Write a Terrific Transfer Essay!

Planning to transfer to a four-year college or university? The prospect of writing another application essay might seem overwhelming—and perhaps even unnecessary. But a compelling essay can make all the difference when it comes to getting accepted at your dream school.
If you have “essay anxiety,” you’re far from alone. Many students delay writing it until the last possible moment, or worse, decide to reuse an essay they wrote in high school. Unfortunately, neither of these tactics will reveal the true character of who you are now, nor will they provide the information admissions counselors are seeking.
Relax. It takes only a little preparation and a dash of creativity to write an essay that will boost your chance of being accepted as a transfer student at the school of your choice.

Before you start writing, though, it’s important to understand the role of the essay in the transfer application process. As in first-year applications, your essay is just part of the whole package, and colleges weigh each component differently. The entire burden of your acceptance is not resting on this one piece. But the essay does play a slightly different role in a transfer application than it does in a first-year application.
High school students who apply to colleges and universities often have an easier time presenting a complete picture of themselves, in part because teachers and guidance counselors who know them well can write detailed recommendations. If you’ve been in college for a semester or two, you’re less likely to have an instructor or counselor who knows you well enough to help an admissions counselor understand you as an individual and as a prospective student. So that’s your job—and the application essay is the best way to do that.
Joan Isaac-Mohr, vice president and dean of admissions at Quinnipiac University, explains, “A college transcript doesn’t give a lot of information about transfer students’ experiences at their present school. The application essay is where I can learn about why a student wants to transfer, and how transferring to our school fits into his or her educational goals.”
Many schools require just one essay from transfer applicants, to explain your reasons for wanting to transfer. So unless a school asks additional essay questions, this is what you should write about. Talk about your educational goals and explain how transferring to that particular school fits into them. Are you leaving your last school because the classes were not challenging enough, or because the academic environment was not a good fit for you? Was the social environment not right for you? Have you transferred schools already, but haven’t yet found what you’re looking for? Are you attending a community college now and always planned to transfer to a four-year school?
Remember, too, that you’re more mature now than you were in high school, so you’re expected to write your essay from a more adult perspective. An inappropriate or poorly written essay can signal to the school a lack of attention and could hurt your chances of being accepted.
Don’t recycle an essay you wrote for an earlier college application, no matter how tempted you might be. Even if a school requires you to write additional essays, an old application essay doesn’t reflect who you are now, academically or personally. And it probably isn’t a good idea to recycle that essay you just finished for English class, either. The best application essays result from thoughtful reflection and a focused, dedicated effort.
As a transfer applicant, your essay will be judged differently than those of first-year applicants, and admissions counselors probably won’t be as forgiving of any mistakes you make. So brush up on those basic writing skills you learned in high school.
Chris Markle, director of admissions at Susquehanna University, lists these eight application essay “Don’ts”:

1. Don’t be too wordy or flowery.
2. Don’t be too informal—avoid the use of slang (“cool,” “awesome,”) and vague words such as “very,” “a lot,” and “nice.”
3. Avoid using clichés in metaphors; for example, don’t write that baseball is “as American as apple pie.”
4. Don’t underdevelop your thoughts—if you introduce an idea, discuss it fully. As a rule of thumb, paragraphs should be at least four sentences and your essay at least a page in length.
5. Avoid the use of cynical generalizations—saying “All Americansare conforming cowards” will not impress admissions staff.
6. Explain your point, but don’t repeat the same words or ideas over and over.
7. Don’t use poor grammar—avoid fragments, run-on sentences, and split infinitives.
8. Above all, don’t panic!

Now that you know what not to do in your essay, knowing what to do is even simpler. According to Markle, the golden rule of application essays is this: “Your reader should know you better after reading your work.” Keeping this idea in mind is helpful as you contemplate how to tell your story. Because that’s what this essay is—an opportunity to tell your story, in your own words, with as much detail as you want to share.
Many transfer students worry that writing an essay explaining why they want to transfer schools won’t allow them much creativity. This doesn’t have to be true. Don’t simply state the facts—think about what brought you to this place in your life and what will take you to the next phase. Help the reader understand who you are. Share your imagination with the reader, and let them hear your voice. Like all good essays, a memorable application essay is more show than tell. Allowing the story to unfold, bit by bit, draws the reader into your world. And it tells the admissions counselor your compelling story.
Most schools accept transfer applicants for both spring and fall semesters. As soon as you decide you want to transfer, think about when you want to make the transfer and plan your application strategy appropriately.
Find out the transfer application procedures for the schools to which you are applying, and start thinking about your essay. Some schools ask transfer students the same essay questions they ask first-year applicants in addition to asking about your reasons for transferring; others want just the essay explaining your reasons for seeking a transfer; and still others don’t require an essay at all.
Many schools use the Common Application for Transfer Students, and the essay question is very straightforward: provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. And remember, no matter how many essays are required and what stories you decide to tell, make sure you edit, proofread, and finalize your essay with plenty of time to spare.
There you have it: The tools to write an essay that will reveal your educational goals and your true, mature self. The perfect essay is already in you, just waiting to be revealed and help you find your place at the school of your dreams.

Article by Manya Chylinksi and courtesy of www.careersandcolleges.com