<p>Ive looked all over the transfer forum and the college essays forum, but have been unable to find advice (something like transfer 101) for the transfer essays (reasons why you would like to transfer). I was wondering if there is existing advice on the forum, someone could please direct me to it? Andale?</p>
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<p>Andale rocks your socks.</p>
<p>haha, I think it’s the passion from the bottom of your heart!!
But I got a problem I dont know which major I like most…I like a lot of majors, but it’s hard to choose one…so I have a problem of writing the academic part…</p>
<p>For the transfer common app personal statement, would writing why you want to transfer in general and what you hope to achieve like the question asks, and then adding a paragraph expressing why that is the school for you be a good way to go about it? </p>
<p>I ask this because for Cornell (my top choice) I don’t plan on bothering to state why I want Cornell on the personal statement since I have to write a separate 500-750 word essay on nothing but why I want to transfer there and why that program (ILR) is for me. That would leave me with a good general personal statement to just add a school specific paragraph for each additional school I apply to that doesn’t have a supplemental essay (WashU, etc..).</p>
<p>Comments for goback and hermanns:</p>
<p>goback, If you don’t know your major, you can attack the academic aspect in some other way. Maybe the new school has smaller classes, more seminars; maybe it is a large research university and that fits your needs; maybe it has more majors available or allows you to customize a major…</p>
<p>hermanns, I think your strategy is right on point. Some schools have a personal statement which can go in any direction really and a separate additional essay on Why xx school. Some have only the one essay to cover both.</p>
<p>Hey guys,</p>
<p>I want to prepare for essays early too. But I found out that the common transfer application is not available yet, and most schools haven’t posted 2009 transfer app on their websites. So how do you guys know the essay topics that you are already starting to write them? Are the topics always the same? Am I missing something?</p>
<p>They will be the same for transfers especially. There are just the one where you expand on one of your EC’s or jobs (Short answer), and the other is just a personal statement asking why you want to transfer/your goals (longer than the other). They don’t give you a choice of topics like the freshman; everybody has to write about the same one.</p>
<p>the “why transfer” topic sucks. I bet that everybody pretty much writes the same kind of essay…what do u guys think?</p>
<p>They need to know your reasons for wanting a transfer though which is why it is the question. A lot of the transfer applicants to top schools will be from very good universities, and they want a legitimate reason why you want to transfer. Prestige is not a good enough reason in itself to transfer from one good school to another even though a ton of people on CC try it anyways.</p>
<p>All HS students are moving up from HS to college which is why they allow you more freedom in essay topic, but transfers are going from college to college and they need to know why you want to change when you can get the same degree (other than name of university printed on diploma) without the transfer.</p>
<p>I see nothing wrong with the essay topic of just stating why you want to transfer, in fact I like it better because you get to tell them why you want that particular college. You can still stand out just as easily as with a more broad topic if you have great reasons for wanting to go to a particular school. Also, after more time out of HS you should be able to have a stronger overall app in terms of EC’s and work experience if you used the time wisely since it gives an extra year or more to do these things.</p>
<p>but can u think of sth other than academic factors and networking advantages?</p>
<p>Oh, thank you Andale, what you said is the same to my idea. I think about it for a while,but I always feel those tiny things are not enough. Now I’m much confident about my academic reasons now!! :D</p>
<p>How does one target the essays to a specific school/program on the Common App if applying to more than one school? Doesn’t the Common App go to all the schools at once (and can only be filled out once, including essay part?)</p>
<p>Annika</p>
<p>annika,</p>
<p>u can send them separately, and before you send it, you can save a copy, which can be further modified later.</p>
<p>Thanks for your answers guys. Another question. I just want to double check this before I started writing my essay for Columbia. I know Columbia uses its own transfer app. Does anyone have all its essay topics (both long and short) from last year’s app?</p>
<p>Is it reasonable to write that you want a superior academic progam?</p>
<p>hey guys, i have most of the apps / essay questions from last year. I’ll be happy to send you the apps/questions from last year for most schools and will be happy to look at your essays once your done. PM if you want that!</p>