As part of our college consulting program at Sequoia Academy, we offer personal statement coaching. Personal statements form a critical part of any strong college application. Personal statements are required by all schools in the UC system, as well as schools that are part of the Common Application. Additionally, many schools also require additional statements beyond the one on the Common Application.

The personal statement component of a college application is a chance for a student to show their character in a more personal manner. Unlike the quantifiable features of an application--a student’s GPA, SAT/ACT and AP scores, or other purely factual characteristics--the personal statement allows students to bring their application to life. It is an opportunity to create a three-dimensional profile instead of merely presenting a laundry list of statistics and achievements.

At Sequoia, our advisors and counselors guide students in choosing topics for their personal statement--subjects they are passionate about that simultaneously reveal important aspects of their character. We help students find answers to the common questions they have when they begin the essay writing process--Where do I start from? What should I talk about? What is important to me? Once students have selected potential essay topics, our counselors help students realize their idea, turning a concept into a complete representation of themselves. We aim to guide each student in demonstrating the unique qualities and character traits that describe them as multi-faceted individuals.

Click here to learn more about the personal statement prompts of the Common Application and the UC schools.