Gen Tanabe - 50 Successful University of California Application Essays: Get into the Top UC Colleges and Other Selective Schools

Critical Acclaim for Books by Gen and Kelly Tanabe

Authors of Get into Any College, Get Free Cash for College and 1001 Ways to Pay for College

Upbeat, well-organized and engaging, this comprehensive tool is an exceptional investment for the college-bound.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Helps college applicants write better essays.

THE DAILY NEWS

Invaluable information.

LEONARD BANKS, THE JOURNAL PRESS

A present for anxious parents.

MARY KAYE RITZ, THE HONOLULU ADVERTISER

Helpful, well-organized guide, with copies of actual letters and essays and practical tips. A good resource for all students.

KLIATT

When you consider the costs of a four-year college or university education nowadays, think about forking out (the price) for this little gem written and produced by two who know.

DON DENEVI, PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS

Whats even better than all the top-notch tips is that the book is written in a cool, conversational way.

COLLEGE BOUND MAGAZINE

Offers advice on writing a good entrance essay, taking exams and applying for scholarships, and other information on the college experiencestart to finish.

TOWN & COUNTRY MAGAZINE

I recently applied to Cornell University. I read your book from cover to back, wrote an essay about Snorkeling in Okinawa (which most people criticized), and got ACCEPTED to Cornell. Thank you very much for your help, and Ill be sure to refer this book to anyone applying to college.

JASON CLEMMEY

If youre struggling with your essays, the Tanabes offer some encouragement.

COLLEGE BOUND MAGAZINE

A must for any prospective college student.

MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

The Tanabes literally wrote the book on the topic.

BULL & BEAR FINANCIAL REPORT

Filled with student-tested strategies.

PAM COSTA, SANTA CLARA VISION

Actually shows you how to get into college.

NEW JERSEY SPECTATOR LEADER

Upbeat tone and clear, practical advice.

BOOK NEWS

50 Successful University of California Application Essays

By Gen and Kelly Tanabe

Published by SuperCollege, LLC

2713 Newlands Avenue | Belmont, CA 94002 | www.supercollege.com

Copyright 2016 by Gen and Kelly Tanabe

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of SuperCollege. This book is protected under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

Credits: Cover: TLC Graphics, www.TLCGraphics.com. Design: Monica Thomas. Cover photo: Jimfeliciano | Dreamstime.com.

Layout: The Roberts Group, www.editorialservice.com

Trademarks: All brand names, product names and services used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks or tradenames of their respective holders. SuperCollege is not associated with any college, university, product or vendor. Disclaimers: The authors and publisher have used their best efforts in preparing this book. It is sold with the understanding that the authors and publisher are not rendering legal or other professional advice. The authors and publisher cannot be held responsible for any loss incurred as a result of specific decisions made by the reader. The authors and publisher make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of the book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties or merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The accuracy and completeness of the information provided herein and the opinions stated herein are not guaranteed or warranted to produce any particular results. The authors and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Tanabe, Gen S. | Tanabe, Kelly Y.

Title: 50 successful University of California application essays: get into the top UC colleges and other selective schools / Gen Tanabe, Kelly Tanabe.

Other titles: Fifty successful University of California application essays

Description: Second edition. | Belmont, CA: SuperCollege, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015044682 (print) | LCCN 2015045258 (ebook) | ISBN 9781617601064 (Epub)

Subjects: LCSH: College applications--California. | University of California (System)--Admission. | Universities and colleges--United States--Admission. | Exposition (Rhetoric) | BISAC: STUDY AIDS / College Entrance.

Classification: LCC LB2351.52.U6 T368 2016 (print) | LCC LB2351.52.U6 (ebook) | DDC 378.1/616--dc23

LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015044682

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THIS BOOK WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN possible without the generous contributions of the University of California students who agreed to share their admissions essays and advice in order to help others who hope to follow in their footsteps.

We would also like to thank the former University of California admissions officers for spending the time to impart some of their knowledge to our readers: Jasmine Thompson, Kim Glenchur and Eddie LaMeire.

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to contributing writer Elizabeth Soltan.

Thanks also to Lynda McGee, college counselor at Downtown Magnets High School, for connecting us to many of the students.

Special thanks to Alice Hu, Laura Malkiewich and Mark Fujiwara.

FOR EVERY OPEN SLOT AT UC Berkeley or UCLA, there are about five eager applicants vying for itand youre one of them. On paper, most applicants appear very similar. All are well-qualified academically with high grades and test scores and solid involvement in extracurricular activities.

Imagine the admissions officer who must choose which of these well-deserving applications to accept. How will he or she make the decision? Very often, the essay makes a difference. The essay is the one chance for you to share a piece of yourself that is not encapsulated in the dry numbers and scores of the application. It is your opportunity to demonstrate why youd be a perfect fit at the college, how youd contribute to the student body and why the college should accept you over those other four applicants.

The essay is also the one part of your application that you have complete control over. You can write it the night before its due and turn in a piece that is half-baked, or you can spend a little time on the essay and turn in one that can set you apart from the competition.

The truth is that you dont have to be a good writer to create a successful admissions essay. Nor do you need to have survived a life-changing event or won a Nobel Prize. Writing a successful admissions essay for the UC schools is actually much simpler.