<p>hi everyone--</p>
<p>i find myself struggling a little bit with the first question (it asks how and why my current school is not meeting my needs).</p>
<p>would using a negative tone in this essay be detrimental? if so, how would one go about being positive, especially when the next question is "why do you feel that columbia is the right school for you?"</p>
<p>i'm confused! help!</p>
<p>When I wrote this essay I essentially answered both questions together. My approach was one of "I want to come to Columbia because x,y, and z." And within x,y, and z I pointed out where my university was deficient. I hope that helps!</p>
<p>Using a negative tone is always detrimental. Obviously the content is inherently negative, but cynicism from a 19-year old is usually just teenage angst encapsulated in prettier sentences. Just try to keep the overall outlook positive.</p>
<p>if you have nothing negative to say about your school, then why are you seeking transfer?</p>
<p>I guess I'll clarify a little:
-Try keeping the focus of the discussion on your needs, with the reasons why your school is deficient for those needs secondary. This transforms what could just be a bunch of negatives into something that tells them not only more about you, but that you actually know what you want.
-When discussing how your school is deficient, use as many concrete and specific details as you can fit. This may seem obvious, but it is especially important because it shows first, that you've probably made a genuine attempt to appreciate your school if you demonstrate knowledge about what it has to offer, and consequentially, second, that your decision to transfer is not solely in the pursuit of prestige.
-Make absolutely certain that your criticisms of your own school cannot apply to Columbia as well. This goes hand in hand with concreteness. A negative person can find fault everywhere.</p>
<p>Hope this helps. I could be completely wrong. Best of luck.</p>