does uc riverside require an essay

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

UC Riverside Requirements for Admission

What are UC Riverside's admission requirements? While there are a lot of pieces that go into a college application, you should focus on only a few critical things:

• GPA requirements
• Testing requirements, including SAT and ACT requirements
• Application requirements

In this guide we'll cover what you need to get into UC Riverside and build a strong application.

School location: Riverside, CA

This school is also known as: University of California, Riverside, UCR, UC Riverside

Admissions Rate: 69.1%

If you want to get in, the first thing to look at is the acceptance rate. This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are.

The acceptance rate at UC Riverside is 69.1% . For every 100 applicants, 69 are admitted.

This means the school is moderately selective . The school expects you to meet their requirements for GPA and SAT/ACT scores, but they're more flexible than other schools. If you exceed their requirements, you have an excellent chance of getting in. But if you don't, you might be one of the unlucky minority that gets a rejection letter.

We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies . We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools , from state colleges to the Ivy League.

We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools.

Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

UC Riverside GPA Requirements

Many schools specify a minimum GPA requirement, but this is often just the bare minimum to submit an application without immediately getting rejected.

The GPA requirement that really matters is the GPA you need for a real chance of getting in. For this, we look at the school's average GPA for its current students.

Average GPA: 3.94

The average GPA at UC Riverside is 3.94 .

(Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA.

With a GPA of 3.94, UC Riverside requires you to be at the top of your class . You'll need nearly straight A's in all your classes to compete with other applicants. Furthermore, you should be taking hard classes - AP or IB courses - to show that college-level academics is a breeze.

If you're currently a junior or senior, your GPA is hard to change in time for college applications. If your GPA is at or below the school average of 3.94, you'll need a higher SAT or ACT score to compensate . This will help you compete effectively against other applicants who have higher GPAs than you.

SAT and ACT Requirements

Each school has different requirements for standardized testing. Only a few schools require the SAT or ACT, but many consider your scores if you choose to submit them.

UC Riverside hasn't explicitly named a policy on SAT/ACT requirements, but because it's published average SAT or ACT scores (we'll cover this next), it's likely test flexible. Typically, these schools say, "if you feel your SAT or ACT score represents you well as a student, submit them. Otherwise, don't."

Despite this policy, the truth is that most students still take the SAT or ACT, and most applicants to UC Riverside will submit their scores. If you don't submit scores, you'll have one fewer dimension to show that you're worthy of being admitted, compared to other students. We therefore recommend that you consider taking the SAT or ACT, and doing well.

UC Riverside SAT Requirements

Many schools say they have no SAT score cutoff, but the truth is that there is a hidden SAT requirement. This is based on the school's average score.

Average SAT: 1225

The average SAT score composite at UC Riverside is a 1225 on the 1600 SAT scale.

This score makes UC Riverside Competitive for SAT test scores.

UC Riverside SAT Score Analysis (New 1600 SAT)

The 25th percentile SAT score is 1130, and the 75th percentile SAT score is 1330. In other words, a 1130 on the SAT places you below average, while a 1330 will move you up to above average .

Here's the breakdown of SAT scores by section:

SAT Score Choice Policy

The Score Choice policy at your school is an important part of your testing strategy.

UC Riverside has the Score Choice policy of "All Scores."

This means that UC Riverside requires you to send all SAT scores you've ever taken to their office.

This sounds daunting, but most schools don't actually consider all your scores equally. For example, if you scored an 1300 on one test and a 1500 on another, they won't actually average the two tests.

More commonly, the school will take your highest score on a single test date. Even better, some schools form a Superscore - that is, they take your highest section score across all your test dates and combine them.

Some students are still worried about submitting too many test scores. They're afraid that UC Riverside will look down on too many attempts to raise your score. But how many is too many?

From our research and talking to admissions officers, we've learned that 4-6 tests is a safe number to submit . The college understands that you want to have the best chance of admission, and retaking the test is a good way to do this. Within a reasonable number of tests, they honestly don't care how many times you've taken it. They'll just focus on your score.

If you take it more than 6 times, colleges start wondering why you're not improving with each test. They'll question your study skills and ability to improve.

But below 6 tests, we strongly encourage retaking the test to maximize your chances. If your SAT score is currently below a 1225, we strongly recommend that you consider prepping for the SAT and retaking it . You don't have much to lose, and you can potentially raise your score and significantly boost your chances of getting in.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

UC Riverside ACT Requirements

Just like for the SAT, UC Riverside likely doesn't have a hard ACT cutoff, but if you score too low, your application will get tossed in the trash.

Average ACT: 27

The average ACT score at UC Riverside is 27. This score makes UC Riverside Moderately Competitive for ACT scores.

The 25th percentile ACT score is 24, and the 75th percentile ACT score is 30.

Even though UC Riverside likely says they have no minimum ACT requirement, if you apply with a 24 or below, you'll have a harder time getting in, unless you have something else impressive in your application.

ACT Score Sending Policy

If you're taking the ACT as opposed to the SAT, you have a huge advantage in how you send scores, and this dramatically affects your testing strategy.

Here it is: when you send ACT scores to colleges, you have absolute control over which tests you send. You could take 10 tests, and only send your highest one. This is unlike the SAT, where many schools require you to send all your tests ever taken.

This means that you have more chances than you think to improve your ACT score. To try to aim for the school's ACT requirement of 27 and above, you should try to take the ACT as many times as you can. When you have the final score that you're happy with, you can then send only that score to all your schools.

ACT Superscore Policy

By and large, most colleges do not superscore the ACT. (Superscore means that the school takes your best section scores from all the test dates you submit, and then combines them into the best possible composite score). Thus, most schools will just take your highest ACT score from a single sitting.

We weren't able to find the school's exact ACT policy, which most likely means that it does not Superscore. Regardless, you can choose your single best ACT score to send in to UC Riverside, so you should prep until you reach our recommended target ACT score of 27.

Download our free guide on the top 5 strategies you must be using to improve your score. This guide was written by Harvard graduates and ACT perfect scorers. If you apply the strategies in this guide, you'll study smarter and make huge score improvements.

SAT/ACT Writing Section Requirements

Currently, only the ACT has an optional essay section that all students can take. The SAT used to also have an optional Essay section, but since June 2021, this has been discontinued unless you are taking the test as part of school-day testing in a few states. Because of this, no school requires the SAT Essay or ACT Writing section, but some schools do recommend certain students submit their results if they have them.

UC Riverside considers the SAT Essay/ACT Writing section optional and may not include it as part of their admissions consideration. You don't need to worry too much about Writing for this school, but other schools you're applying to may require it.

Final Admissions Verdict

Because this school is moderately selective, strong academic performance will almost guarantee you admission . Scoring a 1330 SAT or a 30 ACT or above will nearly guarantee you admission. Because the school admits 69.1% of all applicants, being far above average raises the admission rate for you to nearly 100%.

If you can achieve a high SAT/ACT score, the rest of your application essentially doesn't matter. You still need to meet the rest of the application requirements, and your GPA shouldn't be too far off from the school average of 3.94. But you won't need dazzling extracurriculars and breathtaking letters of recommendation to get in. You can get in based on the merits of your score alone.

But if your score is a 1130 SAT or a 24 ACT and below, you have a good chance of being one of the unlucky few to be rejected.

Admissions Calculator

Here's our custom admissions calculator. Plug in your numbers to see what your chances of getting in are. Pick your test: SAT ACT

• 80-100%: Safety school: Strong chance of getting in
• 50-80%: More likely than not getting in
• 20-50%: Lower but still good chance of getting in
• 5-20%: Reach school: Unlikely to get in, but still have a shot
• 0-5%: Hard reach school: Very difficult to get in

How would your chances improve with a better score?

Take your current SAT score and add 160 points (or take your ACT score and add 4 points) to the calculator above. See how much your chances improve?

At PrepScholar, we've created the leading online SAT/ACT prep program . We guarantee an improvement of 160 SAT points or 4 ACT points on your score, or your money back.

Here's a summary of why we're so much more effective than other prep programs:

• PrepScholar customizes your prep to your strengths and weaknesses . You don't waste time working on areas you already know, so you get more results in less time.
• We guide you through your program step-by-step so that you're never confused about what you should be studying. Focus all your time learning, not worrying about what to learn.
• Our team is made of national SAT/ACT experts . PrepScholar's founders are Harvard graduates and SAT perfect scorers . You'll be studying using the strategies that actually worked for them.
• We've gotten tremendous results with thousands of students across the country. Read about our score results and reviews from our happy customers .

There's a lot more to PrepScholar that makes it the best SAT/ACT prep program. Click to learn more about our program , or sign up for our 5-day free trial to check out PrepScholar for yourself:

Application Requirements

Every school requires an application with the bare essentials - high school transcript and GPA, application form, and other core information. Many schools, as explained above, also require SAT and ACT scores, as well as letters of recommendation, application essays, and interviews. We'll cover the exact requirements of UC Riverside here.

Application Requirements Overview

• Common Application Not accepted
• Electronic Application Available
• Essay or Personal Statement Required for all freshmen
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview Not required
• Application Fee $70
• Fee Waiver Available? Available
• Other Notes

Testing Requirements

• SAT or ACT Not used if submitted
• SAT Essay or ACT Writing Optional
• SAT Subject Tests Optional
• Scores Due in Office None

Coursework Requirements

• Subject Required Years
• Foreign Language 2
• Social Studies
• Electives 1

Deadlines and Early Admissions

• Offered? Deadline Notification
• Yes November 30 March 31

Admissions Office Information

• Address: 900 Riverside, CA 92521-0102
• Phone: (951) 827-1012 x1012
• Fax: (951) 827-6344
• Email: [email protected]

Other Schools For You

If you're interested in UC Riverside, you'll probably be interested in these schools as well. We've divided them into 3 categories depending on how hard they are to get into, relative to UC Riverside.

Reach Schools: Harder to Get Into

These schools are have higher average SAT scores than UC Riverside. If you improve your SAT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.

Same Level: Equally Hard to Get Into

If you're competitive for UC Riverside, these schools will offer you a similar chance of admission.

Safety Schools: Easier to Get Into

If you're currently competitive for UC Riverside, you should have no problem getting into these schools. If UC Riverside is currently out of your reach, you might already be competitive for these schools.

Data on this page is sourced from Peterson's Databases © 2023 (Peterson's LLC. All rights reserved.) as well as additional publicly available sources.

If You Liked Our Advice...

Our experts have written hundreds of useful articles on improving your SAT score and getting into college. You'll definitely find something useful here.

Subscribe to our newsletter to get FREE strategies and guides sent to your email. Learn how to ace the SAT with exclusive tips and insights that we share with our private newsletter subscribers.

You should definitely follow us on social media . You'll get updates on our latest articles right on your feed. Follow us on all of our social networks:

Division of Undergraduate Education

UCR's Hub of Innovation and Collaboration

University Writing Program

University Writing Program Administrative Office 1003 HMNSS University of California, Riverside Riverside, CA 92521 Tel: (951) 827-7760 Fax: (951) 827-7761

The University Writing Program offers courses that fulfill the UCR writing requirement. Students learn to write well, read closely, and speak formally in public. The University Writing Program helps UCR students make their way.

VISIT University Writing Program WEBSITE

The Entry-Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) is a University of California reading and writing proficiency requirement that all first-year students must satisfy. It must be satisfied either before beginning courses on a UC campus or during the first year of enrollment.

The Writing And Foster Youth Alliance (WAFYA) serves the current and former foster youth community at the University of California, Riverside. WAFYA is composed of University Writing Program faculty who are dedicated to building collaborative academic relationships with the campus’s current and former foster youth through mentorship and supplemental academic support.

WAC, or “W,” courses provide students with an opportunity not only to receive course credit in the discipline of the class, but also – if they earn a grade of ‘C’ or higher – to satisfy the campus’ third-quarter writing requirement.

The Inland Area Writing Project (IAWP) is a teacher-centered professional development organization hosted by UCR. The IAWP strives to improve the teaching of writing, and thereby to improve the writing ability of students in the Inland Empire.

Graduate Division

Promoting Graduate Education

Admission Requirements

The Fall 2024 application is open. Visit our Deadlines page for upcoming deadlines for Winter and Spring 2025.

Admissions Criteria

•  A bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited institution. The degree must represent the completion of a program equivalent in subject matter and scholarship to that offered by the University of California. 
• A minimum of a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or B-equivalent (if GPA is not on a 4.0 scale). We recommend that you check with the graduate program as they may have a higher standard for their GPA requirements. If your GPA is below this, follow up with the graduate program you are interested. Applications are reviewed in their entirety and the program can look at your other components and advise you on potential admission.
• All applications are initially reviewed by the graduate program before a recommendation is submitted to the Graduate Division for final approval. Please visit your the graduate program's website you are interested in for any program specific requirements.

Below is a breakdown of our graduate application with information about each section you are required to complete. Additional instructions are provided in the online application to assist you in providing a complete application.

• Academic Degrees and Records
• Test Scores
• English Language Requirement
• Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement
• Relevant Experience
• Application Fee

We require transcripts with final grades or most recent grades (if degree is in progress) from all college-level institutions you have attended. We also require proof of any degree awarded to you. Confirmation of your degree can be a degree posting on a transcript or a copy of your degree certificate.  If you have attended an institution located outside of the US, visit International Academic Records for document requirements.

We only require UNOFFICIAL transcripts for the review of your application. DO NOT send official transcripts electronically or by mail. All transcripts and academic documents uploaded to the online application system are considered unofficial.

All uploaded transcripts and academic records should include the following information.

• Student's Name
• Institution's Name
• Dates of Attendance
• Grades Available (at the time applying)
• Credits/Units
• Grading Scale/Legend
• Degree Awarded (if applicable)

The graduate application system accepts PDF or DOCX files and only one attachment per institution.  Make sure to upload transcripts when you apply, or there will be a significant delay in your program reviewing your application.

We only require Test-Taker score reports for the initial program review. If you accept our offer, we will request official scores at that time. Test Scores submitted may not be borrowed, photocopied, returned to you , or sent elsewhere.

GRE Requirement 

While UCR's Graduate Council has approved temporarily waiving the GRE requirement for t he 2024-25 application cycles, some programs are still requiring the GRE. Please verify through the individual graduate program website for confirmation.   

We will accept the GRE General Test at Home version for the 2024-25 application cycles. Only the  Biophysics graduate program requires the GRE Subject exam . Although current scores are preferred, some graduate programs will accept scores taken within the last five years. Our  school code is 4839 . You can find GRE department and major codes here. If ETS has not assigned a major code to the graduate program you are interested in, select Undecided (0000). For more information on the GRE, visit ETS .

GMAT Requirement

The A. Gary Anderson School of Management (AGSM) accepts the GMAT or GRE General exam if you apply to the MPAc, MFin, MBA, MS in Business Analytics, or PhD programs. For more information on the GMAT exam, visit Graduate Management Admission Council .

All applicants whose first language is not English and who have not earned a undergraduate (bachelor's or first-degree equivalent) or advanced degree (master's or doctorate) at an institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction must submit passing current exam scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Graduate Division will not accept the Duolingo English Test. If you don't have access to taking any of the approved English language proficiency exams, we recommend contacting your program of interest.  Scores submitted may not be borrowed, photocopied, returned to you or sent elsewhere. 

Before performing duties as a Teaching Assistant, any student whose native language is not English must pass an oral English language competency exam upon arrival at UCR. This includes not only international students but also any student whose first language is not English. 

This exam is administered by ETS and offered in nearly every country abroad. This exam must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. The minimum acceptable scores are: 550 for the revised TOEFL paper-delivered test and 80 for the TOEFL iBT. We will accept the TOEFL iBT Special At Home version for the 2024-25 application cycle.   

We won't accept the TOEFL ITP+ or the  TOEFL MyBest™ scores  offered by ETS. Scores reported to UCR will be evaluated based on an exam where all sections were scored from one exam date. Results from multiple exams cannot be combined to create a super score.   We strongly advise you to be aware of the deadline for the program to which you are applying. Visit ETS for more information about this exam. UCR's school code is 4839 . GRE department and major codes can be found  here. If ETS has not assigned a major code to the graduate program you are interested in, select 99.

UCR also accepts scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) which is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations.  We will accept the IELTS Indicator for the 2022 -23 and 2023-24 application cycles.   This exam must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. The minimum acceptable overall score is 7 with no score less than 6 on any individual component. Please request an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS exam score. Remember to order the TRF from the test center where you took the test and ask the administrator to send the electronic score to UCR. For more information about registering for this exam or to locate the office of any test center, visit IELTS .

Applicants can to enter their recommenders' information directly into our online application. Recommenders will be notified electronically and provided instructions on submitting a letter online. All letters of recommendation must be received electronically so they are attached to the applicant's file for review. 

Graduate programs require three (3) letters of recommendation. Submitting more than three letters does not improve your standing as an applicant. At least two of these letters should be requested from individuals in a position to evaluate your performance in college-level coursework or research completed while pursuing your bachelor's degree or its equivalent. The most important aspect of letters of recommendation is that they are completed by individuals who are able to analyze your academic ability and potential for success in a rigorous graduate program. If you wish to submit a letter from an employer, please contact the graduate program advisor to determine if this will be acceptable. If you are applying to the MPAc, MFin, MBA, Professional MBA, or MSBA within the Anderson Graduate School of Management; only 1 letter of recommendation is required. The recommendation letter to these programs can be from an employer or a professor.  All letters of recommendation must be in English. If you have been enrolled in a graduate program, obtaining a letter from your program's research advisor, program advisor, or a faculty member who taught you in a graduate-level course is encouraged. 

Applicants using Interfolio's online portfolio service can have their letters uploaded to our online application using Interfolio's "Web Delivery" Method. To do so, please follow the step-by-step instructions located within the Reference Information section of the online application.    If you wish to waive your right to inspect the letters of recommendation, mark the appropriate box below the reference information. Only enrolled UCR students are permitted to inspect letters of recommendation for which they did not waive their right to access. Letters of recommendation cannot be released to the applicant and cannot be forwarded elsewhere. 

Applicants must submit these essays directly into their online application. Please note that each essay should not duplicate the other. We also do not accept a personal resume or curriculum vitae as a response to either essay. 

The Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to state your specific interests with respect to the program to which you are applying. Your intended area of specialization, career objectives and research interests and experience are of interest. 

The Personal History Statement is your opportunity to discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree. 

The appropriateness of the applicant’s goals to the degree program and its relationship to the research interested of the faculty is also considered. Please check with the  graduate program for more information on what relevant experience they are looking for as well as any addition program requirements that must be provided to review the application like:

• Writing Samples
• Course prerequisites

A non-refundable application fee is required, and payment can be made using (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) prior to submitting your online application. As application fees vary, please review the below information to determine your required application fee.  

Domestic (US Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Undocumented Applicants)

• All programs except the MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA: $135
• MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA programs: $155

International Applicants

• All programs except the MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA: $155
• MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA programs: $180

Fee Waivers  are available to qualified domestic applicants only. Waivers are not automatically granted and need to be approved prior to submission of your application. Only one fee waiver is allowed per student, per application period. We cannot issue refunds for any application fees already paid.  

University of California, Riverside | UC Riverside

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at University of California, Riverside | UC Riverside?

We take every aspect of your personal profile into consideration when calculating your admissions chances.

University of California, Riverside | UC Riverside’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Select-a-prompt short responses.

Please respond to any 4 of the 8 questions below.We realize that not all questions apply to all applicants, so be sure to select the 4 questions that you believe give us the best information about you.All 8 questions are given equal consideration in the application review process. Responses to each question should be between 250-350 words.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

UC Riverside: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

JimFeliciano/Getty Images

• Testing Graphs
• College Admissions Process
• College Profiles
• College Rankings
• Choosing A College
• Application Tips
• Essay Samples & Tips
• College Financial Aid
• Advanced Placement
• Homework Help
• Private School
• College Life
• Graduate School
• Business School
• Distance Learning
• Ph.D., English, University of Pennsylvania
• M.A., English, University of Pennsylvania
• B.S., Materials Science & Engineering and Literature, MIT

Located 50 miles east of Los Angeles, the University of California, Riverside is a public university with an acceptance rate of 57%. Business, social sciences, biological sciences, and engineering are the most popular undergraduate majors. The university's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned it a chapter of the prestigious  Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society . In athletics, the UCR Highlanders compete in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference.

Considering applying to UC Riverside? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, UC Riverside had an acceptance rate of 57%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 57 students were admitted, making UC Riverside's admissions process competitive.

SAT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools will offer test-optional admissions. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores, but they are not required. University of California will institute a test-blind policy for in-state applicants beginning with the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Out-of- state applicants will still have the option of submitting test scores during this period. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 94% of UC Riverside's admitted students submitted SAT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of UC Riverside's admitted students fall within the top 35% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Riverside scored between 560 and 650, while 25% score below 560 and 25% scored above 650. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 550 and 690, while 25% scored below 550 and 25% scored above 690. While SAT scores are no longer required, an SAT score of 1340 or higher is considered competitive for UC Riverside.

Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools, including UC Riverside, will no longer require SAT scores for admission. For applicants who submit scores, note that UC Riverside does not consider the optional SAT essay section. UC Riverside does not superscore SAT results; your highest combined score from a single test date will be considered. Subject tests are not required, but are recommended for students with an interest in science and engineering majors.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools will offer test-optional admissions. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores, but they are not required. University of California will institute a test-blind policy for in-state applicants beginning with the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Out-of- state applicants will still have the option of submitting test scores during this period. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 34% of UC Riverside's admitted students submitted ACT scores.

This admissions data tells us that most of UC Riverside's admitted students fall within the  top 26% nationally  on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to UC Riverside received a composite ACT score between 24 and 30, while 25% scored above 30 and 25% scored below 24.

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools, including UC Riverside, will no longer require ACT scores for admission. For applicants who submit scores, note that UC Riverside does not consider the optional ACT writing section. UC Riverside does not superscore ACT results; your highest combined score from a single test administration will be considered.

In 2019, the average high school GPA of University of California, Riverside's incoming freshmen class was 3.83, and over 61% of incoming students had average GPAs of 3.75 and above. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UC Riverside have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of California, Riverside. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

University of California, Riverside, which accepts approximately half of applicants, has a selective admissions process with above average grades and standardized test scores. However, UC Riverside, like all of the University of California schools, has  holistic admissions and is test-optional, so the admissions officers are evaluating students on more than numerical data. As part of the application, students are required to write four short  personal insight essays . Since UC Riverside is a part of the  University of California system , students can easily apply to multiple schools in that system with one application. Students who show special talent or have a compelling story to tell will often get a close look even if their grades and test scores are a bit below the norm. Impressive  extracurricular activities  and  strong essays  are all important parts of a successful application to UCR.

Keep in mind that California residents who apply must have a GPA of 3.0 or better with no grade lower than a C in 15 college preparatory  "a-g" courses . For non-residents, your GPA must be 3.4 or better. Local students from participating high schools may also qualify if they are in the top 9% of their class.

In the scattergram above, the green and blue dots represent accepted students. The majority of students who got into UC Riverside had GPAs of 3.0 or higher, SAT scores (ERW+M) of 950 or higher, and ACT scores of 18 or higher. Note that there is some red hidden behind the blue and green, Having grades and test scores that are on target for UC Riverside is not a guarantee of admission, especially if some application components don't compare favorably to the rest of the applicant pool.

If You Like UC Riverside, You Might Consider These Other UC Schools

• Los Angeles
• Santa Barbara

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and UC Riverside Undergraduate Admissions Office .

• UC Davis: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• UC Merced: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• UC Irvine: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• UC Santa Cruz: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• UC San Diego: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• University of Pennsylvania: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Vanderbilt University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Colgate University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Boise State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• East Carolina University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• North Carolina State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Georgia State University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Emory University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• Mercer University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• University of Michigan: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics
• John Jay College of Criminal Justice: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

University of California Riverside (UCR) Secondary Application – Autobiography Tips & Essay Prompts

• Cracking Med School Admissions Team

UCR School of Medicine is located in Riverside, California and serves the broader Inland Empire of Southern California. The medical school is well known for having excellent primary care, and it’s one of the best hospitals in the Inland Empire. The UCR secondary isn’t too long, but the admissions committee suggest a  one week turnaround time for this school once you receive its secondary.  Therefore, if you live in the Inland Empire, we highly suggest that you pre-write this secondary so it’s ready to submit once you receive the official secondary application. 

Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta have helped several students get admitted to UCR School of Medicine! We can definitely help answer any questions or work with you on your secondary essays – feel free to contact us down below!

• Personally Tailored Essays
• Edits by Stanford & Harvard-trained Doctors
• We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school

UC Riverside Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023 – 2024

• The mission of the UCR School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and, especially, to serve Inland Southern California by training a diverse workforce of physicians and by developing innovative research and health care delivery programs that will improve the health of the medically underserved in the region and become models to be emulated throughout the state and nation. What experiences, skills, and abilities will you bring to the class to fulfill this mission?  (250 words max)
• The values of the UCR SOM are integrity, innovation, inclusion, excellence, accountability and respect. Please choose one of these values and tell us about a time that you demonstrated it. (250 words max)
• In what medical specialty or specialties are you interested? What experiences have created the foundation for this interest? (250 words max)
• Tell us about a personal challenge you have faced in your life thus far and how you demonstrated resilience and grit to overcome it. [Please do not write about studying for or taking the MCAT.]  (250 words max)
• (Optional) If there is anything you would like the committee to consider about your candidacy that is not explained elsewhere in your application, please use this space to tell us. (250 words max)
• If you are a non-California resident, please explain your connection to Inland Southern California and the mission of the UC Riverside School of Medicine. (250 words max)

Tips to Answer UCR Secondaries

UCR Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: UCR typically has a one week turnaround time. Given that these essays haven’t changed each year, if you are from the Inland Empire of California, you might want to consider pre-writing this secondary.

• Download our  Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples .

  UCR Secondary Application Tip #1: The UC Riverside School of Medicine Admissions Committee is looking for medical students who are committed to the Inland Empire and the issues the Inland Empire population faces. For example, what we’ve seen from our medical school students’ essays is that writing about healthcare disparities, LatinX population, immigrant health, and migrant health are “winning” topics for UCR secondaries. Contact us if you have questions about what you should write. 

UCR Secondary Application Tip #2:  The best response for the UCR secondaries question, “ The values of the UCR SOM are integrity, innovation, inclusion, excellence, accountability and respect. Please choose one of the values and tell us how you have personally experienced it or have seen it emulated in a clinical setting, ” include a patient story. Ideally, you should discuss direct patient care through including a story in which you have helped with a patient’s clinical care rather than discussing a time when you watched a doctor portray those values.

UCR Secondary Application Tip #3: For the UCR secondaries question about a challenge, “ Tell us about a personal challenge you have faced in your life thus far and how you demonstrated resilience and grit to overcome i t , ” make sure to explain the following:

• What was the challenge. Make sure to give clear, concise context of the situation.
• How did you overcome the challenge?
• What did you learn from this experience? And how did the obstacle define you?
• What will you do differently in the future?

Dr. Rizal and Dr. Mediratta would  strongly advise you to NOT write about studying for the MCAT or getting a B- or lower in a course. 

UCR Secondary Application Tip #4: Answer ALL applicable optional questions, especially the UCR secondary essay prompt, “If there is anything you would like the committee to consider about your candidacy that is not explained elsewhere in your application, please use this space to tell us.”

• This open-ended question is like a diversity essay. Read our helpful blog post:  How To Write Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips

UCR Secondary Application Tip #5: For the UCR secondaries question, “ In what type of healthcare setting do you see yourself practicing medicine ” you don’t have to commit to a specific field of medicine if you are unsure. However, UCR medical school greatly emphasizes primary care. So, we would write a primary care field or even more generally, you can say “I want to be a primary care doctor” for this question.

UCR Secondary Application Tip #6: Getting a UCR School of Medicine interview is all about whether you portray yourself as having the right fit for UCR to the admissions committee. This can be tricky and we can definitely help you submit a strong secondary in a one-week time period through  secondary essay packages . 

[Read More Secondary Essay Tips:  University of California – Los Angeles ( UCLA ); University of Southern California ( USC ); University of California – Irvine ( UCI ); University of California – San Francisco ( UCSF ) ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

Download your secondary essay guide.

Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

• First Name *
• Best Email *
• Year Applying to Medical School *
• Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

UC Riverside Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023

Our students successfully receive interviews at their reach schools.

Stand Out From Other Applicants

School Secondary Editing Packages

Why choose us.

Your acceptance can be just one essay away…

UC Riverside Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

Uc riverside secondary application essay prompts: 2020 – 2021.

UCR secondaries changed a lot from last year

UC Riverside Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020

• Describe the single MOST important event or non-academic activity in your life and explain why it’s significant.  (250 words max)
• What activity or accomplishment are you MOST proud of? (250 words max)
• What experiences or activities have prepared you to work with medically underserved communities? (250 words max)
• Please list any Scholastic Activities that you have been involved with (including honors and awards)  (250 words max)
• Describe a major problem you have had to deal with at some time in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth. (250 words max)
• Is there any specific hardship to which you would like the committee to give special attention in evaluating your application? Please briefly explain below. (Include any geographic, language, economic, academic, physical, or mental factors.) (250 words max)
• What kind of health care setting do you envision yourself working in? (250 words max)
• How do you see yourself contributing to the mission of the UCR School of Medicine? (250 words max)
• PERSONAL STATEMENT: Your personal statement from the AMCAS application will be used in our admissions process. You do not need to duplicate it here. At your option, you may use this space to provide any further information you may want us to consider in addition to the AMCAS personal statement. THIS IS NOT MANDATORY.

UC Riverside Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

Uc riverside secondary application essay prompts: 2017 – 2018, uc riverside secondary application essay prompts: 2016 – 2017, contact us with questions, we'll answer any and all your questions about medical school we typically respond within 1 business day..

• Your Name *
• Your Email *
• Phone (optional)
• Leave us a Message or Question! We will email and call you back. *

Start typing and press enter to search

First-year requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)
• GPA requirement
• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
• Home-schooled students

Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
• Preparing to transfer
• UC transfer programs
• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
• Passports & visas
• Living accommodations
• Health care & insurance

AP & Exam credits

Applying as a first year

• Filling out the application
• Dates & deadlines
• Personal insight questions

How applications are reviewed

• After you apply

Applying as a transfer

Types of aid

• Grants & scholarships
• Jobs & work-study
• California DREAM Loan Program
• Middle Class Scholarship Program
• Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
• Native American Opportunity Plan  
• Who can get financial aid
• How aid works
• Estimate your aid

Apply for financial aid

• Tuition & cost of attendance
• Glossary & resources
• Santa Barbara
• Campus program & support services
• Check majors
• Freshman admit data
• Transfer admit data
• Native American Opportunity Plan
• Apply for aid

We spend time evaluating your academic achievements in light of the opportunities available to you and your demonstrated capacity to contribute to the intellectual life at UC. Some factors we may consider are:

• Academic grade point average in all completed A-G courses, including additional points for completed UC-certified honors courses.
• Number of, content of and performance in all A-G subject areas beyond the minimum requirements.
• Number of and performance in UC-approved honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate Higher Level and transferable college courses.
• Identification by UC as being ranked in the top 9 percent of your high school class at the end of your junior year ( Eligible in the Local Context , or ELC).
• Quality of your senior-year program as measured by the type and number of academic courses in any A-G subject area in progress or planned.
• Quality of your academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in your high school.
• Outstanding performance in one or more specific subject areas.
• Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field of study.
• Recent, marked improvement in academic performance as demonstrated by academic GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress.
• Special talents, achievements and awards in a particular field, such as visual and performing arts, communication or athletic endeavors; special skills, such as demonstrated written and oral proficiency in other languages; special interests, such as intensive study and exploration of other cultures; experiences that demonstrate unusual promise for leadership, such as significant community service or significant participation in student government; or other significant experiences or achievements that demonstrate the student's promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of a campus.
• Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of your high school curriculum or in conjunction with special school events, projects or programs.
• Academic accomplishments in light of your life experiences and special circumstances, including but not limited to: disabilities, low family income, first generation to attend college, need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environment, difficult personal and family situations or circumstances, refugee status or veteran status.
• Location of your secondary school and residence.

Selection process by campus

While all UC campuses use the same factors to evaluate applications, they often apply these factors differently. Be sure to review the selection process of each campus:

• Los Angeles

Do campuses make their admissions decisions independently from other UC campuses?

Each UC campus evaluates each application without knowing the status of the same application at another campus. In making admission decisions, campuses do not consider where you've applied or your admission status to other campuses. All campuses consider your application simultaneously, yet independently of all other campuses you applied to.

Good to know

Because the pool of students who apply to UC is different every year, the level of academic performance necessary for admission to a particular campus or major is different, too.

Acceptance rates depend on the number of applicants, their academic qualifications and the spaces we have available.

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

The Role That Essays Play in the UC Admissions

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Vinay Bhaskara in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

Why your essays matter, how to approach your essays, understanding and selecting prompts.

Essays are a critical component of your application to the University of California (UC) system. Since the UC system no longer considers standardized tests, like the SAT, ACT, AP, or IB examinations, when reaching admissions decisions, there are fewer data points with which admissions officers can assess candidates. 

A complete application for admission to the UC system consists of three main components: 

• Academic Performance: All of the schools you have attended, coursework you have taken, and the grades you received.
• Extracurricular Involvement: A list of your activities and awards.
• Essays: Four responses to the personal insight questions. 

Since there are fewer components to the application for admission, essays account for up to 35% of the admissions decision at the most competitive UCs, such as UC Berkeley and UCLA . The essays are still an important component of your application to less competitive but still selective UCs, such as UC Santa Barbara, San Diego, Irvine, Davis, and Riverside. And although UC Santa Cruz and Merced will mostly base their decision on your academic performance, your essays are still relevant to their admissions decisions. 

There are many applicants to the UC system who are all equally qualified and have similar academic and extracurricular profiles. For these students, the essays will likely be the single source of information by which admissions officers differentiate between otherwise comparable applicants before making admissions decisions. In this situation, you want the admissions officers to affirmatively choose you over another applicant. 

Since there is no dominant personal statement that you will submit, it is helpful to approach the UC application essays as if they form a portfolio. Each essay should speak to different aspects of your character, commitments, responsibilities, values, and goals. Your essays should provide context, analysis, and self-reflection, and they should not read like a resume or be overly linear or chronological in structure. If you would like to highlight an accomplishment of yours in an essay, you should make sure that you provide context, craft a compelling narrative, and balance description with sufficient analysis and self-reflection. 

There are eight personal insight questions to choose from, and you must provide four responses that are each a maximum of 350 words. Broadly speaking, the personal insight questions fall under two categories. 

The first category of personal insight questions focuses on personal qualities and includes prompts 1, 2, 5, and 7: 

• Prompt 1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.  
• Prompt 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.  
• Prompt 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• Prompt 7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?   

The second category of personal insight questions focuses on your accomplishments and interests and includes questions 3, 4, 6, and 8: 

• Prompt 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? 
• Prompt 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Prompt 6.  Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. 
• Prompt 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

To strike a good balance across all four essays, we recommend that you respond to two questions regarding your personal qualities and two questions regarding your accomplishments and interests. Ultimately, you should select the prompts that you are most confident and excited to respond to and that present a holistic view of who you are. 

For more information on writing the application essays for admission to the University of California, review the article on How to Write the University of California Essays .

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

• Communities Pre-Med Medical Resident Audiology Dental Optometry Pharmacy Physical Therapy Podiatry Psychology Rehab Sci Veterinary
• What's new Trending New posts Latest activity
• Support Account Help Confidential Advising
• Vision, Values and Policies

• PreMed Communities
• Pre-Medical (MD)
• MD Medical School-Specific Discussions Prior Years

2023-2024 UC Riverside

• Thread starter wysdoc
• Start date Mar 23, 2023

Plain-spoken Texan

• Mar 23, 2023

Full Member

• Jul 11, 2023

Anyone having a hard time getting the prereqs accepted  

brazzimamma

• Jul 12, 2023

Aberjo said: Anyone having a hard time getting the prereqs accepted Click to expand...

• Jul 13, 2023

IS, from IE secondary received  

• Jul 15, 2023

For the course title, do you guys put the course name or the course number?  

• Jul 16, 2023

Anyone IS not from IE receive anything yet?  

mnm10 said: IS, from IE secondary received Click to expand...

amoxicillin_resistant

postmix said: Anyone IS not from IE receive anything yet? Click to expand...

however, UCR does not screen IIRC  

amoxicillin_resistant said: however, UCR does not screen IIRC Click to expand...

firstfundamentalform

if you look at last year's thread, they're usually late to the game - late july/early august  

@wysdoc 1. The mission of the UCR School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and, especially, to serve Inland Southern California by training a diverse workforce of physicians and by developing innovative research and health care delivery programs that will improve the health of the medically underserved in the region and become models to be emulated throughout the state and nation. What experiences, skills, and abilities will you bring to the class to fulfill this mission? 2. The values of the UCR SOM are integrity, innovation, inclusion, excellence, accountability and respect. Please choose one of the values and tell us how you have personally experienced it or have seen it emulated in a clinical setting. 3. In what type of healthcare setting do you see yourself practicing medicine? 4. Tell us about a personal challenge you have faced in your life thus far and how you demonstrated resilience and grit to overcome it. [Please do not write about studying for or taking the MCAT.] 5. (Optional) If there is anything you would like the committee to consider about your candidacy that is not explained elsewhere in your application, please use this space to tell us. 6. (only if you are non-california resident) If you answered Yes, please explain your connection to Inland Southern California and the mission of the UC Riverside School of Medicine  

• Jul 17, 2023

mnm10 said: @wysdoc 1. The mission of the UCR School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and, especially, to serve Inland Southern California by training a diverse workforce of physicians and by developing innovative research and health care delivery programs that will improve the health of the medically underserved in the region and become models to be emulated throughout the state and nation. What experiences, skills, and abilities will you bring to the class to fulfill this mission? 2. The values of the UCR SOM are integrity, innovation, inclusion, excellence, accountability and respect. Please choose one of the values and tell us how you have personally experienced it or have seen it emulated in a clinical setting. 3. In what type of healthcare setting do you see yourself practicing medicine? 4. Tell us about a personal challenge you have faced in your life thus far and how you demonstrated resilience and grit to overcome it. [Please do not write about studying for or taking the MCAT.] 5. (Optional) If there is anything you would like the committee to consider about your candidacy that is not explained elsewhere in your application, please use this space to tell us. 6. (only if you are non-california resident) If you answered Yes, please explain your connection to Inland Southern California and the mission of the UC Riverside School of Medicine Click to expand...

Thanks @mnm10  

• Jul 18, 2023

+1 IS received today  

• Jul 19, 2023

IS, Secondary received 7/17  

• Jul 21, 2023

IS secondary received today, LA area  

their wording is interesting: "Based on an initial review of your AMCAS application, we believe that you may be a good fit to our program and hope to get to know you better. WE INVITE YOU TO SUBMIT A SECONDARY APPLICATION ." - I thought they dont screen why would they say this?  

amoxicillin_resistant said: their wording is interesting: "Based on an initial review of your AMCAS application, we believe that you may be a good fit to our program and hope to get to know you better. WE INVITE YOU TO SUBMIT A SECONDARY APPLICATION ." - I thought they dont screen why would they say this? Click to expand...

moonshapedpooll

anyone else IS socal area that is mission fit with no secondary yet?  

kath00 said: Pretty sure they do based on mission fit? Inland empire residence or prior work maybe? Click to expand...

+1 IS  

• Each applicant’s complete portfolio will be reviewed carefully in order to select students who are not only academically qualified but who have the breadth of volunteer/community and personal experiences to ensure that they will become physicians well prepared to care for the diverse population in our communities.
• Applications may not be reviewed in the order they are received.
• Secondary application invitations will be sent out from July through December 2023 .

+1 IS from LA area  

I'm a bit confused on their diversity metric question asking about my native language. It asks, "Do you consider English as your native language?" I grew up speaking a different language in my home with my parents, which was my first language. However, growing up in the U.S., I simultaneously learned English. Not exactly sure what to put.  

jblackster said: I'm a bit confused on their diversity metric question asking about my native language. It asks, "Do you consider English as your native language?" I grew up speaking a different language in my home with my parents, which was my first language. However, growing up in the U.S., I simultaneously learned English. Not exactly sure what to put. Click to expand...

HeyBabyBoy72

wysdoc said: "I'm bilingual and I learned these 2 languages together from babyhood" Click to expand...

• Jul 22, 2023

+1 ties to Central CA LM61  

I just got mine right now… my secondary… I submitted the first day possible and was verified 2 days later! Also I went to UCR, wondering if anyone else did to as we have a certain amount of spots for UCR alumni 🫣  

HeyBabyBoy72 said: I just got mine right now… my secondary… I submitted the first day possible and was verified 2 days later! Also I went to UCR, wondering if anyone else did to as we have a certain amount of spots for UCR alumni 🫣 Click to expand...

wysdoc said: They don't "save" a certain amount of spots as far as I can determine, but having lived & studied in Riverside fits you as someone from the region. Click to expand...

deleted1124957

IS, socal, LM71 Strong ties but no way for them to know until secondary submission. So happy I got it.  

I understand that labs do not count towards credits, but do we need to be inputting them in the prereqs page?  

NocturnalSir3n

IS received secondary! From SD  

billybob321

+1 IS NorCAL. I wonder how stringent the UCR screenings are.  

+1 IS but not from IE  

• Jul 23, 2023

Does anyone understand prompt 1? So we basically have to address serving CA, helping underserved, and "developing innovative research and health care delivery programs"? Seems like a lot to address in 250 words.  

shewhobagstea

postmix said: Is there a character/word limit? Click to expand...

premadbaddie

+1 OOS  

deleted1168662

OOS received secondary 7/22 complete 7/23. My dad's brother lives and is a physician in IE. Does that count as "strong ties"  

• Jul 24, 2023

Haven't expressed ties to the IE yet, wondering if I should mention that my longterm partner grew up in the IE and we are considering settling down there in the optional essay?  

shewhobagstea said: Haven't expressed ties to the IE yet, wondering if I should mention that my longterm partner grew up in the IE and we are considering settling down there in the optional essay? Click to expand...

Wondering if anyone substituted anything in the Spanish prereq section? You can substitute other courses and I was wondering about substituting the other foreign language I took. Leaning to no, just clicking 'no courses', but wondering what others' thoughts are.  

• Jul 25, 2023

shewhobagstea said: Wondering if anyone substituted anything in the Spanish prereq section? You can substitute other courses and I was wondering about substituting the other foreign language I took. Leaning to no, just clicking 'no courses', but wondering what others' thoughts are. Click to expand...

• Jul 26, 2023

postmix said: I did the substitute option because of the same thing Click to expand...

Is it worth submitting a secondary to UCR if you are over their 90th mcat score? I am lowkey getting discouraged because I have no ties to IE and feel like I don't have a strong narrative for their mission, but I really do want to stay in California. Also, is the one-week deadline a strict cut-off?  

misotope said: Is it worth submitting a secondary to UCR if you are over their 90th mcat score? I am lowkey getting discouraged because I have no ties to IE and feel like I don't have a strong narrative for their mission, but I really do want to stay in California. Also, is the one-week deadline a strict cut-off? Click to expand...

If we are a CA resident with ties to IE that are not stated elsewhere on our app, can we put that in the "is there anything else you want to tell us?" or is it not needed  

• Jul 27, 2023

submitted primary today and received secondary a few hours later, IS Bay Area. Clearly no GPA screen (trust me on this one), and the quickness with which I got my secondary makes me skeptical of any major screen in general  

Similar threads

• Oct 18, 2023
• This site uses cookies to help personalize content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies and terms of service . Accept Learn more…

Undergraduate Admissions

Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

Transfer Admission Guarantee

Guarantee your admission: tag to ucr.

Secure your place at UCR through the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program.

How to TAG to UCR

Your TAP will:

• Serve as your application to TAG to UCR.
• Provide a place to plan and track your coursework.
• Help you evaluate your progress toward meeting UCR admission requirements.
• Connect you to UCR staff who will help you with the transfer process.

How to create your TAP:

• Create an account at  go.ucr.edu/TAP .
• Enter your completed and planned community college coursework.
• Track your progress toward meeting UCR admission requirements.
• Review your TAP frequently with your community college counselor and a UCR transfer counselor.  Find your UCR transfer counselor .
• Complete a minimum of 30 UC-transferable semester units.  
• Psychology: 3.30 GPA plus major prep
• Theater, Film, and Digital Production: 3.30 GPA
• All other majors: 2.80 GPA
• Mechanical Engineering: 3.10 GPA plus major prep
• Computer Engineering: 3.30 GPA plus major prep
• Computer Science with Business Applications: 3.30 GPA plus major prep
• Computer Science: 3.60 GPA plus major prep
• All other BCOE majors: 3.00 GPA plus major prep
• 2.80 GPA plus major prep

Fall 2024 TAG Requirements:

• Complete the first English composition (UC-E) by end of fall 2023 for fall admission, and the second English composition by end of spring 2024 for Fall admission.  
• If you are applying to a selecting major (all BCOE, CNAS and business majors, and CHASS economics, business economics, psychology and neuroscience majors), you must have the minimum mathematics for your major completed by the end of fall 2023.  
• Applicants for all other majors must complete a minimum of one UC-transferable math (UC-M) by end of fall 2023 for fall admission.  
• To be considered for a TAG, you have to transfer directly from a California Community College (CCC). This includes international students (with a visa).
• The University of California defines a CCC transfer student as one who has completed more than half of their units at a CCC.  

Winter 2025 TAG Requirements:

• Complete the first English composition (UC-E) by end of spring 2024 for winter admission and the second English composition by end of fall 2024 for winter admission.   
• If you are applying to a selecting major (all BCOE, CNAS and business majors, and CHASS economics, business economics, psychology and neuroscience majors), you must have the minimum mathematics for your major completed by the end of spring 2024.  
• Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Science/Business Applications, Data Science, Art (Studio), Biology, and Physics are closed for Winter 2025. You can still find many other exciting  majors  that are open for Winter 2025.
• Applicants for all other majors must complete a minimum of one UC-transferable math (UC-M) by end of spring 2024 for winter admission.  
• To be considered for a TAG, you have to transfer directly from a California Community College (CCC). This includes international students (with a visa).  
• The University of California defines a CCC transfer student as one who has completed more than half of their units at a CCC.
• Your TAP serves as both your progress tracker and your TAG application.
• Submit your  TAG application  May 1-31 for winter quarter 2025 .
• You may only TAG to one UC.

NOTE: The majors listed below are closed for winter 2025, but you can find many other exciting  majors  that are open. Choose your favorite and apply for winter admission by July 1-31, 2024.

• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Computer Science/Business Applications
• Data Science
• Biology 
• Physics  
• Complete 60 semester (90 quarter) transferable units by the end of fall 2024 for winter 2025 admission and the end of spring for fall admission.
• Coursework planned for summer will not be accepted to meet minimum admission requirements or major selection.
• You must complete required major preparation for your intended major. For major selection criteria, visit  ASSIST.org . 
• You must maintain the required GPA for your intended major. (See Step 2 for GPA requirements.)
• Submit your UCR application  during the  July 1-31  filing period for winter 2025 admission or  Oct. 1-Nov. 30 for fall admission and apply for your contracted major and term.
• You can  access the UCR application  beginning  July 1  for winter 2025 admission and  Aug. 1  for fall admission.
• The deadline is  July 31  for winter 2025 admission and  Nov. 30  for fall admission.

If you completed the provisions of your TAG contract, met all requirements for admission and submitted a completed UCR application: Welcome to UCR! Admission decisions begin in September for winter admission and  March for fall admission.

Programs at Your Community College That Will Keep You UCR-Bound

The Puente Project is open to all students. It allows you to work with counselors and mentors who will help you transfer to UCR. You can also attend the Puente Leadership Conference .

UCR will continue to support you after you transfer through Puente Connection .

If you identify as low-income, first-generation or have a disability, your school’s Student Support Services program can help you stay college-bound. Program names vary, but look for TRIO, Student Support Services or SSS.

UCR will continue to support you after you transfer through programs including TRIO Scholars and the  Student Disability Resource Center .

Umoja Learning Communities support African-American and other students throughout their community college experience. Umoja can help you find mentorship and community opportunities (and stay college-bound!).

UCR will continue to support you after you transfer through Umoja at UCR — the first of its kind at a four-year school.

How to Answer UC Riverside School of Medicine’s Secondary Essays

“They all sound the same!”

When you’re researching different medical schools on your list, in search of those “Why Our School” reasons for your secondaries, the schools can easily blend together.

Nearly identical mission statements and opportunities, all the same buzzwords in their curricula. Not many distinguishing factors to use as focal points in your secondary essays.

But UC Riverside School of Medicine (UCR SOM) is easier to pin down and target, since the school is clearly looking for a specific type of candidate.

WHAT IS UC RIVERSIDE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE LOOKING FOR?

Before even looking at its mission, I can tell you the gist of what UCR SOM is seeking:

• dedication to the underserved
• outreachers with cultural competence
• experience/exposure in rural medicine
• advocates for equal access and systemic improvements
• a connection to the Inland Empire, or a comparable area at least

Now, let’s look at the actual mission statement from UCR SOM’s website :

The mission of the UCR School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and, especially, to serve Inland Southern California by training a diverse workforce of physicians and by developing innovative research and health care delivery programs that will improve the health of the medically underserved in the region and become models to be emulated throughout the state and nation.

Yep, I was pretty close. That’s because the school has a clear reputation.

It’s usually pretty obvious to candidates whether they’re a “fit” for UCR SOM (research-heavy city slickers need not apply haha). However, UCR inevitably works its way into the school lists for many California-based applicants.

Whether you’re a great fit for UCR or just a so-so one, I’m here to help you navigate the school’s secondary essay prompts.

If UCR SOM is on your list, it has the added bonus of being a great school for generating “core” secondary content that you can reuse from school to school. Its prompts cover a lot of ground, and the 250-word limit is right in the wheelhouse of most limits you’ll see. It takes some effort to get through this secondary, but once you do, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. TRUST.

Let’s breakdown each secondary essay prompt from last year’s cycle:

UC RIVERSIDE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE SECONDARY ESSAY TOPICS ('18-'19)

250 words max for each.

1. DESCRIBE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT OR NON-ACADEMIC ACTIVITY IN YOUR LIFE AND EXPLAIN WHY IT’S SIGNIFICANT.

Sorry, brainiacs, but we’ll need to avoid classroom and lab experiences here. Don’t worry, there’s a “scholastic activities” prompt coming up later.

The broad-sweeping quality of this prompt gives you a TON of leeway. The superlative word ‘most’ can be frustrating too. Do you pick a clinical experience? An autobiographical event?

It’s smart to consider the many other prompts you’ll have to answer for UCR: accomplishment, service, career goals, challenge, etc. The only common prompt missing is diversity, so you could consider choosing an activity here that reveals your intellectual or experiential diversity.

In other words, choose your “X factor” activity , or the one that most clearly separates you from other candidates. If you’ve completed any project that you’d consider a “ capstone ,” that can also be a great choice.

If all else fails, choose the activity that most clearly influenced your goals in medicine (although that’s probably better for the career goals prompt).

2. WHAT ACTIVITY OR ACCOMPLISHMENT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF?

Show, don’t tell. Talk is cheap. An image is worth a thousand words.

You get the idea. You need to exhibit concrete proof. So start by brainstorming the moments and events in which you had the most impact on others, whether that be your team, your classmates, your local community, etc. It can be anything from solving a complex research problem, to organizing a new club at your school, to helping a friend get through a very rough day. The key will be telling your detailed, individualized story in a way that’s memorable.

The majority of your essay should narrate the example, with only a few sentences being saved for the concluding thoughts. Let your impact in the anecdote speak for itself. The last few sentences should express how your accomplishment encompasses your personality and speaks to your future goals.

Big bonus points if this activity or accomplishment correlates with one of two major emphases at UCR: empowering the underserved and alleviating systemic barriers for others.

3. WHAT EXPERIENCES OR ACTIVITIES HAVE PREPARED YOU TO WORK WITH MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES?

It’s possible that you have some unused material from your primary application (a discarded most meaningful, a core story you cut from the personal statement) that would suit this prompt. Maybe some volunteer work with veterans or HIV patients, or a write-up about your master’s in public health, or tutoring inner-city refugee youth.

If not, you’ll need to write something new. Focus on creating emotional appeal, if possible, but make sure to avoid sentimentality or cliches. Ideally, your essay will reveal your passion for underserved medicine or show positive qualities that can translate to your role as a conscientious medical student and doctor.

It’s more impressive to medical schools when you’ve helped people who are much different than yourself. Think about the times you stepped out of comfort zones, encountered new types of people, or gained unusual insight or access. Hopefully one situation can capture your overall preparedness for underserved advocacy.

4. PLEASE LIST ANY SCHOLASTIC ACTIVITIES THAT YOU HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH (INCLUDING HONORS AND AWARDS)

Any time you see the word ‘list’ in a secondary prompt, you can take that literally. It’s perfectly fine to make a resume-style list with brief descriptions for each entry. What counts as a scholastic activity besides honors and awards?

• Research projects
• Publications
• Presentations and posters
• Major academic projects (thesis papers, capstones, etc.)
• Tutoring or teaching positions

If you can associate the word ‘scholarly’ with the activity, include it here. Rehashing descriptions from your AMCAS is acceptable. Don’t overthink this one too much. It’s most likely that UCR is giving candidates a chance to include anything they couldn’t fit on their AMCAS, or anything that has occured since submitting the primary application.

5. DESCRIBE A MAJOR PROBLEM YOU HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH AT SOME TIME IN YOUR LIFE. INCLUDE HOW YOU DEALT WITH IT AND HOW IT INFLUENCED YOUR GROWTH.

For this essay, avoid personal stories that could raise red flags about your lack of accountability or stability. Don’t go too deep into past struggles with addiction, depression, eating disorders, etc. Although these topics make for compelling essays, the risk outweighs the reward.

But this essay should still be personal, and its success relies on how convincingly you dramatize or illustrate the ‘problem.’ Since it closely reflects the language of the most meaningful prompt, you should steer the essay towards your overall growth and development.

Have you ever mediated a conflict between two friends? Helped a friend or family member through a serious issue? Have you ever encountered a giant hurdle on your path toward a goal? Try to choose situations which tempted you to give up, or scenarios that tested your ethics through a conflict of interest.

See the UCR example at the bottom of this article.

6. IS THERE ANY SPECIFIC HARDSHIP TO WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE THE COMMITTEE TO GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION IN EVALUATING YOUR APPLICATION? PLEASE BRIEFLY EXPLAIN BELOW. (INCLUDE ANY GEOGRAPHIC, LANGUAGE, ECONOMIC, ACADEMIC, PHYSICAL, OR MENTAL FACTORS.)

If you wrote a Disadvantaged Essay for your AMCAS, you could briefly reiterate (but not verbatim) the same disadvantages you mentioned in that primary essay. Treat this as a factual report of your background and circumstances, indicating the extra obstacles you faced.

If you faced any unusual challenges that affected your grades or MCAT score (personal injury/illness, death in the family, etc), it’s wise to use this space to briefly explain the compounding factors that led to the academic issues, as well as how you’ve improved since.

If neither of these applies to you, then you should leave this blank or write “Not applicable.”

7. WHAT KIND OF HEALTH CARE SETTING DO YOU ENVISION YOURSELF WORKING IN?

Normally, I’d tell you to just be honest about your future goals, as long as you can back them up with actual experiences and exposure.

However, UCR has a pretty specific candidate in mind. You’re going to be most attractive to UCR if you indicate an interest in primary care and rural medicine, as well as a desire to improve healthcare systems/delivery.

For any “career goals” prompt, it’s better to focus mostly on your past, even though it’s asking about your future. The summary of your goals should only take up 3-4 sentences at the end of the answer. Use the majority of the space to explain how you arrived at those goals. Otherwise your goals will seem arbitrary or half-baked.

8. HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF CONTRIBUTING TO THE MISSION OF THE UCR SCHOOL OF MEDICINE?

Similar to prompt #7, you’ll need to cater to what UCR is looking for . But here’s my general advice about “Why Our School” essays:

“I am interested in attending UCR SOM due to its ___________, ___________, and ___________.”

**DON’T start your “Why Our School” essays this way** The schools will be used to hearing this narrative, and it will likely bore them to death.

Think about it this way: they know what they have to offer, and they know why it’s generally attractive, but they don’t know why it’s so personally relevant to you. You’re the interesting X-factor in the whole equation, so even though it might seem counterintuitive, you should start your “Why Our School” essays with something about yourself.

HERE’S A GENERAL FORMULA:

Para 1 - An example, story, or anecdote that serves as a hook and establishes your major healthcare involvements and values up to this point.

Para 2 - Based on what you’ve shared about yourself, build a “value connection” with the school that incorporates some element of its mission, emphases, culture, etc.

Para 3 - Remember those _________ spaces from above, those XYZ things you want to mention about the school? Mention those “concrete connections” towards the end and position them as ways that you’ll embody the value connection you’ve established earlier.

Para 4 (Optional) - Bring up any locational or personal ties to the school (grew up nearby, have family in the area, relationships with alumni or current students, etc.). These should be sprinkles on top of your answer, rather than the focal point.    

If you follow this formula, you can reuse the part about yourself across your secondaries and find new connections to the other schools. If you start these “Why Our School” essays by establishing yourself first, then you’ll sound more personalized and less like a template (even though it’s indeed a useful template for you!).

5 REASONS TO APPLY TO UCR (FROM PAST STUDENTS):

The Longitudinal Ambulatory Care Experience (LACE)

The Designated Emphasis (DE) in Medical and Health Humanities

Selectives Program

The Big Sib/Little Sib Student Mentoring Program

Community Project in Year Four 

9. PERSONAL STATEMENT: YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT FROM THE AMCAS APPLICATION WILL BE USED IN OUR ADMISSIONS PROCESS. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DUPLICATE IT HERE. AT YOUR OPTION, YOU MAY USE THIS SPACE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION YOU MAY WANT US TO CONSIDER IN ADDITION TO THE AMCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT. THIS IS NOT MANDATORY.

It’s really hard to understand why this prompt even exists, considering how much ground the school’s prompts already cover. Normally this would be the place to discuss issues with grades, hardships, etc., but UCR already has available space for that.

I have written an Order of Operations for “Optional” secondary prompts when I covered Boston University’s secondaries . But alas, UCR’s prompts cover all those choices.

It seems like the vast majority candidates should just ignore this prompt. I know for a fact that candidates have been accepted to UCR without answering it.  

10. IF YOU CLICK YES FOR ‘DISADVANTAGED’ STUDENT: DESCRIBE THE MANNER IN WHICH YOUR EXPERIENCES DEMONSTRATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF, AND COMMITMENT TO, UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES.

If you indicated ‘disadvantaged’ on the AMCAS, you should also indicate it here, even if that means writing yet another 250-word essay. If UCR bothered to include this prompt, then the school clearly cares about the potential perspective you’ll bring based on your background.

Hopefully, along your path, you’ve found some avenue that lets you support others who are in the same position as you. For example, if you’re from an immigrant family, you could write about your experience translating for non-English-speaking patients at the free clinic. Or perhaps you’re a self-funded candidate who now helps other low-income students and patients find affordable resources.

The goal is to show how your background will inform your ability to help others who face socioeconomic or cultural hardship. Again: show, don’t tell. Use specific characters, cases, settings, and situations to illustrate your impact on others.

SOME EXAMPLES FOR UCR SOM'S SECONDARY ESSAYS

Why our school.

I traveled from the depths of the Costa Rican rainforests to the heights of the Andes Mountains to provide healthcare to isolated villagers. South America illuminated that healthcare is not defined by complex jargon nor fancy equipment; instead, it’s the fact that healthcare caters to basic human needs that transcend borders, ethnicity, and socioeconomic standing.

Back home, I’ve advocated for my underserved community via scribing, preparing to become a licensed EMT, and volunteering at local free clinics and food banks. The Poverello House has helped deprived individuals from dire circumstances undergo miraculous transformations, giving me hope that the careful allocation of passion and resources can combat disparities.  

As a scribe, I encounter many patients without a regular doctor because they lack insurance. Their frequent ED usage as a primary care source leads to heavy impaction. Furthermore, without a PCP, they lack continuity of care that the ED doesn’t provide. Being a medical professional isn’t just a matter of treating patients, but also using your position to look for ways to improve the system as a whole. This is why I’ve chosen to obtain an MPA, to gain a more detailed understanding of legalities preventing marginalized populations from receiving adequate healthcare access.

I’ll strive to use integrity, advocacy, and compassion to advance UCR’s mission. UCR’s opportunities like the Designated Emphasis in Medical and Health Humanities curriculum (e.g. the Practice Improvement Project) will allow me to research healthcare discrepancies in more depth. The Riverside Free Clinic will also enable me to build off my passion for underserved healthcare service and administration by serving the marginalized populations of the Inland Empire.

MAJOR PROBLEM

“Why did my professor mark ‘a red beautiful dress’ as wrong?”

I knew the proper order, but couldn’t offer an informed response. Like many of my tutees, I became lost in the numerous intricacies of the English language.

“That’s a really good question,” I stammered. It was one of my first shifts as lead writing tutor, so I wanted to be a source of information. I scoured my mind for a clue. Nothing. Everyone expected me to know the answer, yet I didn’t. “Let me research the topic.” That was all I could offer.

I sought instruction from my English professor for insight and guidance from my boss to help cope. It’s comforting to discuss my troubles with others who can provide emotional support and advice. This story taught me a lesson. I will face situations where I’m expected to know, but simply don’t. The reality is that predicaments like these are inescapable. We must pursue knowledge with the understanding that we’ll never have it all. All I can do is contribute to advancing what we know and impart that knowledge to the future.

I’ll need to overcome much adversity in my medical journey. I’ll bring similar teachings and coping strategies into the stressful environment of medical school and a physician’s lifestyle. I’ll need to constantly seek the advice and support of my peers in the medical field, friends, and family to remain in a healthy state of mind so that I may continue to provide optimal care.

Was this guide helpful? Still have questions about UCR or its prompts? Let me know in the comments below and I’ll respond personally!

Good luck, and stay tuned for more school-specific secondary guides!

Upcoming Online Classes

All work on this site is our own. The content for the Savvy med school search was found on the webpages of the respective medical schools.

University of California 2024-25 Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Regular Decision Deadline: Nov 30

University of California  2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: 4 out of 8 essays, 350 words each.

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Oddball , Community , Activity

The UC application sounds like a riddle. Every student must write four essays, but choose from eight prompts. The rules may be unfamiliar, but the game is the same: tell admissions something they don’t know – and then do it three more times! The instructions counsel you to “select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances,” and frankly, we couldn’t agree more. A strategic applicant will choose a constellation of the UC essay prompts that highlight vastly different aspects of their lives and personalities, leaving an admissions officer with a deep and complete picture of who they are. Don’t get hung up on trying to divine the questions admissions wants you to answer. In the end, they just want to get to know the real you, plus the application swears that “there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.” So follow your heart (!) and don’t let the fatigue get to you. Avoid robotically starting every answer by restating the question and be as anecdotal as possible. With each essay, your goal isn’t just to answer the question, but to tell a very short story about yourself. So, keep reading to get expert tips on how to write your UC essays!

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

Things to consider: a leadership role can mean more than just a title. it can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. what were your responsibilities, did you lead a team how did your experience change your perspective on leading others did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization and your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. for example, do you help out or take care of your family.

When answering this UC personal insight question, avoid the siren song of your resume. This question isn’t asking you for a list! Remember: it’s your job, as an applicant, to use every essay as an opportunity to reveal something new about yourself. Think of a moment when you were in a position where you worked really hard to help a group of people. Maybe you are always the one helping your younger siblings with their homework, and you struggled to find ways to engage your dyslexic younger brother with math. Maybe, as a camp counselor or church volunteer, you were in charge of choreographing and instructing a number for a group of seven-year-old hip hop dancers to perform. Perhaps, on a Habitat for Humanity school trip, you became the head cook, whipping up everything from pancakes to chicken fajitas while galvanizing a team of sous chefs to pitch in.  

The point is, try to isolate a single leadership moment, and bring it to life with vivid details. Describe where you were, what was happening around you, and what you were feeling. Discuss what challenges you faced, and what you ultimately learned from the experience. Don’t shy away from challenges or even failures, since these are exactly the sorts of character-building experiences that can demonstrate resilience and quick thinking.

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.

Things to consider: what does creativity mean to you do you have a creative skill that is important to you what have you been able to do with that skill if you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution what are the steps you took to solve the problem, how does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom does your creativity relate to your major or a future career.

You may think that this UC personal insight question was geared towards the artistically inclined, but take a closer look. The wording offers many potential definitions that veer away from traditional conceptions of creativity (and actually, it asks you for your personal definition!). Creativity lies in your outlook: seeing the opportunity to use one of your skills in a novel situation; looking at a problem from a new angle to find the solution that no one else could see. This question is, in reality, ideal for the more scientifically oriented to create a more well-rounded profile. Creative types, on the other hand, might want to proceed with caution since, really, every question is an opportunity to show off your talents and describe your artistic endeavors.

No matter who you are, though, remember this classic writing advice: show don’t tell. So, you claim that gardening, or Calculus, or painting is how you show your creative side. Okay. So, then immerse the reader in this activity with you . If you enjoy gardening, describe the plants, their qualities, and how you make your horticultural choices; are you drawn to the aesthetics or are you botanically inquisitive? Similarly, if your subject is Calculus, show the reader how you sat in your dad’s office for six hours straight trying to calculate Pi on a three dozen sheets of paper using red crayon.  If you love to paint, show the reader where you paint, what you paint, and why you paint, describing the colors, textures, materials—the essential process behind your art. Write descriptively so that the reader can feel as if he or she were experiencing your creative passion with you.

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

Things to consider: if there’s a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it. you don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). why is this talent or skill meaningful to you, does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom if so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule.

If question 3 reminds you of question 2, you’re not alone. Often, when we talk about a talent or skill that we have honed over the course of a lifetime, we’re inclined to describe it as an art — a creative extension of who we are. So if you choose to respond to both of these UC personal insight questions, make sure to highlight distinct skills in each. 

The good news is: finding your subject should be easy! You just need to answer this question: what makes you proud? Think about the stories that your friends and family like to share about you. Think about moments when your hard work paid off. When you can zero in on an experience that makes your heart swell, you’ll be able to pinpoint your essential subject. If the memory of your first swim meet victory still makes you smile, draw us into your rigorous training schedule; describe the aspects of the sport that motivate you to wake up early and push yourself. What were your challenges? What has this experience taught you? This narrative should have a clear timeline that traces your growth from the past to the present and into the future. How do you plan to further develop your talent in college and/or after college? Show not only that you have grown, but that you will continue to grow as you take your first steps into adulthood.

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

Things to consider: an educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. for example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you — just to name a few. , if you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them what personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge how did overcoming this barrier help shape who are you today.

This question is tricky because it has two parts. So first break the question down: You can write about either A.) How you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity OR B.) How you have worked to overcome an educational barrier. The “or” is key. You are not being asked to write about both parts of this question. Just write about one.

If you have participated in an afterschool program, internship, honors program, or a special class that was meaningful or inspiring to you, you will want to think about choosing option A.  Maybe it was an afterschool program for young, aspiring lawyers, or an advanced history class that you took at your local community college. This is an opportunity for you to showcase your ambition and highlight the kinds of challenges that engage and excite you. Beyond underscoring an academic interest, reflect on the personal qualities required for you to succeed. And remember to show, not tell! It will save you from accidentally humble-bragging your way through this assignment. 

Now, for option B. If you have worked to overcome a disability, struggled in school because you have a different background than your peers, suffered financial hardship, or something along those lines, you can choose to write about option B. To nail this tricky task, you will need to highlight not only the ways you struggled, but also the qualities that helped you succeed. How would you define yourself? Resilient? Hardworking? Brave? Zero in on a quality that resonates with you, and write targeted descriptions that bring it to life. (No one is going to believe you if you just write, “I am resilient,” and leave it at that.) Lastly, reflect on how this barrier shaped who you are today, and what skills you gained through facing this educational barrier.

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

Things to consider: a challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. why was the challenge significant to you this is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone, if you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life for example, ask yourself, “how has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family”.

If you skipped question 4 or chose to write about option A, this question is a gift: a second chance to showcase your resilience in the face of obstacles. On the other hand, if you chose to write about option B in question 4, this might feel redundant. You are free to write about both, but again, proceed with caution and be sure to select a totally different challenge.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: questions that ask you to describe a struggle or failure are really probing for stories about success. What pro-active steps did you take to address the problem at hand? Even if your solution didn’t work out perfectly, what did you learn? In facing this challenge, did you discover a courageous, creative, or hard-working side of yourself? Did you learn something valuable about yourself or others? Highlight the upside. How did this challenge shape who you are today? And how will the skills that you gained dealing with this challenge will help you in college and beyond?

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

Things to consider: many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. if that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom — such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs — and what you have gained from your involvement., has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, ap, ib, college or university work) are you inspired to pursue this subject further at uc, and how might you do that.

If you’ve ever referred to yourself as a “nerd” or “geek”, this question is probably for you. To nail down a topic for this bad boy, you can work in two directions: (1) think about how your favorite academic subject has impacted your extracurricular pursuits, or (2) trace one of your favorite hobbies back to its origins in the classroom. Maybe your love of languages led you to take a job at a coffee shop frequented by multilingual tourists. Or perhaps your now-extensive coin collection was resurrected when you did a research project on ancient Roman currency. Whichever way you go about it, building a bridge between the scholarly and the personal lies at the heart of answering this prompt.

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

Things to consider: think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place —like your high school, hometown or home. you can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community, why were you inspired to act what did you learn from your effort how did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community.

Some backwards advice: When writing about community service, you should always start with yourself. Community service essays are cliché minefields. To avoid drifting into platitudes, you need to ground your writing in the specificity of your life. Don’t start with the action and end with what you learned. Instead, dig into your motivations. If you spent weeks petitioning your school community to raise the hourly wage for custodial staff, what prompted you to act? What assumptions did you have about income inequality and what did you learn about your community in the process? Or, maybe you weren’t too enthused about your community service. Maybe you participated in a soccer-team-mandated day of coaching a pee-wee team. What caused your skepticism? How did you turn the experience around?

Also, don’t just choose a topic that sounds impressive. “This year I acted as the co-chair of the Honors Society, presiding over twenty different cases.” If you didn’t, in fact, really enjoy Honors Society, write about a topic that means something to you instead. Think of a moment where you felt like you made a change in your local community. It can be something small; it does not have to be monumental, but it should mean a great deal to you. Describe the moment, using detail to bring it to life, and then reflect on what that experience taught you, and how you hope to continue these activities in the future.

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

Things to consider: if there’s anything you want us to know about you, but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your change. what have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better, from your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for uc don’t be afraid to brag a little..

This question is really just what it says it is—an open-ended, choose-your-own-adventure question.  Is there something that you really, really want to tell the UC admissions team that you feel makes you a strong and unique candidate that is not showcased in the other three personal insight questions? As with the other questions, whatever topic you choose, please use detail and description to bring this topic to life for the reader, and include thoughtful reflection on why this topic matters to you. Also, be sure to explain why your chosen topic makes you stand out as a strong candidate for the UC schools, since the question specifically asks you to do that!

We hope you enjoyed our UC application essay tips! Don’t hesitate to submit a contact form below if you’d like to work with an experienced College Essay Advisor on your drafts!

About Kat Stubing

View all posts by Kat Stubing »

We're here to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applicants must respond to four (4) out of the eight (8) Personal Insight Questions.

Each UC Personal Insight Question asks for a response of 350 words.

We recommend reading each prompt and jotting down a few ideas that come to mind. Next, review your notes and elaborate on each story. You’ll be able to tell rather quickly which of your stories have the most potential to transform into 350-word essays and reveal new, interesting information to admissions regarding your candidacy!

As with all application essays, admissions is hoping to read essays that help them to get to know the person behind the application data. They even say on their website , “There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.”

No! You need to write a total of four (4) essays. These essays should have very little (if any) overlap.

The UC essays are quite important! They’re your only opportunity to speak to admissions in your own voice. The admissions committee will be reviewing dozens of applications each day, which means they are assessing a lot of data. These essays present an opportunity for you to humanize your application and stand out from the crowd.

Applicants will want to avoid silly grammar mistakes , repeating the prompt in their response, and telling rather than showing (e.g., saying you are determined without giving an example of a time you displayed determination).

Contact us for information on rates and more!

• I am a * Student Parent Potential Partner School Counselor Private College Counselor
• Name * First Last
• Phone Type Mobile Landline
• Street Address
• Address City State / Province / Region Afghanistan Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, Democratic Republic of the Cook Islands Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czechia Côte d'Ivoire Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and McDonald Islands Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestine, State of Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Réunion Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Sweden Switzerland Syria Arab Republic Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania, the United Republic of Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Türkiye US Minor Outlying Islands Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Åland Islands Country
• Which best describes you (or your child)? High school senior High school junior College student College grad Other
• How did you find CEA? Internet Search New York Times Guidance counselor/school Social Media YouTube Friend Special Event Delehey College Consulting Other
• Common App and Coalition Essays
• Supplemental Essays
• University of California Essays
• University of Texas Essays
• Resume Review
• Post-Grad Essays
• Specialized Services
• Waitlist Letters
• Private School Essays
• General College Counseling
• School list with priorities noted:
• Anything else we should know?
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

School Stats:

• Agnes Scott College
• Alvernia University
• Amherst College
• Babson College
• Bard College
• Barnard College
• Baylor University
• Bennington College
• Berry College
• Bethany College
• Boston College
• Boston University (BU)
• Bowdoin College
• Brandeis University
• Brown University
• Bryn Mawr College
• Bucknell University
• Butler University
• California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
• California Lutheran University
• Capitol Technology University
• Carleton College
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Catawba College
• Centre College
• Chapman University
• Claremont McKenna College
• Clark University
• Clemson University
• Coastal Carolina University
• College of Charleston
• College of Wooster
• Colorado School of Mines
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Culver-Stockton College
• D'Youville University
• Dartmouth College
• Davidson College
• Drexel University
• Duke University
• Earlham College
• Elon University
• Emerson College
• Emory University
• Flagler College
• Fordham University
• George Mason University
• Georgetown University
• Georgia State University
• Georgia Tech
• Harvard University
• Harvey Mudd College
• Haverford College
• Hillsdale College
• Hofstra University
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Illinois Wesleyan University
• Ithaca College
• Johns Hopkins University
• Kalamazoo College
• Lafayette College
• Lewis and Clark College
• Linfield University
• Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
• Lynn University
• Macalester College
• Malone University
• Manchester University
• Marist College
• Mary Baldwin University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Meredith College
• Monmouth College
• Moravian University
• Morehouse College
• Mount Holyoke College
• North Park University
• Northwestern University
• Occidental College
• Oklahoma City University
• Olin College of Engineering
• Pepperdine University
• Pitzer College
• Pomona College
• Princeton University
• Providence College
• Purdue University
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Rice University
• Roger Williams University
• Saint Elizabeth University
• Santa Clara University
• Sarah Lawrence College
• Scripps College
• Seattle Pacific University
• Smith College
• Soka University of America
• Southern Methodist University
• St. John’s College
• Stanford University
• Stonehill College
• Swarthmore College
• Syracuse University
• Texas A&M University
• Texas Christian University
• The College of Idaho
• The George Washington University
• The New School
• Trinity College
• Tufts University
• Tulane University
• University of California
• University of Central Florida (UCF)
• University of Chicago
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Georgia (UGA)
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• University of Maryland
• University of Massachusetts Amherst
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota
• College of Mount Saint Vincent
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
• University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Oklahoma
• University of Oregon
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pittsburgh
• University of Richmond
• University of San Diego
• University of San Francisco
• University of Southern California (USC)
• University of Texas at Austin
• University of Tulsa
• University of Vermont
• University of Virginia (UVA)
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Vanderbilt University
• Vassar College
• Villanova University
• Virginia Tech
• Wake Forest University
• Washington and Lee University
• Wellesley College
• Williams College
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
• Yale University

Want free stuff?

We thought so. Sign up for free instructional videos, guides, worksheets and more!

One-On-One Advising

Common App Essay Prompt Guide

Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

• YouTube Tutorials
• Our Approach & Team
• Undergraduate Testimonials
• Postgraduate Testimonials
• Where Our Students Get In
• CEA Gives Back
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions
• Private School Admissions
• International Student Admissions
• Common App Essay Guide
• Supplemental Essay Guide
• Coalition App Guide
• The CEA Podcast
• Admissions Stats
• Notification Trackers
• Deadline Databases
• College Essay Examples
• Academy and Worksheets
• Waitlist Guides
• Get Started