Should I Do This?

Last year I was lucky enough to be accepted to some top tier schools. A year later, I find myself in a position a good percentage of students find themselves in–wanting to transfer.

The question is, should/can I reuse the same essays? I by no means want to be cocky or anything, but I feel strongly that what I wrote perfectly described me. It was up to the word limit, told a story, reflected my best writing and my best self, and I was proud of it. Everyone I showed it to liked it, and all the schools I applied to accepted me.

However, I feel like if I re-use the same essay, there’s more to say that’s being left out, given a year has gone by, with some pretty unique/important experiences having transpired in that time, that I feel should be represented.

On the other hand, I feel like if I write a new essay, and don’t get accepted to these same schools that previously accepted me, I’ll have tried to fix something that wasn’t broke to begin with.

I met with the director of admissions at one of these schools that previously accepted me, and while I was there asked this question, and I got a pretty bland answer, along the lines of “If you feel that essay still accurately reflects you, use that, etc.”

There is also the thought in my mind that these people may recognize/remember the same writing and hold it against me. I know the number of applications they read is as many as there are stars in the sky, but the director of admissions remembered my name and background from memory, so it’s always a possibility.

I’d appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

I think you should maybe just write another essay and then compare the two and whichever one you feel more confident about, chose that one. You might think that one is perfect but after you write a new one your opinions could change.

Don’t do it, particularly if you’re applying to the same schools.

These people read essays for a living. They can recognize a canned, reused essay a mile away.

You’re obviously not the same person you were a year ago-- if you were, last year’s top choice would still be your school. Your essay should not be the same either.

Don’t even look at last year’s essays. Just start fresh.

The transfer essay is usually one that asks something very different, Why transfer? What does this school have that you can’t get at your present school? It’s going to take different thinking.

That’s exactly what the essay is about. I applied to transfer last year, got in, and then didn’t go. Changed my mind and have to apply again. The whole essay is about transferring and the reasons why and what changed and why I don’t like where I am.

I know it’s such a cringy situation, but in a couple years it will all be over and will have been worth it.

I feel like the part about not going and then a few months later at the current school realizing I made the wrong choice needs to be discussed, but at the same time that does not tell them about me like the essay from last year does.

It just perfectly summed everything up and I’m afraid to scrap something I know works/worked.

You should write a piece in conversation with your essay from last year that reveals some kind of change in perspective. The change doesn’t need to be huge, but it should have some connection to what you’ve realized about yourself and the community you want.

What do you mean by “in conversation with”?

New essay. You are no doubt capable of producing more good writing. And you have said that you have had new experiences that you want to add in some way.

I would write a different essay.