My last post on CC. I'm leaving, but am bearing gifts: my transfer essays.

Transfer Students
1

<p>HEY!</p>

<p>It's Castiel again. I have been on college confidential for quite a while, and think its time to retire. Haha. It has truly been a great run. I started going on cc in 12th grade and went on quite a lot. I looked up SAT forums and cornell forums when I applied early decision, and other forums when i applied regular decision. </p>

<p>When I got rejected I went on the NYU forums to get answers to the questions I had about the school, etc. Then I went on the transfer forums here and talked to a lot of you through PM's and posts. So it's been like 2 years I have been on cc, and I decided it is time to move on with my life. I will be deactivating my account and leaving this time consuming website soon. I will stay to answer comments in this post however, then make my way out. </p>

<p>You guys really helped me out, and got me through the long wait and the questions I had about transferring. It is something I am forever grateful for. Especially ironicallyunsure, shout out to my dawg! </p>

<p>Haha, Without her and everyone else I could not have gone to where I am today. So I HAVE to give back. I just have to, it's only fair to the cosmic balance in this world. But, if I am leaving this site, and therefore unable to help prospective transfers as well as re-applicants, then I decided theres only one way I can help.</p>

<p>My essays. THE MOST important part of a transfer admissions process in my opinion. I am posting them not to brag, but to help others in the future just as cc helped me. </p>

<p>After a debate with myself, I wondered if I could show the why X school essay's I wrote (i wrote a lot of them as I applied to a lot of places). However, I thought this would be wrong, since someone could easily plagarize it, and plagarizing a reason why you want to go somewhere is wrong. So I will not post any why X essays on here. Sorry, but I hope you can understand. </p>

<p>But I can show others. Here is my Cornell essay, what do you want to major in, why, and how can cornell help you or something like that.</p>

<p>It got me into Cornell CALS :D (along with my why Cornell which was a whopping 5 pages--Interest people, interest!)</p>

2

<p>Ever since I was young, I have always pondered the same three lettered question: Why? I wondered “Why did wolves travel in packs? Why is cancer so deadly? Why do salmon swim upstream?” The search for answers to these questions would often cause me to explore a library or peruse the internet. As I progressed through school, I was fortunate enough to find two fields of study that gave answers to these questions: social science and biology. </p>

<p>In my sophomore year of high school, my favorite class was AP Human Geography. I particularly enjoyed the fact that the class engaged me; I was actively involved the entire year. We had exhilarating debates on topics spanning from AIDS prevention to the ethics of genetic engineering. Furthermore, I sat through powerful lectures on topics such as population crises’ and food shortages. Human Geography was just so appealing; I loved the descriptions of pandemics, the patterns of human growth, and even the comparisons of different health care systems- - they gave me knowledge on a broad variety of topics applicable in every day society. It was this sense of usefulness that the field enabled that made me want to learn more about the social sciences. </p>

<p>In my senior year of high school I took one of the hardest classes offered: AP Biology. I quickly became engrossed in all the worksheets, labs, and tests we did. I loved all of the information; it deeply pleased my inner scientist. Everything from the simplest bacterium to the complex process of photosynthesis captured my interest. Biology was unlike any other course I had taken before because it didn’t just describe phenomenon, but went a step further and lucidly explained why such phenomenon occurred. Furthermore, I was thrilled that biology was the never ending search for answers. I always wanted to know more about the world and now I had found a subject that shared my passion for inquiry. It was like a match made in heaven.</p>

<p>Taking my love for biology and social science to the next level, I took charge as the vice president of my schools Medical Science Club. The Leukemia Drive was coming up and I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to do so. I immediately started drawing posters and hanging them up in the hallways and portables to raise awareness for the disease. Furthermore, I made announcements over the intercom each morning and asked people to donate. I was so enthusiastic about raising money I would even go from class to class during my lunch break and urge participation from students and teachers alike. After a few weeks had passed, when it was time to end the drive the Medical Science Club had raised over a $1,000 dollars! I was in awe at the contribution that I was able to make to society; I hoped that the money would lead to the cure for Leukemia. Through my efforts, I got powerful, hands-on experience mixing the two fields I loved most and I adored every second of it–it was incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.</p>

<p>After I finished high school I began to ask myself what I wanted to major in. I was truly split: should I pursue my passion for social science or my intense desire for biology? However, I decided I did not want to choose. I loved them both dearly, and wanted to find a major that would allow me to combine my two interests. Soon enough, I had found it: Cornell University’s Biology and Society major.</p>

<p>Cornell University would be the perfect place to further my interests. I am specifically drawn by the CALS’ distribution requirements. They would expand my knowledge in a broad variety of fields while still maintaining a focus on the sciences. Furthermore, CALS promotes research intensely and I would love to partake in it; it thrills me to be able to take what I learn in the classroom and apply it to the real world. Additionally, Cornell offers a multitude of rare programs, such as Diversity and Education Outreach, which would deepen my knowledge on social aspects such as respect and understanding. I believe that this unique combination of coursework, real life application, and social focus would craft me into the individual I desire to be.</p>

3

<p>Georgetown: Write about a moment in your life or something, i forget</p>

<p>Every time someone asks me where I was born I always remember the same story-- word for word. It starts out with my mother was on her way to India. She was going there, as an established American citizen, for her brother’s wedding. Family meant a lot to my mother so she flew to India even though she was eight months pregnant. However, before my mom could even make it to the reception, she had to go to the hospital. And one C-section later, I emerged: My name. According to United States law, I was born in India. But since my Americans were established residents, I was automatically considered an American. So there I was: the Indian born American. </p>

<p>I have always had mixed feelings of my birth. I did not know if I was American or Indian. I had lived in the United States all my life, but my birth certificate said Indian. I wanted to know my true origins. I decided that I must visit the country I was physically born in to try to find myself. So I set on a journey home. </p>

<p>When I first arrived in my place of birth, Hyderabad, I was expecting to fall in love at first sight. However, I soon came face to face with reality; the gorgeous utopia that I had dreamed about wasn’t there. In its place was a foreign land covered in a layer of dirt and grime. Beggars lined the streets and even those who weren’t homeless lived in dilapidated shacks; the city teetered on the edge of destruction. India, the Promised Land, wasn’t very promising at all. </p>

<p>One early morning, my uncle and I trekked across a dirt road and encountered a man walking on makeshift crutches. The man appeared to be an ordinary beggar at first sight, but I soon noticed something horrendously wrong with his injury. Not only was a huge chunk of flesh absent from his right leg, but there were also a couple of miniscule worms slithering in and out of his necrotic wound. Yet he hobbled by as though nothing was wrong. It was at this moment when I realized how critical the health care problem is in India. A scant amount of medical professionals must serve the needs of millions; there simply isn’t enough manpower available to treat everyone. </p>

<p>The week before I left, I met an eight year old boy named Rohit. At first, I was afraid that my limited understanding of Hindi would be a roadblock in our communication, but I soon discovered that Rohit knew even less Hindi than I did. He had never attended school before. Instead, he peddled goods stolen from a nearby market in hopes that he could scavenge enough money for his family to survive the night. I searched his eyes carefully and what I saw staring back at me was not the face of a criminal, but that of a scared child who had no where else to turn and nowhere else to go. </p>

<p>It has been five years since I took that trip. I am still haunted by the thought that I could have grown up to be the legless beggar or the poor Rohit. I feel inexplicable gratitude and appreciation toward my parents for moving to America before the tides of Indian shore began to tilt against me. I realize that I was lucky enough to relocate to a more prosperous land; an opportunity that many will never be fortunate enough to have. My safety, health, and comfort are aspects that I will no longer take for granted. Returning to my roots has instilled in me a newfound appreciation and love for life. Jai Hindustani! (Long Live India)!</p>

4

<p>And I thought my stats would help. I got into Georgetown, Vanderbilt, and Cornell. Rejected from Upenn, uchicago, johns hopkins, and probably WUSTL (sent my spring transcripts but most likely will be rejected, since my gpa fell a lot 2nd sem)</p>

<p>Accepted to Cornell CALS
Biology and Society major</p>

<p>Cornell transfer admissions is one word in my opinion: INTEREST. If you go to a school with a transfer agreement thats sort of showing interest that you went to a college in order to go to cornell. Taking pre-reqs for your major is also interest, and a lot at that. Cornell wants to see how you do in classes that cornell would offer. </p>

<p>I think essays are the biggest part. They show your interest and how good of a fit you are. </p>

<p>STATS
High School: Rank 4/372
Weighted GPA: 5.0351
(7 Ap classes alone in my senior year, and I took 13 total in all of high school)
Unweighted H.S. GPA: 3.7193</p>

<p>Current school: New York University College of Arts and Science
College GPA: 3.689 (Pretty low compared to my friends here and people on cc, i took one BULLCRAP class and got a B+ since my professor was insane (ask ironicallyunsure he has mutton chops)
Midterm Report: 3.86
EC’s: Research at the New York University Anthropology Lab. I worked on research analyzing pots from the Indus for chemical content. Psych club, bio and society club, american medical student association.</p>

<p>I had a lot for high school EC’s, I was extremely involved. I had about 3 pages. I was vice president or secretary of about 10 clubs and won a scholarship in my medical science club
SAT: 2070 (710 writing, 680 math, 680 reading) BUT I DID NOT SUBMIT THEM!</p>

<p>ESSAYS: I made mine super detailed, they were 4-5 pages double spaced and I explained thoroughly why I was a good fit for cornell and why it was right for me. I also explained that my major was truly what I wanted to do. I made explicit descriptions and went into intense detail. I did a lot of research and looked for a lot of programs and things that would aid me and satiated my interests. I spent months editing and re-editing with a lot of help from ironicallyunsure (I hope she is still on in the future haha) </p>

<p>Additional: I applied early decision in high school, maybe that showed interest</p>

<p>I am an Indian male. I am from Florida. I applied like a day before the app was due.I either took all my pre-reqs for my major because I love cornell and wanted to do as much as I could. </p>

<p>Also I sent pictures of my visit with captions (about 5-6 pics with 2 sentences) to show further interest. I think that might have helped show more interest.</p>

5

<p>One last note:</p>

<p>I think it would be nice if other accepted transfers posted their essays or stats to help contribute to the future applicants. </p>

<p>Also if anyone plagarizes these essays you will be rejected. These schools scan their essays and match it with other accepted ones. If it is more than like a 10% match you get rejected and get in trouble. I do not give my permission for these essays to be used or published anywhere. Use them as a jumping point or inspiration, not plagarism.</p>

<p>With these very long notes, I am out. Goodbye CC and all CC’ers. I am deactivating my account soon, and I wish you all the best. I got into my dream school that I wanted to go for ages. But, the more important question is: Will you? You decide. You have the information. How you choose to use it will determine the answer. Good luck.</p>

<p>Castiel.</p>

6

<p>Good luck at Cornell man. Now that I received all of my decisions, completed by first year of college, and enrolled elsewhere for my second year, I think my time to leave CC has officially come.</p>

7

<p>good luck and thx!!</p>

8

<p>Thank you Castiel! Congratulations on the great achievement!</p>