Transfer Application Advice

Transfer Students
1

Hello! I’m planning to apply to transfer at the end of this year and was looking for some general advice. I know the Common App essay is supposed to be more of a general overview of why I want to transfer and then each school’s supplemental essay is more specific to that school. However, in these essays what is the right balance of talking about why I want to leave my current university and why I want to go to the school I’m applying to? I don’t want to come off as just complaining about my current school, but can you really avoid that completely? Also, should I only focus on academics or can I mention extracurriculars as well?

Any other advice would also be appreciated! Thanks!

2

The most compelling reason for transferring is usually always academics. Your current school does not have the specific major you want or the new school has more opportunities for undergraduate research and internships. You can certainly include extra-curricular reasons but university is primarily an academic pursuit and that is what will count most in the application. Of course, your personal reasons may be the strongest motivators but you need to make the academic case.