UC Admission Essay

make sure all grammar is correct and the paper reads correctly. The paper is personal yet professional.

Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.

I have prepared for my intended major and college readiness in many ways. I have taken and succeeded in all of my high school and college upper division and honors courses that are applicable to my major of psychology. I have successfully balanced having a full-time job, A part-time job, school, and leadership roles in various clubs on campus at Moorpark College, while maintaining almost a 3.7 cumulative GPA.I am currently working at a Equine assisted therapy ranch that helps at-risk teens and soldiers suffering from PTSD. I am actively involved in the psychology club, honors club, honors program, varsity Christian fellowship, and currently I was the vice president of the student business association. Through the involvement of these various clubs, I have learned the importance of community and how to give and receive help. Further, being the second oldest of six children has taught me a lot about responsibility, division of labor, and making sure my voice is heard. Due to the sheer number of people in my household, at a very young age I was expected to handle a lot of responsibility in regards to childcare and household duties like making dinner, breakfast, and packing my siblings lunch, all while still being a child myself. These unique experiences have prepared me for the adult world and continue to help me to succeed in my college career and beyond. Through my involvement with the community and various clubs, I try to make a point to advocate for the people who often feel forgotten about and hope to make a difference by putting in the work necessary to achieve a masters in psychology. I would like to use my degree to create a larger impact within my community. I believe my achievements adequately show my dedication to school and my ability to handle stress in an effective and conducive manner to my overall college success.

Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.

I was diagnosed with dyslexia when I was in third grade and it has been a constant hurdle throughout my educational experience. Due to the realization of the cause of my reading and writing delay, I was given an IEP. My IEP helped me tremendously through school, even though every day seemed like a race I was desperately losing without victory in sight. Through elementary and middle school there were many tears and hardships, but I had the support of my IEP counselors and the staff to help me problem solve and figure out the most conducive way I learn and provided accommodations that attempted to lead me to educational success. Even though I had the tools to help me catch up to grade level, my IEP could only do so much. I had to learn on my own that I had intrinsic value and worth. I had to shut out the voices in my head that told me I was stupid, worthless, and never good enough when the words on the page would go dancing around as I was reading in front of the class. When I decided I would take a chance on myself and stopped being afraid to fail because I wasn’t stupid, I could read, and wasn’t less than because I had an IEP, I started reaching for success. Instead of deciding to never read in front of the class again, after class I asked my teacher if she would give me the passages I could “randomly” be expected to read aloud in class tomorrow, so I could practice reading them at home and do a good job in class the next day. I have had to work almost twice as hard as other students and jump educational barriers that were in my way to seemingly hinder my success. In college, I take advantage of the ACCESS program that helps me supplement some of my shortcomings that I still occasionally struggle with. I will not allow my dyslexia to be the reason I don’t succeed and go to college to achieve a degree.

Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?

I was born with a rare genetic skin disease called lamellar ichthyosis. This disease affects roughly two in a million people, many of which don’t survive long after birth. Lamellar ichthyosis is characterized by extremely dry, scaly skin that can cause significant disfigurement. Lamellar ichthyosis can also be accompanied by a myriad of neurological issues and eyesight problems. This disease affects almost every facet of my life, from social interactions to blinking comfortably. As a young child it was not easy being physically different from my school peers and my siblings on top of my added health restraints and concerns. I was isolated and alone even though I was surrounded by people. On the playground, all my classmates would play a fun game that resembled tag, except it was called “if you touch Amanda you will have the disease too”, they had a blast, me…not so much. My parents never isolated me from the outside world and I learned at the age of five how to deal with criticism, pain, and rejection. I spent most of my developmental years alone or with my teachers and adults. I grew up much faster than my peers and learned to value the importance of good, meaningful conversations. At sixteen I joined a moms group and we would meet for coffee every Wednesday because I had more in common with them than I did with my peers. I used to hate school and plead not to go because I would hate the way people stare and make fun of me. In high school I came into my own. I decided to give myself a chance. I joined the choir and the track team, and my grades dramatically improved and so did my confidence. The challenges I faced have built a strong woman who goes head on to any challenge or adversity. I know longer cower in the corner hoping know one will notice me and ask questions, I stand strong, proud and welcome them.

Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

I believe I stand out as an applicant because I have a special drive to succeed unlike most others. Fighting is all I have ever known, whether it be for life, or the chance to study at your institution. I have a fire in me to succeed and make a difference in the world. People with disabilities are often dismissed by larger society because of the stigma and stereotypes that are surrounding us. People have always had disabilities and physical deformities, but we were hidden away in mental institutions or circuses so people only had to interact with us when it was convenient for them. People often view us as too much effort and don’t even try to reach out or connect with people that are different from them because it makes them uncomfortable. If your institution gives me a chance, I plan on being part of the solution to help remove negative stigmas associated with people that have disabilities. Further, I am a big believer in accessibility for all people, not just able bodied individuals. I would like to provide counseling specifically for children with disabilities, whether it be physical or cognitive, because I can provide a service that most other counselors can’t. True understanding. I provide a unique outlook on life based on my unique experiences and challenges throughout life that I believe can be an asset to your university. In the wise words of Gandhi, I fully “plan on being the change I wish to see in the world”. I will have a success story and I would really hope you can consider to be a part of it.

Additional comments

Something that I don’t think is clear in my application is that I live in a Hispanic, single income, nine person household and I am originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, where my family settled Sandoval County in the 1500s. I moved to California when I was fourteen years old and moving a family our size to California was very challenging. Adjusting to the major culture shock and the large number of people that reside in the Los Angeles area was borderline traumatizing. I felt like a newborn baby experiencing the world for the first time, because everything was so new from the tall buildings and architecture to the way people talked and looked. I had never seen any fancy cars or even anyone with plastic surgery before. Further, I was used to small country roads where I knew everyone in the town by name. I have extreme pride in my home state and Hispanic heritage and it is very much engrained in who I am as latina women