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How to answer the Personal Insight Questions

Your responses to the personal insight questions are an important component of your first-year or transfer application. Your responses allow us to get to know you through your experiences and accomplishments.

First-year Personal Insight Questions

First-year applicants must respond to four short-answer prompts chosen from . There is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain prompts over others. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.

Transfer Personal Insight Questions 

Transfer applicants must respond to four short-answer prompts — one mandatory prompt and their choice of three from the other . There is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain prompts over others. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.

Writing a successful response 

Elaborate upon any insights you gained or how your outlook, activities, commitment or goals have been influenced.

  • Provide specific examples of experiences, accomplishments, etc. that occurred during or after high school that weren’t captured in your application.
  • Keep your responses focused and convey your strengths and positive qualities.
  • Write a first draft, leave it for a day or two and return to make revisions. Read each draft aloud to catch misspellings, awkward or inappropriate wording.
  • Review your responses as if you were making the final decision. Is this the application of a future leader?
  • Check your responses with a teacher, counselor or other advisor for clarity.

Common pitfalls

  • Writing about events that are long past
  • Reiterating information listed elsewhere in the application
  • Listing accomplishments without explanation or detail
  • Rambling, unfocused thoughts
  • Being overly humorous, self-deprecating or glorifying

Instructions for scholarship applicants

Some scholarship committees review your responses to the Personal Insight Questions while other scholarships, such as the , may require separate applications and essays. Visit our scholarships page to learn more about scholarships available at Â鶹appÈë¿Ú.