ucla essays 2022

18 UCLA Essays That Worked (and Why) for 2023

Do you want to write strong essays that'll help get you into UCLA?

In this article, you'll read and learn from 18 essays written by students who got recently accepted into UCLA and see how they did it.

If you're trying to get into the University of California, Los Angeles, these essays are a valuable resource and give you a peek into UCLA admissions.

Whether you're a student or parent of an applicant, you'll see what to do—and what not to do—when writing your UC essays.

How important are the UCLA essays?

And as of 2022, the UC system no longer uses your SAT and ACT scores to decide whether or not to admit students.

With no more test scores, that means your UC essays are even more important for your application. Besides your grades (GPA) and coursework, your essays are the most influential factor for your UC admissions.

Plus, UCLA is the most applied to school in the world, with well over 100,000 applicants each year. The University of California-Los Angeles acceptance rate is lower each year, which makes your essays even more important.

Since your UC essays matter so much, it's important to get them right.

What are the UC Personal Insight Question Prompts for 2022-23?

It's a mistake to think of the UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) as typical essays you'd write for a class.

Rather, the PIQs are a set of eight open-ended questions asked by the UC app. You must choose exactly four questions to respond to, and each response should be no more than 350 words.

Let's go over the UC Personal Insight Question prompts:

• 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?

It can be helpful to see how other students responded to the UC Personal Insight Questions.

And since UCLA is one of the hardest UC's to get into, along with UC Berkeley , students that get accepted tend to write outstanding essay responses to the PIQs.

18 UCLA Personal Insight Question Examples

Here are the 18 best UCLA accepted essays that worked written by accepted students for each Personal Insight Question prompt #1-8.

• UCLA Example Essay #1
• UCLA Example Essay #2
• UCLA Example Essay #3: Violin
• UCLA Example Essay #4

UCLA Example Essay #5: Team Player

• UCLA Example Essay #6: Flute
• UCLA Example Essay #7: Optimism
• UCLA Example Essay #8
• UCLA Example Essay #9
• UCLA Example Essay #10
• UCLA Example Essay #11
• UCLA Example Essay #12

UCLA Example Essay #13: Computer Science

Ucla example essay #14: korean big toes.

• UCLA Example Essay #15

UCLA Example Essay #16: LGBT

• UCLA Example Essay #17

UCLA Example Essay #18: Being Short

Ucla example essay #1: orchestra leadership.

UC PIQ #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. (350 words max)

In my freshman year of high school, I had enrolled in the String Orchestra Advanced Class which was mixed in with the Beginning class. I was the only person with experience, seven years in the Violin at the time, while most of the students in the class were beginners. I got class elected, then re-elected as President my Freshman and Sophomore years, and was First Violin, then First Viola Chair.

My first year consisted of myself and the instructor teaching the basics of each instrument. Learning a new instrument is frustrating, and there were times where older students in the class would get frustrated and unhappy that a Freshman knew more than they did.

As a leader I had to make sure I did not keep a separation between myself and my classmates. Therefore, my Sophomore year, I changed my instrument to the Viola.

By showing my classmates that I too was a beginner, and that I too had to learn because I had a new instrument -inspired the class to learn as well. My classmates no longer saw me as someone who told people to practice and not give up, yet did not have to practice or struggle themselves, but instead, as someone who was there practicing, and struggling along with them.

The Orchestra program at my school started my Freshman year as an experimental class, but the school ended the class after my Sophomore year. Though unfortunate, in the two years of its existence, my classmates went from being novices, to performers, where in the last year of the program, we performed many times for school events and finally in an orchestra conference in my Sophomore year, where judges praised our Orchestra's technique and cohesiveness.

After the class got cut, many of my classmates continued to pursue music independently, or in the District Orchestra. It is a wonderful feeling for me to see my former classmates -to this day- performing, and even teaching others, knowing that I was there when their journeys in music first began, and I look forward to seeing their musical pursuits in the future.

Why This Essay Works:

• Tells a Story: Gives context and explains how you got this leadership position. By explaining a backstory, it reveals your motivations and what drives you.
• Shows Takeaways and Lessons Learned: It's not enough to just talk about your achievements. Admissions officers are more interested in why they matter to you, and how you had an impact on others.

What They Might Improve:

• Fix Capitalization: It's not necessary to capitalize improper nouns like "violin", "viola", and "orchestra".
• Sentence Flow: Make sure your sentences aren't too long and don't have unnecessary breaks, which can interrupt the flow.

UCLA Example Essay #2: Volunteer Leadership

My group and I spent a total of seven hours preparing five hundred bagged lunches for the extensive homeless community at Oakland. Out of all the obstacles that could have halted our progress, rain was the last thing on our minds. We were lucky enough to distribute three hundred lunches before the rain began to relentlessly pour down on us. There were a few hours left of daylight before we would be able to eat Iftar for Ramadan, so, an overwhelming majority of our group wanted to call it a day. However, there was still a large number of unsheltered and hungry homeless people throughout the city, and I could not bear to let all that food go to waste. So, I raced to one of our nearest vans, grabbed a bullhorn, and yelled to gather the attention of as many people as possible. I instructed them to form lines in front of our eleven vans in order to take everybody to the nearest homeless shelters with the promise of food and entertainment. We went to six other heavily concentrated areas to do the same thing, and within just five hours, nearly five hundred homeless individuals were transported.

This event is one of the dozens of community service projects I’ve performed in my role as vice-president of the youth faction of the Sudanese Association of Northern California (SANC). This Oakland food drive has left me with a sense of clarity of what it takes to get a project, event, or any other endeavor accomplished. The food drive was obviously a success, but what made this particularly memorable is the email the president of SANC sent me the following day: “You have a keen ability to synthesize and communicate anything quickly and effectively.” I realized the explicit connection between my forensics (speech and debate) career and my community service: the power that I carry in my voice can motivate others to do good. I have tried to apply this insight into each new endeavor since.

• Specific with Numbers: Use exact numbers whenever you can to create authenticity and make it realistic. In this essay, saying "three hundred" lunches makes things concrete.
• Connects to Academic Interests: Show how your past leadership achievements relate to what you want to do in college.
• Stronger Conclusion: Make sure your conclusion isn't vague and has a concrete takeaway. Don't just use words like "this insight". Rather, rephrase that insight or draw a new idea from it.
• Sentence Structure: Having too long of sentences is a common mistake students make. Instead, splitting up complex sentences can make it easier to read.

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UCLA Example Essay #3: Violin Creative Side

UC PIQ #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. (350 words max)

I express my creative side by playing the violin and other musical instruments. Ever since I was a younger child, music had always been a part of my life. The first instrument I remember playing is the piano when I was four years old. My school had a music program, so I went and learned how to read music and play the Recorder. Though it was a simple instrument, it was to prepare us students for the more complex instruments that we could choose to play after completing the Recorder lessons.

I took this class all of first grade, and in second grade I was ready to choose the instrument I wanted to specialize in. I chose the Violin, and now -ten years later- I am still playing it. Throughout the years I have learned to play other instruments as well, such as the Piano, Trumpet, Viola, and more. During that time I have also been able to play those instruments in different styles of music.

From second to seventh grade, I played the Violin and sung in my elementary school district's Mariachi and my middle school's Mariachi even when I did not know how to speak Spanish. I have been playing the Violin at my church's choir almost every Sunday since Seventh grade. I played the Violin and Viola in my high school's Orchestra class in Freshman and Sophomore year, and since my Junior year I have played the trumpet in my school's Jazz Band and Trumpet Choir.

My siblings have also been inspired to be creative musically, and together we perform at our church and other places, and music has become an important part in their lives as well.

Throughout my life I have been able to express my love for music in many different ways. Whether through playing with a group, doing a solo in front of an audience, composing my own music, or teaching my younger siblings how to read and play music the way I was taught many years ago, music has always been a large way that I could express my creative side.

• Clearly Answers Prompt: For UC essays, being straightforward is not a bad thing. This essay starts off by clearly answering the prompt, before elaborating further.
• Fix Capitalization: It's not necessary to capitalize improper nouns like "freshman" and "sophomore". An easy fix is to only capitalize proper nouns, like names of people and places.
• Explain What's Meaningful: Admissions officers want to know more than just "what you did," but also why it was meaningful to you. Try to focus on the impact of your achievements more than just what you did.

UCLA Example Essay #4: Improvised Comedy Creative Side

I was brought into this world with an overactive imagination and an absence of siblings. My abundance of boredom and lack of playmates was solved by creating multiple characters, drawing them, and pretending to be them. When I joined theater my freshman year, I quickly fell in love because it brought me back to that childhood innocence of carelessly being someone else It was an opportunity to evaluate how I could incorporate my personality, experiences, and charisma into a character and to turn my visual concepts into a reality through doing makeup.

I was also introduced to improvised comedy. where I presented my witty and quirky side. On the other hand, working with a cast and crew was something I was unaccustomed to. but I soon saw myself becoming inspired by the surrounding creativity of others. Whether we were doing a dramatic or comedic play, we worked together to evoke an emotional response from the audience. It’s an honor to see people laugh and cry during our performances because I've connected with hundreds of people by putting my heart on a stage. In contrast, painting has been a private indulgence. Every feeling and thought trapped inside becomes free on that canvas into a beautiful visual creation. Like my mood, my paintings aren't uniform and consistent; they range from iridescent beaches to scattered splotches, yet every stroke, color. and mistake had a reason.

As my only patron, my mom couldn't always afford painting supplies, so occasionally I had to improvise with tools like spoons, paper towels, and erasers. Regardless of the tools I was using, my paintings were reflection of myself. The progression of my work is an exhibit of my struggles, success, and how I became who I am today. Painting is not about the finished product; it's about the journey and the lessons I've learned to get there. My creativity is not limited to the arts, but is embedded my appearance, mindset, and career path in solving mental health issues. Creativity, to me, is putting bits and pieces of myself into doing what I love.

• Strong First Sentence: Starting off with interesting ideas is the best way to get the reader hooked. It doesn't need to be complicated, but find your most interesting idea and start there.
• Connects Multiple Extracurriculars: Finding multiple examples in your life to explain your answer can make your essay stronger. Rather than focusing on just one activity, how do your activites relate with a common theme?
• Great Conclusion: A strong conclusion is often one that expands on your ideas or connects to something more universal. Try restating your main idea and add a twist or expand on it.
• Make Each Paragraph Distinct: Each paragraph should have one central idea or topic. It's better to split up your essay into many paragraphs because it makes it easier for the reader and better organized.

UC PIQ #3: What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? (350 words max)

My greatest talent would be relating to and inspiring others. Throughout my time in school I have demonstrated that talent by becoming a leader where I was trusted by my teachers and peers. It began in 5th grade when I was voted to become Student Council for my class, where my peers knew that I related well with them and that I would do my best to use my position to fix their issues.

In middle school, I became the Knowledge Bowl team Captain. There was a new coach, so the program was small, about five students. There were many students who wanted to join the team but felt that they were not "smart enough" to join. I recognized this and encouraged those students to join and they succeeded. By the end of the year, our team was 3rd in the district overall statistically standing, our highest ranking in a while.

In high school I joined JROTC as a Freshman, and I became a Platoon Sergeant my Junior year. My job for the semester was to teach and motivate cadets in the program. Some cadets did not do well with authority, and felt attacked when other class leaders would be assertive. As a leader I took a different approach, and related to my cadets. My platoon was constantly noted as being a well-rounded platoon by our instructors, and I received the Non-Commisioned Officer Leadership Award.

In Academic League, motivation was key to our team's success. Sometimes personal problems would affect a member of the team, so I showed them I could relate to their struggles and still believe in their ability to help the team. In times when we would be losing in a match, I would inspire the team to keep pushing on, and to remain positive. That year our team placed 5th in the district -again a highest ranking in a while- and I was voted as "Most Inspirational" by the team.

Throughout the years, relating to and inspiring others has been a skill that has allowed me to make great connections with so many people.

• Uses Multiple Examples: Backing up your answer with various examples from your life makes your case stronger.
• Unique Take: Rather than thinking of a skill in the literal sense, this author uses a more abstract skill. Sharing your unique perspective is key to having interesting ideas.
• Show Why It Matters: In addition to explaining your greatest skill or talent, you should tell why it is meaningful. What are the takeaways and how will you use this skill going forward in college?

UCLA Example Essay #6: Flute Greatest Talent

Just when we think we figured things out, the universe throws us a curveball. So, we have to improvise. The universe is funny like that. Sometimes it just has a way of making sure we wind up exactly where we belong.

When I first started playing flute, I probably looked like a pufferfish choking on a clump of wasabi, but that didn't matter. Blasting deep breaths into my flute, I blew voraciously as I tried to produce a B-flat; but all I could muster was a raspy whistle.

6 years later, I was filled with pride knowing that I had worked hard enough to be selected as the concert soloist for the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County. My moment had arrived; I stand center-stage and begin Chaminade's Concertino Op. 107. Recognizing the minor scales and arpeggios, my fingers glide through the measures with absolute certainty; and with each successive measure, my breathing, tone, and articulation seemed to increasingly synchronize. Before long, the piece came to an end. Holding the D-natural farmada as long I could, I let the note fade into submission and lowered my flute. Taking a bow, I reveled in the magnitude of my hard work.

As I grew older, it became evident that I would need orthodontics and jaw reduction surgeries. With my face full of rubber and metal, I couldn't form a tight enough valve to sustain notes. I was officially back to square one. The following months were brutal, I had to put away Tchaikovsky and go back to the basics; but my effort was genuine and I gradually regained my ability to play.

Today, I consider playing flute my greatest skill. Not because I can play complex scales or win competitions, but, instead, because through the horrors of braces, learning how to double-tongue, and impossibly fast measures, I never gave up. Playing flute had crafted in me the relentless determination which I've exhibited over the past 8 years. I may not know what curveballs life will pitch to me next, but I have confidence knowing I will persevere regardless of the circumstances.

• Strong Hook: Use your best idea at the start to immediately make the reader interested. First impressions matter, and by having a compelling first paragraph, the tone of your essay is immediately better.
• Specific in Naming Things: Say the names of groups, places, and other things whenever you can. Being specific whenever possible makes you seem more relatable and makes your essay more interesting.

UCLA Example Essay #7: Optimism Greatest Skill

Life can be an overwhelming obstacle course, but my ability to get over any bump with a smile on my face has been my greatest strength. Maintaining an optimistic outlook has introduced me to new opportunities, made me a better leader, and helped me get through everyday life. Although my determination to get back up was built by a couple scrapes and falls. I learned about the impact of a positive attitude on others through my experience on the tennis team.

The motivation and bond my team had because of the encouragement and support from our captains has influenced my approach to interacting with others. For instance, while working with my peers, I always praise them for the effort that they put in and patiently help them. When applying this to class projects and theater productions, I saw an improvement on our performance and our accomplishments felt more satisfying and meaningful. My positive attitude is also influential during my job at a convalescent home. As an activities assistant, my objective is to get residents to participate in activities and to make them fun.

At times, it’s difficult to convince residents that a macaroni necklace is worth getting out of bed for, but I am always that friendly face that cheers them on and picks them up. Knowing that my happiness is brightening someone else's day is extremely valuable and is the fuel to my enthusiasm.

Preserving my optimism is not always easy; however, my excitement for the future retains my drive to overcome any challenge. Every opportunity given to me is taken advantage of, and if something doesn't go as planned. I am confident another door will open. Even though I enjoy focusing on the bright side of life, I'm aware that some people feel like they cant overcome their challenges alone. I recognized that I can be a hand to help people up, someone to believe in them, and a friend to conquer obstacles with. Using this positive influence is the very reason why I am looking forward to a career in psychology.

• Shows Impact of Your Skill: Whenever possible, try to show how your skill/talent has impacted others. Why is your skill important? And how will you use it going forward in life?
• Uses Humor: Having small moments of natural humor, when appropriate, makes for a more enjoyable essay. Even a small remark like "it’s difficult to convince residents that a macaroni necklace is worth getting out of bed for" is powerful.
• Recognizes Challenges: Nobody is perfect, and even with your greatest skill or talent there are likely still shortcomings. Recognizing your challenges is important to humanize yourself and shows self-awareness.

UCLA Example Essay #8: Significant Educational Opportunity

UC PIQ #4: Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. (350 words max)

I was going to University of Southern California for three weeks, and that was all I could think about as the school year came to a close. After finding out that I had been accepted into the Bovard Scholars program, along with one of my best friends, I could not wait for the upcoming summer. As July 16th neared, I became more and more anxious,as I did not know what to expect, but I was looking forward to this new opportunity.

The program had just been launched this year and 49 of around 500 applicants were accepted. Over the course of three weeks, the 48 other people from all over the country would be my new friends. During my time there, I would be assigned a coach who would help with the college process, whether it be working on the college application as a group or having one-on-one sessions to work on personal statements. Outside of working on college applications and essays, we had guest speakers from admissions offices, student panels where we could ask questions, career panels, and workplace visits. We also had many presentations on financial aid, fields of major, jobs, and interviews which, most of it, I did not know beforehand.

Along with all this help, we also dormed at one of the residence halls, which allowed us to experience what college life might be like. I was amazed by the diversity of people that were attending the program, and I was shocked to find out that my roommate from New York was Egyptian. We even had Resident Assistants who planned evening activities for us to further stimulate college life. However, they were not just our Resident Assistants; as we grew closer we were able to gather information from them about college.

As the program came to its end, I did not want it to stop. I had such an incredible experience and learned so much about college. I knew that the program will never truly end, though, as our coaches will continue to work with us until Spring when we are accepted into colleges.

• Specific in Achievements: Being specific and saying "49 of around 500 applicants were accepted" creates credibility. It also helps admissions officers have context about your achievements and be able to infer how significant they really were.
• Stronger First Sentence: Try starting your essay with ideas, rather than retelling events. Starting off with interesting ideas helps hook your reader, and you can later support those ideas with your experiences and achievements.
• Focus on Meaning: Emphasize what your takeaways were from this educational opportunity or barrier. Admissions officers are looking for what you learned, how it affected others, and how you'll use those lessons moving forward.

UCLA Example Essay #9: Working at Health Clinic

I worked in a health clinic in the impoverished village of Amara in Sudan this summer, expecting to be assigned general administrative duties during my internship. However, those expectations were tossed out the window within the first week. I consider myself a pretty squeamish person, so the thought of blood oozing from any injury disgusts me in ways that I cannot describe in words. So naturally, I was shocked when I didn’t flinch or faint as I held the retractors of a ravaged knee during surgery. I can’t say that I confronted the daunting tasks I was given with complete confidence, but I learned from the experiences nonetheless. At times, I would question the challenging orders given to me by the faculty, but I later realized that it was due to the lack of qualified doctors and nurses at the village.

I observed eleven surgeries, ranging from liver disease to a gruesome foot infection. The clinic worked under severe pressure, as basic resources and equipment were scarce, which ended badly for some patients. There was one particular patient who did not survive a disastrous bus crash due to the unavailability of ambulances. He was laying on the floor in agonizing pain for a lingering six hours. As the viscous blood stained the white cloth that covered him when he was brought to the clinic, I felt a surge of sorrow, anger, and helplessness. It was difficult for me to come to grips with the reality that some things cannot be undone. The emotions I felt that day slowly faded, but never completely receded. I left this internship satisfied with the invaluable knowledge I obtained, but I still feel like I needed to do more. I live a relatively privileged life, and don’t have to spend each day worrying about a measly injury that could end my life. At the time, even though I thought I was worked too hard for a high school student, I now know I didn't do enough. I’m eager to return to the clinic soon, and have hopes of gaining more experience and knowledge.

• Emphasizes the Impact: After talking about what opportunity you had or what barrier you overcame, focusing on the impact of that experience is what matters. Describing your emotions and lessons learned makes the significance of those events more clear.
• Strong Hook: Focus on finding your best idea and using that as your first sentence. Often, starting off with a story or retelling what you did can come later and isn't as important.

UCLA Example Essay #10: Most Significant Challenge

UC PIQ #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? (350 words max)

Education has always been important in my household, but never paramount. We were always taught to put familial needs first—even before our own. My parents always emphasized the lesson that selfishness leads to bitterness and loneliness. That value is why six new members were added to my family when my father’s brother died two years ago. I did what was expected and shifted my focus from school to helping my kin.

I remember feeling a mosaic of emotions—apprehension, prudence, and displacement—as I greeted them at the airport. The five-hour-long ride back home was awkward and somber, and the complete silence said so much more than words could. We were all just afraid of what the future had in store for us. My step aunt, my two older cousins and the three younger ones were all compassionate, loving people. Yet, I couldn't seem to shed this foreboding feeling the first time we all entered our house. Every passing week made our financial situation more tenuous. So, my brother and I volunteered to help our dad at his small pharmaceutical wholesale business after he laid off two employees. We worked after school three days a week and would return home around 8:30.

That year of juggling school with my new obligations at home and my father’s business was emotionally and physically wrenching. However, I don't pity myself and I wouldn't go back to change anything because I learned so much about my character in that year. I realized that my parent’s belief in selflessness had shaped me into a more capable person because I was able to sacrifice time from socializing and classes to contribute, in some way, to my family. And even though I was concerned that I would hurt my academic performance, I stuck to my promises. That inexplicable sense of uneasiness I felt at the airport was caused by anxiety in anticipating the new demands that could potentially exhaust me. Thankfully, the challenges prepared me for the academic rigor for my junior year, my senior year, and hopefully, for university.

• Vulnerable and Authentic: Talking about personal stories can be difficult, but often your vulnerable experiences have a lot of meaning. Being vulnerable also makes you more personable and relatable.
• Explains Realizations: Rather than focusing on what happened, focus on the impact of it and why it's meaningful. How will these past experiences and academic challenges affect you going forward?
• Stronger Conclusion: Try to connect your ending back to the beginning while expanding on it or connecting it to a universal idea. Alternatively, leave your conclusion more open ended.

UCLA Example Essay #11: Educational Challenge

Growing up, I tackled the challenge of school without much guidance from anyone other than my older sister, who is one grade higher. When I was at the young age of just five, my parents divorced and my sister and I were left with our dad, who we did not see often. Because our time with him was limited to driving us to school and home and dinner, we could not ask him for much help with homework or projects. Most of the time, we did the work ourselves or asked our uncle and aunt for help when they came on Saturdays. By the time we reached middle school, I was in more advanced classes, and although my dad had received an Associate’s Degree, he did not take advanced classes like I did, so he was unable to provide much help. My dad only took math up to geometry, and his English was not as fluent as mine, preventing him from providing much help.

Once I enrolled in high school, I was able to get help from teachers, programs, and even my sister. With this newfound help, I overcame the struggle of not knowing what to do in school and life, and I learned that help is always there, but I just needed to ask. Throughout my time in high school, I became more motivated than I was before to do the best I can and overcome anything that comes my way. I was able to do this with help from others, and I will continue to strive for greatness, overcoming any obstacles. Without the help of others, I would not have had the success that I have had in school. My good grades are a testament to the help that I have received in order for me to be where I am now. Although I can say that I have overcome this challenge, there is still one last hurdle, which is to graduate from high school, attend college, and apply everything I have learned to the real world.

• Honesty: Authenticity is most important for your essays. By revealing personal details such as your family life and struggles, you can bring admissions officers into your world.
• Sense of Gratitude: Showing a sense of appreciation and self-awareness makes you immediately more likeable. Nobody succeeds alone, so how did others in your life help you overcome difficulties?
• Provide Clarification: Some parts could be given more context, such as "why is your dad not as fluent in English?". You could use this as an opportunity to talk about your cultural background and create a more clear picture of yourself for the reader.

UCLA Example Essay #12: Self-Improvement Challenge

The saying "you can be your own worst enemy" was the embodiment of the time I hit lowest point. Finishing my 22-hour days, I expected to lay down in bed close my eyes, and smile: thinking about all my accomplishments. Instead, I was sleep deprived, rapidly losing and gaining weight, and unhappy.

As a result, I stopped being able to focus and my grades began to fall. I lost motivation and the only reason I did anything was because of my obsession with completion. In this vulnerable state, I would tell myself I was useless and shy away from taking opportunities. I started to question if could get out of the hole I dug. Ironically, I have always been an optimist. I thought about the many things I wanted to do and I wouldn't be able to do any of them from a hospital bed.

Seeing the bright light ahead of me, I moved forward to a journey of self-improvement. First, I isolated myself from things that were affecting my happiness through finding a place where I could peacefully think about why I was enduring so much pain, regularly eat, and get some sleep. When I came back from my retreat, I continued my routine which improved my health and performance in school. The greatest outcome was my realization that I was compensating for my lack of self-esteem, I've been trying to get validation from my parents and peers by trying to be perfect, but when my friends left me and my parents didn't notice my efforts I overworked myself.

It was hard to stop searching for approval, yet the support of close friends and acknowledging that I'm doing everything I'm capable of, revealed to me what its like to love yourself. From then on, I determined my self worth, no one else. Now that I found my own drive and am confident, I don't have to beg for friends. struggle to maintain grades, skip meals, or lose sleep. Presently, I can say I am no longer my worst enemy: we're like friends that get closer every day.

• Vulnerability: Showing your shortcomings and difficulties is important to reveal how you've grown and changed. Revealing your perspective and emotions also shows that you have self-awareness.
• Provide More Explanation: Don't assume that the reader will remember everything about you. For essays like this, give more context. Answer questions that will come up in the reader's mind, like "Why did you have 22-hour days?".

UC PIQ #6: Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. (350 words max)

An academic subject that inspires me is Computer Science. Computers have fascinated me ever since a young age. I used my first computer when I was 4 years old- the Apple Macintosh Performa. I began learning about how computers worked in first grade, where I had my own Windows XP computer. I did not know what I was doing when I clicked through the thousands of files that made the computer run, but it was fascinating, and almost seemed like magic. I knew that a career with computers had to be in my future.

My fascination with computers took a new meaning in freshman year, when I decided to learn how to program. I did not know where to start, so I just typed in the search browser, "how to start programming". That day, I started with the Processing Language. It was a simple language to learn, but it built the foundation for my furthered interest in the computer programming aspect of Computer Science. After a couple months of using Processing, I learned HTML/CSS and JavaScript. These languages would allow me to program a wider range of applications. Soon enough, I became bilingual in the languages of computers. As time went on throughout my freshman and sophomore years I exposed myself to more languages like SQL, Batch Scripting, and in junior year, Java.

In my junior year I took AP Computer Science A, and finally after all the years of loving computers, I was able to take Computer Science as a class where I learned the Java language. I also furthered my interest in Computer Science by integrating it with the Engineering club on campus, using the Arduino and Raspberry Pi.

This year I am in Computer Integrated Manufacturing, where I can implement my knowledge of Computer Programming into Engineering, through the use of Corel Draw with the Laser Cutter Printer and AutoDesk Inventor and OpenGL C++ Code with the CAD 3-D Printing machine.

Computer Science has always been a part of my life inside and outside of the classroom, and I seek to continue pursuing it as my major.

• Connects Interests to Extracurriculars: Showing how your activities relate to your passions reveals your motivations and what drives you. By connecting to extracurriculars, it also creates a more complete picture of your application.
• Specific In Naming Things: Whenever you are able to, being specific is better than being vague. By naming programming languages and classes, the story becomes more compelling.
• Explain Why These Things Interest You: What is the root aspect of your interests that intrigue you? Try explaining how you feel when doing these activities and what motivates you. Admissions officers want to know how these interests developed, and more importantly, why they developed.

UC PIQ #7: What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? (350 words max)

I am "Korean big toes", "a water panda in disguise", and "Mr. Sweatface" - these are the nicknames I happily accepted over the years. My life was a buoyant bubble, full of gratification, funny nicknames, and simple pleasures; but that changed when I was confronted with the inhumane conditions of the LGBT centers around my town.

Stepping into the stone-house building, a few things immediately caught my attention. The rooms were small, full of broken furniture, smelled of mold, and had poor lighting; moreover, there was no privacy and extremely limited resources. It was obvious that the facility didn't have the funds to sustain itself, let alone help anyone trying to assimilate back into society. My heart ached as I realized the advantages I had been taking for granted; the idealistic mirage of reality I previously held, was now replaced by an overwhelming truth: Life isn't fair. Everyone in that facility had been criminalized for their sexuality, and I was going to do something about it!

Over the next few weeks, I brainstormed ideas and eventually decided on creating a blog where I would share the stories of anyone who was willing to speak up for change. The clickety-clack of my keyboard filled the common rooms of LGBT centers around my city. I slowly-but-surely interviewed the residents of these homes, recording stories of inequality and discrimination. As I uploaded each story to my blog, I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that I was breaking down barriers and fulfilling my passions. Furthermore, reading the comments flooding my inbox, I realized that although the LGBT centers in my area still remain underfunded, I had made an impact on individuals through my blog and did something for a community I genuinely cared about. It was more than I could have ever hoped for.

In my quest to create change, I forged a new nickname for myself -- "advocate"; except, unlike the titles I was bestowed as a kid, this nickname represented my creativity, ingenuity, and passion, and for those reasons, it is more precious than anyone will ever know.

• Vivid Descriptions: Painting a picture can make your stories immediately more interesting. By using descriptive language and word choice, your stories have more life to them.
• Conclusion That Connects to Beginning: Try connecting your ending back to the beginning, but with a new perspective or take. By bringing your essay full circle, it creates a sense of cohesiveness.
• Name Things Specifically: Rather than being general and saying "LGBT centers", the author could name one specifically. Since not everyone may be faimilar with the concept of "LGBT centers", it helps make your essay more concrete and easier to interpret.

UCLA Example Essay #15: Empowering Others Through Peer Tutoring

I never thought that I would tutor other people after school, but that was what I did my junior year and now in my senior year. During my freshman and sophomore years, I was the one being tutored by upperclassmen who had taken my classes before. Receiving help from others inspired me to become a tutor my junior year so I could give back and share the opportunity that I had. At first, I was not sure if I would be up to the task, as I did not feel confident in my teaching abilities in various subjects. As time went on, however, I became at ease and comfortable tutoring anyone the more I tutored along with my peers.

Every day from Monday through Thursday, I went to library as much as I could to help tutor with others from 3 to 4 o’clock, and it slowly became a part of my daily schedule. To begin with, I was not the greatest teacher, but as I helped more and more, I gradually became better at it due to teaching the same concepts repeatedly. Not only was I helping the person I was tutoring understand the subject, but I also was becoming better at the subject by teaching it. Teaching a subject allowed me to relearn concepts and ideas that I had forgotten, as well as studying for a subject if I was tutoring a classmate.

Motivated by wanting to help other students, I was able to be at tutoring most days, and this led to me receiving a tutoring award at my school’s California Scholarship Federation banquet at the end of the year. It was a surprise to me as I was not expecting to be honored. To me, the best award was the satisfaction of helping others understand how to do homework questions and them being grateful for the help. Although this year tutoring is not being held in the library yet, I joined another club that tutors after school for the time being so I can continue helping others and spread my knowledge.

• Shows Their Realizations: Realizations and new understanding are how people change. That's why its important to look for what lessons you learned, and what you took away from your activities.
• Explain Why: Try to predict what questions will arise in the reader's mind, and answer those questions. For this essay, one question that is unanswered is "Why did you never think you would tutor other people?".

UC PIQ #8: 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? (350 words max)

This was the night. Clenching my fists, I called my dad over. Maybe it was the adrenaline coursing through my veins or maybe just suspense, but time seemed to freeze as anxiety washed over my consciousness. A million doubts flooded my mind as I dreaded what would come next. The pitter-patter of his feet hitting the tile floor brought me back to reality. My dad had always loved and supported me, I just had to trust that things would be alright.

In a quivering voice, my hands shaking, I explained to my dad that I was gay. After a brief moment of silence, my dad said ten words that completely changed my life: "I raised you completely wrong, get out of my house". I was devastated, but I wasn't surprised. This was the same person physically forced pork down my throat when I told him I wanted to become a vegetarian; who would hit me and my mom if either of us voiced dissenting opinions; and the same person who would come home drunk and threaten to kill us. With tears running down my cheeks, I packed my belongings and drove my 98' Nissan Pathfinder away from my home. From that night on I learned to be brave, to follow my dreams, and to fight for what I believe in.

The next few years were tough. In my community, being gay was unacceptable and embracing my identity meant enduring the consequences. I will never forget being dragged into a storage room and choked or hiding the bruises I got from being pelted by textbooks. But looking back, I realize that the lessons I learned drove me towards success. They inspired me to be relentless and graduate early, to surpass expectations by doing college-credit classes, and remain strong in the face of oppression and adversity. Moving forward, as I look to broaden my education horizons, I know that I have the emotional vitality to success wherever I go. So I want to dedicate this essay to my dad and to everyone who made me strong, thank you.

• Honest and Vulnerable: Talking about personal stories can be impactful. Often the most difficult stories are the ones that need to be shared.
• Explains Your Perspective and Emotions: Sharing how you felt in a certain moment can allow the reader to "be in your shoes." By telling your perspective, you allow admissions officers to better understand your experience.
• Focus On Takeaways: Although stories are important, what matters more is the lessons and takeaways from those stories. The majority of your essay should be focused on those ideas, with a smaller portion where you talk about what actually happened.

UCLA Example Essay #17: Fostering Inclusive Leadership

All around us, the world is dominated by big voices, people who can present themselves positively and effectively elaborate on their opinions. Many of our most successful politicians carve their paths to the top through their charisma and articulate language. Unfortunately, while many of them possess a strong voice, many of them don’t possess that same strength in listening. While their job is to represent the people, there is a large disconnect between their perspective and the perspectives of their citizens. Even in Congress, civilized debate has transformed into a shouting battle, where both parties attempt to push their ideas, but neither side is willing to listen.

In contrast, a leader with an open ear, an open mind, and an open heart is exactly what I bring to the table. I believe that everyone has a unique story to share. From the most flamboyant billionaires to the people living on the streets, every single person possesses their own unique set of skills, perspective, and knowledge that can be useful to learn from. Because of this, I make it my priority to listen to and understand the human behind each team member I work with. In recognizing each person’s strengths and weaknesses, I’m able to build a positive environment in which every person is able to reach their maximum potential.

For example, when it comes to group projects, I always make sure to know the personalities of those I’m working with and create a transparent and inclusive environment that is conducive to productivity. Rather than dishing out assignments and deadlines, I make sure everyone is able to contribute in a way that matches their strengths and skills. Furthermore, by creating such a transparent atmosphere, group members are able to understand each other’s situations and help each other out like an actual team, allowing everyone to be both productive and pleased.

With all the divisiveness that is taking place in the country today, it is more necessary than ever to have open-minded leaders such as myself to help bring this campus and this nation together.

• Strong Hook Sentence: Using a thought-provoking idea to start your sentence immediately draws the reader in. By having a unique take on the world, people want to read more and are interested by your thoughts.
• Using Examples to Explain: For abstract ideas and concepts, try using a real life example to make things more clear. Capture the essence of your ideas and find what is at the core of them.

Stepping foot in public has been like opening a floodgate to questions and comments about the one thing that I've been looked down upon my entire life for - my height. Standing out because I was 4'9" wasn't something I was proud of; I was picked last for sports, not taken seriously, and often used as a human arm rest. My mom warned me life was going to be hard if I didn't drink my milk. However, people aren't aware that my appearance is a deception and what makes me extraordinary is that I've outgrown myself. People should be asking me how a person so "big" can fit into a girl so tiny. I have a huge personality, dreams, goals, and a plethora of talent. My achievements earned me such a high standing that I do know what the weather is like up there, yet, my head is never in the clouds because my distance from the ground makes me down to earth.

My only oddity is that my anatomy has grown out of proportion. It's hard to believe that with such short arms, I can extend them long enough to touch hearts with my art and performances. I have been devoted to helping people and educating myself ever since I was young, but who knew that my brain and heart would become so gigantic? Despite my how big my brain is, I keep my head as small as my body because I value letting others know that I'll never overlook them.

Although I haven't hit as many significant growth spurts as the average person. I grow with ambition every day, considering every moment a step closer to success. Being able to pursue my passions at a university will allow me to continue maturing into a person who will one day be looked up to by many. The reader of my response cannot see the facade that has been the subject of many peoples first impressions of me. instead, they will observe that even though I can't reach the top shelf, I can still reach my goals in life.

• Using Metaphors: Explaining something ordinary (like being short) in an unusual or not-so-common way can show your unique take on it. By using metaphors, you can connect seemingly unrelated ideas together.

What can you learn from these UCLA essays?

These UC essays are not perfect—nor should they be—but each has interesting ideas and a unique perspective.

Compared to some private university essays , UC essays are relatively straightforward.

So focus on making each UC essay express one interesting idea as your answer.

Here's my top 4 lessons for UCLA essays:

• Avoid too much storytelling and descriptions. You only have 350 words, so focus on ideas.
• Answer every part of the prompt, clearly. Avoid implying your answer. Make sure your idea is crystal clear and relevant.
• Showcase a different aspect of yourself with each essay. Avoid re-using topics, unless you're taking a very different angle.
• Show your thinking. As with all successful essays, your thinking is most important.

Also applying to UC Berkeley?

I've collected additional essays from admitted Cal students that are completely unique from these UCLA essays.

If you're interested, check out these our essays that worked for UC Berkeley .

Which UCLA essay that worked was your favorite? Let me know!

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People love to ask why. Why do you wear a turban? Why do you have long hair? Why are you playing a guitar with only 3 strings and watching TV at 3 A.M.—where did you get that cat? Why won’t you go back to your country, you terrorist? My answer is... uncomfortable. Many truths of the world are uncomfortable...

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How to Write the University of California Essays 2023-2024

The University of California (UC) school system is the most prestigious state university system in the United States and includes nine undergraduate universities: UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Merced, and UC Irvine.

The University of California system has its own application portal, as well as its own deadline of November 30th—a full month before the Common Application is due. All nine universities use one application, so it is easy to apply to multiple UCs at the same time. 

The application requires you to answer four of eight personal insight questions, with a 350-word limit on each prompt. This may seem daunting at first, but we provide this guide to make the prompts more approachable and to help you effectively tackle them! 

University of California Application Essay Prompts

Note: There is only one application for all the UC schools, so your responses will be sent to every University of California school that you apply to. You should avoid making essays school-specific (unless you are applying to only one school).

You might want to start by deciding which four of the eight prompts you plan on answering. The eight prompts are:

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.

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., 3. what would you say is your greatest talent or skill how have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time, 4. describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced., 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, 6. think about an academic subject that inspires you. describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom., 7. what have you done to make your school or your community a better place, 8. 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.

As you begin selecting prompts, keep the purpose of college essays at the forefront of your mind. College essays are the place to humanize yourself and transform your test scores, GPA, and extracurriculars into a living, breathing human with values, ambitions, and a backstory. If a specific prompt will allow you to show a part of who you are that is not showcased in the rest of your application, start there. 

If nothing immediately jumps out at you, try dividing the prompts into three categories: “definites,” “possibilities,” and “avoids at all costs.” “Definites” will be prompts that quickly spark up a specific idea in you. “Possibilities” might elicit a few loose concepts, anecdotes, or structures. And “avoids” are prompts where you honestly cannot see yourself writing a convincing essay. Next, take your “definites” and “possibilities” and jot down your initial thoughts about them. Finally, look at all of your ideas together and decide which combination would produce the most well-rounded essay profile that shows who you are as an individual.

Of course, this is just one way to approach choosing prompts if you are stuck. Some students might prefer writing out a list of their values, identifying the most important ones in their life, then figuring out how to showcase those through the prompts. Other students select prompts based on what they are excited by or through freewriting on every prompt first. Do not feel constrained by any one method. Just remember:

• Do not rush into prompts at first glance (though trial writing can be very valuable!).
• Make sure that you consider potential ideas for many prompts before making final decisions, and ultimately write about the one with the most substance.
• The prompts you select should allow you to highlight what is most important to you.

Check out our video to learn more about how to write the UC essays!

The 8 UC Personal Insight Questions

“Leadership Experience” is often a subheading on student resumes, but that is not what admissions officers are asking about here. They are asking for you to tell them a specific story of a time when your leadership truly mattered. This could include discussing the policies you enacted as president of a school club or the social ties you helped establish as captain of a sports team, but this prompt also gives you the freedom to go past that.

Leaders are individuals with strong values, who mentor, inspire, correct, and assist those around them. If you don’t feel like you’ve ever been a leader, consider the following questions:

• Have you ever mentored anyone? Is there anyone younger than you who would not be the person they are today without you?
• Have you ever taken the initiative? When and why did it matter?
• Have you ever been fundamental to positive change in the world—whether it be on the small scale of positively impacting a family member’s life or on the large scale of trying to change the status of specific communities/identities in this world?
• Have you ever stood up for what’s right or what you believe in?

Leadership is a concept that can be stretched, bent, and played with, but at the end of the day, the central theme of your essay must be leadership. Keeping this in mind, after your first draft, it can be helpful to identify the definition of leadership that you are working with, to keep your essay cohesive. This definition doesn’t need to appear within the essay (though, if you take on a more reflective structure, it might). Some examples of this include “being a positive role model as leadership,” “encouraging others to take risks as leadership,” and “embracing my identities as leadership.”

Here are some examples of how a leadership essay might look:

• You’ve always loved learning and challenging yourself, but when you got to high school it was clear that only a certain type of student was recommended to take AP classes and you didn’t fit into that type. You presented a strong case to the school counselors that you were just as prepared for AP classes as anyone else, enrolled in your desired classes, and excelled. Since then, AP classes have become more diversified at your school and there has even been a new inclusion training introduced for your district’s school counselors. 
• When you were working as a camp counselor, the art teacher brought you two of your campers who were refusing to get along. To mediate the conflict, you spent long hours before bed talking to them individually, learning about their personal lives and family situation. By understanding where each camper came from, you were better equipped to help them reach a compromise and became a role model for both campers.
• As a member of your school’s Chinese organization, you were driven by your ethnic heritage to devote your lunch breaks to ensuring the smooth presentation of the Chinese culture show. You coordinated the performers, prepared refreshments, and collected tickets. You got through a great performance, even though a performer didn’t show and some of the food was delivered late. You weren’t on the leadership board or anything, but exhibited serious leadership, as both nights of the culture show sold out and hundreds of both Chinese and non-Chinese people were able to come together and celebrate your culture.

Like the last prompt, this prompt asks about a specific topic—creativity—but gives you wiggle room to expand your definition of that topic. By defining creativity as problem-solving, novel thinking, and artistic expression, this prompt basically says “get creative in how you define creativity!” 

Additionally, this broad conception of creativity lets you choose if you want to write about your personal life or your academic life. A robotics student could write about their love of baking on the weekends or their quick thinking during a technical interview. A dance student could write about their love of adapting choreography from famous ballets or their innovative solution to their dance team’s lack of funds for their showcase. You have space to do what you want!

That said, because this prompt is so open, it is important to establish a focus early on. Try thinking about what is missing from your application. If you are worried that your application makes you seem hyper-academic, use this prompt to show how you have fun. If you are worried that you might be appearing like one of those students who just gets good grades because they have a good memory, use this prompt to show off your problem-solving skills.

Also, keep in mind that you don’t have to describe any skill in creative pursuits as you answer this prompt. The prompt asks you how you express your “creative side,” alluding to creative instinct, not creative talent. You could write about how you use painting to let out your emotions—but your paintings aren’t very good. You could write about dancing in the shower to get excited for your day—but one time you slipped and fell and hurt your elbow. Experiences like these could make for a great reflective essay, where you explore the human drive towards creative expression and your acceptance that you personally don’t have to be creatively inclined to let out creative energy.

Some examples:

• A math student writing about a time they devised a non-textbook method to proving theorems 
• A creative writer describing how they close-read the ups-and-downs of classical music as an attempt to combat writers’ block and think of emotional trajectories for new stories
• An engineering student writing about cooking as a creative release where numbers don’t matter and intuition supersedes reason
• A psychology student writing about the limitations of quantitative data and describing a future approach to psychology that merges humanism and empiricism.

This is the kind of prompt where an answer either pops into your head or it doesn’t. The good news is that you can write a convincing essay either way. We all have great talents and skills—you just might have to dig a bit to identify the name of the talent/skill and figure out how to best describe it.

Some students have more obvious talents and skills than others. For example, if you are intending to be a college athlete, it makes sense to see your skill at your sport as your greatest talent or skill. Similarly, if you are being accepted into a highly-selective fine arts program, painting might feel like your greatest talent. These are completely reasonable to write about because, while obvious, they are also authentic! 

The key to writing a convincing essay about an obvious skill is to use that skill to explore your personality, values, motivations, and ambitions. Start by considering what first drew you to your specialization. Was there a specific person? Something your life was missing that painting, hockey, or film satisfied? Were you brought up playing your sport or doing your craft because your parents wanted you to and you had to learn to love it? Or choose to love it? What was that process like? What do these experiences say about you? Next, consider how your relationship with your talent has evolved. Have you doubted your devotion at times? Have you wondered if you are good enough? Why do you keep going? On the other hand, is your talent your solace? The stable element in your life? Why do you need that?

The key is to elucidate why this activity is worth putting all your time into, and how your personality strengths are exhibited through your relationship to the activity. 

Do not be put off by this prompt if you have not won any big awards or shown immense talent in something specific. All the prompt asks for is what you think is your greatest talent or skill. Some avenues of consideration for other students include:

• Think about aspects of your personality that might be considered a talent or skill. This might include being a peacemaker, being able to make people laugh during hard times, or having organization skills.
• Think about unique skills that you have developed through unique situations. These would be things like being really good at reading out loud because you spend summers with your grandfather who can no longer read, knowing traffic patterns because you volunteer as a crossing guard at the elementary school across the street that starts 45 minutes before the high school, or making really good pierogi because your babysitter as a child was Polish.
• Think about lessons you have learned through life experiences. A military baby might have a great skill for making new friends at new schools, a child of divorce might reflect on their ability to establish boundaries in what they are willing to communicate about with different people, and a student who has had to have multiple jobs in high school might be talented at multitasking and scheduling. 

Make sure to also address how you have developed and demonstrated your selected talent. Do you put in small amounts of practice every day, or strenuous hours for a couple of short periods each year? Did a specific period of your life lead to the development of your talent or are you still developing it daily? 

The purpose of college essays is to show your values and personality to admissions officers, which often includes exploring your past and how it informs your present and future. With a bit of creativity in how you define a “talent or skill,” this prompt can provide a great avenue for that exploration. 

This prompt offers you two potential paths—discussing an educational opportunity or barrier. It is important that you limit yourself to one of these paths of exploration to keep your essay focused and cohesive. 

Starting with the first option, you should think of an educational opportunity as anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for life and your career. Some examples could include:

• participation in an honors program
• enrollment in an academy geared toward your future profession
• a particularly enlightening conversation with a professional or teacher
• joining a cultural- or interest-based student coalition
• plenty of other opportunities

The phrasing “taken advantage of” implies the admissions committee’s desire for students who take the initiative. Admissions officers are more interested in students who sought out opportunities and who fought to engage with opportunities than students who were handed things. For example, a student who joined a career-advancement afterschool program in middle school could write about why they were initially interested in the program—perhaps they were struggling in a specific subject and didn’t want to fall behind because they had their sights set on getting into National Junior Honor Society, or their friend mentioned that the program facilitated internship opportunities and they thought they wanted to explore therapy as a potential career path.

On the other hand, if an opportunity was handed to you through family connections or a fortuitous introduction, explore what you did with that opportunity. For example, if a family member introduced you to an important producer because they knew you were interested in film, you could write about the notes you took during that meeting and how you have revisited the producer’s advice and used it since the meeting to find cheap equipment rentals and practice your craft.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you have faced, consider the personal characteristics and skills you called upon to overcome the challenge. How did the process of overcoming your educational barrier shape you as a person? What did you learn about yourself or the world? An added plus would be talking about passing it forward and helping those in your purview obtain the knowledge you did from your experiences.

Some examples of educational barriers could include:

• limited access to resources, materials, technology, or classes
• lacking educational role models
• struggles with deciding on a passion or career path
• financial struggles

One example of an interesting essay about educational barriers:

As a student at a school that did not offer any honors classes, you enrolled in online lectures to learn the subject you were passionate about — Human Geography. Afterward, you spoke to your school administrators about high-achieving students needing higher-level courses, and they agreed to talk to the local community college to start a pipeline for students like you.

Either way that you take this prompt, it can be used to position yourself as motivated and driven—exactly the type of student admissions officers are looking for!

This prompt is three-pronged. You must 1) identify a challenge 2) describe the steps you have taken to overcome the challenge and 3) connect the challenge to your academic achievement.

When approaching this prompt, it is best to consider these first and third aspects together so that you identify a challenge that connects to your academic life. If you simply pick any challenge you have experienced, when you get to the third part of the prompt, you may have to stretch your essay in ways that are unconvincing or feel inauthentic.

That said, remember that “academic achievement” reaches far beyond grades and exams. It can include things like:

• Deciding your career goals
• Balancing homework, jobs, and social/familial relationships
• Having enough time to devote to self-care
• Figuring out how you study/learn best
• Feeling comfortable asking for help when you need it

You should begin brainstorming challenges and hardships that you have experienced and overcome. These could include financial hardships, familial circumstances, personal illness, or learning disabilities. Challenges could also be less structural—things like feeling like you are living in a sibling’s shadow, struggles with body image, or insecurity. While it is important that your challenge was significant, it matters much more that you discuss your challenge with thoughtful reflection and maturity.

Some ways to take this prompt include:

• Writing about how overcoming a challenge taught you a skill that led to academic success — for example, a high-achieving student who struggles with anxiety was forced to take time off from school after an anxiety attack and learned the importance of giving oneself a break
• Writing about a challenge that temporarily hindered your academic success and reflecting on it — for example, a student who experienced a death in the family could have had a semester where they almost failed English because reading led to negative thought spirals instead of plot retention
• Writing about how a challenge humbled you and gave you a new perspective on your academics — for example, a student with a part-time job who helps support her family missed a shift because she was studying for a test and realized that she needed to ask her teachers for help and explain her home situation

As you describe the steps you have taken to overcome your selected challenge, you will want to include both tangible and intangible steps. This means that you will need to discuss your emotions, growth, and development, as well as what you learned through overcoming the challenge. Was your challenge easy to overcome or did it take a few tries? Do you feel you have fully overcome your challenge or is it a work in progress? If you have fully overcome the challenge, what do you do differently now? Or do you just see things differently now? If you were to experience the same challenge again, what would you have learned from before?

Here are some detailed examples:

• Your parents underwent a bitter, drawn-out divorce that deeply scarred you and your siblings, especially your little brother who was attending elementary school at the time. He was constantly distraught and melancholy and seemed to be falling further and further behind in his schoolwork. You took care of him, but at the cost of your grades plummeting. However, through this trial, you committed yourself to protecting your family at all costs. You focused on computer science in high school, hoping to major in it and save up enough money for his college tuition by the time he applies. Through this mission, your resolve strengthened and reflected in your more efficient and excellent performance in class later on.
• Your race was the most significant challenge you faced growing up. In school, teachers did not value your opinion nor did they believe in you, as evidenced by their preferential treatment of students of other races. To fight back against this discrimination, you talked to other students of the same race and established an association, pooling together resources and providing a supportive network of people to others in need of counseling regarding this issue.

The first step for approaching this prompt is fun and easy—think about an academic subject that inspires you. This part of the essay is about emotional resonance, so go with your gut and don’t overthink it. What is your favorite subject? What subject do you engage with in the media in your free time? What subject seeps into your conversations with friends and family on the weekends?

Keep in mind that high school subjects are often rather limited. The span of “academic subjects” at the university level is much less limited. Some examples of academic subjects include eighteenth-century literature, political diplomacy, astronomy, Italian film and television, botany, Jewish culture and history, mobile robotics, musical theater, race and class in urban environments, gender and sexuality, and much more.

Once you’ve decided what subject you are most interested in and inspired by, think about a tangible example of how you have furthered your interest in the subject. Some common ways students further their interests include:

• Reading about your interest
• Engaging with media (television, film, social media) about your interest
• Volunteering with organizations related to your interest
• Founding organizations related to your interest
• Reaching out to professionals with your academic interest
• Using your interest in interdisciplinary ways
• Research in your field of interest
• Internships in your field of interest

While you should include these kinds of tangible examples, do not forget to explain how your love for the subject drives the work you do, because, with an essay like this, the why can easily get lost in describing the what . Admissions officers need both.

A few examples:

• You found your US government class fascinatingly complex, so you decided to campaign for a Congressional candidate who was challenging the incumbent in your district. You canvassed in your local community, worked at the campaign headquarters, and gathered voter data whilst performing various administrative duties. Though the work was difficult, you enjoyed a sense of fulfillment that came from being part of history.
• Last year you fell in love with the play Suddenly Last Summer and decided to see what career paths were available for dramatic writing. You reached out to the contact on your local theater’s website, were invited to start attending their guest lecturer series, and introduced yourself to a lecturer one week who ended up helping you score a spot in a Young Dramatic Writers group downtown.
• The regenerative power of cells amazed you, so you decided to take AP Biology to learn more. Eventually, you mustered up the courage to email a cohort of biology professors at your local university. One professor responded, and agreed to let you assist his research for the next few months on the microorganism C. Elegans.
• You continued to develop apps and games even after AP Computer Science concluded for the year. Eventually, you became good enough to land an internship at a local startup due to your self-taught knowledge of various programming languages.

With regards to structure, you might try thinking about this essay in a past/present/future manner where you consider your past engagement with your interest and how it will affect your future at a UC school or as an adult in society. This essay could also become an anecdotal/narrative essay that centers around the story of you discovering your academic interest, or a reflective essay that dives deep into the details of why you are drawn to your particular academic subject.

Whatever way you take it, try to make your essay unique—either through your subject matter, your structure, or your writing style!

College essay prompts often engage with the word “community.” As an essay writer, it is important to recognize that your community can be as large, small, formal, or informal as you want it to be. Your school is obviously a community you belong to, but your local grocery store, the nearby pet adoption center you volunteer at, your apartment building, or an internet group can also be communities. Even larger social groups that you are a part of, like your country or your ethnicity, can be a community. 

The important part of your response here is not the community you identify with but rather the way you describe your role in that community. What do you bring to your community that is special? What would be missing without you?

Some responses could include describing how you serve as a role model in your community, how you advocate for change in your community, how you are a support system for other community members, or how you correct the community when it is veering away from its values and principles.

Here are some fleshed-out examples of how this essay could take shape, using the earlier referenced communities:

• A student writes about the local grocery store in his neighborhood. Each Sunday, he picks up his family’s groceries and then goes to the pharmacy in the back to get his grandmother’s medication. The pharmacist was a close friend of his grandmother’s when she was young, so the student routinely gives the pharmacist a detailed update about his grandmother’s life. The student recognizes the value in his serving as a link to connect these two individuals who, due to aging, cannot be together physically.
• An animal-loving student volunteers one Saturday each month at the pet adoption center in their city’s downtown district. They have always been an extremely compassionate person and view the young kittens as a community that deserves to be cared for. This caring instinct also contributes to their interactions with their peers and their desire to make large-scale positive social change in the world.

Your response to this prompt will be convincing if you discuss your underlying motives for the service you have done, and in turn, demonstrate the positive influence you have made. That said, do not be afraid to talk about your actions even if they did not produce a sweeping change; as long as the effort was genuine, change is change, no matter the scale. This essay is more about values and reflection than it is about the effects of your efforts.

Lastly, if you are discussing a specific service you did for your community, you might want to touch on what you learned through your service action or initiative, and how you will continue to learn in the future. Here are a few examples:

• Passionate about classical music, you created a club that taught classical and instrumental music at local elementary schools. You knew that the kids did not have access to such resources, so you wanted to broaden their exposure as a high school senior had done for you when you were in middle school. You encouraged these elementary schoolers to fiddle with the instruments and lobbied for a music program to be implemented at the school. Whether the proposal gets approved or not, the kids have now known something they might never have known otherwise.
• Working at your local library was mundane at times, but in the long run, you realized that you were facilitating the exchange of knowledge and protecting the intellectual property of eminent scholars. Over time, you found ways to liven up the spirit of the library by leading arts and crafts time and booking puppet shows for little kids whose parents were still at work. The deep relationships you forged with the kids eventually blossomed into a bond of mentorship and mutual respect.

Be authentic and humble in your response to this essay! Make sure it feels like you made your community a better place because community is a value of yours, not just so that you could write about it in a college essay.

This is the most open-ended any question can get. You have the freedom to write about anything you want! That said, make sure that, no matter what you do with this prompt, your focus can be summarized into two sentences that describe the uniqueness of your candidacy.

The process we recommend for responding to open-ended prompts with clarity involves the following steps:

1. On a blank piece of paper, jot down any and every idea — feelings, phrases, and keywords — that pop into your head after reading this prompt. Why are you unique?

2. Narrow your ideas down to one topic. The two examples we will use are a student writing about how her habit of pausing at least five seconds before she responds to someone else’s opinion is emblematic of her thoughtfulness and a student whose interest in researching the history of colonialism in the Caribbean is emblematic of their commitment to justice.

3. Outline the structure of your essay, and plan out content for an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

4. Before you start writing your essay, write one or two sentences that summarize how you would like the admissions officers to perceive you based on this essay. These sentences will not be in your final product, but will help you to maintain a focus. For our examples, this would be something like “Natalie’s habit of gathering her thoughts before responding to other people’s opinions allows her to avoid undesired complications and miscommunications in her social interactions. This has not only helped her maintain strong relationships with all the staff members of the clubs she leads, but will also help her navigate the social environments that she will face in the professional world.” A summary for the student writing about their interest in the history of colonialism could be “Jonathan has always been highly compassionate and sympathetic by nature. When they found out about the historical injustices of colonialism in the Caribbean through the book The Black Jacobins , they realized that compassion is what is missing from politics. Now, they are inspired to pursue a political science degree to ultimately have a political career guided by compassion.”

5. Finally, write an essay dedicated to constructing the image you devised in step 4. This can be achieved through a number of different structures! For example, Natalie could use an anecdote of a time when she spoke too soon and caused someone else pain, then could reflect on how she learned the lesson to take at least five seconds before responding and how that decision has affected her life. Jonathan could create an image of the future where they are enacting local policies based on compassion. It is important to keep in mind that you do not want to be repetitive, but you must stay on topic so that admissions officers do not get distracted and forget the image that you are attempting to convey.

As exemplified by the examples we provided, a good way to approach this prompt is to think of a quality, value, or personality trait of yours that is fundamental to who you are and appealing to admissions officers, then connect it to a specific activity, habit, pet peeve, anecdote, or another tangible example that you can use to ground your essay in reality. Use the tangible to describe the abstract, and convince admissions officers that you would be a valuable asset to their UC school!

Where to Get Your UC Essays Edited

With hundreds of thousands of applicants each year, many receiving top scores and grades, getting into top UC schools is no small feat. This is why excelling in the personal-insight questions is key to presenting yourself as a worthwhile candidate. Answering these prompts can be difficult, but ultimately very rewarding, and CollegeVine is committed to helping you along that journey. Check out these UC essay examples for more writing inspiration.

If you want to get your essays edited, we also have free peer essay review , where you can get feedback from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by editing other students’ essays.

You can also receive expert essay review by advisors who have helped students get into their dream schools. You can book a review with an expert to receive notes on your topic, grammar, and essay structure to make your essay stand out to admissions officers. Haven’t started writing your essay yet? Advisors on CollegeVine also offer  expert college counseling packages . You can purchase a package to get one-on-one guidance on any aspect of the college application process, including brainstorming and writing essays.

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University of California, Los Angeles | UCLA

• Cost & scholarships
• Essay prompt

Want to see your chances of admission at University of California, Los Angeles | UCLA?

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

University of California, Los Angeles | UCLA’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?

Information for First-Year Applicants

We invite you to apply to the youngest top law school in the nation – UCLA School of Law. The Office of Admissions is available to help you experience a smooth and successful application process. Applications for Fall 2025 will be available through the LSAC online application service on September 3, 2024. Applications will be due by January 31, 202​5 .

Steps to Applying to the First Year Class

Please note that by the time of enrollment, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree that has been awarded by an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. For students educated outside of the United States, the undergraduate degree must be from an institution that is equivalent in quality to that of institutions accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. If you have any questions about educational prerequisites, please email  [email protected] .

All applicants for Fall 2025 should follow these application procedures:

Take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) no later than January 31, 2025, if applying regular decision. Note the cut off dates for the LSAT and GRE are different for students applying Early Decision, for the Distinguished Scholars Award and for the Achievement Fellowship (see below). Complete information regarding the Standardized Test Requirement is below.

• Register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
• Completed application.
• Separate essay not to exceed two double-spaced typed pages.
• No less than 11-point font.
• Discuss any matters relevant to your ability to succeed in law school and the practice of law, and any attributes, experiences, or interests that would enable you to make a distinctive contribution to UCLA Law or the legal profession.
• Current résumé (use an electronic attachment).
• Two letters of recommendation (no more than two) submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service are required. 
• Official transcripts sent directly to LSAC. Applicants should not wait for fall grades before sending transcripts to LSAC. However, applicants must submit work completed after the initial registration to LSAC, as updated reports will be forwarded to the Law School Admissions Office. Accepted applicants will be required to have their undergraduate institution submit directly to UCLA School of Law a final transcript showing the award of a baccalaureate degree before classes begin in the fall semester.
• Nonrefundable application fee of $75. You may submit your application and pay the fee electronically via LSAC. You may also pay by check, money order, or international money order payable to the Regents of the University of California and include it with your signed Certification Letter. 
• David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy Application , if applying to that program.
• Early Decision Program Agreement, if applying to the Binding Early Decision Program . The priority Early Decision deadline is November 15, 2024. Students applying priority Early Decision must take the LSAT or GRE by October 31, 2024. Applicants will be informed of their admissions decisions by the end of December 2024. Students applying Early Decision after November 15 must take the LSAT or GRE by January 31, 2025 and will receive decisions on a rolling basis.
• Distinguished Scholars Award Agreement, if applying for the Distinguished Scholars Award . The deadline is November 15, 2024 and applicants must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October 31, 2024.
• If applying to the Achievement Fellowship Program , applicants are required to include an additional one page essay describing in detail the obstacles they have overcome in life and why they are a strong candidate for the program. The deadline to apply to the Achievement Fellowship is December 16, 2024 and applicants must take the LSAT or the GRE no later than November 30, 2024. However, applicants taking the LSAT or GRE after these dates may still apply and be considered for any remaining Achievement Fellowships that are available.
• We do not require a dean's certification.
• The use of any artificial intelligence tools to assist in the completion of this application is prohibited.  
• Applications must be submitted on or before January 31, 2025.

UCLA requires that students take a standardized test for admission—either the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) . The LSAT or GRE must be taken no later than January 31, 2025 for students applying to the regular JD program.

Those applying Early Decision or for the Distinguished Scholars Award must take the LSAT or GRE no later than October 31, 2024. Applicants to the Achievement Fellowship must take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 30, 2024.

Though we anticipate that most applicants will continue to apply with an LSAT score, UCLA Law does not have a preference in the admissions process for one test over another and will evaluate all applications holistically regardless of the test taken.

Students may choose which test to take; however please note the following guidelines:

• An applicant who takes both the LSAT and the GRE is required to submit all LSAT test scores from the last five years but may choose whether or not to submit their GRE score(s). However if the applicant elects to submit a GRE score in addition to the LSAT, the applicant must submit all GRE scores from the last five years.
• An applicant who only takes the GRE and not the LSAT must also submit all GRE scores from the last five years.
• GRE scores should be submitted directly to UCLA Law by the Educational Testing Service ("ETS"—the organization that administers the GRE) using UCLA Law's ETS school code 4837 and the department and major field code 5201.
• Applicants applying only with a GRE score are still required to subscribe to and utilize the LSAC Credential Assembly Service for the submission of transcripts and letters of recommendation.

Note: The LSAT writing sample is not conducted at the same time as the LSAT exam—it is an on-demand writing exam administered online. (For full details please visit: https://www.lsac.org/lsat/taking-lsat/lsat-writing-faqs .) Applicants taking the LSAT should be aware that their application cannot be transmitted to UCLA Law for evaluation without an LSAC writing sample. Note that we will review applications as soon as they are complete and at least one LSAT writing sample has been submitted. Unfortunately, we are not able to wait to review your application if you decide to take additional writing sample tests.

Applicants apply by completing UCLA School of Law's electronic application  available through the LSAC. For more information, visit the LSAC website ; call 215.968.1001; or e-mail: [email protected] .

Please view our fee waiver policy .

The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) was developed to help participating schools collect and analyze data pertaining to the academic records of applicants. The law school report includes a year-by-year summary of units and grade-point averages (GPA), a cumulative GPA, LSAT score(s) (if applicable), and a copy of each transcript. All applicants, including those reapplying, those taking the GRE, and applicants from institutions that do not issue grades, are required to register with the Credential Assembly Service. A transcript from each college or university attended and listed on the registration form should be sent directly to LSAC's Credential Assembly Service in accordance with their instructions. The Credential Assembly Service will analyze and summarize the transcript(s). UCLA School of Law will request the LSAC Law School Report once the application is received.

Applicants should not wait for fall grades before sending transcripts to LSAC. However, applicants must submit work completed after the initial registration to LSAC, as updated reports will be forwarded to the Law School Admissions Office. Accepted applicants will be required to have their undergraduate institution submit directly to UCLA School of Law a final transcript showing the award of a baccalaureate degree before classes begin in the fall semester.

LSAT/Credential Assembly Service registration forms and other information may be obtained from the Law School Admission Council website or (215) 968-1001. 

UCLA School of Law requires that applicants submit two letters of recommendation. At least one letter should be from someone familiar with the applicant's academic work, if at all possible. The Law School strongly prefers that letters be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service. This service is included with the Credential Assembly Service registration. Letters will be copied and sent to UCLA School of Law along with the LSAC Law School Report. To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters outlined at LSAC.org .

The UCLA School of Law requires that your transcripts be submitted through LSAC's Credential Assembly Service. This service is included in the Credential Assembly Service subscription fee. If you completed any post-secondary work outside the U.S. (including its territories) or Canada, you must use this service for the evaluation of your transcripts. The one exception to this requirement is if you completed the work through a study abroad, consortium, or exchange program sponsored by a U.S. or Canadian institution, and the work is clearly indicated as such on the home campus transcripts.

To use the Credential Assembly Service, log into your LSAC.org account and follow the instructions for registering for the service. Be sure to print out a Transcript Request Form for each institution and send it promptly to them. More time is usually required to receive international transcripts.

Questions about the Credential Assembly Service can be directed to LSAC at 215.968.1001 or [email protected] .

UCLA School of Law will request the applicant's law school report, including any LSAT score(s), from LSAC. All internationally-educated applicants must take the LSAT or the GRE but are not required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

If there is a change in the applicant's contact information after filing the application, the UCLA School of Law Office of Admissions must be notified by sending an e-mail with the applicant's name and LSAC Account Number to  [email protected] or by writing to:

UCLA School of Law Law Admissions Office 71 Dodd Hall Box 951445 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1445

Applicants will be notified by e-mail when:

• the application has been received;
• the application has been marked complete; and
• when an admission decision has been made.

The Office of Admission should be advised of any change to the applicant's e-mail address. The majority of applicants will receive notification by the end of April 2025.

The School of Law considers requests to defer enrollment on a case-by-case basis. To apply, applicants should contact the Office of Admissions.

Applicants to approved joint-degree programs must contact the appropriate graduate school or department to obtain its application and must meet that department's deadline. All J.D./Ph.D. in Philosophy applicants are advised to take the LSAT or GRE no later than November 30, 2024 and apply by January 4, 2025.

More Information on Joint Degree Programs

Applicants who reapply for admission must comply with the following procedures:

• Complete a current application
• Pay the nonrefundable application fee in the amount of $75. You may submit your application and pay the fee electronically via LSAC. You may also pay by check, money order, or international money order payable to the Regents of the University of California and include it with your signed Certification Letter.
• Have a valid LSAT or GRE score.
• Re-register with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service.

Note that the original application materials, including letters of recommendation, will remain on file. It is strongly suggested that a re-applicant submit an updated personal statement and résumé.

For reapplicants applying with a valid GRE score, official score reports from the original application will also remain on file.  A reapplicant will only need to request a new score report if there is a new reportable GRE score since submission of the original application from the prior year.  Please see the Standardized Test Requirement section above for further details on submitting test scores.

• UCLA School of Law requires that both the student’s and parents’ information be provided on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the law school Financial Need Application, with few exceptions. Please review detailed guidelines here before submitting your applications.
• The FAFSA priority filing date is March 2, 2025. Once available, starting October 1, 2024, the application can be accessed here . Please use UCLA’s school code: 001315 .
• All admitted students are considered for a Dean’s scholarship upon completion of the Dean's Scholarship Consideration Form (provided after admission). In determining the scholarship amount, both merit and financial need can be considered. Eligible admitted students who wish to be considered for need must first complete the law school Financial Need Application (provided after admission) and the FAFSA.  

Melissa Goodman is quoted in the Atlantic about the regulation of abortion pills in Louisiana

Rick hasen is cited in a new york times story about the upside-down flag at justice alito's home, law school graduates receive ucla alumni awards for service and dedication.

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Twenty of Our Most Loved Essays of 2022

From politics, labor, and race to philosophy, literature, and sex.

Boston Review

• December 30, 2022

As 2022 comes to a close, we are looking back on an eventful year and counting down twenty selections of our most-loved essays we published over the last twelve months.

2022 has seen several new global challenges. In the weeks following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, our contributors provided essential context—examining the  role of NATO  in the lead-up to the war as well as the  theocratic  and  homophobic  ideologies animating Putin’s regime. This year also saw the continued global rise of the far right, which made inroads in Italy and  Sweden . Meanwhile, the collapse of crypto currency platform FTX brought increased attention to effective altruism and  longtermism , ethical theories popular among today’s tech moguls that rest on shaky philosophical assumptions.

There were also some glimmers of hope. The COP 27 climate summit in Egypt resulted in a historic agreement to create a loss and damage fund to aid countries facing the brunt of climate change—a small step toward the type of  reparations necessary  to address historic global injustices.

In addition to these topics, our most-loved essays this year explore the  social roots of mental illness , the  case for a world without borders , how  microeconomics hijacked economic policymaking , and  Edith Wharton’s use of gothic tropes  to challenge oppressive gender relations.

Whatever 2023 brings,  Boston Review ’s authors will continue to provide carefully researched, in-depth analysis of vital public issues.

20: The Deep Structure of Democratic Crisis — Ruth Berins Collier, Jake Grumbach

19: up from federalism — lisa l. miller, 18: labor’s militant minority — mie inouye, 17: why policing and prisons can’t end gender violence — angela y. davis, gina dent, erica r. meiners, beth e. richie, nia t. evans, 16: you owe me an argument — rachel fraser, 15: a century of serious difficulty — johanna winant, 14: twenty years of freedom dreams — robin d. g. kelley, 13: nine ways that capitalism is ruining sex — breanne fahs, 12: just give me my equality — teresa m. bejan, 11: “representation doesn’t just mean heroes. we need the villains as well.” — marlon james interviewed by nate file, 10: the fight for reparations cannot ignore climate change — olúfẹ́mi o. táíwò, 9: edith wharton’s ghosts — jennifer r. bernstein, 8: nato and the road not taken — rajan menon, 7: race and sweden’s fascist turn — tobias hübinette, 6: the u.s. christians who pray for putin — bethany moreton, 5: the new moral mathematics — kieran setiya, 4: putin’s anti-gay war on ukraine — emil edenborg, 3: bad economics — simon torracinta, 2: there is no “migrant crisis” — harsha walia, 1: mental illness is not in your head — marco ramos, boston review is nonprofit and reader funded..

We rely on readers to keep our pages free and open to all. Help sustain a public space for collective reasoning and imagination: become a supporting reader today .

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July 14, 2022

David Geffen School of Medicine (UCLA) Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]

The David Geffen School of Medicine (UCLA) is interested in physician excellence, leadership and impact. According to Clarence H. Braddock, III, MD – the Vice Dean of Education and Chief Medical Education Officer, the Geffen SOM is interested in change, innovation, research, health, education, advocacy and humanistic care. Also, UCLA is standing by an initiative to change their policies and procedures to fix infrastructure that thwarts diversity, inclusion and equity in their institution. The Geffen School of Medicine is an institutional leader in rectifying systemic racism.

UCLA Medical School secondary application essay questions 2022-23

Ucla secondary essay #1.

At the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, students are provided with curriculum and experiences enabling them to become an “Outstanding Physician, AND…,” dedicating themselves to important societal missions. What missions do you want to embrace? What have you done toward your missions? (800 characters)

A physician is a citizen of the world. Clearly, you have a passion for some aspect of humanity. When you envision your life as a physician, what humanitarian aspect will still resonate for you? What is that other thing that will always accompany your professional engagement? What lights a fire for you in terms of effecting positive change, doing good, advocating? Why are you, as a future physician, confident that you will remain passionate about Habitat for Humanity? Training guide dogs? Cooking at a free community kitchen? Helping veterans? You should already have experience doing whatever that is. This prompt seeks out applicants who know who they are and are actively engaged in a cause uniquely suited to what moves them. 

A particular research goal might be a suitable answer to this prompt as well, as long as your application demonstrates your involvement with an area of research. What’s your particular long-term vision working with stem cells?

Perhaps you’re a writer. Do you have books to write about being a doctor, or perhaps about patients’ social determinants of health? 

Perhaps you’re a visionary. Have you developed a particular interest in medical ethics to affect policy and practice on the ethical use of animals in medical research? In twenty years, will AI have helped reduce the number of animals used in medical research?

Read: Here’s How to Match Your Values to the Medical School Mission Statement >>

UCLA secondary essay #2

Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an “Outstanding Physician, AND…” . • A-Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity. (800 characters) • B-Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful. (800 characters) • C-Describe your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities) and provide the total number of hours, dates and advisor. (800 characters)

Last year, this prompt was rewritten slightly. It used to say “what has been your most…” – which was revised to the word “describe.” Clearly, DGSOM wants more detail than just stating your answer. Do you play electric guitar? Do you draw anatomical figures? In what context? What does this do for you? What does this do for others? Don’t forget that all three of these sub prompts need to conclude with a tie-in to your career goals.

UCLA secondary essay #3

Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as other relevant information. (800 characters)

The UCLA website has very specific information for applicants about having been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Be sure to read their statement on their expectations for applicants who have been affected academically.

They will not judge applications that show online courses, or a shift to Pass/Fail grades for 2020 or 2021. In the COVID-19 information on their website, they isolate the word “resilience” as the key quality that they found to be true for their applicants during the pandemic. Clearly they like that. So do surmise that strong answers to this prompt should demonstrate resounding resilience .

UCLA secondary essay #4

Did you experience or are you anticipating time between graduating from college and matriculating into medical school? If yes: Describe the activities in which you participated or are planning to participate. Examples include additional schooling, employment, or caring for a loved one. (800 characters)

If you have already graduated from college, you should explain what you were doing over the last year(s). If you haven’t yet graduated, you should describe plans for the gap year(s) , including positions for which you plan to apply and planned or actual volunteer work. 

Staying engaged in clinical activities is key. Building upon your exposure to patient care and research is wise as well. You might travel abroad for a medical mission trip, volunteer, or work in health care for pay. Are you a scribe? An EMT? The gap year experience must be an opportunity to show the admissions committee how practically or imaginatively you utilized this time to engage healthcare, locally or abroad, or re-engaged academia in a master’s program, to offset a low GPA, to show your commitment to becoming a doctor.

Show that your gap year will be or was a growth year!

UCLA secondary essay #5

Do you identify as being part of a group that has been marginalized (examples include, but are not limited to, LGBTQIA, disabilities, federally recognized tribe) in terms of access to education or healthcare? If yes: Describe how this inequity has impacted you or your community and how educational disparity, health disparity and/or marginalization has impacted you and your community.  (800 characters)

It is okay to say “no” here. This prompt is a hardship prompt, but it is specifically tied to issues of marginalization, identification with a marginalized group, or marginalization due to disability that impacted your access to education or healthcare. How does this story begin? How does this story play out? Tell that story explaining the significance of the consequences of your marginalization or the same marginalization for your community. How did you or your community adjust to an adverse event? How did you come to terms with your or your community’s marginalization as a reality? How and why did this experience change or deepen your passion to become a doctor?

Applying to David Geffen School of Medicine? Here are some stats:

Geffen average MCAT score: 512

Geffen average GPA: 3.7

UCLA medical school acceptance rate: 2.2%

U.S. News  ranks Geffen #19 for research and #13 for primary care.

Check out the Med School Selectivity Index for more stats.

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your Geffen School of Medicine secondary application? We hope so. It’s our mission to help smart, talented applicants like you gain acceptance to your top choice medical school. With so much at stake, why not hire a consultant whose expertise and personalized guidance can help you make your dream come true? We have several flexible consulting options— click here to get started today !

David Geffen School of Medicine (UCLA) application timeline 2022-23

Source: Geffen School of Medicine website

Related Resources:

• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Med School & Secondary Essays , a free guide
• 4 Sure-Fire Ways to Ace Essays Showing Resilience in the Face of Failure
• Matching Your Values to the Medical School Mission Statement

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• Medical School Application

UCLA Secondary Essay Prompts and Examples

Looking for UCLA secondary essay information? You've come to the right spot. In this blog, we will go over several UCLA secondary essay examples and give you tips for how to make your secondaries stand out!

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Article Contents 8 min read

The David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) receives thousands of applicants each year competing for approximately 160 places into its MD program. Upon receiving the supplemental application request letter, students will have just fifteen days to complete and submit their secondary application, which requires addressing 10 different prompts. This is a tight timeline for most, so preparing your UCLA secondary essays in advance will allow for well-thought, well-crafted responses. This post will provide you with the UCLA secondary essay prompts along with sample essay examples.

Secondary applications are sent by medical schools between August - October to further assess a candidate's suitability for the profession. The secondaries are comprised of questions or prompts that are designed to help the admissions committee learn more about a candidate's passions, interests, and experiences. Applicants are required to answer these prompts while adhering to strict word or character counts. The length of each essay is school dependent, some prompts will require a response in 150 words, while others will allow for 1500 words. While some schools send out secondary applications to all applicants, others only send out secondaries to applicants they are interested in learning more about. While there are many medical school secondary essay examples , " why do you want to be a doctor ", " tell me about yourself " and  diversity essay medical school  prompts are common.

Every institution will have its own medical school application timelines . UCLA accepts applicants on a rolling admissions schedule. Once an applicant has received the secondary application request letter, applicants are given a maximum of 15 days to submit their application, or it's due by UCLA's mid-October deadline, whichever is earlier. Due to this, it's recommended that applicants submit their primary application to AMCAS early, well before the UCLA AMCAS application deadline. Here is UCLA's typical timeline:

Rolling offers of admission starting in October of the year of application "}]">

Each school has its own list of medical school secondary essays  comprised of between one to ten prompts on average. The UCLA medical school requirements call for 10 different secondary essay prompts, probing students to explore their interests, volunteer experience, significant achievements, and hardships. Use the examples below as a guideline to help you create your own unique responses.

1. Describe your involvement in the one most important non-academic activity in your life. (800 char)

In high school, I developed a hobby that quickly turned into a daily habit: exercising. Exercise has had a formidable impact on many areas of my life. Regular exercise creates discipline and amplifies my work ethic. When I was insecure, working out increased my confidence. Exercise gave me a sense of control by displaying the direct correlation between my hard work and the results that are attained. This revelation was first noticed through this habit, but it swiftly carried over to many other areas of my life as well. I strongly believe that this habit played a major role in my character development, and I would not be the same person I am today if I never began exercising.

Click here to see another response to this prompt.

2. What has been the one most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated? (800 char)

While volunteering at the Arts Academy, a society serving those with disabilities, I noticed the boys participated in activities not otherwise available to girls. Many girls had issues making friends, while the boys seemed comfortable with each other. To improve the girl's situation, I started the first girls’ basketball team. Many families were against the girl's participation as they believed sports were for boys. By explaining the mental and physical health benefits of participating, I successfully convinced half of the families. The girls became more confident and self-sufficient. I felt accomplished, not just because I taught them basketball, but because they'd become friends. This experience taught me compassion, commitment, and how to work with people from different backgrounds.

1. Streamline your responses.

The UCLA secondary essay prompts are quite challenging for students. At first glance at the low character counts, you may feel relieved to discover you won't be writing ten different chapters. However, many of the prompts require a response between 300-500 characters, equating to roughly 3-5 sentences. To convey maturity, passion, and lessons learned in only a few sentences is extremely difficult. Students must be able to craft a concise, direct response to the question while adhering strictly to the character count. To create a streamlined response, focus on the main takeaway point that you want to convey, and structure your response around it.

2. Demonstrate self-reflection.

It isn't enough to simply state an experience that you've had when answering the UCLA secondary prompts, you need to be able to demonstrate your ability to self-reflect by conveying to the admissions committee what you learned, how an experience has helped your growth, and how it can benefit you as a physician. If you notice in the examples provided above, each entry includes a takeaway message which not only shows reflection, but also maturity and growth.

3. Perfect your spelling and grammar.

Your UCLA secondary essays have to be perfect as they are a direct reflection of who you are as a candidate. Mistakes indicate a lack of professionalism, a lack of interest, and therefore, a lack of suitability for the profession. It's essential to proofread your essays multiple times to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. 

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  2024 Department of English Undergraduate Essay Contest

2024 department of english undergraduate essay contest.

UCLA undergraduates completing upper division English courses are invited to compete for the annual Department of English Undergraduate Essay Prize (with a cash award of $100) for the best critical or research paper on a literary subject.  Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced, and be at least 2,000 but not more than 7,500 words long.  The paper selected to win the departmental contest will be nominated for the University-wide Peter Rotter and Teague-Melville essay contests, which award prizes of $500.  (All other students are encouraged to submit essays for the University-wide contests, as well.  Please note that a nomination letter from the relevant course instructor is required to enter.)

To be eligible, a student must have written the entry for an upper division English course during the Spring Quarter 2023, Fall Quarter 2023, or Winter Quarter 2024 . Each entry should be uploaded as a PDF file using the form below. Multiple entries are permitted, but each will require a separate accompanying application. The writer’s name/course number/instructor name should NOT appear on any page of the essay itself .  If the name appears on the essay, the essay will be disqualified. Questions that may arise about application submissions should be sent through MyUCLA MessageCenter (Academic counseling unit: English)

Manuscripts should be submitted no later than 12 Noon Friday, March 22, 2024 .  The winner will be announced by Monday, April 1.  The deadline for the Peter Rotter and Teague-Melville essay contests is Tuesday, April 9, 2024.

2024 Department of English Undergraduate Essay Contest Application Form

• University ID Number *
• Mailing Address (including city, state, and zip code) *
• Email Address *
• Class Standing *
• English Department Course Number (eg. ENGL 100) *
• Quarter Course Was Taken * Spring Quarter 2023 Fall Quarter 2023 Winter Quarter 2024
• Course Instructor (eg. Professor McEachern) *
• Essay Upload * Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 50 MB. Please upload your essay submission. Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced, and be at least 2,000 but not more than 7,500 words long. The writer's name should not appear on any page of the essay itself. If the name appears on the essay, the essay will be disqualified.

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UCLA medical school paid first-year students to write left-wing course requirements

EXCLUSIVE — The University of California , Los Angeles medical school solicited first-year medical students for a paid position writing curriculums for courses in their "Structural Racism and Health Equity" mandatory classes.

In documents obtained through a public records request from the medical advocacy group Do No Harm, the medical school was recruiting "tutors" to "create new curricular content for our SRHE thread—lectures, panels, discussion guides, cases, new electives—as well as audit and analyze existing curricular content for other SRHE threads." SRHE is the school's name for its Structural Racism and Health Equity curriculum.

The recruiting letter was seeking first and second year medical students, as well as "Leave of Absence" students.

"Recruiting students to this course to serve as mentors and as developers of curriculum is almost laughable. But in ways it reveals the true nature of these activities. One need not know anything about medical care or how to treat sick patients in order to put together a course on structural racism in healthcare," Do No Harm Chairman Dr. Stanley Goldfarb told the Washington Examiner. "First-year medical students are seen as appropriate mentors and curricular developers for this course. First-year medical students have never treated a patient and have no concept of the proper approach to patients and to understanding illness, yet they are proposed to be the faculty of this course."

"The UCLA School of Medicine’s plan to recruit students to be instructors as well as to develop curriculum in training other medical students is a terrible idea," Goldfarb continued. "Curriculum should be developed by experts. Students that have been out protesting or engaged in other such activities are not experts in anything and should not be developing curricula."

The SRHE "curricular theme," which is currently under review by the school after public backlash, emphasizes critical race theory, queer theory, and "anti-racist" lenses, as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion ideology, to frame medical students' education around "medicine's reinforcement of health injustices, and how structural determinants of health such as race shape our present healthcare framework," according to a course guide on the SRHE requirement. The status of the review, which was launched last month, is unclear.

The UCLA medical school has come under fire over the past several months as  reports  of its SRHE mandatory course load have shown the school attempting to tie in far-left ideology to medical care, including anti-capitalist messaging, social justice activism, and anti-scientific claims attempting to normalize obesity. The scrutiny comes as DEI has come under the microscope and fallen out of favor among many who view the ideology as promoting race and gender characteristics as more important than merit and skill.

In a June 2023 "tutor" recruiting document reviewed by the Washington Examiner, the UCLA medical school was seeking applicants "with a prior demonstrated commitment to organizing for racial justice and intersectional equity issues at [the David Geffen School of Medicine] and in their communities."

"We are also searching for applicants who are well-versed in identifying and addressing how structural racism and other forces of oppression manifest in medical education, clinical practice, and society, as well as their implications for community health and well-being," the UCLA medical school wrote in the document.

Answering a "frequently asked question" about why students should be interested in becoming a "tutor," the recruitment document said it could be used as an "opportunity to take frustrations at missed opportunities and problematic sessions and transform them into action; form of health justice in a community that we are all stakeholders in and accountable to."

The application required students interested in the $20-per-hour position to write essays displaying their commitment to the ideology behind the requirement, including answering what role race and racism has played in one's "lived experience and/or career," as well as "how and why social structures and systems of power come to render some communities more vulnerable to illness and premature death."

Students were also asked to provide a statement from a peer, faculty member, or community organization "outlining your commitment to and track record of anti-racist work."

"The course in structural racism at UCLA consists of far-left ideologies utilizing critical race theory as its touchstone," Goldfarb said. "The concept that society should be divided into oppressed and oppressors can only lead to divisiveness and to worse health outcomes as patients trust in the healthcare system is further eroded."

One class session created by the SRHE team was “Towards Queer Health Justice: Undoing Heteronormative Patriarchy in Medicine," which sought to "emphasize the importance of learning from and standing in solidarity with Queer struggle, recognizing the connections between Queer liberation, feminism, bodily autonomy, and racial capitalism, and the fraught history that medicine has had and continues to have in oppressing non-normative bodies, gender [identities], and sexualities," according to a July 2023 email reviewed by the Washington Examiner, which also wished first-year students a "happy belated Pride."

The session brought in "queer activists" from the Los Angeles area to talk about "fighting for Queer health justice" and was geared toward objectives to "recognize past and present harms that medicine has inflicted on the Queer community (particularly BIPOC trans and intersex people), and consider practical ways of rectifying those harms (allyship)" and "depathologize gender, sex, and sexuality in support of self-determination, understanding the beauty that variation adds to human experiences, communities, and society at large."

A 2021 session offering titled "Histories of Resistance: Models of Care in Revolutionary Praxis" featured Cleo Silvers, a former member of the Marxist militant black power organization the Black Panther Party and Puerto Rican street-gang-turned-activist-organization Young Lords Party, to speak about "these groups' radical reimagining of health and healthcare, and what we can all learn from their experiences and visions in our pursuit of equity and justice today."

One proposed session, which, according to emails, appears to have been canceled in January without explanation, was a "racial caucusing session" that divided classes into three separate racial groups: white students, non-black people of color students, and black students.

"We want to emphasize that unlike most medical school pedagogies where scientific and clinical expertise is highly valued and hierarchical, racial caucusing works towards a more horizontal, dialogic approach," the document reviewed by the Washington Examiner stated.

White students would have been told to "critically reflect on our own racial identity, recognizing that whiteness operates in part by obscuring this engagement" and would have been encouraged to "consider the way white supremacy is foundational to and inseparable from other structures of oppression such as colonialism, racial capitalism, cisheteronormativity, and ableism."

The white students would then need to turn their "self reflection" into "anti-racist actions."

The nonblack people of color group would be afforded the opportunity to "share space away from the white gaze" while "recognizing that being a POC does not relinquish us from perpetuating anti-Blackness."

Meanwhile, the black student group would have focused on "unity" to combat the "race-based societal structure."

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

"Most importantly, identify ways this collective space can provide opportunities for emotional rest, compassionate support, and healing affirmation of each of our personal experiences," the description of the proposed session said. "Celebrating the resilience we all demonstrate working in these spaces and loving the beauty that is present in this space."

The UCLA medical school did not return a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.

Opinion | John McEntee: With TikTok ban, Republicans got…

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Opinion | John McEntee: With TikTok ban, Republicans got duped again

After working for President Trump in the White House, I started a dating app for conservatives called The Right Stuff. To promote the app, I tried all the conventional methods: buying ads, hosting events, and doing press. This was labor-intensive, expensive, and produced minimal results. It wasn’t until I started posting satirical TikTok skits about dating that my business started taking off. In a year, we gained two million followers and over 100 million likes on the platform. Young conservatives are downloading my app and finding love. The best part is it costs us nothing. 

Last month, President Biden upended the lives of over 100 million American users by signing a bill that forces TikTok to divest from its parent company or face a ban in the United States. Rather than allowing lawmakers to vote on the ban as a standalone bill, Speaker Mike Johnson and congressional Republicans jammed the bill in with $95 billion in foreign aid . The most concerning aspect of the ban is that it was based on a false national security narrative pushed by the intelligence community and Biden’s Department of Justice, who had a hand in writing the bill. Of course, Republicans fell for it. 

As a TikTok creator, I decided to look into the allegations surrounding the app. If I was being manipulated by the Chinese government, I wanted to know. It turns out there’s not a single known instance of the Chinese government influencing the content on the app. And all American user data is stored here in the U.S. with Oracle, an American company. If the concern is American user data going to China, why didn’t Congress just ban that? TikTok doesn’t share our data with China, but other companies do. 

Instead of taking these facts into consideration, Republicans rushed to pass a bill that grants new censorship powers to the government. Besides banning TikTok, the bill gives the President the ability to ban companies he says are acting at the direction of a foreign adversary. After all we’ve learned the last four years about how the government pressured media companies to censor legitimate speech about COVID, it boggles my mind that Republicans would vote to give President Biden new censorship powers. You don’t need a vivid imagination to see how this could be used against conservative media outlets like Fox News, which the Democrats constantly accuse of being apologists for Russia. 

The bottom line is, Republicans got played. Because they wanted to act like they’re tough on China in an election year, they gave the Biden Administration and Facebook exactly what they wanted. Now, 170 million Americans will have to pay the price for their political theater.

John McEntee is a former aide to President Trump and founder of The Right Stuff.

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AAPI Latinx population in the U.S. has doubled in the last two decades, new study finds

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Periodically, the Latinx Files will feature a guest writer. This week, we’ve asked De Los reporter Andrea Flores to fill in.

When Kevin Kandamby introduces himself, it’s never in halves .

“I’m fully Mexican and fully Sri Lankan,” he said.

Both his mother and father— immigrants from Mexico and Sri Lanka, respectively — ensured that both cultures were present in their household. Kandamby, who self-describes as “MexiLankan,” never had to choose between Catholicism or Buddhism, frijoles or dal. Both could co-exist.

“I’m not half of something, I’m actually double,” he said.

Kandamby is one of the more than 886,000 individuals living in the United States who identify as Asian and Pacific Islander, and Latinx — a figure that has increased twofold from 2000 to 2022, according to a new analysis by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI).

The study is a joint effort between the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund and LPPI’s Latino Data Hub , and draws from the 2022 five-year American Community Survey .

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Kandamby, who is co-author of the report, hopes the growing figures will paint a broader picture of what AAPI Latinx identity can look like.

“Latinidad is a broad spectrum,” he said, adding that “we need to center the voices that are often thrown to the margins.”

California is home to 302,000 AAPI Latinxs, accounting for more than a third of the group’s nationwide population. According to the analysis, nearly half of all AAPI Latinxs are under the age of 18 and only 5% are noncitizens — a much lower rate than the Latinx (19%) and AAPI (26%) populations.

The study’s findings are in line with what The Times reported in May 2022 in an article written by Brittny Mejia, Anh Do and Sandhya Kambhampatithis. Their story highlighted the complexities of navigating two cultures, and oftentimes two languages.

As a PhD student at UCLA, Kandamby has focused on championing AAPI Latinx identity — he’s currently working on a photo project that will showcase diversity within the community.

“It’s important for people to understand that what it means to be an AAPI Latino is completely different for everybody,” he said.

Though the study highlights the rapid growth of the demographic, AAPI Latinxs have existed for centuries, says UCLA professor Robert Chao Romero. He points out how Mexico and the Philippines were connected via the Manila Galleon trade routes, which were used by Spanish merchants from 1565 to 1815. Romero estimates that up to 100,000 Asians and Pacific Islanders migrated to Latin America during this colonial period, including an estimated 8,100 enslaved Filipinxs who came to Mexico.

By the late 19th century, anti-Asian hysteria swept the U.S., leading to the passage of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Romero says that the law gave birth to illegal migration in the country.

“Many Chinese migrated to Mexico and Cuba because they were excluded from the U.S.,” Romero said. “The Chinese developed a whole international smuggling network and mechanisms of undocumented immigration that we associate with Mexico today.”

Other Chinese migrants settled in Mexico, becoming successful small merchants in the process. “Unfortunately, in Mexico, there was an anti-Chinese movement as well,” Romero said, highlighting the Torreón massacre, where 300 Chinese nationals were murdered.

Romero points out that AAPI Latinx history often exists at the crossroads of colonization, labor and immigration.

In the 1850s, hundreds of Chinese laborers were contracted to help build Panama’s railroad system. In 1899, Japanese agricultural farmers aboard the Sakura Maru ship arrived in Peru — the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations in Asia — giving birth to an entirely unique diaspora. In 1900, the U.S. brought an influx of Puerto Rican sugarcane workers to Hawaii , a year after acquiring both territories.

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The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute report reflects these histories — Panamanians, Puerto Ricans and Peruvians are the Latin American groups most likely to self-identify as AAPI.

Romero, who is of Chinese and Mexican descent, believes that understanding these bonds can enhance political, social and economic ties among Latinx and AAPI communities.

“What we are seeing today [in the U.S.] is a modern expression of historical interactions driven by immigration laws and economics,” he said. “Coalition building is critical, especially in California where the two fastest growing ethnic groups are Latinos and Asian.”

— Andrea Flores

Things we read this week that we think you should read

8 movies to watch at this year’s los angeles latino international film festival.

The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival kicked off Wednesday. Planning to attend but don’t know what to watch? De Los contributor Carlos Aguilar compiled a list of eight unmissable movies to check out at LALIFF 2024.

Shhhh. The Silver Lake Reading Club has started

Every Tuesday night, dozens of avid readers pay $17 for two hours of peace and quiet inside Lamill Coffee in Silver Lake. Staff writer Thomas Curwen has more on the Silver Lake Reading Club, a silent reading group that helps attendees shut out the outside world so they can be consumed by their books.

Column: The Democratic civil war behind an Anaheim recall election

Anaheim Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava is facing a recall election 18 months after being elected. Critics of Rubalcava accuse her of acting as a corporate puppet belonging to one of Anaheim’s “cabals.” The first-time politician discusses with columnist Gustavo Arellano the tensions within the recall and how it is affecting Anaheim Democrats.

Honoring Skid Row as a home to artists, activists, community

Last week, the Los Angeles Department of Poverty held its biennial parade, Walk the Talk. The celebration commemorates the Skid Row community and highlights the neighborhood’s artists and activists. Staff writer Julissa James spent some time getting to know some of the parade’s participants, the work they make and the services they provide for the community.

Bullets before ballots: Dozens of Mexican candidates have been killed as cartels seek more control

At least 30 political candidates have been killed ahead of Mexico’s upcoming June 2 election, the country’s biggest vote to date with more than 20,000 posts up for grabs. Times foreign correspondent Patrick J. McDonnell reports on the unrest facing Mexico, where cartels are looking to expand their control in states where they already have political sway.

Where does L.A.’s leftover produce go? This group helps get tons to the hungry every day

In an effort to minimize food waste, nonprofit Food Forward is focusing on redistributing produce all over Southern California., moving more than 125 tons of food daily. Staff writer Jeanette Marantos has more on the organization, which coordinates with other groups to ensure the produce is being sent to where it is most needed.

—Cerys Davies

The Latinx experience chronicled

Get the Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the multitudes within our communities.

Andrea Flores is a reporter with De Los covering the many contours of Latinidad for the Los Angeles Times. She has both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University and is originally from Waukegan, Ill.

Cerys Davies is a spring reporting intern in the De Los section of the Los Angeles Times. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she focuses her writing on the Latinx experience within the context of the city. Often looking to art and music as tools and sources of inspiration, she finds her passion for the arts, writing and her community all come together within the context of journalism.

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Freevee cancels Shea Serrano sitcom ‘Primo’ after one season

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Why the 49ers Don't Like to Draft Offensive Linemen Early

Grant cohn | 2 hours ago.

• San Francisco 49ers

SANTA CLARA -- Most analysts agreed that the 49ers' biggest need this offseason was on the offensive line and that their biggest area of strength is at wide receiver.

So, of course the 49ers spent their first-round pick on another wide receiver .

On Wednesday, offensive line coach and run-game coordinator Chris Foerster explained why the 49ers prefer not to take offensive linemen early in the NFL Draft.

FOERSTER: "This is my personal opinion, if they ask me, invest in guys that touch the ball, guys that can touch the ball and score touchdowns. And then there's a range of guys, second, third, fourth round, fifth round even, that we will find starting offensive linemen in. At some point can you draft them? Yeah, you draft [OL] Trent Williams. You pick a draft where you're getting a difference maker. But there's guys that can make a difference, that touch the ball, well into the second, third, fourth rounds, or second and third rounds, at least. And definitely in the first round. That guy that touches the ball, it makes a huge difference in the game. The right guard makes a difference, we've talked about it before, but that's where we're able to find fourth and fifth round draft picks. How dominant is the difference between pick 34 versus pick 54, in offensive line play? And that's what you're trying to balance all the time. So, will we draft the best available player, all those types of things? Definitely will. And were we possibly ready to draft guys higher in the draft? Yes. But if there's somebody that can touch the ball and make plays, in my opinion, if you ask me, ‘Chris, do you want him?’ I want the guy that touches the ball, for me. Because I think we can develop those players much more readily and have developed those players through the times because we do have specific things that we're looking for. We know what we're looking for through the course of time. That's the advantage of being together with Kyle for so long that we kind of can pigeonhole these guys. Are we always right? Heck no, we're not always right and nobody is on anything. Could you put five first rounders across the front? I don't know that we have to, to have success. And it hasn't been that case as far as running the football and protecting the quarterback. We don't have five first rounders, so there's always going to be that. But, the fact that you can throw a short pass to [WR] Deebo [Samuel], even though the right tackle's getting beat, it ends up being a 60-yard touchdown. So yeah, the right tackle blocks somebody, but if the guy gets tackled at five yards, you don't have the 60-yard touchdown. ‘Boy that right tackle did a great job.’ What's it matter if the guy touching the ball can't take it to the house? So, there's the trade off and you're constantly playing that game."

Q: How much of that belief, for you, is kind of rooted in the system? And also how much is just rooted in the fact that you've been doing this a long time?

FOERSTER: "I’m telling you, I did it when I got to Baltimore. A good friend of mine, Jed Fisch, who is the head coach at the University of Washington now, he and I were talking, and he was a quality control guy in Baltimore. New England was, this was mid 2004 or 2005 whatever it was, they were the rage. And I said, ‘Go watch that offensive line and just tell me how good they are.’ And he started looking at it, he goes, ‘My gosh, he just put five X’s on the board, nondescript circled them and said, it doesn't matter who those five are, as long as [Former New England Patriots QB Tom Brady] 12 is the quarterback, and he’s throwing it to [Former New England Patriots WR] Randy Moss, [Former New England Patriots WR] Wes Walker and those guys, [Former New England Patriots WR Julian] Edelman,’ he says ‘it doesn't matter.’ And it didn't. You just saw that they did an excellent job. [Former New England Patriots Offensive Line and Assistant Head Coach] Dante [Scarnecchia] did a great job of coaching them. They had a system that they believed in, and they got the ball to the people that could do things with the football. And he's like, ‘I get it.’ Now, there's a line, and this is what I always say with offensive line play, and this is a cool discussion, I love this discussion, there's a line below which that with offensive line play that if you just drop a little bit below it, it’s a gaping hole. All of a sudden, you're like, ‘He can't block anybody.’ And now we got a major problem. But as long as they're at that line and just above it, you can survive it and you can take care of them. We've got ways with our system. We can chip, we can do all sorts of things to help guys. Slide lines, double team, the best rusher on the team. There are so many mechanisms to help alignment. If a guy can't get open, if a guy can't catch the ball and run, that's where we have a problem. But in offensive line play, you have to be careful. You have to have those 6, 7, 8 guys that are just at that line or above. And that's the challenge. Where's that line in the draft? Is it the third round, second round, fourth round, fifth? When's that line where all of a sudden, the tackles have dried up, the guards have dried up? Now you're talking about drafting backup players, which is fine, they're backup players. But they're not going to be long-term starters for your team. And that's the challenge for me. Because eventually the guys that can run and score touchdowns run out. They're not there anymore. So, you have to fight those quality starters at other positions. And you have to be right, because oftentimes when you draft a lineman in the fourth or fifth round, there might be a guy that could come in immediately and contribute on special teams, contribute and be a backup linebacker, safety. And that's where, so you say, 'Okay, we didn't drive him first or second. We got to take somebody in the fourth round here because I got five guys, got five holes to fill.'"

Grant Cohn has covered the San Francisco 49ers daily since 2011. He spent the first nine years of his career with the Santa Rosa Press Democrat where he wrote the Inside the 49ers blog and covered famous coaches and athletes such as Jim Harbaugh, Colin Kaepernick and Patrick Willis. In 2012, Inside the 49ers won Sports Blog of the Year from the Peninsula Press Club. In 2020, Cohn joined FanNation and began writing All49ers. In addition, he created a YouTube channel which has become the go-to place on YouTube to consume 49ers content. Cohn's channel typically generates roughly 3.5 million viewers per month, while the 49ers' official YouTube channel generates roughly 1.5 million viewers per month. Cohn live streams almost every day and posts videos hourly during the football season. Cohn is committed to asking the questions that 49ers fans want answered, and providing the most honest and interactive coverage in the country. His loyalty is to the reader and the viewer, not the team or any player or coach. Cohn is a new-age multimedia journalist with an old-school mentality, because his father is Lowell Cohn, the legendary sports columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1979 to 1993. The two have a live podcast every Tuesday. Grant Cohn grew up in Oakland and studied English Literature at UCLA from 2006 to 2010. He currently lives in Oakland with his wife.

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🥎 WCWS opening round

DIII softball finals

👀 Every DI baseball regional, previewed

🥵 Toughest DI baseball regional

NCAA.com | May 30, 2024

2024 ncaa softball bracket: women's college world series scores, schedule.

The 2024 NCAA DI softball Women's College World Series is here. The eight-team field, consisting of (1) Texas, (2) Oklahoma, (4) Florida, (5) Oklahoma State, (6) UCLA,  (8) Stanford, (10) Duke and (16) Alabama will compete in Oklahoma City starting May 30. The initial championship bracket was announced on Sunday, May 12 in a selection show.

The 2023 Women's College World Series finals ended with Oklahoma sweeping Florida State to win a third-straight national championship. Below you can find all the information about the 2024 DI softball tournament.

2024 NCAA DI softball tournament bracket

👉  Click or tap here for the full 2024 bracket  | Take a closer look at the WCWS bracket

2024 Women's College World Series schedule | May 30-June 6/7

All times ET.

• Game 1 : (14) Alabama vs. (6) UCLA, 1:36 p.m. ET | ESPN
• Game 2 : (10) Duke vs. (2) Oklahoma, TBD | ESPN
• Game 3 : (1) Texas vs. (8) Stanford, 7 p.m. | ESPN2
• Game 4 : ( 5) Oklahoma State vs. Florida, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2
• Game 5 : Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 7 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 6 : Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 9:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 7 : TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. | ABC
• Game 8 : TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 9 : TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. | ABC
• Game 10 : TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN2
• Game 11 : TBD vs. TBD, noon | ESPN
• Game 12 (if necessary) : TBD vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m. | ESPN
• Game 13 : TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. | ESPN2
• Game 14 (if necessary) : 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2
• WCWS Final Game 1 : TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. | ESPN
• WCWS Final Game 2 : TBD vs. TBD, 8 p.m. | ESPN
• WCWS Final Game 3 (if necessary) : TBD vs TBD, 8 p.m. | ESPN

2024 DI softball regionals  (May 17-19)

*All times Eastern

Austin Regional – Austin, Texas

• Game 1:   No. 1 Texas (host) 5,  Siena 0 
• Game 2:  Northwestern 7, Saint Francis (Pennsylvania) 2
• Game 3: No. 1 Texas 14 , Northwestern 2
• Game 4: Saint Francis 1, Siena vs. 0
• Game 5: Northwestern 5, Saint Francis 1
• Game 6: No. 1 Texas 7,  Northwestern 0

🏆  Texas advances

Norman Regional – Norman, Oklahoma

• Game 1:  Oregon 8,  Boston University 0
• Game 2:   No. 2 Oklahoma (host) 9, Cleveland State 0 
• Game 3: No. 2 Oklahoma 6, Oregon 3
• Game 4: Boston University 8, Cleveland State 0
• Game 5: Oregon 8, Boston University 2
• Game 6: No. 2 Oklahoma 3, Oregon 2

🏆 Oklahoma advances

Knoxville Regional – Knoxville, Tennessee

• Game 1:  Virginia 7 , Miami (Ohio) 0
• Game 2:  No. 3 Tennessee (host) 3, Dayton 0 
• Game 3: No. 3 Tennessee 12, Virginia 0
• Game 4: Miami (Ohio) 4, Dayton 0
• Game 5: Virginia 6, Miami (Ohio) 0 
• Game 6: No. 3 Tennessee 6, Virginia 0

🏆 Tennessee advances

Gainesville Regional – Gainesville, Florida

• Game 1:  No. 4 Florida (host) 6 , Florida Gulf Coast 0
• Game 2:  South Alabama 1, Florida Atlantic 0
• Game 3: No. 4 Florida 9, South Alabama 1 
• Game 4: Florida Gulf Coast 3, Florida Atlantic 2
• Game 5: South Alabama 5, Florida Gulf Coast 1
• Game 6: No. 4 Florida 9, South Alabama 1

🏆 Florida advances

Stillwater Regional – Stillwater, Oklahoma

• Game 1:  Kentucky 4, Michigan 3
• Game 2:  No. 5 Oklahoma State (host) 6, Northern Colorado 0
• Game 3: No. 5 Oklahoma State 6 , Kentucky 2
• Game 4: Michigan 4, Northern Colorado 2
• Game 5: Michigan 4,  Kentucky 2 
• Game 6: No. 5 Oklahoma State 4 , Michigan 1

🏆 Oklahoma State advances

Los Angeles Regional – Los Angeles, California

• Game 1:  Virginia Tech 5,  San Diego State 1
•  Game 2:  No. 6 UCLA (host) 9,  Grand Canyon 0
• Game 3: No. 6 UCLA 7,  Virginia Tech 6
• Game 4: Grand Canyon 9,  San Diego State 7
• Game 5: Grand Canyon 4, Virginia Tech 1  
• Game 6: No. 6 UCLA 9 , Grand Canyon 1

🏆 UCLA advances

Columbia Regional – Columbia, Missouri

• Game 1:  Washington 8, Indiana 7
• Game 2:  Omaha 3, No. 7 Missouri (host) 1
• Game 3: Omaha 3, Washington 2
• Game 4: No. 7 Missouri 5, Indiana 1
• Game 5:   No. 7 Missouri 4,   Washington 1
• Game 6: No. 7 Missouri 5, Omaha 1
• Game 7: No. 7 Missouri 1, Omaha 0

🏆 Missouri advances

Stanford Regional – Stanford, California

• Game 1:   Mississippi State 1, Cal State Fullerton 0
• Game 2:  No. 8 Stanford (host) 8,   Saint Mary’s (California) 6 
• Game 3: No. 8 Stanford 2, Mississippi State 1
• Game 4: Cal State Fullerton 6, Saint Mary's (California) 1
• Game 5: Cal State Fullerton 7 , Mississippi State 0
• Game 6:   Cal State Fullerton 8, No. 8 Stanford 1
• Game 7: No. 8 Stanford 4, Cal State Fullerton 2

🏆 Stanford advances

Baton Rouge Regional – Baton Rouge, Louisiana

• Game 1:  Southern Illinois 5 , California 4
• Game 2:  No. 9 LSU (host) 5 , Jackson State 0
• Game 3: No. 9 LSU 4, Southern Illinois 1
• Game 4: California 15, Jackson State 0
• Game 5: Southern Illinois 3, California 2
• Game 6: No. 9 LSU 9, Southern Illinois 0

🏆 LSU advances

Durham Regional – Durham, North Carolina

• Game 1:  South Carolina 2, Utah 1
• Game 2:  No. 10 Duke (host) 6, Morgan State 1
• Game 3: No. 10 Duke 8 , South Carolina 0
• Game 4: Utah 1, Morgan State 0 
• Game 5: South Carolina 5,  Utah 1 
• Game 6: No. 10 Duke 10,  South Carolina 1

🏆 Duke advances

Athens Regional – Athens, Georgia

• Game 1:  Liberty 6 , Charlotte 3
• Game 2:  No. 11 Georgia (host) 8, UNCW 0
• Game 3: Liberty 7, No. 11 Georgia 3
• Game 4: Charlotte 5 , UNCW 0
• Game 5: No. 11 Georgia 5,  Charlotte 0
• Game 6: No. 11 Georgia 14, Liberty 5
• Game 7: No. 11 Georgia 3, Liberty 2

🏆 Georgia advances

Fayetteville Regional – Fayetteville, Arkansas

• Game 1:  Arizona 14,  Villanova 3
• Game 2:  No. 12 Arkansas (host) 3 , Southeast Missouri State 2
• Game 3: Arizona 2, No. 12 Arkansas 1
• Game 4: Villanova 4, Southeast Missouri 1
• Game 5: Villanova 7,  No. 12 Arkansas 2
• Game 6: Arizona 9 , Villanova 4

🏆 Arizona advances

Lafayette Regional – Lafayette, Louisiana

• Game 1:  No. 13 Louisiana (host) 8, Princeton 0 (5)* *Louisiana gained a  run-rule win  — closing out Game 1 after the fifth inning
• Game 2:  Baylor 3, Ole Miss 1
• Game 3: Baylor 8, No. 13 Louisiana 0
• Game 4: Princeton 4, Ole Miss 2
• Game 5: No. 13 Louisiana 2, Princeton 1 
• Game 6: No. 13 Louisiana 13, Baylor 0
• Game 7: Baylor 4, No. 13 Louisiana 3

🏆 Baylor advances

Tuscaloosa Regional – Tuscaloosa, Alabama

• Game 1:  Southeastern Louisiana 6 , Clemson 2
• Game 2:  No. 14 Alabama (host) 1 , USC Upstate 0
• Game 3: No. 14 Alabama 6, Southeastern Louisiana 3 (OT)
• Game 4: Clemson 8, USC Upstate 0
• Game 5: Southeastern Louisiana 6, Clemson 2
• Game 6: No. 14 Alabama 12 , Southeastern Louisiana  2
• Game 7  if necessary  | 3:30 p.m.

🏆 Alabama advances

Tallahassee Regional – Tallahassee, Florida

• Game 1:  UCF 11, Auburn 6
• Game 2:  No. 15 Florida State (host) 3, Chattanooga 2
• Game 3: No. 15 Florida State 5,  UCF 1
• Game 4: Auburn 9, Chattanooga 0
• Game 5: Auburn 2, UCF 1
• Game 6: No. 15 Florida State 10,  Auburn 4

🏆 Florida State advances

Bryan-College Station Regional – Bryan-College Station, Texas

• Game 1:  Texas State 4,  Penn State 2 
• Game 2:  No. 16 Texas A&M (host) 6, UAlbany 2
• Game 3: No. 16 Texas A&M 1, Texas State 0
• Game 4: Penn State 9,  UAlbany 3
• Game 5:   Texas State 8, Penn State 4
• Game 6: No. 16 Texas A&M 8, Texas State 0

🏆 Texas A&M advances

2024 DI softball Super Regionals schedule  (May 23-25)

Austin super regional.

• Game 1:  (16) Texas A&M 6, (1) Texas 5
• Game 2: (1) Texas 9,  (16) Texas A&M 8
• Game 3  if necessary : (1) Texas 6, (16) Texas A&M 5

Norman Super Regional 

• Game 1: (2) Oklahoma 11,  (15) Florida State 3
• Game 2: (2) Oklahoma 4, (15) Florida State 2

🏆  Oklahoma advances

Knoxville Super Regional

• Game 1: (3) Tennessee 3, (14) Alabama 2
• Game 2: (14) Alabama 3, (3) Tennessee 2 (14th)  
• Rewatch the full bottom of the 14th inning
• Game 3  if necessary :  (14) Alabama 4, (3) Tennesse 1

🏆  Alabama advances

Gainesville Super Regional

• Game 1: (4) Florida 4 , Baylor 2
• Game 2: Baylor 5 , (4) Florida 2
• Game 3  if necessary : (4) Florida 5, Baylor 3

Stillwater Super Regional

• Game 1: (5) Oklahoma State 8, Arizona 0
• Game 2: (5) Oklahoma State 10,  Arizona 4

Los Angeles Super Regional

• Game 1: (6) UCLA 8,  (11) Georgia 0
• Game 2: (6) UCLA 6, (11) Georgia 1

🏆  UCLA advances

Columbia Super Regional

• Game 1:  (10) Duke 6, (7) Missouri 3
• Game 2: (7) Missouri 3 , (10) Duke 1
• Game 3  if necessary :  (10) Duke 4,   (7) Missouri 3

🏆  Duke advances

Stanford Super Regional

• Game 1: (9) LSU 11, (8) Stanford 1
• Game 2: (8) Stanford 3, (9) LSU 0
• Game 3  if necessary : (8) Stanford 8, (9) LSU 0

🏆  Stanford advances

2024 NCAA DI softball tournament schedule

Here are the key dates for the 2024 NCAA DI softball tournament: 

• Selection show:   See the full selections release here
• Regionals: May 16/17-19
• Super Regionals: May 23-25
• Women's College World Series: May 30-June 6/7 in Oklahoma City 

How the championship works: Regionals — at 16 sites — are double-elimination and scheduled for May 16/17-19. The 16 winners advance to super regionals and play a two-team, best-out-of-three series either May 23-25 or May 24-26. The eight winners earn spots in the 2024 Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. The WCWS begins May 30 in double-elimination format. The final two teams play a best-of-three series for the national championship beginning June 5.

How to get tickets for the Women's College World Series

You can  purchase tickets for the 2024 WCWS here.  The Women's College World Series is played at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Softball  Championship: Future dates

Women's college world series championship history.

Below is the complete, year-by-year NCAA DI softball national championship history since 1982.

*Indicates undefeated teams in final series. 

#-UCLA’s 1995 national championship was later vacated by the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions

2024 DIII softball championship: Bracket, schedule, scores

UT Tyler wins first ever DII softball national championship

Here are the DII softball programs with the most national championships

• Championship Info
• Game Program

DI Softball News

• 2024 NCAA softball bracket: Women's College World Series scores, schedule
• Watch the full bottom of the 14th inning from Alabama-Tennessee

College softball's all-time home run leaders

• 13 notable Women's College World Series records
• Top defensive plays from 2024 NCAA softball regionals
• States with the most Women's College World Series titles
• The 16 college softball super regional teams, re-ranked
• Re-ranking the 16 super regional teams in the 2024 NCAA softball tournament
• Walk-off hit sends Georgia softball to 2024 super regionals
• How the Women's College World Series works

WCWS most outstanding players since 1982

Follow ncaa softball.

The 11 best NCAA softball pitchers of all time