<p>Last spring I applied to Brown University as a transfer student and was admitted for the fall 2012 semester. However, personal reasons compelled me to decline my acceptance and stay closer to home this year while serving a term with AmeriCorps. Having to decline my acceptance nearly killed me, and with no option of deferring enrollment for admitted transfers, I am now having to reapply to the university. I spoke with the Director of Transfer Admissions before I declined, who was very helpful and understanding. He said that unless something drastic happened that I was likely to be readmitted this spring. But now that I am in the process of applying, I am terrified that I won’t be readmitted. Brown was a true reach for me anyway, since I applied from a community college with low test scores. They have kept my application on file, so now what really concerns me is my essays. Should I rewrite them? On the one hand, nothing has changed as far as the context of my essays; I really think I’d write the same ones again this year. I feel, though, that if I don’t rewrite them that I run the risk of looking lazy to the admissions committee. What would you suggest? Throwing out really good essays in favor of new essays that could be less well received by the admissions committee? Or keeping my year old essays and possibly looking lazy or as though I don’t care? I’m really concerned about it and I don’t know what to do. Any advice is extremely appreciated.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about transfer admissions, so I can’t answer your question with any confidence. My one thought is that you need to address at least two things in your new application – why you turned down the offer last year, and what you did this year. I think it’s important to have an essay about your AmeriCorps experience. </p>
<p>While the essence of your essays is probably the same, you must be a different person. You’ve matured, grown, changed in the last year. For example, you had to overcome a bitter disappointment. How did you handle that? How did that better prepare you for life’s challenges? Make you an even stronger candidate for Brown?</p>
<p>So, I think you should rewrite your essays, keeping some things the same but adding some new information, too.</p>
<p>Also, you could contact the dean and ask him. Which might be a good idea, anyway, since you made a personal connection with him last year, you want to remind him of that which can only help you when he reads your application this year.</p>
<p>Ditto! (as usual excellent advice from FandR!)</p>
<p>I agree, great advice fireandrain! Really appreciate the well thought out answer.</p>