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How to Master Your Application: UBC Personal Profile Examples

essay forum ubc

Do you dream of walking the halls of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre? Or late-night study sessions in the Koerner Library? What about meeting up with your friends at the Piper Fountain? 

When applying to UBC , your Personal Profile is a chance for UBC to find out more about your hobbies, interests, values and life beyond grade percentages and academics. Keep in mind that, though your grades are beneficial to your application, your work experience and how you portray it is integral to applying to UBC. This guide has been updated for 2024 & 2025, so let's kick off these applications strong!

UBC is ranked as one of the top schools in the country in 2024. So it’s no wonder you’re considering one of its world-class education programs for yourself or your child. But if you know about UBC’s scenic campuses and tight-knit student communities, you probably also know that over 40,000 students apply to UBC each year and only 52% get in. 

It’s a daunting number that leaves many students feeling uncertain about their odds of getting accepted. Fortunately, however, UBC’s admissions process is not based on dumb luck. There’s a lot you can do to increase your likelihood of getting accepted and even secure the funding you need to go.

Let’s put the ‘U’ in UBC  

Alright, that was pretty bad. But we mean it. When it comes to getting into your dream school, sometimes what matters most is you! Not your grades or academic resume. We’re talking about your Personal Profile. Like many universities, UBC collects a Personal Profile from students in order to discover more about your hobbies, interests, values and life beyond grade percentages and academics. It tells them a bit about who you are so they can determine if U would be a good fit for UBC.

Okay, last one, I promise.

UBC Personal Profile

UBC conducts their Personal Profile in a Q&A format with an expectation that students will provide essay style answers. Many students treat it as a meaningless exercise, but the ones who take it seriously will set themselves apart in the admissions process. It can take a lot of work to be properly prepared, but getting your Personal Profile right can be a gamechanger in whether or not you get accepted. Working with a GrantMe education consultant has helped thousands of students ace their Personal Profile, leading to outcomes such as early acceptance and scholarships to fund their education. 

The purpose of this article is to walk you through a well-constructed UBC Personal Profile, using professionally-crafted content that you can use as a model for your own Personal Profile. Throughout the examples offered, we’ll offer the kinds of tips a GrantMe education consultant would give you, so you can understand how a well-prepared student who’s looking to set themselves apart thinks about this crucial portion of the application process.

Here are our best tips to answer your personal profile questions, along with some UBC personal profile examples:

Preparing for the UBC Personal Profile:

The best practice is to practice! We recommend students spend plenty of time preparing their Personal Profile responses before they start their online application. You’ve done your program assessment , so you should have some great insights into your strong suits and what sets you apart. However, putting those insights on paper is a different story. Here are some tips that will help you turn those gold nuggets into a gold star submission:

  • Take time to reflect. Instead of simply listing your accomplishments and experiences, tell the UBC committee what you’ve learned from them.
  • Be specific. Use details to provide context and elaborate on your answers.
  • Be true to who you are. Don’t focus on what you think UBC wants to hear. Be authentic and use your unique voice to tell them what you want to say.
  • Utilize the full word count (or as close as possible without going over) to create an effective essay and have the best impact on the UBC committee.

Writing your Personal Profile:

You’ll be seeing the word STAR a lot throughout this guide! STAR is an effective way to structure your experiences within your essays. Before reading on, check out our video below for a complete guide on how to use the STAR structure!

Depending on which degree(s) you apply to, you’ll be asked to answer some or all of the following questions in your UBC Personal Profile. Let’s take a look at each prompt question, a description on how to structure your answers, and an example for each essay.

UBC Personal Profile Examples

1. Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience?

  • You’ll want to start with a Hook (1-2 sentences) that grabs the reader's attention & introduces an unfamiliar situation.
  • Then, talk about your experience that describes the situation using STAR to demonstrate how you overcame it. (3-5 sentences)
  • Last, add your reflection (1-2 sentences)- reflect on the experience and what you learned from it and how you will use that lesson in the future.

I was terrified at the news of immigrating to Canada from India when I was 15 years old. With English as my second language, I struggled to acclimate to my new environment, and felt very alone within my new school. Typically a shy person, I knew I had to step outside of my comfort zone to meet new people, so I joined the Multicultural Club. Throughout my time with the Multicultural Club, I organized many events including the Potluck Lunch and Book Drive, but I am most proud of initiating the Welcome Wagon, a club that helps new students feel welcome and accepted on their first day. As the spearhead, I recruited members from the Multicultural Club and created and placed posters on the school walls for any students who wanted to participate. I collaborated with the administration who let me know when new students would be starting their first day throughout the school year, and planned a bottle drive to raise funds for new student gift bags. So far we have welcomed eight new students who immediately felt safe and accepted, who have all planned to continue the Welcome Wagon once I have graduated. Through this experience, I have learned that taking small steps can lead to impactful moments and have strengthened my communication and organizational skills. I plan to use these newfound skills to initiate an inclusive club within UBC.

2. Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why.

  • This is a great opportunity to boast about yourself! Choose one or two qualities that your friends and family would describe you as, and use that as a launching pad to talk about what you’re most proud of! This should be an impressive role in your community that emulates the quality that you are discussing.

Compassionate, driven and goofy are the adjectives my family and friends would use when describing my character. Throughout my life, I have been praised for the attentive and dedicated passion that I give to everything I do, including my corny knock-knock jokes. My unrelenting hard work has led me to academic excellence - maintaining a two year average of 93%, excelling in challenging courses like Biology and Calculus. As an ambitious leader, I welcome challenges, which is exemplified in my contributions as President of the Student Council during the Covid-19 pandemic. I led a team through virtual events including the senior graduation ceremony, and became a support system for students during remote learning. Our online events continue to provide educational resources for students, mental health support, and promote antiracism within my school. Through creating multiple spreadsheets and organizing weekly online planning sessions, tasks were easily delegated to make each event safe and successful. I made sure to start each meeting with a fun ice-breaker to keep the meetings interesting and most often ended with a “hilarious” joke. As an empathetic leader, I continue to address issues in my school’s community, and create an inclusive environment focused on student well-being and success. My ability to understand the unique needs of each individual, empathize with their challenges, and support them intently makes me the leader that I am proud to be.

3. What is important to you? And why?

  • This question is short and simple. And that is exactly how you should answer it! If animals are important to you, discuss how you volunteered at a vet clinic. If anti-racism is important to you, discuss your advocacy work! Connect your interests to the work you’ve done. You can also connect these qualities to any awards you may have won in or outside of school. This is a great place to use STAR! Check out our YouTube video on using STAR to structure your essays! If you’re struggling to connect your volunteer experiences to an important value, check out the UN Sustainable Goals chart . If you can relate your volunteer work to tackling one of these causes, then you are on the right track!

For as long as I can remember, animals have been my passion. By choice, I became a vegan when I was nine because I could not fathom the idea of eating something I cherished so much. From a young age, I knew I was meant to work with animals, and growing up, I started learning more about the importance of animal welfare. Learning that thousands of animals around the world suffer from being used for entertainment, food, medicine, fashion, scientific advancement, or as exotic pets, I decided to start an annual fundraiser to support the Animal Welfare Foundation of Canada (AWFC). Collaborating with a local gas station, I organized the Animal Welfare Bottle Drive-Car Wash where drivers could donate bottles and cans in exchange to have their car cleaned. I recruited volunteers through social media posts and advertised the event through the local radio station and newspaper. We also made large posters to hang up on the day of the event for easy visibility and directions. I reached out to the local hardware store for donations of sponges and safe soap for automobiles, and the local coffee shop donated 50 donuts and bottled water for the customer snack table. And just in case patrons wanted to donate cash, we placed a donation can right next to the donuts, along with informational flyers to help educate about animal welfare. The volunteers and I decided to rotate through the tasks throughout the six hour day, including collecting and sorting bottles, spraying down and sponge washing the vehicles, along with towel drying them. Overall, we collected $430 worth of bottles and cans, along with $250 in cash donations to contribute to the AWFC, which will help improve the lives of over 50 animals throughout Canada. As all of the flyers were distributed, multiple people are now more educated about the importance of this cause, and my team has developed a strong sense of community through this event. My communication and organizational skills will benefit the UBC Pre-Veterinary and Animal Welfare Club, as I plan to initiate more fundraisers within the group, along with returning to Nanaimo each summer for the annual AWFC Bottle Drive-Car Wash.  I believe animals should be respected as citizens of this earth, and as a future vet, I plan to work towards educating others and being a changemaker in every patient I treat.

4. Describe up to five activities that you have pursued or accomplishments achieved in one or more of the following areas. Please outline the nature of your responsibilities within these activities: (Club, Family/community responsibilities, creative or performing arts, work/employment, Athletics, Volunteer, Service to others, Other(s)

  • Be diverse in your activities and throughout your application. Try to aim for experiences in multiple areas (academic achievement + community service + athletics). If applicable, you can include creative or employment initiatives.
  • The prompt asks for “up to” 5 activities, but don’t let that fool you! They want five!
  • 1 sentence - Describe the achievement and your main goal why you wanted to accomplish this.
  • 1 sentence - Describe the steps/strategies/set of plans you took to meet your goal.
  • 1 sentence - Describe the result or the positive impact of your efforts.

Last year, I joined the X program to invent a tool that delivers safe drinking water in the province of Y. Through my efforts of using Z technology, our team was able to provide potable water to 300 families in Y.

5. Tell us more about one or two activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response.

  • Aim to start with a 1-2 sentence Hook to catch the reader's attention.
  • Afterwards, describe the experience(s) using STAR structure! For this example, we’ll break down the STAR structure for you!

(Hook) Extinction is a natural phenomenon, claiming about five species per year. But some experts suggest we’re in the midst of the sixth mass extinction — one that is caused mostly by human activity. (S) As a dedicated environmental advocate, I decided to join The Eco-Warrior Club, a student club that promotes sustainability and environmental preservation, in 2023. (T) As this year's club president, I aim to extend the influence of our club to the community to develop more environmental leaders in our community. (A)   With this, I led the planning and organization of activities such as the No Plastic Week Challenge, Zero Waste Online Campaign, and Sustainability Workshop Series. I created project timelines to ensure preparations were completed on time and delegated assignments to my team members to ensure tasks were distributed evenly. (R) As a result, we inspired the youth in our community to participate in sustainability practices through fun and engaging activities. I am delighted whenever I hear our youth participants engage in stimulating conversations on sustainability and environmentalism. The heightened interest in these topics has also motivated me to start the Eco-Warrior Youth Organization to widen our reach and develop more youth leaders to fight against the climate crisis.

6. Briefly describe the culture of your school community and your involvement within it. What impact has the school culture had on you? How would you enhance or change it?

  • Again, you’ll want to start with a hook to catch the reader’s attention, and this would be a great place to share your school’s culture!
  • Last, add your reflection (1-2 sentences)- reflect on the experience and what you learned from it.

Through the culture of student leadership, opportunity and inclusivity, St. Williams High’s Code of Conduct states that “All students have the right to learn in a safe environment without

discrimination of any kind”.  I often witnessed certain social groups within my school not following these values through racial comments and lack of inclusivity within their events. As a member of the Social Justice Club, I decided to organize a campaign to spread awareness about the effects of bullying and racism. We tied white ribbons on the classroom door handles which symbolize International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) around the world. I brainstormed with my team to come up with quick inspiring announcements that we can make on the PA each morning for a week. We created posters and banners to hand throughout the school, and I manned an information booth at lunch for the week, creating a safe space for students to come talk.  The campaign was also publicized in a local newspaper, spreading awareness beyond our area to the entire Nanaimo community. Due to our campaign, multiple local businesses hung white ribbons, and students of Williams High became more aware of how their actions can affect others. As the IDERD campaign was a success, my principle has made it an annual event, and has placed a support (suggestion) box near the office for students experiencing social challenges. Through this experience, I have learned that taking action through leadership can impact more people than who you planned to target. I gained valuable leadership and organization skills and plan to continue utilizing these to abolish discrimination and foster inclusivity.

7. Additional Information: You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC? (maximum 100 words)

  • If you have any extenuating circumstances , adversity , or financial challenges, then focus on them! This section also can be used to emphasize your potential for growth (academic or personal). Although it is optional, please answer this section, as simply filling it out demonstrates a genuine interest in the school.
  • When describing your financial need, think of your financial situation over the last four years. How does your family make their income? What does it go towards? Describe any challenges or adversity you and/or your family have faced. Consider what financial adversity may have prevented you from doing. What has it held you back from?*

Consider also describing some of the below points if they apply to your situation:

  • If you are living in a rental home
  • If you have limited financial support from parents
  • If your degree is longer than a Bachelor's degree
  • If you are subsidizing your education costs through employment
  • If your family considers themself "low income"
  • If you have more than one sibling that needs their education paid for
  • If you are only supported by one family income
  • If there are any medical expenses or family member’s medical expenses.

When my parents first immigrated to Canada in 2007, their Foreign Educational Credentials were not valid according to Canadian standards. For years, I watched my parents work extra jobs and take online classes in order to earn extra income for our family and retain their financial degrees. After over ten years of hard work, the sum of our family’s income finally surpasses the basic needs of my family including rent, groceries and bills. Unfortunately, they were not able to save any funds for my two siblings’ and my post-secondary education. Fostering their commitment and hard work, I have worked part-time for a popular food chain in order to support myself and my family, and have saved over $2500.00. Achieving this has come with many handy budgeting and saving techniques and ultimately missing out on multiple social functions due to the costs. Witnessing my parents’ selflessness has ingrained in me the need to help others, so I have volunteered with the local food bank, spent two summers as a camp counselor, and supported multiple students as a tutor. I have gained beneficial skills and values through these experiences, including compassion, integrity, organization and critical thinking, which I hope to use throughout my studies and extracurricular activities at UBC. As my four-year degree will cost approximately $ 32,000, I have been applying for scholarships and saving 75% of my paycheck. My parents have been my inspiration and, although they could not give us all the material things my peers had, they gave me core values and work ethic, which will benefit me more in the long run.

This year, UBC included an extra question about the pandemic!:

2. Give us an example of how the pandemic has changed your involvement in the community or group most important to you. What have you learned from this experience?

  • For this question, make sure to talk about a volunteer experience or an extracurricular activity that you were involved in before the pandemic - – did they transition remotely? Were they cancelled? How did you deal with that? What new skills did you use to cope with this drastic change? This is a good opportunity to discuss your flexibility with BIG changes! (It’s best not to make this essay about how the pandemic affected your academics).

Covid-19 devastated the world within a matter of weeks. Lockdowns were put in place as many lost family members and friends. When my soccer coach announced that our training would be put on hold, I felt somewhat defeated as I had just been named team captain just days before. Acknowledging the heartbreak too many experienced, I could not allow myself to be disappointed. I decided to start a team Instagram account posting daily inspirational quotes, and asked each player to send me their favorite personal photo to post. I collaborated with my coach to start online weekly Zoom meetings to go over different plays and drills for the team to practice individually at home. During our meetings, I encouraged input from each player and provided empathetic support for those who felt discouraged. Once Covid protocols allowed in-person training, our team was stronger than ever and we went on to win our only three games of the season. I have realized that perseverance through difficult times takes effort as a leader, but is worth it. With the collaboration and organizational skills I gained, I plan to lead my team to the Nationals next season.

What does UBC look for?

Now that you have some UBC Personal Profile examples to help you structure your application, let’s take a look at the 4 main things UBC looks for in their Personal Profiles:

Engagement and Accomplishment

Think about how you pursue your interests while also managing your responsibilities. With your free time, are you supporting your community? What accomplishments are you most proud of? Do some self-reflection on these accomplishments. How have they impacted your community, yourself, and the world around you in a positive way? A GrantMe education consultant can help you organize your student resume and learn how to let it shine in your Personal Profile answers.

When the topic of leadership arises, you should be thinking of your responsibilities. How did you manage your responsibilities? Everyone has a leadership style and our education consultants are experienced in helping you discover and communicate yours when crafting your Personal Profile.

When writing out your work experience, make sure that it sounds compelling. To be compelling, you must be authentic in your experiences. Choose relevant experiences that you’re passionate about. If you’re wondering how GrantMe students have done it, check out Mattie – a GrantMe student that won over $200,000 and the coveted Schulich Award. She gives some advice to students:

“Make sure you’re picking out activities that you’re actually passionate about and you actually enjoy doing. A lot of students pick out activities that they think scholarship committees want to hear about. Stick to what you value.”

– Mattie, Schulich Leader Scholarship Winner

Your voice is your authentic self. To portray your most authentic self, write a personal profile that is genuine to who you are. Your identity is a big factor that influences your biases and unique experiences. So, don’t hesitate to discuss your identity!

The results of a well-constructed Personal Profile speak for themselves. Just look at Paige Ingram , a UBC student who aced her applications thanks to GrantMe’s premium offerings.

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She ended up earning a UBC Presidential Scholar’s Major Entrance Award of $80,000 as well as other smaller scholarships. Now, she’s a GrantMe mentor focused on helping students just like her. Learn if you’re eligible for GrantMe’s premium education consulting programs by taking our program assessment quiz today.

Get Started Securing Your Future At UBC

A well-crafted Personal Profile is only one piece of the admissions puzzle. You already know getting accepted into UBC is no small task, but with a thoughtful approach and the right support, you might find it to be a smoother process than you thought.

Don’t waste any more time feeling overwhelmed or unsure about what to do next. You can get started today by completing the program assessment quiz and discovering how you measure up against top students in the country. This is a great way to find out if you could benefit from working with a GrantMe education consultant and whether or not you qualify for our comprehensive offering of programs. I

t’s time to take your next step towards getting accepted to your dream school and even securing the funding to pay for it. Your future as a Thunderbird just might depend on it!

Join The GrantMe Program

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UBC Personal Profile: Examples, Question Samples & Prep Tips 2023/2024

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If you’re looking for UBC Personal Profile questions, examples, and prep tips, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Before you dive in, it’s important to understand that UBC admissions committees receive thousands of applications every year. To help you stand out from the crowd , you need to demonstrate a clear sense of self , strong life experience , and exemplary communication skills .

Our ‘full student’ coaching process will help you improve in all these areas (and more!). 

If you’re not working with a coach, be sure to read the Self-Awareness , Goal-Setting , and Narrative Communication & Deductive Communication Skills Guides. All of these resources will empower you with the skills you need to show the admissions committee who you are , what you want to accomplish , and why you’d be a great fit for the University of British Columbia .

COACH’S TIP: You’ll also notice that all our Personal Profile templates use the Narrative/Deductive Approach (DON’T FORGET to access your FREE blank template) so you can see an effective general structure for your essays. We’ll provide a breakdown and example for each UBC Personal Profile question below. You can choose EITHER the Narrative OR the Deductive approach for your UBC Personal Profile essays. The Narrative Approach is usually for Arts/Business programs , or for personal questions where you want to tell a memorable story that creates an emotional connection with the reader. The Deductive Approach is typically used for STEM programs , where you have to provide an argument in a logical and structured way. 

DON’T feel like you have to stick to this model — it’s just a guideline so you can learn to communicate in a way that’s most familiar to you. Just choose the approach that you’re most comfortable with (and get in touch with us if you need some help deciding which is best for your application). 

REMEMBER : This guide offers GENERAL guidance for the Personal Profile and is NOT PROGRAM SPECIFIC — some questions might be added, removed, or different depending on which program you’re applying to. Make sure you do you research and complete the ENTIRE application for your program. 

If you’re serious about getting into your top-choice program at the University of British Columbia and reaching your fullest post-secondary potential, connect with a Youth Coach™ . It’s never too early to receive coaching.

Table of Contents

  • UBC Personal Profile Overview : What is the Personal Profile?; Why do you need to write it?; How is it evaluated?; How to use this guide; and More.
  • 2022/2023 UBC Personal Profile : Questions; Templates; Examples; Prep Tips; and More.

UBC Personal Profile Examples – Overview

In this section, we’ll go through all the must know information for your UBC Personal Profile.

What is the UBC Personal Profile?

The Personal Profile is mandatory for ALL high school students applying to any degree on UBC’s Okanagan or Vancouver campuses .  

If you are applying to Bachelor of Design in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and/or Urbanism, you do not need to submit a Profile. 

The UBC Personal Profile is made up of up to 8 short written essays (depending on the program you’re applying to). Keep reading for a full list of the questions, as well as essay templates and examples for each question.

You can access and submit the Personal Profile on EducationPlannerBC . 

COACH’S TIP : Write your essay responses BEFORE you start your online application, so that you have time to rewrite, edit, and polish your answers. When you sign in to EducationPlannerBC, you will have to upload your answers immediately, so if you have them saved in a separate doc, you can simply copy and paste them.  

IMPORTANT: The application opens on EducationPlannerBC in early October 2022 and the deadline to submit your application (including the Personal Profile) is January 15, 2023 at 11:59pm PST for regular admission.

Why Do You Need to Submit the UBC Personal Profile?

The UBC Personal Profile allows the program(s) you’re applying to get a better sense of who you are beyond your grades . 

Without it, you’re just a name on a page, and it’s really hard to differentiate you from other applicants, especially when everyone is a competitive applicant. 

The UBC Personal Profile asks you to talk about things like your:

  • Experiences
  • Leadership Potential
  • Achievements 
  • Challenges you’ve overcome
  • Extracurriculars (across multiple years)
  • …and all the valuable lessons you’ve learned along the way!

The evaluators use all these details to see if you’d be a good fit for the program you’re applying to and UBC more generally. They will also use this information to see if you will receive an entrance scholarship.

Put simply, they want to figure out what makes you, you , as well as the experiences and lessons that have helped in this process.

The Profile can also help make your application more competitive (especially if your average is a bit lower) because you can emphasize the fact that you’re a well-rounded student who has the drive, skills, and passion to succeed in the program . 

Keep reading for explanations for each question, as well as templates and examples to help you write the best Personal Profile possible.

How is the UBC Personal Profile Evaluated?

The UBC Personal Profile is evaluated by readers who have been trained and are familiar with the area of study you’re applying to. 

While there are no right or wrong answers , the Profile evaluators don’t want you to simply list a bunch of activities you’ve done and things you have accomplished. 

Instead, they want to understand what you’ve learned from doing all these things and that you can articulate deep personal insight in all your answers. They also want you to use specific examples .

Strong essays will answer questions like these:

  • What did this experience teach you about yourself?
  • What did this experience teach you about others?
  • How did this experience change your outlook of the world?
  • How did it impact your goals and plans for the future?
  • What skills did this experience help you improve? 
  • Did this experience start/intensify your passion in your chosen field?
  • What did the challenges that arose during this experience teach you?
  • How has this experience changed you as a person and as a leader?

UBC Personal Profile Evaluation Rubric

Reviewers evaluate each essay in your Personal Profile according to 4 criteria : 

1. ENGGAGEMENT AND ACCOMPLISHMENT:

Using specific examples, your answers should outline the activities, initiatives, causes, accomplishments, etc. that you’re most proud of and care most about, and the accomplishments you’ve had in those areas. 

You should detail what you’ve learned because of these experiences, and how they’ve made you a better person both inside and outside the classroom. 

Here are some things to think about to help you get started:

  • What you care most about
  • The people who are most important in your life 
  • How you manage your time and responsibilities
  • Hobbies, volunteer work, or other interests you’re passionate about 
  • Community involvement and specific accomplishments you’ve achieved 
  • A goal or project you’ve set for yourself and achieved (and how you’ve done that) 
  • How you develop your passions and interests in various areas of your life

Using specific examples, your answers should discuss experiences/accomplishments where you became a stronger leader and developed leadership skills , like responsibility, reliability, resourcefulness, time management, accountability, and initiative. 

2. LEADERSHIP: 

Leadership can come in many forms , so don’t feel intimidated if you haven’t had much experience with it. It can be something as simple as a group project where you took the lead, or an extracurricular activity where you stepped up and went above and beyond the call of duty. 

Leadership can also be individual, like managing your own time or setting a specific challenge/goal for yourself and making a plan to achieve it.

  • A specific experience where you showed exceptional leadership (and how you managed it)
  • What being a leader means to you
  • How you handle responsibility and accountability
  • How you use diverse opinions, experiences, and backgrounds to the advantage of the group you’re leading 
  • Effective strategies you’ve learned that help address specific challenges you’ve faced while leading
  • How your activities and accomplishments have benefited your peers or community
  • How have your leadership experiences influenced how you interact with others 
  • What are the lessons you’ve learned (including effective leadership strategies) that you will use in the future 

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3. SUBSTANCE: 

The evaluators want to see that EVERY example, detail, and learning outcome you write about in your answers has a purpose and is meaningful . 

They want to see that you’ve really thought about your answers and taken the time to prepare them.  

Uniqueness is a HUGE factor here — you don’t want your answers to be basic and the same as everyone else’s. They need to dig beyond the surface and give relevant and interesting insights that other students might not have thought of. 

The evaluators also want to see that you’ve built self-awareness and have asked yourself big questions like who you are , what you value , where you want to go , and how you’ll apply the lessons you’ve learned to get there . 

If you have filled out our Student Identity Blueprint then this pulling out substance and deep personal insight in your essays will be a lot easier (if you haven’t filled out your Blueprint yet, click here to get started or connect with a coach ). 

The evaluators want to see that you can communicate your ideas in an authentic and memorable way , using storytelling, emotional connection, and character development . 

They want to see your personality and voice jump off the page — NOT the same generic essay over and over.

This might seem obvious, but a lot of students don’t know how to articulate their ideas in a genuine way that showcases who they are and explains what makes them different . 

Once your Profile has been evaluated according to these criteria, it is compared with other students’ Personal Profiles . Then this score is applied to your overall admission average as well as other admission criteria (e.g. video interview), if applicable. 

How to Use this UBC Personal Profile App Prep Guide

In this guide, we will provide breakdowns, templates, and examples for all 6 Personal Profile Questions. 

IMPORTANT : The program you’re applying to might not ask you to answer all 6 questions (or some of the questions might be slightly different) or it might have some slight variations on the questions listed below. Make sure you read the ENTIRE application to make sure you aren’t missing anything for your program. For program-specific guidance, connect with a coach any time for support. 

As mentioned above, all our templates use our Narrative Communication & Deductive Communication Approaches, so you can see what an effective structure looks like for the answers. We will use both approaches throughout this guide. Choose whichever approach you’re most comfortable with (or connect with a coach for support ).

We will use UBC Personal Profile templates and examples from the UBC Sauder BCom Personal Profile to show you what essays using the Narrative Approach look like. We have adapted these essays into the Deductive Approach structure so that you can see examples for this communication style as well.  

Ace your UBC Personal Profile.

UBC Alumni & Youth Coach™

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2022/2023 UBC Personal Profile Questions & Examples 

Here are the UBC Personal Profile questions , as well as answer examples. 

REMEMBER : The program(s) you’re applying to might include some or all of these questions (or some questions with slight variations). Make sure you read the entire application carefully to make sure you don’t miss anything! You can also connect with us for program-specific guidance .

UBC Personal Profile Answer Examples – Question 1

“Explain how you responded to a problem and/or an unfamiliar situation. What did you do, what was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience? (Maximum 1,500 characters)”

UBC Personal Profile Question 1 – Breakdown

As the first question in your Personal Profile, this is where you have the opportunity to make a strong first impression .

This question prompts you to discuss a meaningful experience , where you were required to address a challenge or uncomfortable situation. The important thing here isn’t so much what the situation was, but how you handled adversity and what you learned from it . 

Maybe you learned a new strategy for being a leader, or you saw the benefits of getting outside of your comfort zone, or you learned something about yourself.

Go beyond the surface and try to think of a problem/unfamiliar situation that will allow you to provide deep insight and self-awareness. Be as unique as possible, drawing out a learning outcome that is unexpected and memorable. 

COACH’S TIP : Paint a vivid and detailed picture as much as possible, showing who you were before this problem and/or unfamiliar situation happened, and then what your initial reaction was, and how you resolved it. Let your personality shine through, while taking the reader on the journey with you. 

Choose only experiences where you have a clear learning outcome that has changed who you are and how you view the world . You want to make sure that your answer has substance. 

The reviewers want to see that you’ve really thought about why this learning outcome is important and how it can be applied to your life today (and in the future). If you can do this, we guarantee that your essay will stand out from other applicants.  Not sure how to communicate your personal growth and learning in essay questions like these? Our Narrative Communication Guide and Deductive Communication Guides are a great place to start, and you can also connect with a coach to take your essay response to the next level.

UBC Personal Profile Question 1 – Template

Our template doc has BOTH the Narrative Approach (starting on p.1) and Deductive Approach (starting on p.9) templates listed below.

REMEMBER : There is a 1,500 character limit for this answer. 

Here’s a template that follows our Narrative Communication Approach :

  • Quickly capture the reader’s attention and set up the essay so they know what to expect.
  • Set the scene with who you were before this problem/unfamiliar situation happened using the 5Ws (Why, What, When, Where, Why). If you can, focus on explaining who you were before this problem/situation occurred, like what you believed in, valued, etc.  
  • Describe the problem/unfamiliar situation and exactly what happened. Paint the picture vividly with your words and try to give enough detail so the reader feels like they are there with you. Briefly describe your emotions when this problem/situation occurred. 
  • Discuss how you responded to this problem and/or unfamiliar situation, how you solved it, and what the end result was (this is the ‘after’ scenario that you introduced in the Context section). 
  • Provide deep insight into some specific learning outcomes that occurred during this experience. Focus on 1-2 themes, while providing specific examples of the impact this experience had on your life today. Finally, write 1-2 sentences about how this experience will help you as a UBC student. 

Here’s a template that follows our Deductive Communication Approach :

  • State what the problem and/or unfamiliar situation was, and briefly how you responded to it initially. 
  • Explain why you had the initial reaction you did, and how you solved the problem and/or address the unfamiliar situation. Paint the picture vividly with your words, and give enough detail so the reader feels like they are there with you. 
  • Provide examples of what happened as you were working to resolve the issue, such as any roadblocks you faced, skills you used to make things easier, how you addressed them, and what the final outcome was.  
  • Provide deep insight into some specific learning outcomes that occurred during this experience. Focus on 1-2 themes, while providing specific examples of the impact this experience had on your life today. Finally, write 1-2 sentences about how this experience will help you as a UBC student.

UBC Personal Profile Question 1 – Example

Here are some examples of how to answer this question, using BOTH of our communication approaches.

REMEMBER : This is an EXAMPLE ONLY and is NOT meant for you to copy. Why? First and foremost, this is plagiarism and is a serious offense . Plagiarizing these essays will result in immediate disqualification from the admissions process . This can be easily detected using technology and application reviewers are usually trained and/or able to spot when an application isn’t original and does not align with an applicant’s background, personality, values, etc.

Example 1: From UBC Sauder Personal Profile Prep Guide, following the Narrative Communication Approach :

ubc sauder personal profile examples and sauder video interview questions

Example 2: Here’s an example of the same essay, but following the Deductive Communication Approach :

ubc personal profile example questions samples and tips

Program Guide

Ubc sauder school of business bcom: a definitive guide for applicants (2024).

This guide is for you if you’re thinking about applying to the Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) program at the UBC…  Read more

UBC Personal Profile Answer Examples – Question 2

“Give us an example of how the pandemic has changed your involvement in the community or group most important to you. What have you learned from this experience? (Maximum 1500 characters)”

COACH’S TIP : Last year, the second question in the UBC Personal Profile was: “Give us an example of how the pandemic has changed your involvement in the community or group most important to you. What have you learned from this experience? (Maximum 1500 characters)”. If you come across this question and need some help with it, check out our breakdown, template, and example in our UBC Sauder App Prep Guide here .

UBC Personal Profile Question 2 – Breakdown

Our society is by no means uniform — and that’s what makes it so amazing. 

Whether you’re walking around downtown Toronto or taking a day trip to your favourite neighborhood in Vancouver, you’ll see people from all different backgrounds, cultures, religions, sexual orientations, economic standings, etc. 

This is exactly what a ‘diverse society’, as outlined in this question, means. A diverse society is a society that’s made up of all types of people with different ethnicities, races, genders, languages, religions, etc., as well as in thought processes, opinions and ideas, life experiences, values, and more. 

Diversity also extends far beyond your community or city . 

When you scroll through Instagram or Tik Tok, you’ll see posts and videos of people from all around the world showcasing their unique culture, experiences, and interests. In this way, social media has created a ‘global society’ that connects us all. More than ever before, we have access to other ways of life, and this can help us learn, grow, and contribute to this connected society.

A key part of diversity is also inclusion , or accepting everyone’s differences and making an effort to ensure that each person is valued and respected for who they are . 

Now that you have a good understanding of what this question means by a global and diverse society, try to think about some ways that you’ve seen diversity (and inclusion) in action.  

During your extracurricular involvement in your community, you’ve undoubtedly come across all types of people with difference backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, culture, ideas, language, sexual orientations, etc. And you’ve probably had the chance to share yours as well. 

When writing this essay, we recommend choosing one extracurricular experience you had in your community within the last couple of years, when you worked or interacted with a diverse group of people. Maybe it was a fundraiser where you had to work as part of a team or an initiative you joined to help a part of your community that was in need. 

You also want to choose one that was particularly meaningful — it should be one that initiated personal growth and changed your view of the world and the people living in it. 

Maybe you realized that diverse perspectives actually make a team stronger because they open up various avenues of interpretation when dealing with setbacks and conflict. Or, perhaps you were part of a community project that initiated meaningful dialogue about an important issue or equipped you with the tools you needed to become a responsible global citizen. 

Pick an experience where you challenged your views of yourself , and one that taught you something about the world you live in. 

The key here is to think about how your community involvement has opened your eyes to new perspectives and will inform your views on diversity going forward. Focus on 1-2 key takeaways (or themes) that you can use as tools in the future to help you become a better person, global citizen, and leader. 

Need some help figuring out which community involvement experience to choose? Connect with a coach for support.

UBC Personal Profile Question 2 – Template

REMEMBER : There is a 1,500 character limit for this answer. Here’s a template that follows our Narrative Communication Approach :

  • Quickly capture the reader’s attention and set up the essay so the reader knows what to expect.
  • Describe how you are active in your community, and how this involvement has allowed you to work with a diverse group of people. Use the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, why) to provide the reader with enough information that they get a good sense of this activity and your involvement. 
  • Talk about a situation, conflict, or experience where diversity played a significant role, and discuss exactly what that role was. Be as specific as possible and describe your emotions as much as possible here to create a memorable connection with the reader. 
  • Discuss how the situation you described in the Catalyst section turned out. Describe how you (and/or your team) used diversity to your advantage to generate a positive outcome. Use qualitative data (e.g. money raised, hours volunteered, people helped, etc.) as proof for the big impact your efforts had.
  • Talk about 2-3 ways that your community involvement and the experience you discussed above have influenced you and changed your outlook on the world and your place in it. Describe how these learning outcomes have impacted you going forward and will help you navigate this complex world in the future and as a student at UBC Commerce.
  • Briefly discuss ways that you (and/or your team) used diversity to your advantage to generate a positive outcome. Refer to specific qualitative data (i.e. exactly what you did, hours volunteered, money raised, etc.) to communicate the impact of your efforts.   
  • Give 2-3 examples of how taking part in this activity has prepared you for the future in this complex world, and how your view of diversity and a global society has changed as a result of you taking part in this activity. 
  • Talk about 1-2 ways that your community involvement and the experience you discussed above have influenced you and changed your outlook on the world and your place in it. Describe how these learning outcomes have impacted you going forward and will help you navigate this complex world in the future and as a student at UBC.

UBC Personal Profile Question 2 – Example

Here are some examples of how to answer this question, using both of our communication approaches.

REMEMBER : Please note that all of the examples in this guide are EXAMPLES ONLY and are NOT meant for you to copy.  

Example 1: From UBC Sauder Ap p Prep Guide, following the Narrative Communication Approach :

ubc sauder personal profile essay example 2023

Need some help choosing an extracurricular experience to focus on in this essay? Connect with a coach for support.

UBC Personal Profile Answer Examples – Question 3

Tell us about who you are. How would your family, friends, and/or members of your community describe you? If possible, please include something about yourself that you are most proud of and why. (Maximum 1500 characters)

UBC Personal Profile Question 3 – Breakdown

This question is asking A LOT, in a REALLY limited space. 

With so many topics to address, things can get pretty disjointed and chaotic if you aren’t careful. 

To help you make an organized and articulate answer , we recommend tackling this question in the following way. 

First, identify 1-2 themes that will unify the entire essay . This can be anything from a hobby or research interest, to a skill/value , extracurricular activity, or an audacious goal you’ve set/achieved. 

Next, answer each of these 3 components , highlighting your theme(s) wherever possible:

  • Introduce Yourself : Think of this component as your pitch to convince the evaluators why you’re a standout applicant who is the PERFECT fit for UBC. 🙂 Limit yourself to 1-2 memorable and unique facts that can be used to differentiate you from other applicants. You can talk about things like notable achievements and/or hobbies, unique experiences, things you value, skills you’ve worked on, etc.  
  • How People Describe You : Provide 1-2 adjectives that best describe you, providing direct quotes, feedback you’ve received, etc. wherever possible. This can be from friends, family, role models, a teacher, a coach — anyone whose opinion you value.
  • Something You’re Proud of and Why : State a unique accomplishment that highlights the facts/adjectives you mentioned above in action, as well as the skills it took to get you there. Then, answer why you’re so proud of it and what you learned because of it.

Remember that your theme(s) is the focus of the entire essay , while the details in the 3 components listed above (e.g. facts about you, your experiences, personal anecdotes and insight, and lessons you’ve learned) give more details about how the themes relate to you and why they’re an inseparable part of who you are.  

For example, say the overall theme of your essay is perseverance/determination, as well as your interest in entrepreneurship and software development. 

You would start with the first component (i.e. introduce yourself) and talk about how you are a resourceful and independent person, who does whatever it takes to reach a goal once it has been set. You could say that this determination comes from your parents, who immigrated to Canada when you were 2 years old, and always taught you the value of working hard and going after what you want. After being inspired by their success as small business owners, you decided to pursue your interest in entrepreneurship. 

Then, in the second component (i.e. how people describe you), you might say that your friends and family describe you as being very sure of yourself and confident in your abilities, which they saw when you started your own cyber security entrepreneurial venture. After seeing the struggles you went through, as well as all the late nights and trial and error, they realized how determined you were to go after your dreams. 

Finally, for the third component (i.e. something you accomplished), you could say that the thing you’re most proud of is taking your small business from nothing to having over 20 clients and generating over $10,000 in sales in just a few months. You learned that a big part of perseverance/determination is learning to receive constructive criticism, while maintaining authority as a leader, and being open to evolve. 

Here, you can see that the student provides a ton of details about himself (e.g. his family, immigrating to Canada, his interest in business, his organizational and leadership skills, etc.), while answering every component of the question. The theme of perseverance and entrepreneurship unifies and creates a focus for the entire essay, so that all the details are clear and organized. 

We know that such a complex question might seem a bit intimidating at first, but if you break it down into smaller sections it’s much more manageable. We also recommend that you connect with a coach to help you choose unique and authentic themes, and help you articulate your interests, skills, experiences, and goals in a memorable way. 

UBC Personal Profile Question 3 – Template

Here’s a template that follows our Narrative Communication Approach : 

THEME(S): 

  • Capture the reader’s attention and give a quick preview of what’s to come.
  • Briefly answer the question “Tell us who you are”, listing 1-2 notable facts that are an inseparable part of who you are (remember to use your theme as a focus). Provide 1-2 short sentences for each fact, giving enough detail that the reader can get a clear sense of who you are and your personality. You can start the essay with a statement like “I am…”, “I enjoy”, “I am passionate about”, “I value”, etc. 
  • Discuss how your friends and family would describe you, using 1-2 adjectives (which also relate back to your main theme). Use direct quotes or feedback you’ve received from people here as evidence. 
  • Describe an experience or two as evidence for why people would feel this way about you (e.g. volunteer work, social initiatives, extracurriculars, etc.), and make it an accomplishment you’re particularly proud of. Describe the outcome of the experience you noted above, using quantifiable facts (e.g. money raised, hours volunteered, people helped, etc.), as well as the skills it took to get you there. If you don’t have a specific experience in mind, mention another achievement or accomplishment or are particularly proud of, as long as it relates to the theme of your essay.
  • Discuss what you have learned about yourself (and others) as you’ve explored your personal and academic interests and taken part in the activities you mentioned above. What have your experiences taught you about yourself? How have you evolved as a person? Finally, conclude your essay with a brief statement about how you will use the details you mentioned above to make you successful at UBC.
  • Briefly answer the question “Tell us who you are”, listing 1-2 notable facts that are an inseparable part of who you are, while introducing the theme as the focus of your essay. Provide enough detail about your memorable facts that the reader gets a clear sense of who you are and your personality. You can start the essay with a statement like “I am…”, “I enjoy”, “I am passionate about”, “I value”, etc. 
  • Discuss how your friends and family would describe you, using 1-2 adjectives (which also relate back to your main theme). Describe an experience or two as evidence for why people would feel this way about you (e.g. volunteer work, social initiatives, extracurriculars, etc.). Use direct quotes or feedback you’ve received from people here as evidence. 
  • Describe the outcome of the experience you noted above, using quantifiable facts (e.g. money raised, hours volunteered, people helped, etc.), as well as the skills it took to get you there. If you don’t have a specific experience in mind, mention another achievement or accomplishment or are particularly proud of, as long as it relates to the theme of your essay.

UBC Personal Profile Question 3 – Example 

Example 1: Here’s an example of this essay question, following the Narrative Communication Approach :

ubc personal profile example questions samples and tips

Need some help tackling tough UBC Personal Profile questions like this one? Remember — you aren’t alone! 

Our Youth Coaches have helped hundreds of students create unique and authentic essay responses that showcase their skills, experiences, and strengths. Connect with a coach for all the support you need!

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University of Waterloo: AIF Tips, Questions, & Examples 2023/2024

If you’re looking for Waterloo Applicant Information Form (AIF) questions, examples, and prep tips, then you’ve come to the right…  Read more

UBC Personal Profile Answer Examples – Question 4

What is important to you? And why? (Maximum 1500 characters)

UBC Personal Profile Question 4 – Breakdown

Unlike Question 3, this question seems pretty straightforward. But don’t be fooled — it’s still asking a lot.

By finding out what is most important to you (and how it became important), the evaluators get a lot of insight into what makes you, you (and whether you’d be a good fit for UBC).

This question is left intentionally broad so you can discuss a wide range of topics like:

  • Hobbies and interests
  • Extracurriculars 
  • Competitions 
  • Community activities
  • Social causes 
  • Role models 
  • Influential things/people in your life
  • Transformational experiences 
  • Concepts and ideas (e.g. leadership, work/life balance)

When thinking about what you want to discuss, reflect on something that you’re genuinely excited and motivated about , and articulate this passion in your answer. The goal here is to make the evaluators as excited about it as you are. 

Perhaps more important than the actual thing you discuss is WHY it’s so important (and how you communicate that). 

Think about where you’d be if you hadn’t discovered it, and what life would look like without it. 

Take the reader on a journey of how you have pursued this interest over time, the formative experiences you’ve had while doing so, and the positive things that have resulted from it. 

Remember that an important part of the UBC Personal Profile evaluation rubric is focusing on learning outcomes, so you should always list around 2-3 life-changing things you’ve discovered about yourself along the way. 

Finally, think about how this interest will ultimately make you a better student, and how you will continue to explore this interest at UBC. Do some research about specific clubs, programs, courses, etc. that will allow you to continually explore this interest and contribute to the UBC community as a whole.

Need some help deciding which topic to discuss for this essay question? We can help!

UBC Personal Profile Question 4 – Template

  • State what is important to you. Answering the 4Ws (who, what, when, where) as much as possible so you provide enough information that the reader knows exactly what you are talking about. Discuss how it became so important to you (i.e. was there a specific event, time, or person where your interest started?).
  • Describe what happened as a result of you pursuing it, such as skills you built, people you met, a career path you discovered, a goal you achieved, etc. Focus on 1-2 ways that it has impacted your life, and think about what your life would look like if you hadn’t discovered it. Briefly discuss any plans you have in the future to continue to pursue this area of interest. 
  • Talk about 1-2 learning outcomes that have occurred because of this interest. Answer questions like: How have I changed over time? How has it influenced my life? How has it changed my worldview and values? Conclude by briefly stating how this interest (and your learning outcomes) will help you succeed as a student at UBC.
  • State what is important to you. Answering the 4Ws (who, what, when, where) as much as possible so you provide enough information that the reader knows exactly what you are talking about.
  • Describe what happened as a result of you pursuing this interest, such as skills you built, people you met, a career path you discovered, a goal you achieved, etc. Focus on 1-2 ways that it has impacted your life, and think about what your life would look like if you hadn’t discovered it. Finally, draw on your experiences cultivating this interest and how your interest has grown or changed over time. Briefly discuss any plans you have in the future to continue to pursue this area of interest. 

UBC Personal Profile Question 4 – Example 

ubc personal profile example questions samples and tips

Example 2: Here’s an example of this essay question, following the Deductive Communication Approach :

ubc personal profile example questions samples and tips

UBC Personal Profile Answer Examples – Question 5

List up to five activities or accomplishments in one or more of the following areas:

  • Creative and performing arts
  • Family and community
  • Service to others
  • Volunteering 
  • Work or employment
  • Other 

UBC Personal Profile Question 5 – Breakdown

UBC wants to see a broad range of activities in your Personal Profile, both inside and outside of school.

Choose extracurricular activities (like volunteer work or being a President of your school’s debate club), hobbies (like learning a new language), interests (like competitive swimming at your local community center), and/or general activities you enjoy doing with your family, friends, or members of your community (like playing tennis). 

COACH’S TIP : As mentioned above, the evaluators DON’T want you to simply list a bunch of activities you have done. Instead, they want you to talk about activities and experiences that have created learning outcomes that have profoundly shaped who you are as a person, while communicating these lessons in a unique, authentic, and memorable way (this will be especially important for the next question, which we will discuss more below). 

Choose up to 5 activities that will show the depth and breadth of your experiences. We call this the T Model (learn more about it here ).

Here, you have 1-2 big activities that you’ve put a lot of time and effort into (this is the depth, or the vertical part of the ‘T’). For example, this could be a non-profit you started in your community, a fundraising event you organized to help address homelessness in your community, or giving a TEDx talk on an issue you are passionate about. These are BIG accomplishments that you’re super proud of. These should be the first ones in your Personal Profile, so you can wow the committee from the beginning. 🙂 

Next, you’ll have 2-3 activities that take less time and effort, but are still super important for helping shape who you are (this is the breadth, or the horizontal part of the ‘T’). For example, these could be an online course you took that ignited your interest in finance management or a summer internship you did that helped you develop your communication and leadership skills. 

Structuring your activities in this way will show the evaluators that you have well-rounded experience in many areas.

We know that identifying (and participating in) activities like this can be difficult, especially if you don’t know where to start. But don’t worry, we’ve got your back. Our unique approach will help you and your coach identify and execute audacious and authentic goals (we call these AYA goals) that are perfectly aligned with your interests and passions , so you can accomplish what you want (and have amazing experiences to talk about on your application). Connect with a coach to get started and check out our Goal-Setting Guide now.

UBC Personal Profile Question 5 – Template

REMEMBER : There is a maximum of 300 characters per activity .

For this question, you will be asked for the following information: 

  • Activity Type : State what this activity is, using the list above. If your activity isn’t mentioned in that list, write a 1-2 word description.
  • Start Date : State when you began this activity (month/day/year) 
  • End Date (optional): State when you completed this activity (month/day/year). If you are still doing it, leave this blank.
  • Ongoing (optional): If this is an ongoing activity, check this box.
  • Frequency: Select from the dropdown menu how often you participate in this activity (for example ‘Regular Weekly Activity (5-10 hours per week).
  • Short Description (max 300 characters): Briefly describe your role in this activity and what it was for (e.g. President of your school’s economics club). Then, describe what you did, as well as what quantifiable outcomes (i.e. money earned, hours dedicated, etc.) and what you learned as a result of taking part in this activity (if you have space).
COACH’S TIP : On the EducationPlannerBC site, you will have to add each activity individually to your profile. Our template will ensure that you have all the correct information beforehand so you can have everything prepared and proofread.👍

UBC Sauder Personal Profile Question 5 – Example

Here’s an example of a list of activities for this question : 

ubc sauder application

Find the mentor you’ve been looking for.

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UBC Personal Profile Answer Examples – Question 6 

Tell us more about ONE or TWO activities listed above that are most important to you. Please explain the role you played and what you learned in the process. You will be asked for a reference who can speak to your response. (Maximum 2100 characters)

UBC Personal Profile Question 6 – Breakdown

This question gives you the chance to discuss further insight into the impact your experiences have had on you and how the lessons they taught helped shape who you are .

We recommend choosing 1 activity to write your essay on so that you can provide enough detail and create a memorable and unique story. 

However, if you have two activities that both helped you discover a similar learning outcome , then you can write about 2. 

For example, if you volunteered to help organize a fundraising event for Alzeheimer’s research and awareness, you could talk about why you took on this role, and then the leadership skills, time management, team work, and problem solving skills you developed along the way. Talking about this one activity using the template below is perfectly fine. However, let’s say you with the help of your Youth Coach you took your goals to the next level and started your own non-profit to continue the journey to fund research for this disease. This would be a great opportunity to discuss two activities because it shows your dedication and your evolving leadership and interest in entrepreneurship and business.

It’s also important to choose an activity that you genuinely care about , so that you can convey your passion to the evaluators, along with what you learned. Your experiences make up what you value and what you care about. If you completed your Student Identity Blueprint™ , it will be really easy to choose activities that align to your Nurtured Values and communicate these values in your Personal Profile. If you haven’t filled out your Blueprint, connect with a coach to get started.

COACH’S TIP : Make sure you give your reference a heads up that UBC might contact them. Discuss the activity you were involved in, as well as your role, responsibilities, and what you learned as a result of that experience. You can even email some talking points for them to use if they’ve contacted. You don’t want your essay to give one learning outcome and then your reference to give another, so take the time to make sure the messaging is aligned.

Finally, when discussing what you learned in the process, make sure you really focus on the qualities that UBC looks for in its students , like leadership, community involvement, team work, and a passion for the field you’re applying to. 

If you need help deciding which activity from Question 5 to choose, connect with a coach for support. They can help you write an authentic and memorable response that will help you stand out from other applicants and increase your chances of admission success.

UBC Personal Profile Examples Question 6 – Template

REMEMBER : There is a 2,100 character limit for this answer. 

  • State the activity that you are discussing from the list you gave in Question 5. Describe what you did in that activity (i.e. your role, responsibilities, etc.). Try to answer the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, and why). 
  • Describe who you were before you started this activity and how your interests, values, etc. evolved while you were doing it. This can be a specific event that occurred while you took part in this activity or change over time. State some quantifiable outcomes that occurred as a result of your participation in the activity (e.g. money raised, hours devoted, etc.).
  • Describe how this experience allowed you to learn and grow as a leader and student (this is the ‘after’ picture that you started in the Catalyst section). Provide deep insight and a unique learning outcome. Focus on 1-2 themes, while providing specific examples of the impact this activity had on your life today. Finally, briefly state how you will use this learning at UBC.
  • State 1-2 activities that you listed in Question 5. Describe what you did in that activity (i.e. your role, responsibilities, etc.). Try to answer the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, and why). 
  • Describe how this experience allowed you to learn and grow as a leader and student (this is the ‘after’ picture that you started in the Main Reasons section). Provide deep insight and a unique learning outcome. Focus on 1-2 themes, while providing specific examples of the impact this activity had on your life today. Finally, briefly state how you will use this learning at UBC.

UBC Sauder Personal Profile Question 6 – Example

Example 1: From UBC Sauder Personal Profile Prep Guide, following the Narrative Communication Approach . This example is from the list of activities in Question 5, from a student who was the President of their school’s economics club.

ubc sauder application

Need some help writing essays that describe your extracurriculars and what you learned? Connect with a coach for support.

UBC Personal Profile Answer Examples – Question 7

Additional Information (Optional): You may wish to use the space below to provide UBC with more information on your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. For example: How did you choose your courses in secondary school? Are there life circumstances that have affected your academic decisions to date? What have you done to prepare yourself specifically for your intended area of study at UBC? (maximum 600 characters)

UBC Personal Profile Question 7 – Breakdown

So far in your Personal Profile, you’ve given the admissions committee some insight into your experiences and achievements inside and outside of the classroom with volunteer opportunities, extracurriculars, and various other activities.

All of these questions show how you undertake responsibilities , deal with setbacks when they arise, and have grown as a person along the way. Think of this as the development of your interests and passions through the activities you are involved in.

Question 7, on the other hand, focuses less on extracurriculars and other activities, and looks inside the classroom . Here, the reviewers want to know how your academic journey has developed your interest in business and led to you applying to UBC. 

This question is very open-ended so that you can focus on basically any area that has impacted your academic choices and performance. 

If you aren’t sure what to write here (if anything at all), have a look at your Student Identity Blueprint™ to help you identify why your interest in your chosen field began, your achievements thus far, and the skills/values that helped shape this interest (and who you are more generally). If you haven’t already completed your Blueprint, connect with a coach to get started on one.

The most important things to focus on for this question is how your courses in high school helped you develop your interest in your chosen field (and how you’ll continue to explore this at UBC).

You can discuss a gradual development over time or a specific event that changed academic choices/plans, and what you learned about yourself as a result.  

Focus on courses that are applicable to the program you’re applying to as much as you can here. 

Think about such questions as:

  • What made you want to take this course?
  • What challenges did you face when you did?
  • How did this evolve your interest in your chosen field more generally?
  • What skills, like leadership, communication, team work, and problem solving, did you develop along the way, and how? 
  • How will these skills and experiences you developed help you at UBC, and how?
COACH’S TIP : Use specific details and talk about the emotions you experienced as much as you can. This will help create a unique connection with the reader and transport them into exactly what you felt during the situation/experience you are talking about. 

If you are unsure how to approach this question, connect with a coach to find an authentic angle that will emotionally connect with the reviewers while communicating your journey. 

UBC Personal Profile Question 7 – Template

REMEMBER : There is a 600 character limit for this answer. 

  • Provide a brief description of your academic experience, including details like courses you’ve taken, skills you’ve built, and your experiences in high school. Briefly mention how these contribute to your interests and plans for the future (e.g. future studies, career, etc.). 
  • Describe any experiences, challenges, or setbacks (academic or personal) and discuss how these affected your academic decisions in high school and while applying to university. Emphasize the uniqueness of your experiences and the emotions you felt so that you can be as authentic as possible. 
  • Talk about what you learned as a result of this experience. How did it help you evolve as a person and student? Provide specific examples that show how what you’ve learned will help you excel at UBC. 
  • Provide a brief description of your academic history to date and/or your future academic plans. 
  • Provide some details and examples, like courses you’ve taken, skills you’ve developed, and your experiences in high school. Briefly mention how these contribute to your interests and plans for the future (e.g. future studies, career, etc.). 
  • Talk about what you learned as a result of your experiences, and how they’ve helped you evolve as a person and student. Provide specific examples that show how what you’ve learned will help you excel at UBC. 

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UBC Personal Profile Question 7 – Example

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UBC Personal Profile Answer Examples – Question 8

Please submit the names of two referees who know you well and can comment on your preparedness for study at UBC. Examples of referees include an employer, a community member, a coach, a teacher/instructor, or anyone who knows you well. One of the referees you select MUST be able to speak to one of the activities / experiences described in one of your long-answer responses above. For applicants who are currently attending a high school, one of your referees MUST be a school official (e.g. grade 12 or senior year counsellor, teacher, or IB Coordinator). Neither referee should be a friend, family member, or paid agent.

The purpose of this question is so that UBC can verify the activities, experiences, and learning outcomes you discussed in the previous questions. 

Before listing the names and contact information for your references, make sure that you ask your references for permission first , so that if they get a call or email from UBC then they’re not surprised. 

UBC Personal Profile Question 8 – Template

You will need the following information:

  • Relationship
  • Email Address
  • Phone Number

UBC Personal Profile Question 8 – Example

Here an example of the information for this section:

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Preparing for your personal profile

By Crissy Campbell on November 2, 2023

Preparing for your personal profile

It’s fantastic that so many of you are currently working on your  online application to UBC . Starting early means you’ll have time to reflect on your answers for the personal profile section : an important part of UBC’s admissions decision.

The personal profile asks you six or seven questions about challenges you have overcome, significant achievements in your life, your academic pursuits, and what you have learned from these experiences. The questions differ depending on the degree program you are applying for, and you’ll find out what you’ll be asked when you begin your application.

Does everyone have to submit a personal profile?

Not all applicants are required to submit a personal profile, and others will have additional requirements, such as portfolios or auditions. To find out if your degree requires a personal profile, start the online application process and follow the instructions.

How do we assess your profile?

When we evaluate your application, two trained UBC readers will  look for four qualities in your personal profile : engagement and accomplishment, leadership, substance, and voice. This is a chance for us to find out more about you and your experiences beyond academics. We want to hear about your life and achievements – what have you learned, and how have these moments allowed you to grow?

We are not looking for a particular experience, and there are no right or wrong answers. Be authentic, and focus on what you want to say about yourself and how you want to say it, rather than writing what you think we want to hear.

Do you need to record a video interview?

If you are applying to the UBC Sauder School of Business’s Bachelor of Commerce degree, you will be asked to provide  video responses to interview questions in addition to your personal profile. You will be prompted to create your video responses within your application, including detailed instructions on how to include the video interview in the personal profile section of your application. Read our tips and watch a video  about creating your video interview.

If you have not started working on your application yet, we encourage you to begin as soon as possible to make sure you have everything you need to submit your application on time.

Your personal profile and disruptions outside of your control

We know that disruptions can arise that may affect your access to extracurricular activities at school or in your community. We will be as flexible as possible to ensure that your personal profile is not disadvantaged by disruptions caused by things outside of your control.

Remember that when we assess your personal profile, we take into account all of the activities you’ve done across multiple years, not just the ones you hoped to complete in Grade 11 or 12. Your examples can come from any aspect of your life, including within your family or smaller community. There are no right or wrong answers – we’re not looking for certain activities or a long list of achievements, but rather your reflections on what you’ve experienced.

Good luck! We’re looking forward to learning more about you.

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How to Write Your UBC College Application

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Applying to college can be tedious. What differentiates a candidate that is accepted to one that is declined, is a great college application essay. The essay is the most complex component of the application process, and is what remains between you and admission to your dream colleges.

Here are some tips to write a great college application essay to stand out from the crowd:

1.      Plan your application

Think about how you would string your points together in a cohesive flow. At this point you can further organize your thoughts into an outline format that can help to gather your thoughts and the argument of the essay as a whole to convince the university admission office to accept you. It is important not to get into too much detail – writing keywords and phrases are the best solution. Highlight your strengths.

2.      Choose a topic that highlights your story

Share your personal story and thoughts in your personal statement . It is useful to take a creative approach and highlight areas that aren’t covered in other parts of the application, like your high school records. It may help to treat the college application like a job application, and writing your cover letter.

3.      Create a compelling introduction

Condense what you’re trying to say into a short introduction. Your first few sentences should be an ‘Elevator Pitch’ style summary of your essay. should be interested in it. Your introduction for your essay should sell the idea of it to a reader, leaving them wanting to read the essay in question.

4.      Be original

Top competitive colleges are looking for originality and quality . The application essay is an opportunity to impress an admissions officer with your determination and knowledge of your chosen subject. It should reflect your skills and ambitions , and highlight how your chosen program will help you achieve future goals. Don’t rely on phrases or ideas that people have used many times before. Statements like “I am passionate about helping people in poverty” are generic and should be avoided. If you are passionate about this, delve into why, or your own personal experience that brought you on this path. Whilst you want to maintain originality and showcase your own personal flair, avoid formal language as it can begin to sound monotonous.

5.      Proofread your application and ensure that it flows well

Check the order of your paragraphs and ensure that your strongest points and ensure that your paragraph order makes sense. Reread your essay and check to see if it makes sense. Make sure that sentence flow is smooth and add phrases to help connect thoughts or ideas. On the other hand, remove sentences that do not add value to your application – you want to demonstrate the ability to hold-back. Finally, check your application for grammar and spelling mistakes.

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Although the college application process can seem challenging, good preparation will ensure you have the best chance at receiving an offer from your dream university. Good luck!

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Check out UBC’s Writing Centre!

March 2, 2011

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By Erin Catherall

So your professor tells your class he wants MLA formatting for your paper, and all that is running through your head is “huh? MLA? Citation formatting? What?” Well it is time for you to check-out UBC’s Writing Centre.  This amazing resource will help you build the necessary skills to become a stronger writer.

The UBC Writing Centre is a resource available to all undergraduate students. This centre provides one-on-one tutoring for students wishing to develop their thesis statements, grammar, essay formatting, and overall writing skills.  In addition, this service provides assistance for English as a Second Language (ESL) students currently studying for their Language Proficiency Index (LPI) exams.

Eager to find out more, CASS decided to drop in for some essay writing help. Armed with only a half-written essay, I was kindly introduced to tutor Paloma Pacheco, and was invited in. We began by discussing topics students commonly require help with.

“We get everything from students who are working on outlines, those not knowing how to begin, to students who come in with papers that have already been marked or even in-class essays where professors make students see tutors for help with grammar, structuring, and writing” said Paloma.

Paloma points out however, that the tutorial clinic does not proofread or edit students’ work. The purpose of the Writing Centre is to help students improve their writing skills so that they can have the confidence to edit and proofread their own work.

Recounting my own struggles with writing my paper, Paloma advised me to start by jotting my ideas down on a piece of paper. This technique not only helps students visually see what they are trying to argue, but it also helps them with essay outlining and general structuring. It is also helpful to have a friend look over your paper prior to submission. An objective perspective might provide insight into an idea a student may otherwise not have considered. This could allow for a more well-rounded and convincing argument in a paper.

“If students are having problems with really long paragraphs, we usually try to work with them in terms of organizing their ideas. It is good to have an objective perspective to get some feedback. We recommend students having a friend look over their papers before they come here, that way they have a better idea of what needs to be worked on” said Paloma.

As Paloma continued to help me with my assignment, she said that one of the most common issues students have with writing is citations and paraphrasing.  It is very important that students know that paraphrasing a text and directly quoting a text both require a citation. It easy for students to make the mistake of only citing a quote, but not citing a paraphrased sentence.  The Writing Centre offers many valuable handouts for students that provide information on the various citation formats—MLA, Chicago, APA etc. In addition, the centre also offers exercises for students studying for the LPI exam.

“A lot of students come here to get help for studying for the LPI exam. We have exercises for students that might not necessarily have a paper. We have a LPI study book, handouts on sentence structuring, as well as some really good examples of essays—level 4 and level 5. It is sometimes helpful to point out what the differences are” said Paloma.

I was very impressed overall by the help I received at the UBC Writing Centre. Not only did I feel a little more confident about my paper but I also learned many valuable skills I will continue to use in writing my next essay.  For all those students currently working on or thinking about their final term papers, I strongly advise signing up for a tutorial session. This 50 minute one-on-one session could make all the difference and help you get that dream grade you have been waiting for!

For more information on the UBC Writing Centre checkout: http://www.writingcentre.ubc.ca/

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How to tackle essay-based exams

Student prepping for an exam

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Regardless of whether they exhilarate you or exhaust you, essay-based exams are the backbone of testing in some faculties.

I used to think that just flipping through my notes was enough to study for essay-based exams—I would just write about what I remembered from the class, right?

Not so much. This type of exam does give you some flexibility in what you choose to write about, but it also requires careful studying beforehand and adjustments to how you approach essay-writing during the exam—not to mention a healthy dose of stamina to get you through.

Essay-based exams are challenging, and, as an undergrad, I often came out of them feeling like somebody had rearranged my brain with an electric mixer. However, having to prepare for and write one usually helped me understand the big picture of the course better.

You don’t have to learn to love them, but figuring out how to approach these kinds of exams can make them more manageable.

Strategically prepare with case studies and theory

Studying for an essay-based exam isn’t quite like studying for a multiple choice test . While both have their challenges, writing essays when you have a limited amount of time requires you to do a lot of active preparation beforehand. 

1. Use the review sheets to study efficiently

Most courses I’ve taken with essay-based exams have also provided a review sheet with topics and information about the exam beforehand.

This means that you often don’t have to review the entire course in depth to do well. If the professor gives you a list of say, 15 topics, and you know that there’s going to be 5 essay questions on the test, and you only need to write 3 essays in total, you can do a bit of math to figure out how many topics you’ll need to study to be prepared. 

Each essay question will probably require knowledge of more than just one topic in the course, but strategically focusing your studying can make you better prepared for the questions you’ll actually answer on the exam. 

2. Focus on flexible case studies

In courses like political science and history, I liked to spend a good portion of my prep time reviewing case studies that can be adapted for a number of essay topics. Prepare at least 3 or 4 case studies for each essay, with some backup. 

You can use these in different combinations depending on the essay question—you won’t have time to go extremely in-depth in the essay, but make sure you know the main points and how the case study relates to the theory of the course.  

3. Find links between examples and theory

Don’t neglect studying the theory—what have your course readings been arguing? Do you agree or disagree with them? It’s okay to have opinions that differ from the readings, but make sure you can back your arguments up with evidence. 

Consider what the overall themes of the course have been—how do all the topics link together? How can you link case studies together with course themes and theory?

Additionally, check out these tips if you're preparing for an English exam specifically!

Maintain a good pace while writing the exam

Once your preparation is done and you’re writing the exam itself, make sure you keep track of the time. If you have 2 hours to write 3 short essays, don’t spend 90 minutes perfecting your first essay only to realize you have half an hour to write both the second and third. 

Give yourself a few minutes at the beginning to read through the questions and plan your essays. Space out the essays so you have some time at the end as well—this gives you a bit of breathing room if you end up spending longer on a section or want to do some minor edits at the end. 

Commit to your thesis 

Whenever I wrote essays for assignments, I inevitably ended up readjusting my entire paper after I got further in my research and figured out what I actually wanted to focus on. While that freedom is nice when the due date is a week or two away, you won’t have the flexibility to change your thesis after a bit of writing in an exam scenario.

If you get halfway through your essay and feel you should've picked a different argument, you likely won’t have time to go back and restart. Whatever you end up writing, commit to it and be confident in your arguments—you’ve studied hard, so sell what you know!

Adjust your writing

The TA or professor marking your exam isn’t expecting a hyper-polished, publishable result here—they want to see that you can craft a solid argument and that you have a perspective on the course material. 

Of course, syntax, grammar, and  punctuation are still important, but keep your writing simple and to the point. Getting the information across is more important than showcasing your most eloquent writing. Focus on writing clear, straightforward sentences that reflect your understanding of the course, and save straining for colourful synonyms for your papers.

Lastly, don’t sweat the introduction and conclusion. All you need are a few sentences—the marks are in the discussion.

Writing essay-based exams takes practice, but with the right preparation you’ll find they’re a great way to cap off your understanding of the course!

Header photo credit: Paul Joseph / UBC Brand & Marketing

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UBC Library: Evaluating and Citing Resources (Webpage, UBC Library)

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Computer Science > Artificial Intelligence

Title: the ai scientist: towards fully automated open-ended scientific discovery.

Abstract: One of the grand challenges of artificial general intelligence is developing agents capable of conducting scientific research and discovering new knowledge. While frontier models have already been used as aides to human scientists, e.g. for brainstorming ideas, writing code, or prediction tasks, they still conduct only a small part of the scientific process. This paper presents the first comprehensive framework for fully automatic scientific discovery, enabling frontier large language models to perform research independently and communicate their findings. We introduce The AI Scientist, which generates novel research ideas, writes code, executes experiments, visualizes results, describes its findings by writing a full scientific paper, and then runs a simulated review process for evaluation. In principle, this process can be repeated to iteratively develop ideas in an open-ended fashion, acting like the human scientific community. We demonstrate its versatility by applying it to three distinct subfields of machine learning: diffusion modeling, transformer-based language modeling, and learning dynamics. Each idea is implemented and developed into a full paper at a cost of less than $15 per paper. To evaluate the generated papers, we design and validate an automated reviewer, which we show achieves near-human performance in evaluating paper scores. The AI Scientist can produce papers that exceed the acceptance threshold at a top machine learning conference as judged by our automated reviewer. This approach signifies the beginning of a new era in scientific discovery in machine learning: bringing the transformative benefits of AI agents to the entire research process of AI itself, and taking us closer to a world where endless affordable creativity and innovation can be unleashed on the world's most challenging problems. Our code is open-sourced at this https URL
Subjects: Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI); Computation and Language (cs.CL); Machine Learning (cs.LG)
Cite as: [cs.AI]
  (or [cs.AI] for this version)
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    REMEMBER: Please note that all of the examples in this guide are EXAMPLES ONLY and are NOT meant for you to copy. Example 1: From UBC Sauder Personal Profile Prep Guide, following the Narrative Communication Approach: Example 2: Here's an example of the same essay, but following the Deductive Communication Approach:

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  24. [2408.06292] The AI Scientist: Towards Fully Automated Open-Ended

    One of the grand challenges of artificial general intelligence is developing agents capable of conducting scientific research and discovering new knowledge. While frontier models have already been used as aides to human scientists, e.g. for brainstorming ideas, writing code, or prediction tasks, they still conduct only a small part of the scientific process. This paper presents the first ...