<p>Hey guys, I’m applying to transfer and I’m hoping you can offer some advice on a few issues.</p>
<li>I’m applying to five schools. I have one in, but I’m still working on the rest. Is it more important to focus on my classes, or get the apps in as early as possible? Along those lines - </li>
<li>how important is the mid-year report?</li>
<li><p>will it look bad if my recs, transcripts, and other forms come in before my personal app?</p></li>
<li><p>Also, I had a decent first semester (3.2), a really bad 2nd semester (2.5 - one class just killed my average) and a great first semester this year (3.6). Will colleges look at my recent grades and decide that I’m on an upwards trend and that it was freshman transitional issue, or will they be seriously skeptical about my candidacy?</p></li>
<li><p>How did you guys approach the personal essay? Unlike applying out of high school, where it’s free-topic, I’ve listed specific reasons why the school would be a fit, instead of writing about a meaningful activity, or experience, or something like that.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for the help.</p>