<p>I am hoping there are some parents out here who are more familiar with the admissions process than myself. A young lady who worked as an intern at my office this summer is interested in transferring colleges.</p>
<p>To provide a little background, she only applied for admissions at one college (basically it's the one her mother wanted her to go to, so that's the advice she followed). Over the past three months she has steadily been regretting that decision and now has a strong desire to explore the possibility of a mid-year transfer to another state college (during her freshman year).</p>
<p>The university that she wants to transfer to DOES allow mid-year transfers, however she asked me for advice on what to put in her essay to explain why she wants to transfer. She said "it'll look stupid if I just put that I applied to the other one since that's where my mom wanted me to go. It makes it look like I can't think for myself, but yet I've now fallen in love with the other campus and I would love to make the switch."</p>
<p>The one her mother picked is less selective for admissions than the one she is hoping to attend. Her GPA from high school is right in line with other admissions at the more selective state school, but her ACT is slightly lower.</p>
<p>I'm looking for recommendations as far as things to include/not include in her essay.</p>
<p>She's visited the potential campus twice and told me she was drawn to the friendly surroundings (she felt a lot more welcomed there). She's impressed with the academic reputation (it's ranked much higher in ratings of U.S. News, etc. than her current school). She likes the fact that all classes are taught by professors and that they really promote an open-door policy in their willingness to work with students.</p>
<p>Any input/advice you can provide would be appreciated.</p>
<p>By the way, she's looking at pre-law so her options as far as a major are wide open at either school, but she feels her chances at getting in law school later on will be much better at the school she wants to transfer to (the other one specializes in animal/vet studies which are completely unrelated to her interests).</p>
<p>She should include only the positive reasons for the transfer: the open door policy, friendly environment, academic orientation and better academic choices. She she include specific examples and observations from her visits. There is no reason to write about the previous decision. If asked, the reply should be brief. She had poor advice and did not really know how to make a good selection.</p>
<p>Mid-year transfer is tricky but it's doable. She only really has her junior and senior years of HS for the admissions to really look at. Possibly mid-semester report card.</p>
<p>As edad said- highlight the positives of that school. Make the admissions proud to be working there but don't over-do. Keep it simple and explain VERY clearly how that school tailors to her academic and EC interests better. Whatever she writes, do not talk about the negative aspects of her current school. No comparsions allowed.</p>
<p>How selective is the target school (% accepted for freshman admissions)? Do you have the stats for transfer admissions? Since they allow mid-year transfer for freshmen, do they want a college professor recommendation - this can be the tricky part with so little time at the first campus. Agree totally with edad and tickle on focus of reasons for transfer - all about what the new school has to offer that fits her better. Depending on the deadline for transfer app, she may end up providing mid-term grade estimates. She should choose courses at the first school where she will do well and which would be typical of a first-term Freshman at the new school. No "lite" courses. </p>
<p>Feel free to PM me if you like as I am a veteran of the Transfer Wars.</p>
<p>The school where she wants to go accepted one out of every four freshman applicants. I don't have any transfer stats. They accept them on a rolling basis starting Sept. 1st (which means she wouldn't be able to submit a college GPA or professor recommendation).</p>
<p>She said when she visited with a person at the admissions office they told her they would need H.S. transcript, ACT/SAT score, etc., just like a normal freshman admit. </p>
<p>The timeframe of the end-of-semester break between the schools is identical, so calendar-wise it is doable. She took the rigorous high school classes which the school expects of admits, so in that regard she's okay, but as I said before, her ACT score is slightly lower than the average (but not significantly as I understand -- a couple points I think). She graduated in the top 25% of her class. According to college stats, 80 percent of the freshman enrollees graduated in the top quarter.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for your advice. I will pass it along, along with any other hints that get posted here. I do appreciate it.</p>