Transfer Essay Tips

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

<p>So I've gotten everything in for my transfer application for next Fall. I'm applying for Communications in CALS and I have my first semester transcript, HS transcript/SAT scores, Counselor's form, Common application/application fee and my professor recommendation in. Lately I've just been going back and forth with my essay. I keep starting, getting through paragraphs, and rewriting. I guess it's the topic itself that throws me off.</p>

<p>Tell us what you’d like to major in at Cornell and why, how your past academic or work experience influenced your decision, and how transferring to Cornell would further your academic interests.</p>

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<p>Is it so simple as just going through and, while being as vivid and detailed as possible, describing each of the above questions? Or am I supposed to lean more toward the clever metaphor type of approach, maybe add some quotes and what not in and put a creative spin on it? The first option would have more me in it and obviously (and hopefully) show why I believe I fit at Cornell, so I'd be more confident with that approach, yet my past college essays all had to do with the second kind, where I had to be a little more clever. Any advice on which way to go?</p>

2

<p>im in the same situation! did you meet the pre-reqs?</p>

3

<p>it's really just a 'why do you want to do your major, and why will cornell, above all other options, help you accomplish what you want to do?' question</p>

4

<p>@ Fosho: Yeah, I got all my required courses in (except Biology II, but I plan on explaining that situation to them over the phone and/or possibly taking it over the summer..maybe) and my GPA for first semester was a 3.2 (on the low side, yeah..), and I'm rocking 5 courses with a (projected) 3.9 this semester, so I should finish out with a 3.5 for the year. Not bad for year one of college (again I know lower for Cornell, but I'm showing ultimate interest and hopeful 'fit' for my major/school.)</p>

<p>@ cc102: So it really is just that simple? Just going into well enough description on how/why I fit/answering the questions? That'd be great.</p>

5

<p>Ya, I have 75% of the Prereq's done, but I am busting my @$$ to maintain my 4.0 for the remaining ~7 courses. Im hoping for scholarships or grants based on merits. It's Funny, there was a meeting at my school for students planning to transfer to cornell. I then realized that I was one of the 99% of students there with near perfect GPA's. The only thing that would set me apart would be strong EC and Essays. The Cornell officials say that the essay's weigh heavily on their decisions. Good luck to you as well</p>

6

<p>if you literally break down the question by parts, you'll see that is really IS that simple.</p>

<p>Tell us what you’d like to major in at Cornell and why,
- aka 'what do you want to do? and why?'</p>

<p>how your past academic or work experience influenced your decision,
- aka 'i'm giving you an example of how you can answer the ''why'' question posed above'</p>

<p>how transferring to Cornell would further your academic interests.
- aka 'so uh, why Cornell then? what will we do to help you? how are we able to help you?'</p>

7

<p>Save the gimmicks for high school. This is college. They want answers to the questions first. Creativity can come second.</p>

8

<p>@Fosho: Yeah, I know what you mean, I'm pretty much die-hard on my grades right now, I can't afford to be average, since my only extra curricular activity is working right now (I'm at a community college and although they offer a very small choice of clubs, they're always held on Monday afternoons and only then, which I can't do. I've done some community involvement and 5k charity running events over the past six-seven months, but it doesn't add up enough.)</p>

<p>Luckily for me, Cornell's transfer seminar when I went to the CALS Open House in the Fall, said they understand that at a community college work is usually the only extra curricular activity. So the essay, recommendation(s), interest level, and grades are the sole focal points. The admissions woman also told us they gladly accept students with lower GPA with better fit potential than someone with a 3.8+ who just applies because they have the major they want/'it's a good school', which is another plus for me so long as I make it great.</p>

<p>@cc102: Thank you so much, that confirms it for me, I'll be able to approach this correctly and represent myself well.</p>

<p>@norcalguy: Haha, that was my mindset at first! I just wanted to be positive, thank you. </p>

<p>Another question I was pondering; I didn't take the pre-requisite Biology II course this spring semester due to the fact that if I had, it would have blocked me from taking the Statistics and Writing II pre-requisites. Right now, I have every pre-requisite either complete or in progress except the Biology II. </p>

<p>Is that something I should include in my essay? I DEFINITELY don't want it to sound like an excuse, so perhaps talking to someone at Cornell over the phone would be a better idea?</p>

<p>My friend goes to Siena College and he has a GT to ILR next Fall (he's <em>still</em> going back and forth since he's suffering from the "I like my current school" illness), and he and I were planning on taking Calculus this summer at Siena. Is that something Cornell would approve of as a substitute for Biology II? </p>

<p>a) I plan on taking Biology II right away in the Fall semester at Cornell (if offered) of course.</p>

<p>b) I am a Communications major, so I know Calculus wouldn't be required, yet I'm also interested in taking the material needed for pre-med, and Calc I is definitely one of them. If I explain that over the phone/in an essay, would they be alright with that considering it's technically in my field of choice?</p>

<p>c) Worse comes to worse, since I had emailed someone at admissions awhile back and they responded saying the best thing to do would be to get that Bio II course in, I could take it over the summer instead of Calculus, except I would have to do it (again) at my community college, which offers horrible commuting schedules/lab times, and with me working in the summer even more, I'd find it hard pressed to do as well.</p>