UC Personal Insight Question 2: Creative Side Essay Examples and Writing Guide
Prompt: 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.
1 tip that Matters💡🔆
I'll resort to the cliché 'Show, don't tell.' While everyone possesses a creative side, impressing the admissions officer requires substance. Any line that could fit into anyone else's essay is redundant. That's the level of specificity your essay should aim for.
First, let's dive into how to structure this essay effectively.
Structure of the Essay
Introduction: State Your Creative Side
I express my creative side primarily through painting, coding, and songwriting. These outlets allow me to explore different facets of my imagination and emotions.
Body Part 1: The Importance of Creativity
- Definition: Explain what creativity means to you.
- Importance: Describe why creativity is significant in your life.
Body Part 2: Specific Examples of Creativity in Action
- Provide specific examples of how you express creativity through different outlets (e.g., painting, coding, songwriting).
- Describe how each of these activities allows you to express yourself uniquely.
Conclusion
- Discuss how creativity influences your choices in academics and extracurricular activities.
- Explain how your creative pursuits align with your academic goals and aspirations for the future.
Creative PIQ Example 1
Photography isn't just a hobby for me—it's a journey of discovery, capturing moments that reveal hidden stories and feelings. Creativity means seeing the world differently and connecting with others through visual storytelling. It drives my passion for capturing life's essence through my camera. Last summer, I explored my hometown through photography. In one neighborhood, I saw an elderly couple standing in front of an old brick building. Their wrinkled hands were intertwined—a quiet sign of shared moments and lasting love. The soft evening sun bathed them in warmth. Long shadows told tales of resilience and joy. Capturing that moment, I saw photography's power to preserve timeless stories. In my academic journey, I combine my love for visual arts with environmental science. One memorable project documented a local river cleanup. As I photographed volunteers in action—hands gloved and faces determined—I watched a once-dirty riverbank become a thriving ecosystem. The air buzzed with hope and purpose as native plants took root. Birds returned to their nest. My photos inspired more community members to join in protecting our environment. Beyond academics, I volunteer with nonprofits, using my camera to shed light on social issues. One touching experience was documenting a youth art program. Children expressed their hopes and dreams through vibrant paintings. Each brushstroke showed their resilience. It was a reminder of art's power to heal and empower. At UC, I will use my creative vision to foster empathy and spark conversations. By sharing stories that capture diversity's beauty and environmental care's urgency, I aim to inspire others to take action. I want to create positive change.
🎓 GradGPT Score: 94/100 🌟
Outstanding Essay
Creative PIQ Example 2
My journey into coding began as a pivotal moment in my life, driven by the need to support my family. Growing up in a challenging environment, coding became both my escape and a promising path forward. At 16, driven by curiosity and a desire to alleviate financial pressures at home, I started creating my first mobile app. With basic coding skills from online tutorials, I spent many late nights coding in my home office. Seeing lines of code come together to solve real-world problems was incredibly rewarding. The breakthrough came with my utility app designed to simplify daily tasks for students in my community. Through constant improvements and user feedback, the app gained popularity, with over 12,000 downloads. It not only helped users but also provided a modest income that eased financial burdens at home. My creative process involved identifying common challenges faced by students, brainstorming innovative solutions, and refining the app based on user feedback. This experience taught me the value of creativity in technology and problem-solving. One specific instance where my creativity shone was when I implemented a unique scheduling feature in the app. After noticing that many students struggled with managing their time, I brainstormed and developed an easy drag-and-drop interface for creating and organizing schedules. This feature was not only user-friendly but also visually engaging, making it easier for students to plan their days effectively. Looking ahead, my coding journey has prepared me to bring technical skills and an entrepreneurial spirit to UC. I am eager to join a community that values innovation and turns bold ideas into reality. UC's commitment to nurturing visionary leaders perfectly aligns with my ambition to make a lasting impact, innovate boldly, and push the boundaries of technology.
🎓 GradGPT Score: 85/100 🌟
This is a great PIQ essay example for a creative essay.
In conclusion, follow the outline of stating your creative side, explaining what creativity means to you, describing its significance, providing specific examples of your creative outlets, and discussing how creativity influences your choices in academics and extracurricular activities to create the first draft. Next, work upon the draft to build the essay . Finally, check whether you score more than 80 and pass all 5 checks on the essay coach .