<p>I can't write my essay as I have all these angles I'm looking at and knowing I can't throw it all in I'm having trouble getting started. So a few questions:</p>
<p>Prompt: Explain your motivation to transfer from your current/former institution to Illinois and how your academic interests and/or professional goals will be fulfilled in your intended program of study.</p>
<p>1) Should I simply answer the question directly? In my first draft I just answer the question. I use most my words but there is no fluff. Reading some other essays online, most of them seem to be a story about something rather than just answering the question and going into detail. </p>
<p>2) I believe I should focus on now and not things from years back. Would that be correct? If I do use some fluff and include a story should it be something recent or childhood? </p>
<p>3) How specific should I be? In answer about interests and goals should I give an overview or really go into detail? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Answer the prompt in a forward manner, but if you’re reason for transferring relates to something that happened to you, i.e financial difficulties then include it. These essays should be tight and brief. I think (and this may just be me) that this is the essay that she be the least wordy or “flowery”.</p></li>
<li><p>Stories that are more recent are much better, they are more reflective of who you are now. But if it’s a major story that has significantly impacted your life it can be in the past , BUT remember to relate it to the present and the prompt.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>3.Be specific, the worst thing you can be is vague. They want to really get a good feel for who YOU are and what makes YOU tick. As my communications teach said “Tell them a lot about a little.”</p>
<p>See, I’m having a problem being a specific. I want to pursue a phd to do research and teach but I have no idea what exactly I’d be researching. </p>
<p>Also, the question asks for goals… Are those goals I want to accomplish while at the school or goals I wish to accomplish with my degree?</p>
<p>It’s okay to say that you don’t know, tell them that. You can do either one, but here’s what I would do: have a specific and detailed goal with what you want to do with your degree, then explain how you plan to achieve that goal by utilizing the unique resources that that particular college offers Ex: You want to get a J.D. and be a badass like the people on Boston Legal. But in order to reach that level of badass you feel that you need to (insert unique opportunities/programs here) intern at the Chuck Norris Leadership Program. And that you really really like the program and can’t find that same kind of opportunity anywhere else. When’s your app due? PM it to me if you want me to read it over.</p>
<p>It was due a few days ago for USC. I’m working on a few others now that are due at the end of the month but have been stuck dealing with required forms from college and high schools. I’m uncertain if I will be able to get the School Report and College Officials Report, so trying to get that settled.</p>