<p>Having a compelling reason to want to transfer seems to play a significant part in transfer admissions. Obviously these reasons vary with the individual. But I'm still not sure what makes for a "compelling" reason. </p>
<p>Mine--I'd like to experience a more traditional college setting (currently attending a large, public commuter school), and that combined with the superior quality of the government/poli sci programs at the schools I'm looking at (and in some cases, the freedom afforded by an open curriculum) is basically why I'd like to transfer.</p>
<p>Is this especially compelling? I don't know. Post yours/offer some perspective.</p>
<p>I definitely think those are compelling reasons. I had MANY reasons for leaving my previous institution, but an admissions officer I spoke too advised to stay away from “whining” in your transfer essay. I decided to focus on the academic reasons my school wasn’t right for me- lack of focus on the humanities, lack of learning for the sake of learning, huge emphasis on “real-world” studies and occupations, and problems with the faculty that made me feel I wasn’t appreciated as a student. I also touched on problems I had had with the administration, my desire to be at a school that is less of a party school, and how I wanted to be closer to home. Your reasons seem to be along the same lines as mine, and I was very successful in transfer admissions.</p>
<p>I think the majority of the people who want to transfer just want to transfer to a better school for better educational and career opportunities.</p>
<p>I framed the essay as a “what I’m looking for” implying “what my former college was not.” I found it helpful to get into the mindset of “it’s not you, it’s me” kind of thing and talked a lot about fit.</p>