UC Personal Statement 1 My world is a flurry of paper. Books pile up on the dresser next to the bed and overflow from the bookshelf onto the ground. Papers litter the floor and desk - if the window gets left open they fly like birds. My world is one of exploration and experimentation. The books in my room range from barely touched intellectual books (way over my head), to sappy romance books I’m embarrassed about owning, to worn Harry...

For my personal statement I was encouraged to be creative. As a white and upper-middle class student in good health with two well educated parents I did not have any significant hardship to write about. My school counselor, as well as my English teacher, advised me to take advantage of the opportunities I had had growing up and to find a unique perspective on what could be seen as ordinary things or activities.

If I could apply to college over again I would've put more effort into my personal statements. I would've tried to be more creative with them, and I would've taken more risks in...