Question about common app transfer prompts?

College Essays
1

So I’m applying to a few colleges via the common app as a transfer student. All the schools have 2 prompts both of similar length (3k-4k characters).

The first one is “Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve.” The second one asks about their specific school worded various ways “Why X school? Why are you applying to our program at x? How will you explore your interests at the University of X?” etc.

I currently have 1 essay written. It tells a story about one of my interests since I was a child while touching on a couple of my achievements and personal struggles before closing with me stating how the program at the school I’m applying to varies from my school with regard to clubs, specific classes, opportunities etc and what it would mean to me.

Should I pull the closing out and expand on it to answer the second prompt while keeping the first one more personal? I’m a bit confused about how to write these two different essays and what the schools are really asking with these two similar, but slightly different prompts. Any help is appreciated! Thanks in advance!

2

I think you are over-thinking this. The first question is asking for you to address why you are transferring. That is the question you should answer. You can provide some personal background if you think it will help the people reading your essay understand your reasons, but your focus should be on the reasons. Reasons might include the following: wanting a more academically serious environment, wanting to study anthropology when the school you are currently studying at doesn’t have a very strong anthropology program, wanting a smaller campus environment, etc. Focus on something like this.

The second essay should explain why you are interested in going to the school to which you are applying, This essay should complement the other to some degree. If you are transferring because the school you are presently attending lacks something, you should be trying to transfer to a school that has that something.

3

How long do they need to be? In terms of words. Thank you