Describe the world you come from — for example, your family, community or school — and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. “Are you sure you want to go down that path? Becoming something in the medical field takes a lot of time and money. Why don’t you just become a teacher like everyone else? It’s less challenging and you can accomplish it faster.” Every so often I was told I would not achieve my...

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are? Everything was finally coming together. I had amazing friends and amazing grades. My perfect junior year suddenly turned into a not so perfect year when I was diagnosed with clinical depression. As many others do, I nor my family took my strange mood swings and...

I decided to write about battling depression for one of the UC application prompts. I was told multiple times not to write about it because it has been said that writing about topics like this weakens your application. I was accepted to one of the most prestigious schools in California with this personal essay. I would encourage you to let the reader get to know you.