🍦Writing a banger UC Activities List (Nov 19)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. Upcoming Visits Refresh: It’s Tuesday and we got some bangers for you!

2. Daily Deep Dive: Northwestern University

3. Admissions Blueprint: Writing an impactful UC Activities List

FUN FACT OF THE DAY
Did you know…

📺 Northwestern’s TV Comedians: Heard of SNL? So has Northwestern, especially because they have sent more people to the Saturday Night Live Cast than any other university. Seth Meyers, Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Anna Gasteyer, just to name a few. Learn more fun facts about Northwestern here!

INFO ZONE
Check out this Tuesday’s freshest info sessions!

UCSB College of Engineering Session - Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 4:45 PM

UCLA Virtual Information Session - Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 4:00 PM until 4:45 PM

Discover UCSD Session - Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 3:00 PM until 3:45 PM

(NEW) UC Berkeley Admissions Presentation (FIRST-YEAR) - Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 3:00 PM until 4:00 PM

(NEW) McKelvey School of Engineering Virtual Information Session - Thursday, November 21, 2024 at 5:00 PM until 6:00 PM

DAILY DEEP DIVE
Northwestern University

What vibe are they looking for?

Northwestern embodies a culture of collaborative ambition and intellectual flexibility, where interdisciplinary thinking is the norm. This isn’t a place for rigid specialists; it’s for students who thrive at the intersection of fields—whether that’s engineering and music, business and theater, or sociology and data science. The university values students who are self-motivated and capable of blending their passions into innovative paths.

What sets Northwestern apart is its interdisciplinary curriculum and student-driven environment. From its flexible quarter system (allowing you to take more classes per year) to its ethos of “AND is in our DNA,” Northwestern encourages you to combine seemingly unrelated disciplines. The community thrives on curiosity, collaboration, and adaptability.

While Northwestern doesn’t want cookie-cutter applicants, it appreciates students who have demonstrated consistent excellence in their endeavors and who envision themselves contributing meaningfully to its vibrant and creative community.

What the essays are looking for

Northwestern’s essays focus on understanding your story, perspective, and how you’ll enrich their campus community. Here’s how to tackle them:

Main Prompt:

We want to be sure we’re considering your application in the context of your personal experiences: What aspects of your background, your identity, or your school, community, and/or household settings have most shaped how you see yourself engaging in Northwestern’s community, be it academically, extracurricularly, culturally, politically, socially, or otherwise? (300 words max)

This essay is about connecting your personal experiences to your future engagement at Northwestern. Think: How have your experiences shaped your values and outlook? How will this translate into contributions to NU’s culture?

• Focus on your identity and environment: Highlight how your background or unique journey has shaped your ambitions and approach to community. For example, did growing up in an immigrant family inspire a passion for cultural exchange?

• Bridge past to future: Connect your personal story to specific opportunities at Northwestern. If your background fostered leadership, describe how this translates to your involvement in organizations like the Leadership Development Program.

• Avoid clichés: Instead of generic statements like “I want to make a difference,” share a specific moment that shaped your perspective and why NU is the best place to continue that growth.

Optional Questions (Choose 1-2):

• The Rock: Use this prompt to creatively express your values, humor, or priorities. What’s your message to the campus? Think bold but personal.

• Interdisciplinary Culture: Pitch a unique class or project that blends your interests. Name-drop programs or professors to show you’ve done your research.

• Community & Belonging: Tie this to your experiences in meaningful groups and explain how you’d contribute to a similar vibe at NU.

• Location: Connect Chicago’s resources to your goals—internships, cultural hubs, or research opportunities.

• Diversity: Reflect on how your unique perspective enhances the NU community’s learning environment.

Overall Essay Strategy:

1. Be specific and personal: Use detailed anecdotes rather than sweeping statements.

2. Connect back to Northwestern: Mention programs, organizations, or opportunities unique to the university that align with your experiences or aspirations.

3. Show how you’ll contribute: Explain how your perspective will enrich NU’s diverse community.

What you can do RIGHT NOW to stand out

1. Reflect on your essay clarity: Ensure your essays are specific and vivid. For the main prompt, check if you’ve included a clear story from your background and tied it to Northwestern’s community or programs.

2. Highlight interdisciplinarity: If relevant, revise to show how your interests span multiple fields and how NU’s quarter system or flexible curriculum will support your goals.

3. Demonstrate research: Name-drop Northwestern-specific elements in your essays. For example, mention professors, clubs, or unique facilities like The Garage or The Block Museum.

4. Be intentional with the optional essays: Only write these if you can genuinely add value to your application. If your main essay already touches on community, consider a creative or interdisciplinary angle instead.

5. Cut fluff, add precision: If you’ve used broad terms like “I’m passionate” or “I love learning,” replace them with concrete examples or accomplishments that show this passion.

6. Cross-reference your application: Ensure your essays complement, not repeat, what’s in other parts of your app (like your activities list or recommendation letters).

By focusing on vivid storytelling and tying your experiences to Northwestern’s unique offerings, you’ll craft an application that shows not just why you want Northwestern, but why Northwestern wants you.

LINK LOUNGE
ICYMI: Yesterday’s new resources!

Here’s some upcoming school virtual information sessions. These are great opportunities to learn more about school’s programs to determine if the school is a right fit for you. It’s also great to learn more about the school’s vibe and possibly what admissions officers are looking for. All the times listed are below are already converted into Pacific.

GE–Reagan Foundation Scholarship - Merit-based scholarship run by the Reagan Foundation

KapAdvisor - AI college counselor built on 80+ years of knowledge in the counseling space

ChatGPT College Counselor - Plugin for ChatGPT that is trained to be a college counselor

Apple Education Discounts - Discounts on Apple products for students and educators

ADMISSIONS BLUEPRINT
Writing an impactful UC Activities list

The UC Activity List is your chance to showcase your accomplishments, commitments, and unique story outside the classroom. With a flexible format and more space to describe your experiences than most other applications, this section is critical to making your UC application shine. Here’s a guide to help you craft entries that stand out.

🖊️ Character Limit Per Entry

Each entry allows for 350 characters, compared to the Common App’s 150-character limit. This means you have the room to provide richer descriptions of what you did, your impact, and what you learned. Don’t just list responsibilities—explain why your contributions mattered. For example:

• Instead of: “Organized food drives.”

• Write: “Organized and led 12 monthly food drives, coordinating 20+ volunteers to collect, sort, and distribute over 1,200 items annually to 3 local shelters. Managed logistics by securing 5+ drop-off sites and scheduling pickups, increasing donations by 30% through targeted outreach and community events, while fostering teamwork and engagement.” (338 characters)

Including specific numbers like hours committed, funds raised, or people impacted is essential. Numbers provide concrete evidence of your achievements and make your entries far more compelling and credible.

📋 20 Spots to Showcase Your Story

The UC application offers 20 slots, giving you significant flexibility to represent your experiences. These slots can include:

• Extracurricular activities: Clubs, sports, hobbies, and independent projects.

• Awards: Recognition at school, local, state, or national levels.

• Educational programs: Summer programs, online courses, or specialized certifications.

• Volunteering: Community service through nonprofits, personal initiatives, or informal caregiving.

• Work experience: Part-time jobs, internships, or family responsibilities.

Take advantage of this space by including a wide range of activities. Even smaller-scale endeavors, like organizing a neighborhood event or tutoring siblings, can add value when presented effectively.

💡 How to Make Your Entries Stand Out

Detail Your Role: Be clear about what you did and your specific contributions. Avoid generic descriptions like “helped organize events”; instead, explain your role and outcomes.

• “Managed logistics for school cultural fest, overseeing 10 committees and drawing 500+ attendees.”

Highlight Impact: Admissions officers want to know the results of your efforts. Include measurable outcomes wherever possible—such as percentages, totals, or growth metrics—to give context to your accomplishments.

Show Growth and Learning: Use the space to reflect on personal development or lessons learned from the experience. For instance:

• “Led a robotics team to state finals, learning how to troubleshoot under pressure and foster teamwork in high-stakes situations.”

🏆 Awards, Honors, and Programs

When listing achievements, don’t just name them—briefly explain their significance to help admissions officers understand their value.

• “Earned the Congressional Gold Medal for completing 400 hours of service and 200 hours of physical fitness activities over two years.”

⏰ Plan Entries Strategically

• Start with the strongest activities: Put your most impactful entries at the top of the list to catch attention.

• Maximize all 20 slots: Use this opportunity to paint a complete picture of who you are.

• Be concise yet descriptive: Use every character wisely to balance detail with clarity.

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
Take a break you deserve it! UC’s are almost here though!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

UC Deadline: December 2
December SAT: December 7

THE ARCHIVE
Looking for past mailings?

You can view all our previous posts at our website at https://scholarscoops.beehiiv.com

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