The Student (Before):

Frankie, a senior from Texas, was focused on applying to the UC system. While he excelled academically, his UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) sounded generic and he felt unsure about how to differentiate himself from thousands of other in-state applicants.

The Challenge:
Frankie had leadership roles in math club and sports, but he didn’t know how to connect these experiences to his personal identity or goals. Adding to the challenge, Frankie’s parents had limited knowledge of the U.S. college admissions process. They were unsure how applications were evaluated, what essays needed to accomplish, or how to build a competitive profile for selective UC schools. The family felt overwhelmed and worried about missing critical steps.

The Approach:

We dove into his lived experiences and uncovered how his passion for teaching math to younger students shaped his resilience and leadership. I coached him to write PIQs that highlighted personal growth, not just achievements. We also leaned into his first-generation experience of wanting to help others like himself. 

Together, we:

• Crafted a narrative positioning him as a “math mentor and problem-solver.”
  
• Showcased how tutoring younger students reflected leadership and resilience.
  
• Developed essay drafts that highlighted not just what he achieved, but how he grew through those experiences.
  
• Reframed his extracurricular list so every activity reinforced his theme rather than competing with each other. 

The Transformation (After):

Frankie’s application shifted from being a résumé of achievements to a cohesive personal story. His PIQs demonstrated lived experience — teaching younger students, building persistence, and finding joy in math as a shared language. His parents noticed his confidence grow throughout the process, and they felt reassured by the clear roadmap we followed.

Outcome: 

He was admitted to UC Berkeley for Mathematics and also received offers from UC San Diego and UCLA.

Why This Matters:
For UC applications, it’s not about being the “best on paper.” It’s about showing lived experience and growth in ways that resonate with reviewers. Frankie’s story not only stood out to admissions committees, but the process also eased his parents’ worries — proof that the right guidance supports the whole family, not just the student.