General Transfer Questions

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi, I have recently undertaken the daunting task of filling out transfer applications and am finding I have some general questions that I can no longer ask a college counselor, as I did in high school. Here are a few:</p>

<p>1) While I knew what was expected in essays from high school students, I'm unsure what admissions committees are looking for in transfer students' essays. (Here I refer to the general "Why do you want to transfer?" essay for the Common App, not the "Why do you want to transfer to a specific school?" essay.) The Princeton Review 8-step Guide to Transferring (probably the closest thing I've gotten to college counseling; I recommend it) says demonstrating thoughtfulness and maturity should be a goal in transfer essays. What does this mean? What is considered a solid or "mature" reason for transferring? How do I criticize my current school without sounding whiny? I'm curious what other people's reasons are for transferring and how they are structuring their essays.</p>

<p>2) How much emphasis is placed on college work over high school work? I am only a first-year student, so I realize the balance might be a little bit shifted. I'm attempting to transfer "up" as CC calls it and have no idea of my own competitiveness after a year of college work.</p>

<p>3) How much emphasis is placed on SAT scores? My SAT scores are problematic in that: 1) They are 2 years old and do not include the new writing component and 2) They are probably the weakest part of my application (1210 combined score) and I'm wondering if they're worth submitting. (It's too late to retake the SAT.) Would it call attention to their egregiousness to NOT submit them? Alternatively, how much would submitting a weak SAT hurt me with (what I'm hoping will be) a fairly strong application?</p>

<p>4) How do colleges view the ECs of transfers? Of course in high school the importance of ECs are drilled into you (and I loved them and had a ton in high school), but college seems to be a new ball game. Also, the main reason I want to transfer is BECAUSE of the lack of community/social life at my current school...a fact that doesn't lend itself to a long list of ECs.</p>

<p>Any informed comments would be greatly appreciated!
Good luck to all those toiling.</p>

2

<p>Where are you trying to transfer to?</p>

3

<p>Tufts, thought the questions are meant to be general.</p>

4

<ol>
<li> I think that you can describe how your current U fails to fit a specific academic need and/or its atmosphere turned out not to be a match for you etc. without dissing the school; just that it's not what <em>you</em> are looking for. The successful transfer essays I have seen show a lot of depth of knowledge of the target school - specific specialized programs, specific professors, specific clubs/organizations that are unique (at least somewhat) to the target school/not available where you are.</li>
<li> If you are transferring in as a sophomore, they are going to look seriously at hs and college; hard to say the exact balance. The further along you get in college, the less hs matters and some schools don't even ask for your hs record; but after only freshman year, they will.</li>
<li> Varies by school. Mmost of the more selective schools require your SATs ( like it or not), some require SAT IIs. Most, at this point, are still accepting the "old" SAT, so don't worry about that. If they require them, you can't avoid it. If htey don't require them - and you don't like yours - don't submit. If you have to submit them, try and find a non-whining way to discuss how your success in college shows what you can do more than the SATs.</li>
<li> I'm not sure about this one, but I am guessing that it is not so important, especially for freshman transfers. And if it is a key reason for your desire to change, then don't worry about it.</li>
</ol>

<p>Good luck.</p>