UC Personal Insight Questions Guide and Tips. A Deep Dive Into Each UC PIQ
The University of California applications have opened up and it is CRUNCH TIME. There are a whopping…
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Do I STILL have to take the SAT or ACT if it’s not REQUIRED?...
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It’s not the numbers, that’s for sure. Stanford rejects around 69% of perfect SAT...
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Summer programs range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $10,000...
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Building your child’s perfect college list requires more than just names of colleges.
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The University of California system attracts a very large population of students.
Read MoreThe University of California applications have opened up and it is CRUNCH TIME. There are a whopping…
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College essays are the bane of basically all of our students’ existence for the entirety of their senior year.
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As you prepare for the SAT, you may wonder, “What does my score mean? Is it even a good score?” Most
After a full year of academic challenges, SAT and AP examination preparation, and extracurriculars, the…
Major Advisor - Art, Multimedia, Design
A: 2
A: I love to motivate students to find their true passion. It’s so rewarding to see students succeed in a field they enjoy.
A: I enjoy arts and crafts, doing outdoorsy things such as hiking or picnics and the nightlife with friends.
A: Time management is key. Have a healthy balance between your work/school and social life.
Major Advisor - Premed
A: 3 years.
A: Every student is so unique, with their own story, skills, strengths, and personality. I love embarking on that journey with them, albeit temporarily, in helping them envision and execute their own vision for their life.
A: I love spending the little free time I have exploring new foods with friends and family. If I'm lucky, I spend it trying to build my sketching/design/sewing skills in hopes of building my second dream career as a runway couture designer.
A: When envisioning a life career, utilize the Japanese philosophy of ikigai (translated as 'reason for being'). An ideal career meets at the intersection of passion, mission, profession, and vocation. Evaluate each of these components when envisioning yourself in a life path/career.
Admissions Advisor
A: 9 years
A: My favorite aspect of working with students is helping them discover their interests/passions/dreams and ultimately learning more about themselves.
A: I love live music! My time is mostly spent attending concerts, watching movies, and spending time with my dog :)
A: My best advice to high schoolers is embrace who you are: play into your strengths and surround yourself with people who contribute to your life in a positive way.
Essay Editor
A: About 18---started helping students with their admissions letters in 2004.
A: It's fun showing them how to translate their passion and character into a sharply drawn short bio.
A: Music, reading, gardening, hiking, cooking, and most anything to do with water.
A: Take it one step at a time.
Essay Editor
A: 3
A: Getting to hear their stories and help them on their individual journeys towards their passion.
A: In my free-time I enjoy reading, travelling, spending time with loved ones, and learning Italian!
A: Be your most authentic self and don't let anyone else tell you who you are!
Admissions Advisor
A: 6 years
A: One of my favorite experiences working with students is opening student's eyes to possibilities they didn't know would be an option for them.
A: In my free time I like to stay active playing sports / running, but most of the time I am hanging out with my wife and daughter (usually with college sports on in the background).
A: It's possible there could be several colleges that are a good fit for you. Don't lock in on just one preferred option, and work toward finding places you can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Essay Editor
A: 4
A: I love helping students discover how special they are as unique individuals.
A: I enjoy making music and reading in my free time.
A: Don't be afraid to dive deep into your interests and hobbies!
Major Advisor - Premed, Biology, Chemistry
A: 1
A: The ability to help students find their passion for their lifelong careers.
A: I am an avid hiker/backpacker, musician, and love to learn about medical breakthroughs
A: Take time for yourself and enjoy life, so that when you are in school, it does not feel like a chore.
Major Advisor - Business
A: 14
A: When they have the lightbulb moment and everything clicks into place for them.
A: Travel, yoga, run, hike, eat lots of good food
A: Enjoy life as it today; don’t be in such a rush to be an adult because most of life is being an adult.
Essay Editor
A: In writing, editing, tutoring, and college support, I have a combined 9.5 years of experience
A: I like getting to know students as individuals, holding space to help them connect more deeply with themselves, witnessing “green light” moments when new ideas or perspectives create a positive shift, and learning what feels important to them.
A: I enjoy spending time with friends, meditation and yoga, listening to music, being in nature, making/consuming art (painting, singing, poetry, performance), and learning about the world and universe we live in.
A: Be kind to yourself.
Admissions Advisor, Apps Advisor
A: 12
A: I love hearing their stories. There's so much to discover about a person. It's very rewarding when my students get comfortable and know that I'm there for them.
A: Swim, read, write, sing, enjoy nature, and play with my two crazy boys.
A: Do what you love, and everything else will fall into place.
Apps Advisor, Major Advisor - Social Sciences
A: 16
A: I love getting to know them and helping them know themselves!
A: Scuba dive, write, travel.
A: Don't worry about everyone else's opinion, be your authentic self!
Admissions Advisor, Apps Advisor, Essay Editor
A: 5
A: Hearing each student's unique stories, guiding them in discovering their passions, and helping find their voice!
A: I am a figure skater, world traveler, dessert aficionado, and devotee of the Pioneer Woman, the Barefoot Contessa, and Maneet Chauhan!
A: Work hard now -- procrastinate later!
Essay Editor
A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.
A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!
A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.
A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life. Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived. So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.
Essay Editor
A: I have more than 15 years experience teaching writing to all ages.
A: I love assisting students to achieve their educational goals.
A: I love to go hiking on the trails around the dunes of Lake Michigan.
A: Use a calendar to help you meet your deadlines and to stay stay organized.
Major Advisor - STEM
A: 5 years high school mentoring experience. I was heavily involved in it all throughout college and after graduating.
A: I love hearing about their passions and what they genuinely love to do. It also makes me extremely happy to.
A: I recently picked up the electric guitar! I also have multiple aquariums, and founded a company that built body armor.
A: Don't go down a path just because you think that's "what you're supposed to do." Life is more diverse and unexpected than any of us could ever know.
Major Advisor - Engineering
A: 1
A: Getting to know student's interests and seeing their growth as students and people.
A: Ice Hockey, Snowboarding.
A: You are more than your list of accomplishments. The growth and learning about yourself and others, and the hard work, failures, and lessons that lead to those accomplishments make you who you are.
Essay Editor
A: 15
A: I love hearing students' stories and seeing their faces light up when they talk about their passions and dreams.
A: Cook, write, draw, save Azeroth .
A: Pursue dreams that matter to you and don't be afraid of forging your own path to where you want to go.
Major Advisor - Engineering
A: 2
A: It's amazing getting to know the unique and diverse passions that drive each student
A: Sleep, but also video games, climb, scuba dive, and ride my motorcycle
A: Do things. Just get out there and try as many cool new things you can! You never know what you'll love until you give it a shot.
Senior Essay Editor
A: 9
A: I love how open students are to learning and trying new things. As mentors, we get to see so much growth simply because our students are so open to new experiences and are looking forward to applying their learning and other skills.
A: In my free time I like to read and write. I also spend a lot of time just watching--my dogs, birds, trees. I also enjoy baking and cooking (even though I'm terrible at baking).
A: It's never too early or late to start practicing self-care. Build moments of joy and celebration into your week. Give yourself a treat for working hard. It's important to have things to look forward to. If you can get into the habit now, you'll have a much more balanced college experience.
Major Advisor - Premed, Biology, Chemistry
A: Three years
A: I enjoy getting to know them on a personal level and helping them see that their life story/experiences are unique and matter.
A: I coach wrestling at the high school level. Enjoy spending time with my husky, Lucy, on runs or hikes. Dancing mainly bachata and salsa. Collecting retro video games and playing them from time to time.
A: Make time to do things you love outside of academics. Whether that is clubs, music, art, sports, etc.
Major Advisor - Health Sciences, Social Sciences
A: 2
A: As a major advisor for students interested in the humanities, I’ve found it immensely rewarding to offer an outlet for students to explore ideas that they often don’t get to delve into at school. Watching a student light up when they realize that there is in fact a community around their specific interests is easily the best part of the job.
A: In my free time, I love to be outdoors - I've been hiking around the Bay Area and recently started biking again. I also volunteer at community gardens and trail restoration projects in San Francisco. When I'm not outside, you can find me reading visionary fiction, practicing yoga and qigong, or cooking.
A: My advice for high school students is to focus on the present! Use this time to learn more about yourself and the world around you. Solid values and a sense of self will allow you to make challenging decisions for the future and create the life you want.
Chief Technology Officer
A: 4
A: Watching them accomplish great things.
A: Watch Formula 1, play ice hockey, and watch TV.
A: Spend time exploring different things -- you have a long time to become an expert.
Chief Executive Officer
A: 16
A: Inspiring a student towards self discovery, and wanting to learn about everything there is in the world. Reaching this moment can take time, but it's what makes it worth it every time.
A: Outdoors hiking, photography, gardening, and reading.
A: Do the thing that moves you, or be moved by forces not your own. The choice is yours.