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How to Start Your PIQs
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Writing Your Second Draft (Optional)
Module 4: Taking Things to the Next Level (The Great PIQ Test)
In Module 4, I cover:
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Getting Feedback on Your Second Drafts
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How to Make Your PIQs More Insightful
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Editing for “Flow”
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Writing Your Next Drafts
Module 5: Refining
In Module 5, I cover:
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The Great Personal Insight Question Test (AKA Making Sure Your Essay is Doing Its Job)
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Polishing and Grammar
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What to Do When You’re Done
Before this course, I had one extracurricular activity that overlapped in all four of my personal insight question. 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 S
UC Application Course Student
The Course Includes:
10+ Video Lessons
Lessons + Q&A sessions guided by Ethan Sawyer, featuring real students, example essays, and step-by-step guides
30+ Examples + Writing Workbook
I’ll analyze past students’ PIQs, and share a downloadable Google Doc workbook so you can get started right away
Answers You Need
How to choose your four topics • How to outline •
How to revise How to stand out
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
Meet Your Guide
Hi, I’m Ethan. Each year I help thousands of students and counselors around the world through my online courses, workshops, articles, blog posts and books. I also work privately with a small number of students each year.
I distill the best and most effective resources I have ever found. I’ll personally walk you from “I feel totally lost” to “I feel like I’ve submitted the best application I can.”
Everything you need to write standout UC essays — all in one place
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
Stronger essays. Less stress. Better results.
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.
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
PAY IN FULL
One Time Payment
PAYMENT PLAN
Four Monthly Payments
1-on-1 SUPPORT
One Time Payment
Pay-What-You-Can Spots
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 course? We offer pay-what-you-can spots for students from low-income homes. Just click below to request a Pay-What-You-Can spot.
Got a Question?
YOU MAY BE WONDERING (FAQ)
How do I login?
If you have purchased any of our online video courses or live webinars, you can login 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.
Are live sessions recorded?
Yes! Live sessions will be recorded and hosted inside your course account inside the relevant session module.
What’s the homework?
You can find the homework in your course syllabus (linked above). Each week, we’ll ask you to complete optional brainstorming exercises or work on your essays in preparation for the upcoming 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?
No. If you would like someone to review your essay, you’ll want to look into our One-On-One Coaching or Complete Application Review Service.
What if I can't afford it? What is "Pay What You Can"?
Access is really important to all of us at College Essay Guy. It’s at the heart of most everything we do and is why so many resources on the site are free and pay-what-you-can. We offer pay-what-you-can spots for students from low-income homes. You can submit a request on this page at the links above. 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 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].