how to approach "why transfer" essay? odd college experience, good advice needed

College Essays
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<p>The main essay on the common app for transfers asks for a statement addressing my reasons for transferring and the objectives I hope to achieve. I've had a somewhat unique college experience so far, attending a one year long alternative learning/study abroad program my first year of college (the most amazing and educational year of my life), attending an art school my second and current year (one of the least amazing and educational years of my life... an exaggeration, but with much truth), and now wanting to transfer to a liberal arts school. I am not, and do not want to sound, flaky. I feel like the only way for an adcom to understand all this different college nonsense is for me to give them my story from the beginning, from my senior year of high school really. This could be totally incorrect thinking on my part. I would like to do something creative or unique for the essay, but just feel like I have a lot of basic explaining to do. I feel like I've written it in a very honest and revealing way, while showing my strengths and things I've learned, and in the end showing that by now I know exactly where I will fit, can flourish, and add something to the college community. I'm not a great writer, but feel like I've written the statement well enough. It's just long (around 800 words, but i have lots of editing down to do), and autobiographical. Another poster said autobiographical essays are a very bad idea.</p>

<p>So now I don't know what to do. </p>

<p>Should I write a shorter, simpler essay very basically stating my current situation at this art school and why I want to transfer, but maybe adding some creativity to it; or should I go with this longer, more detailed story/explanation of what I've done so far in college and how I got to this point. I feel like the shorter essay is just not enough to get ME across. A lot of who I am comes from that first year of college, and how I got there. And that explains why I ended up at this art school that I'm not happy with, which, without an explanation may just seem like I am floating around without much care. I feel like the past three years of my life actually make a pretty interesting and beautiful (i wish i could get this across in the essay, but i'm not sure if i'm a good enough writer) story, but it may just be ridiculous and boring and I don't realize it.</p>

<p>Another option may be to write a more basic essay, but then attach some other document explaining the two years at different schools... but attaching a separate 'autobiographical' statement seems like that would be silly too.</p>

<p>Ahhhh, I don't know what to do. I am applying to Skidmore, Oberlin, Wesleyan, and Hampshire, and the essay seems like the main or only way I can really show how perfect I am for these schools. I must get this across.</p>

<p>SO, BASICALLY, MY QUESTION IS: How important would it be to explain two years at separate, 'alternative' schools and still wanting to transfer? And how I've grown and am even more appropriate for the intellectual, liberal arts school environment from it... haha haa aaaaaagggghhhh.</p>

<p>Could I just call the schools and ask for their advice on how to approach this, or would that be an inappropriate question that they can't really answer anyway?</p>

<p>So... sorry for the long post, but thank you, thank you, thank you for any light you are able to shed....</p>

2

<p>The main idea of a "why transfer" essay is to get across the good things about where you want to go. </p>

<p>"School X will be great for me because..." is the general idea. Naturally, you'll still need to be personal, detailed, honest, revealing, in order to show that School X and you are a good fit.</p>

<p>An incorrect imo approach is to say, at length, what is wrong with where you are now. Convincing the AdCom that art school is bad for you does not get across that School X will be good for you.</p>

<p>Look at it this way: let's say you want to be in the North and are now in the South. Writing at length about how bad the South is, how poorly it fits you, gives little reason to admit you to the North! On the other hand, writing about how great the North is, about how it fits you so well, gives plenty of reason to admit you.</p>

<p>There is good advice at</p>

<p>U.Va</a>. Office of Admission Essays</p>

3

<p>Yea, I've definitely realized that, and I don't think there's anything in my essay speaking negatively of my current school or situation.<br>
The issue is more just whether or not this lengthy explanation of my past 2/3 years is necessary or not... it's not a negative examination of why anything was bad (none of it has been 'bad' for me) just... an explanation. I feel like going to two schools in two years and still wanting to transfer may seem like a negative thing, something Adcom's wouldn't look favorably upon, without an explanation. But it may not be that big of a deal... ?</p>

4

<p>In my example, it would be akin to explaining how you ended up in the South to begin with. Would that explanation help the AdCom judge what sort of presence you would be on campus, in class, as a hallmate?</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
Another poster said autobiographical essays are a very bad idea.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Was that me? If yes, then I have not made myself clear. :(</p>

<p>A college essay has to be autobiographical in some sense. It is about you.</p>

<p>Here's another try. In a biography or autobiography, one includes everything thought to be important to the life. In a college essay, one truthfully selects from the life in order to present oneself in a positive, truthful light--in order to give additional reasons for the AdCom to offer admission.</p>

6

<p>Hi, I found this thread now and I should say that my situation is quite similar.I am an international student. I did medicine, found that it wasn’t my thing, dropped out,and started all over again in another college. I am now looking for a transfer. My past college experience has taught me stuff that have positively motivated me to transfer. Do you think I should include some kind of an explanation about my first college in my essay? Or should I just give an explanation in the additional information section?</p>

<p>And liz, if you are still here it would be great if you can help me out with how you went about writing your essay. Thanks.</p>