<p>I have have fairly mediocre test scores with respect to the average scores of top applicants but, in my first year applications, I was accepted to nearly all the schools to which I applied (NYU, UCLA, and William and Mary with a wait list a Cornell to name a few). Due to financial considerations, I decided to attend community college for a year and then transfer to a four-year institution.</p>
<p>The only thing that, in my opinion, truly stands out on my application is my essays. I excel in writing and I'm thinking my application essays were the main factor in the respective adcom's decision to offer me acceptance.</p>
<p>So, given the fact that I was accepted to a variety of upper-echelon schools with what might be considered sub par standardized test scores, do you think my essays made the difference? Are essays weighted that heavily in the acceptance/rejection decision? And furthermore, do you think it's worth my time to apply as a transfer applicant to mostly top 25 schools with some top 10's sprinkled in?</p>
<p>For what it's worth, I had a 3.75 GPA in high school when I applied as a first year and I currently have a 4.0 with "presidential scholar" standing through 44 credits at my current school.</p>
<p>I think it depends on the school. My acceptance letter mentioned reasons for my acceptance and specifically referred to one essay amongst other things.</p>
<p>It does depend on the school but you may have to infer where it lies based on the Common Data Set. For instance the Common Data Set for NYU <a href=“Research with Human Subjects”>Research with Human Subjects; Section C7, shows that App Essay is ranked close to GPA and scores but more than first Gen. Since you’ll be a transfer student you need to look at section D5 to see what will be considered for you. I would expect a similar weighting.</p>
<p>Based on your other post id say you were not that far off for the schools that accepted you. They may have liked your essay or you may have met an institutional need. URM, low income, underrepresented state, inner city…many things could have pushed you over the hump.</p>
<p>But understand that essays do not get the under qualified into top 10 schools. They are harder to get into as a transfer than as a freshmen. Unless you have a hook, and maybe you do, one year at a CC with a 4.0 and no earth shaking ECs is highly unlikely to land you at an ivy with the world’s greatest essay.</p>
<p>When I worked in admissions I’d tear up when I had to reject kids with essays I loved, but they can’t make up for sub par stats.</p>