Confused @ Cornell/Common App

So Cornell has their college transfer question for their Arts and Sciences Department: Writing Questions: Tell us what you’d like to major in at Cornell, and why or how your past academic or work experience influenced your decision, and how transferring to Cornell would further your academic interests. (Please limit your response to 650 words.)

However, Common App also has this: Personal Statement: Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. You can type directly into the box, or you can paste text from another source. (max 650)

With common app, the word is “personal statement” but aren’t personal statements often short?
I’m a little confused because the maximum for this “statement” is 650 words.
Am I supposed to take “advantage” of this statement and write another essay or actually just write a simple statement?

Hi there, I’m also applying as a transfer student to Cornell! I personally think that for the Common App portion of the application you’ll want to write a short essay of some sort describing your reasons for transferring at a more broad level while your Cornell essay should explicitly connect those reasons to Cornell.

Cornell focuses on the idea of “fit” so they want to see how you can explain why you are transferring, but more importantly, why at Cornell. Make most, if not all, your points in the Cornell transfer essay connect to Cornell.

This is coming from personal experience. I applied to NYU as a transfer for the Spring 2018 semester and got accepted (will be declining most likely though to try for Cornell for Fall 2018!). For the Common App statement I wrote about how I discovered a passion in advocacy and law through a class I’m taking at the moment. I later talked about how my current school does not have the proper resources, curriculum for further growth in this interest, and that a school in the city would give me endless opportunities to seek internships and work directly with underprivileged communities.

For my NYU essay (I wrote only 91 words 10 minutes before the deadline… yikes!), I really drilled in on what specifics in NYU would nurture that growth. I briefly talked about the departments, environment, alumni network, and programs.

They really want to see you have a specific plan for your future and how the school you are applying to is going to help you with that.

So what I’m trying to say is take FULL advantage of both essays; especially for Cornell. Good luck!

omg haha that makes sense
thank you so much!

and best of luck to you too!

91 words for NYU and you got in??? WOW

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