Instructions for Personal Statement

Setup

  • Use Times New Roman font type, 12pt font, Double-spaced.
  • On the top right side of your personal statement write:
    1. Your Full Name
    2. Your School
    3. Your Student ID

Paragraph 1

Introduce yourself. For example: I am the oldest, youngest, or somewhere in between so many brothers and sisters. Include something about your place of birth, your family, and your home life.

Paragraph 2

Write about your experience at your school, and describe those experiences.

Paragraph 3

Discuss your reasons for wanting to go to college. What are your special interests (music, sports, computers, biology, business, law…etc.)?

Paragraph 4

Discuss how you feel you are doing in school. Are you satisfied with your present grades? If not, what are the factors that have contributed to your low grades: no place to study at home, work after school, illness? Discuss your extracurricular activities. Do you have any special hobbies or talents such as singing, playing an instrument, playing a sport, writing poetry…etc?

Paragraph 5

Discuss the future. Why are you applying to Upward Bound at the University of California, Irvine? What are your hopes and plans? Have you decided on a career goal?