UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs): They are NOT essays!!!

In 2017 the University of California shifted from the traditional personal statement--a more creative essay meant to showcase an applicant's personality, writing abilities, and creativity--to the Personal Insight Questions, commonly referred to as the PIQs.

For the past five years, I have attended the UC Counselors Conference session on the PIQs, and the message has remained consistent: these PIQs are not meant to be a personal statement. They are meant to be questions the applicant answers directly, as if they were being asked these questions in an interview. 

Below are some tips on how to approach the PIQs and some myths dispelled:

• Readers do not need to be entertained. That is NOT the point of these responses

• Do NOT include a Hook, intro, or conclusion; These are NOT essays

• Students should TELL don’t SHOW, which is the OPPOSITE of the personal statement

• Two things students should include in each answer: Details and Self-Reflection

• Admissions readers want to see facts to learn about the student

• Quotes (words not the students) have no place in the PIQs

• All PIQs are read with the courses, grades, and activities; so the admissions reader looks at the PIQs to enhance the transcript and activities and give new information

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• The UCs DO NOT prefer certain questions over others

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