What Parents and Students Will Gain From This Session

Most students waste months drafting UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs) that miss the mark—essays that don't address what admissions officers are actually evaluating, fail to reveal authentic character, or blend into thousands of other applications.

As a former UC Berkeley admissions officer who reviewed thousands of PIQs, Feiyang knows exactly what makes responses stand out—and what causes them to be forgotten. You'll learn the strategic framework UC evaluators use, how to choose the right prompts that showcase your student's unique strengths, and how to avoid the 7 most common pitfalls that lead to generic, forgettable essays.

The result: Your student drafts efficiently, confidently, and strategically—showcasing who they truly are in a way that resonates with UC admissions officers.

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A note on timing: If your student is already drafting or feeling stuck on essay brainstorming or drafting, it may be worth connecting before the webinar. The earlier we can align on strong essay directions, the less stressful essay pivots become as deadlines approach. Reach out at feiyang@yourepic.consulting if you'd like to discuss!

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Here's what we will cover in the webinar:

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Part 1: The UC Evaluation Framework (15 min)

Why This Matters: Most students guess at what admissions officers want. You'll learn the actual 7-point rubric UC evaluators use.

What You'll Learn:

• The 7 criteria UC Berkeley uses to evaluate every PIQ response
• Why "depth of insight" and "personal voice" matter more than achievement-listing
• The difference between essays that stand out vs. those that blend in (with real examples)

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Part 2: From Achievement-Listing to Authentic Insight (20 min)

Why This Matters: UC evaluators don't want a resume—they want to understand who your student is and why they do what they do.

What You'll Learn:

• The "So What?" test: How to move from describing activities to revealing values, growth, and character
• How to use specific, concrete examples (without being vague or generic)
• The difference between "authentic voice" and "overly polished writing" that feels manufactured

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Part 3: The 7 Most Common PIQ Mistakes (15 min)

Why This Matters: Avoiding these pitfalls alone will make your student's essays stronger than 70% of applicants.

Such as:

• Mistake #1: Choosing prompts based on what "sounds impressive" instead of strategic fit
• Mistake #2: Writing what you think UC wants to hear instead of what's authentically true
• Mistake #3: Listing achievements without explaining the "why" or showing growth

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Part 4: Live Q&A + Action Plan (20 min)

Why This Matters: Get personalized guidance on your student's specific situation.

What You'll Get:

• Answers to your family's specific questions about prompt selection, essay strategy, and UC admissions
• A step-by-step action plan your student can use immediately to start drafting strategically

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The Bottom Line:

By the end of this 90-minute session, you'll have:

✅ Clarity on what UC admissions officers actually evaluate (not what students assume)
✅ Strategy for choosing the right prompts that showcase your student's unique strengths
✅ Framework for writing authentic, insightful responses that reveal character and growth
✅ Prevention of the 7 most common mistakes that cause essays to blend in
✅ Efficiency so your student drafts confidently without wasted effort or costly rewrites