<p>I'm a freshman at the George Washington University. I came here because they have a good IR program and they gave me tons of scholarships, but after my first semester I'm really not happy with the school and I want to transfer. I've found most of the students to be shallow and only interested in partying. I'm not against drinking or having fun, but everyone here takes it way too far. I want to be around people that enjoy intelligent conversation and are academicly motivated. Most of the students here just do enough to get decent grades and could care less if they actually learn anything or are engaged intellectually.
I've searched the boards and talked to people who have successfully transferred and everyone keeps saying how important it is to have a good reason to transfer. Is this a good reason? I want to be honest in my essays, because I think they'll come across much more sincere and genuine, but should I try to find more "legitimate" reasons for transferring. If so what should I say?</p>
<p>I'm majoring in IR and Econ and am thinking of applying to UChicago, Georgetown, Tufts, UPenn, Cornell and I may apply to Yale and Harvard just to see if I have any chance.</p>
<p>Hi, I'm not an expert at transferring, but I do know that when you are at a job interview and they ask why you want to leave your current job the quickest way to NOT get the new job is to badmouth your current job. I imagine it is probably the same with transferring. Instead of talking about what is wrong with your current school talk about what is right about the school you want to transfer to.</p>
<p>Yeah I would have to agree with ThatPoshGirl...I wouldn't talk about how you want to transfer because of the social life and people. I would focus more on the schools that you are applying to and tell them what about their school and program you like, why you want to attend...etc. I think you could definitely bring up how you want to be around people who stimulate you intellectually at the next school you go to.</p>
<p>While I agree that you shouldn't badmouth your current school, I don't think there's anything wrong with talking about some things that worked and others that didn't. While some people transfer because their current school doesn't offer a major or something else tangible, I think the majority are seeking a better fit, and that often has to do with the community of students at the school. Be honest, but constructive, and definitey tell them why the transfer school will bring out the best in you.</p>
<p>The main essay for the CA specifically asks why you want to transfer, so unless you want to dodge the question, you'll have to think of a diplomatic way to say that you're looking for a more academically oriented student body.</p>
<p>reddavies' complaint about attending a school where it seems that a large group of the "students [are] shallow and only want to party" could probably describe about 1/2 the colleges in the US today.</p>
<p>For this reason, I'm not sure the target schools are going to be too receptive to his/her reason for transferring. If they were, they'd have to make room for the other 500,000 who might want to transfer for the same reason.</p>
<p>The type of student and atmosphere you are looking for is quite a valid reason for transfer. It is all in the presentation, and I'm sure you can cast that in a way where you don't disparage your current school.</p>
<p>It is also true that you will find that type of student virtually everywhere, including some of the schools on your list. True, the percentages will vary. But you can't possibly hang with "most of the students." So, you can find a like-minded group of serious students right where you are and the schools you apply to will know that. Again, this means you have to be careful about how you present your reason. And, that you might try different ways of finding compatible peers where you are.</p>
<p>Hey,
If you're interested in IR try looking at William and Mary. </p>
<p>I'm a student there now and I'm actually also applying to transfer, but it's because I realized that I wanted to major in something that wasn't offered here.</p>
<p>They have a fantastic IR program, the kids do sometimes party but care so much about their classes and it sounds like it would be a good fit for you. Plus it's a public school so it's less than private schools and probably something like $20,000 less than GW if that's something that would factor into applying places.</p>