<p>I did poorly in high school and I ended up going to a large state school. I've pulled my grades up in college. Now I'm applying to transfer (as a junior) to a top-ranked school that I've always wanted to attend.</p>
<p>On the Common App transfer essay*, would it be appropriate to say that one of the main reasons I want to transfer is because I've let down my friends and family and failed to live up to my potential due to my bad high school grades, but that I've proven that I can do better in college?</p>
<p>I will write about the specifics of why I chose that college specifically in the supplement. It seems like the Common App essay is about "why transfer" and the supplement is about "why us".</p>
<p>*Please provide a statement (250 words minimum) that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve.</p>
<p>From poring over the CC threads about transferring, it seems that this is one of the most common reasons that people want to transfer: they didn’t do well during freshman admissions and they want a second chance to get into their dream school.</p>
<p>Is it not enough to say that “I want to do better / I know I can do better?” Or do you have to make the case that “I can’t survive where I am right now?”</p>
<p>Another approach is to say that “My interests have changed since high school; now that I am more mature and know what I want to do, my current school isn’t a perfect fit for me, but yours is.” Would it be better to take this angle instead?</p>
<p>do not write about letting your friends and family down and now wanting to live up to your potential…that’s not a good idea at all. you need actual reasons why you want to go to that specific school, don’t give them a sob story!</p>
<p>Definitely don’t give them the impression you can’t survive where you are now. That is like saying you are inept when they want people who are capable. They aren’t going to accept you to help you. They are going to accept people who are going to make use of what the school has to offer and succeed. They don’t care about your friends or family. They don’t want people who are transferring simply because of rankings.</p>
<p>The interests changing thing could work if you are able to write it very well. </p>
<p>I didn’t write much about my current school and situation. I wrote about what I wanted in a school and how the new place fit those expectations.</p>
<p>Thanks, NotAClue. That’s the sort of answer I was looking for.</p>