How helpful are College Essay Guy’s UC activities resources for filling out the UC application?
I've been working on my UC application and noticed that the activities section is different from the Common App. I heard that College Essay Guy has specific advice and resources for UC activities, but I’m unsure if I should rely on those exclusively or if I need to adapt them somehow for my own experiences.
Has anyone here used College Essay Guy’s templates or guides for the UC activities section? Did it make your application stand out, or should I approach it differently? I’m involved in a few clubs and some part-time work, but I’m struggling a little with how to phrase everything within the strict character counts.
Has anyone here used College Essay Guy’s templates or guides for the UC activities section? Did it make your application stand out, or should I approach it differently? I’m involved in a few clubs and some part-time work, but I’m struggling a little with how to phrase everything within the strict character counts.
5 months ago
•
40 views
Camille Luong
• 5 months ago
Advisor
College Essay Guy’s UC activities resources can be quite beneficial, especially if you’re looking for guidance on structuring your activity descriptions and fitting them effectively within the 350-character limit per entry. His guides typically provide frameworks for making each activity sound both specific and impactful, and many students find the sample descriptions and action verbs helpful for jumpstarting their own brainstorms.
However, it’s important not to rely on any template too heavily. The UC system has unique expectations, and admissions officers really want to get a sense of what makes you and your experiences distinct. Templates can sometimes make your application sound generic if you don’t customize fully. For example, if you use a suggested phrase like “Demonstrated leadership by organizing club events,” it’s much stronger if you add a detail about the event itself or the impact you had: “Organized monthly STEM outreach workshops for middle schoolers, directly increasing club participation by 30%.”
Since the UC activities section really limits space, prioritize specifics over generalities. Focus on action verbs, measurable impact, and your personal role. Don’t just say you 'participated in club meetings;' instead, mention what you achieved or contributed. For your part-time work, maybe you worked as a cashier—think about whether you trained new employees or managed inventory, and state quantifiable outcomes if possible (e.g., "Handled transactions for 200+ customers/week; trained 3 new hires during summer rush").
In summary, College Essay Guy’s resources are a great starting point for wording and structure, but your descriptions should be highly personalized. Use the examples as inspiration, but filter every detail through what’s unique about your involvement. After drafting, get feedback from someone who knows you well and can catch what makes your activities distinct, as that’s what will make your application stand out.
However, it’s important not to rely on any template too heavily. The UC system has unique expectations, and admissions officers really want to get a sense of what makes you and your experiences distinct. Templates can sometimes make your application sound generic if you don’t customize fully. For example, if you use a suggested phrase like “Demonstrated leadership by organizing club events,” it’s much stronger if you add a detail about the event itself or the impact you had: “Organized monthly STEM outreach workshops for middle schoolers, directly increasing club participation by 30%.”
Since the UC activities section really limits space, prioritize specifics over generalities. Focus on action verbs, measurable impact, and your personal role. Don’t just say you 'participated in club meetings;' instead, mention what you achieved or contributed. For your part-time work, maybe you worked as a cashier—think about whether you trained new employees or managed inventory, and state quantifiable outcomes if possible (e.g., "Handled transactions for 200+ customers/week; trained 3 new hires during summer rush").
In summary, College Essay Guy’s resources are a great starting point for wording and structure, but your descriptions should be highly personalized. Use the examples as inspiration, but filter every detail through what’s unique about your involvement. After drafting, get feedback from someone who knows you well and can catch what makes your activities distinct, as that’s what will make your application stand out.
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Camille Luong
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
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5.0 (5 reviews)