This post was first published in November 2024. We’ve updated it to reflect the changes to Sauder’s questions this year.
Welcome to Part Three of our guide on the UBC Personal Profile! In Part One and Part Two, we laid the foundation by covering the essentials of the personal profile and helping you tackle the specific questions asked in your application. Now, we’re diving into the final part of the series, which focuses on the personal profile essays required for applicants to the Bachelor of Commerce program at UBC’s Sauder School of Business.
In this section, we’ll walk you through the key elements of the Sauder-specific essays, break down what the admissions committee is looking for, and provide strategies to help you craft compelling responses. Whether you’re hoping to showcase your leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, or ability to thrive in a collaborative environment, we’ll give you the tools to highlight your strengths in a way that aligns with Sauder’s values and admissions criteria.
Let’s get started on making your application stand out with essays that reflect your potential for success in the world of business!
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? (1500 characters)
What it’s asking:
- This is a classic “problem-solving” question. It asks you to demonstrate how you approach challenges, think critically, and learn from experiences.
- The admissions team wants to see how you handle adversity, adapt to new situations, and reflect on those experiences.
Things to think about:
- Choose a specific situation in which you faced a challenge, whether academic, personal, or in extracurricular activities.
- Focus on the steps you took to address the problem, any obstacles you encountered, and the outcome of your actions.
- Reflect on the lessons learned—did you develop resilience, improve your communication skills, or gain new perspectives?
Tips from our Writing Coaches:
- The biggest problem we see with this essay is too much time talking about the problem and not enough time discussing the resolution and what students learned.
- We often recommend students write long first drafts, so if you’re well over the character count on your first draft (or even your second or third), that’s okay, but once it comes time to cut words, look to the exposition (the part where you explain what the problem was). Can you cut out some details here so that you have more room for your reflection at the end (which is arguably the more important part of this essay!)
Sample essay:
During high school, I was part of the organizing team for a charity event aimed at raising funds for a local homeless shelter. A few weeks before the event last year, we discovered that our primary sponsor had backed out, leaving us with a significant financial gap. We were on a tight deadline, and I knew this situation would require quick thinking and collaboration from our entire team.
Instead of panicking, I took the lead in organizing a team meeting where we discussed how we could turn the situation around. We decided to launch a social media fundraising campaign and reach out to local businesses for smaller sponsorships. I worked closely with my team to divide the tasks: some of us focused on crafting messages for our social media platforms, while others contacted local businesses to request donations. Throughout the process, we all communicated constantly, keeping each other updated on progress and troubleshooting any challenges that came up. The teamwork and flexibility of our group made a huge difference, and we managed to exceed our fundraising goal by 20%.
This experience taught me the power of teamwork and creative problem-solving. By collaborating effectively, we were able to find a solution that not only met our original goal but also made a greater impact than expected. I also learned that leadership is not about doing everything yourself but guiding and motivating others to work together toward a common objective. This experience reinforced my interest in business, as I saw how important collaboration, adaptability, and communication are in achieving success, especially when facing unexpected obstacles.
2. How are you positively impacting your community? How do you plan to leverage your UBC Sauder experience to enhance these efforts? (1500 characters max)
What it’s asking:
- This question asks you to showcase how you’ve made a difference in your community, whether through volunteering, leadership, or innovation, and then to connect those efforts to your future at Sauder.
- UBC is looking for students who are community-minded. They want to admit students who contribute meaningfully to the community and who also see their business education as a way to expand their positive impact.
Things to think about:
- What does community mean to you? I could be your school, neighbourhood, cultural or religious group, sports team, or another community that’s meaningful to you.
- How do you contribute to that community? Have you led any initiatives that have made a difference?
- Focus on impact. What changed because of your involvement?
- For the second half of the question, think about how Sauder will amplify your impact. How will you use clubs, specific programs, courses, or experiences at Suader to reach your goals for your community?
- How will you apply what you learn at Sauder to create broader or more sustainable change?
Tips from our Writing Coaches:
- First, take a look at your activities. Are you involved with any communities that you genuinely care about? What problems have you faced within this community, and how have you worked to overcome them?
- Students often spend too much time describing what they did without showing why it mattered. Don’t forget to emphasize your impact (the outcome of your actions) and connect it clearly to your motivation (the reason you did anything in the first place).
- Do the second part of the essay justice. Spend about half your character count connecting back to Sauder and avoid vague statements like, “Sauder will help me grow as a leader”. Instead, be specific and show the admissions team that you understand how your community work and the business education that Sauder offers fit together.
Sample essay:
As captain of my school’s girls’ soccer team, I noticed a clear imbalance between our program and the boys’ team. There were fewer resources, smaller crowds at our games, and less recognition for our achievements. In tenth grade, we didn’t even have a designated coach, while the boys had two and a few support staff. At first, it was merely frustrating to see our hard work and success overlooked, but over time, I realized that change wouldn’t happen unless someone spoke up, so I decided to take the lead in addressing this issue.
Working with my teammates, I organized a campaign to raise awareness about gender disparities in school athletics. We met with our school administration to discuss funding priorities, created social media posts highlighting our achievements, and ran skills clinics for younger students. As a result of our efforts, the school committed to more equal support for all teams, attendance at our games grew, and younger players told us they felt inspired to join.
This experience demonstrated how advocacy, teamwork, and communication can create real change within a community. At UBC Sauder, I hope to continue this work by learning how organizations can build equity and inclusion into their culture. Through courses like Values, Ethics, and Community, and involvement in the Young Women in Business club, I hope to learn from peers and professors who are passionate about using commerce to create equitable business practices, and to eventually apply those lessons by developing programs that support women in sports and business. By combining my passion for advocacy with the tools and insights I’ll gain at Sauder, I aim to empower others to challenge inequality and build stronger, more inclusive communities.
Take Your UBC Personal Profile to the Next Level
Now that you have a comprehensive guide to writing the Sauder-specific essays for your UBC Personal Profile, it’s time to put these strategies into action. Remember, the goal is to craft responses that demonstrate your academic achievements and showcase your unique qualities, experiences, and potential for success at UBC. With the insights you’ve gained from Part One, Part Two, and this post, you have all the tools you need to write a standout personal profile.
As you start drafting and refining your essays, keep in mind that clarity, authenticity, and a well-structured narrative are key. Check out this blog post, which has some helpful tips for refining your essays at the last minute.
In addition to your written essays, remember that applicants to the Bachelor of Commerce will also need to complete a video interview, and all UBC applicants are required to provide references as part of the personal profile process. Be sure to check UBC’s official website for more details on these components and any specific requirements or deadlines.
Still feeling unsure about your essays or need a second set of eyes to ensure they’re polished and impactful? Consider booking an appointment with one of our dedicated writing coaches or experienced educational consultants. With expert feedback and personalized advice, you’ll be able to take your personal profile to the next level and present your best self to UBC’s admissions team.
Good luck with your application, and remember: this is your chance to shine and show the admissions committee what makes you a perfect fit for Sauder and UBC!
Admissions is a dynamic field and process. This post was written in November of 2024 and updated in November 2025, and the information discussed was accurate at the time of writing, but that information may be different when you are reading this post. Please check each institution’s website for the most recent information.
