UBC Personal Profile Guide: How to Write an Essay That Stands Out

Why the UBC Personal Profile Is So Important

When applying to the University of British Columbia, your grades open the door—but it’s your Personal Profile that helps secure your spot. This profile is required for nearly all undergraduate programs, including competitive faculties like Sauder Commerce, Applied Science, and Arts. It’s one of the few ways UBC can assess who you are as a whole person: your values, initiative, leadership, resilience, and potential to thrive on campus.

Think of the Personal Profile as your opportunity to go beyond numbers and show the admissions team what truly drives you. This isn’t just about listing awards or filling in activity boxes. UBC wants to know what you’ve learned, how you think, and how you’ll contribute to your future community.

A well-crafted Personal Profile can be the difference between getting an offer—or landing on the waitlist.

What Is Included in the UBC Personal Profile?

After you apply through the UBC admissions portal, you’ll be required to complete the Personal Profile online. The format includes a series of short-answer questions, each typically limited to 2,000 to 2,500 characters (around 350–400 words). You’ll also be asked to submit a short list of extracurricular activities, including your roles, dates of involvement, and what you contributed.

These questions are designed to assess your:

• Personal values and insight
• Leadership and initiative
• Community involvement
• Perseverance and growth
• Fit for the program you’re applying to

Sample UBC Personal Profile Questions

While UBC updates the wording slightly each year, some examples of real questions include:

• Tell us about a significant challenge you faced. What did you do, and what did you learn?
• Describe a situation where you demonstrated leadership or took initiative.
• What are you most proud of outside the classroom, and why?
• What motivates your interest in the UBC program you selected?

UBC also includes an optional section for you to explain any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your academic performance.

What UBC Is Really Looking For

Personal Insight

Your writing should show who you are—not just what you’ve done. UBC is looking for candidates who can reflect on their experiences with maturity and self-awareness.

Growth Over Time

Rather than listing accomplishments, focus on transformation. Share how an experience changed your outlook, helped you grow, or pushed you beyond your comfort zone.

Contribution to Community

UBC values applicants who give back. Whether you volunteered, led a school initiative, or supported family responsibilities, explain what impact you made—and how it shaped your goals.

Alignment with UBC’s Mission

UBC is a global institution that emphasizes innovation, leadership, and community responsibility. Help the admissions team understand why you belong there and how your mindset fits with what they value.

How to Structure a Strong Personal Profile Response

1. Start with a hook

Open with a short, vivid anecdote, quote, or moment that introduces the theme of your answer. Draw the reader in.

2. Set the context

Briefly explain the situation or challenge, including relevant background information. Stay focused—don’t include unnecessary details.

3. Reflect and analyze

This is where many students fall short. Don’t just describe what happened—explain what it taught you, how you changed, and how it influenced your choices or mindset.

4. End with forward thinking

Connect your experience to your goals, your interest in UBC, or your hopes for the future. Show that you’re growth-oriented and ready to take the next step.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Writing like a resume: Focus on storytelling and reflection, not a list of accomplishments.
• Using vague or generic language: Be specific. Instead of “I like helping people,” explain how you helped and what it meant to you.
• Ignoring the prompt: Answer the exact question being asked—don’t go off-topic.
• Forgetting structure: Every answer should have a beginning, middle, and end.
• Skipping revisions: Grammar, tone, and clarity matter. Always edit and polish before submitting.

How Myls Interview Can Help You Succeed

At Myls Interview, we help students turn experiences into standout university applications. UBC’s Personal Profile isn’t about saying what sounds impressive—it’s about saying what’s true in a way that’s thoughtful, strategic, and impactful. That’s where our team comes in.

We support students with every part of the university supplementary application process, from idea generation to final polish. Whether you’re stuck choosing which story to tell or struggling with how to reflect on a challenge, we help you craft responses that are clear, authentic, and memorable.

Here’s how we support your UBC application:

• Personalized brainstorming sessions
  Our tutors or mentors help you uncover unique, meaningful experiences—even ones you might overlook—and connect them to your academic goals.
• Structured feedback and editing
  We provide detailed support on content, flow, tone, grammar, and strategy. Each draft becomes sharper, more focused, and more reflective of who you are.
• Activity list coaching
  We help you go beyond job titles and describe your roles with real impact—so every line of your extracurriculars counts.
• Program-specific insight
  Whether you’re applying to Sauder Commerce, Applied Science, and Arts, we help tailor your essays to what each faculty values most.
• Long-term growth
  We don’t stop after submission. If you're applying to scholarships or need support preparing for university interviews later in the year, we’re here to help you continue building confidence and clarity.

With Myls Interview, your Personal Profile becomes more than an essay—it becomes your story, told in a way that resonates with the admissions team and reflects your potential.

Start building your UBC application today. Sign up for free with Myls Interview and get the expert coaching you need to stand out.