UC Transfer Essay!! Please HELP!!!!!!!

I am going to apply for transfer UC for next year.Hoping to major at Chemical Engineering.

The question for Prompt 1 is:
What is your intended major? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had in the field — such as volunteer work, internships and employment, participation in student organizations and activities — and what you have gained from your involvement.

The are several questions I had that I hope someone could help answer:

  1. Throughout the essay, I used some technical terms, like Electrical Conductivity, Desalination, Feasibility etc. when I am explaining how my project works. Is it appropriate to include technical terms? Would it sound boring, or does it show that I have certain knowledge about ChemE?
  2. Do I need to say why I choose UC?
  3. Do I need to include more experience or only focus on one?
  4. How long do you recommend me writing? Because there is another prompt, and the words add up should not be more than 1000 words.

Thanks a Lot!!!

  1. You won't know who's reading your paper and what their background is. And there's a saying that goes, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough." So you can include advanced terminology, but don't swamp your reader with details, and make sure the gist of your project could be clear to any reader.
  2. Many writers choose to describe the development of their interest in a major from past to present, and then explain how they see it developing in the future at UC. So if UC is connected to your future plans related to your major, then it may be a good idea to include something. But it's not mandatory.
  3. You can focus on one. However, judging by the prompt, the adcoms want to see that your passion is backed by the activities you do, and that you've had more than one experience to reaffirm your desire to pursue your major.
  4. As long as you need to say what you want. Keep in mind, though, if I'm correct in remembering that Prompt #2 is about something meaningful to you and how it relates to who you are, what you write in Prompt #1 will probably appear elsewhere in your application, but what you write in Prompt #2 probably won't.

I would keep technical terms out of the essay, you don’t know the background of the people who read the essay. How about just discuss the general idea why Chemical Engineering is appealing to you. It could be engineering and not specific to Chemical Engineering.

“1. Throughout the essay, I used some technical terms, like Electrical Conductivity, Desalination, Feasibility etc. when I am explaining how my project works. Is it appropriate to include technical terms? Would it sound boring, or does it show that I have certain knowledge about ChemE?”

While you may not know the background of the reader, I still think you can educate them through careful, thoughtful and concise writing. This will require early planning and forethought on your part. Imo, you indirectly demonstrate a form of mastery in the industry of your interest.

But:

  1. Be selective about the technical term(s) as it relates to the flow and content of your essay.
  2. Less is more. You have a word limit, so be judicious with when and how you plan on using the term(s).
  3. Reach and tap into any prior knowledge you think the readers may have or will be affected by. I noticed you mentioned "desalination." Can you weave a passing phrase or sentence about the San Diego desalination plant into your essay? The drought in California is not pretty. That's a topic any reader in California can relate to.
  4. Carefully explain to them what the term(s) mean, without coming off as being, well ... condescending. Not: "Your BP is 140/90 but the EKG shows abnormal, irregular patterns." But: "Your blood pressure (BP), or the force of blood pushing against your vessels, is normal. But the heart machine, or the EKG, is telling you that the electrical activity in your heart is not normal.

In essence, don’t break open a fire hydrant and force the reader to completely drink all the water; they can’t and they won’t. Provide relevant, spoonful amounts of information (for their respective level) so that they can comprehend it and be engaged with the material. They’ll appreciate it.