<p>Will those college admission essays books such as Goof-Proof College Admissions Essays, Harvard 50, help a lot in writing transfer essays? Any successful transfers can give some advices? Where do you find the samples? Do the samples have a large impact on you?
thx!</p>
<p>I read the 50 Successful Harvard Essays book when I was applying, however, most of the essays weren’t as impressive as the title suggests. There were a couple of notable ones; I enjoyed the plumbing essay and “Playing the Giramel’s Behind.” Both were humorous, well-written narratives by students who didn’t take themselves and the admission game so seriously. They subtly weaved their accomplishments and qualities into funny stories. They also took risks (particularily the plumbing one), which I think impressed the adcom.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t recommend buying the book though; see if your library has it. It would probably be more useful to you if you read in general. You can learn a lot about style and usage simply by reading good books. In my transfer essay, I told a simple story about acquiring a book and why the ideas in it were interesting to me, which subsequently led to the reasons I wanted to study what I’m studying and why the college to which I was applying met my needs.</p>
<p>No. I don’t think so. It’s much too hard to develop a unique writing style – simply by reading other successful essays.</p>
<p>Thank you so much, Caillebotte and Bourne!!
Generally I think they are quite good for the freshman application but transfer application is totally a different one from that. I drafted some paragraphs, however it seems boring if I just describe the “why-transfer” reasons. And the length is limited…Maybe telling stories like the those sample essays in the books above is risking.</p>
<p>Agreed, the essays included in the “Harvard 50”-style type of books IMO weren’t that impressive, just wise authors attempting to profit off of the entire undergraduate admissions business.</p>
<p>I remember taking a look at a few of these books during the summer before I applied for transfer admission, while I was at a Barnes and Noble. Since most of the B&N employees are usually MIA, you can definitely preview these specific books in a comfy chair, while sipping a Starbucks coffee, hehe, to get an idea of what works, what doesn’t, without having to spend the $20+.</p>
<p>And, in terms of the essay regarding your reasons for transferring to a new university, you don’t always have to be so cookie-cutter with your approach, (nor overly cheesy like the Harvard 50 essays), sometimes it works to be a bit out of the box. ;)</p>
<p>Tanya922, haha, most agreeable to your post. I found the Harvard 50 in the library and read some samples. Those are pretty cheesy,sign… Suddenly I think they are the group who should be at harvard…I’m not a talented writer. Maybe I will develop my essay style, common but interesting with honest and sincere. :)</p>