transfer essay help

Read 2 Transfer Student Essays That Worked

Strong transfer essays can help pave the way to admissions offers.

Read 2 Transfer Essays That Worked

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Though it isn't a golden ticket, a strong transfer essay may boost an applicant's odds of admission.

There are as many reasons to transfer colleges as there are transfer students. But regardless of why someone wants to move to a new institution, the process for doing so usually requires an admissions essay.

Colleges With the Most Transfer Students

Josh Moody Jan. 28, 2020

In a 2018 National Association for College Admission Counseling survey , 41.5% of colleges polled said a transfer applicant's essay or writing sample is of either considerable or moderate importance in the admission decision.

A compelling, well-written transfer essay doesn't guarantee acceptance – many other factors are at play, such as an applicant's GPA. However, a strong essay can be a factor that helps move the odds in the applicant's favor, says Kathy Phillips, associate dean of undergraduate admissions at Duke University in North Carolina.

Know What Colleges Are Looking For In a Transfer Essay

Some schools have prospective transfer students use the Common App or the Coalition Application to apply. In addition to the main essay, students may be required to submit a second writing sample or respond to short-answer questions, though this isn't always the case. Prospective students can check a college's website for specific guidance regarding how to apply.

Whatever application method they use, prospective students should be aware that writing a transfer essay is not the same as writing a first-year college application essay, experts advise. First-year essays are more open-ended, says Niki Barron, associate dean of admission at Hamilton College in New York. When applying as first-years, prospective students can generally write about any experience, relationship or goal that has shaped who they are as people, she says.

This contrasts with transfer essays, where the focus is typically narrower. Barron says she thinks of transfer essays as more of a statement of purpose. "We're really looking to see students' reasons for wanting to transfer," she says.

Katie Fretwell, the recently retired dean of admission and financial aid at Amherst College in Massachusetts, says prospective transfer students are in a position to be a bit more reflective about their educational goals because of their additional year or years of experience post-high school. The essay helps admissions officers get a sense of whether an applicant has done "an appropriate level of soul-searching about the match," she says.

Transfer Essay Examples

Below are two transfer essays that helped students get into Duke and Amherst, respectively. Both institutions are very selective in transfer admissions. For fall 2018, Duke had a transfer acceptance rate of 8% and Amherst accepted 4% of its transfer applicants, according to U.S. News data.

Hover over the circles to read what made these essays stand out to admissions experts.

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Common App Transfer Essay Examples

Common app transfer essay — introduction.

If you’re considering transferring colleges , you’ve likely started thinking about your college transfer essay. At CollegeAdvisor, we’re here to fill you in on the Common App transfer essay, as well as the overall transfer application process. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the college transfer essay. We’ll also provide you with some Common App transfer essay examples and other transfer essay tips. 

Additionally, we’ll go over:

• What a college transfer essay is
• How to craft a strong Common App transfer essay
• College transfer requirements at top schools
• Other transfer essay tips

Understanding the College Transfer Essay

The college transfer essay process differs a bit from the essay process you likely went through as a first-year applicant. Instead of writing one Common App transfer essay that you’ll send to every school, each college transfer essay is school-specific. In fact, some colleges don’t even include a college transfer essay in their application requirements—though most selective institutions do. 

To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a variety of sample transfer essays from top schools nationwide. We hope these Common App transfer essay examples help you feel confident as you begin crafting your own college transfer essays. 

In our guide, we’ll look at transfer essays that worked from the following colleges:

• Emory University
• Wesleyan University
• University of Southern California (USC)
• University of Miami

But before we look at a sample transfer essay, let’s get back to basics: what is a college transfer essay? 

What is a college transfer essay?

Put simply, a college transfer essay is an essay you’ll write as part of the college transfer process. At their core, most Common App transfer essay prompts will ask a similar question: why do you want to transfer to our school? 

This prompt is similar to the “why school” essays you likely encountered as a first-year applicant. However, with transfer students, colleges may look for a bit more detail. 

Your Common App transfer essays should try to address the following: 

• Why do you want to transfer to this particular school? What programs and offerings attract you to this institution?
• What makes you unique, and why will you enrich the campus community at your new college? 
• Why was your former college not the right fit for you, and why is this college a better place for you to pursue your goals?

Of course, you should never outright speak negatively about your current college in your Common App transfer essays. However, your college transfer essays should clarify why you and why your next school will be a better fit than your current one. 

Later, we’ll look at some Common App transfer essay examples in more detail. Keep the questions above in mind as you read our sample transfer essays. While there’s no universal Common App transfer essay prompt, there are many similarities in the transfer college essays for different colleges. Reading different college essays that worked and sample transfer essays can prepare you for any Common App transfer essay prompts you encounter. 

Common App Transfer Essay Requirements

Unlike in the first-year application process, transfer students using the Common App won’t submit a single personal statement to every school. Instead, students will use the Common App for transfer—that is, the version of the Common App designed for transfer students. Each school specifies application requirements within the Common App for transfer; that’s where you’ll find any Common App transfer essay requirements. It’s also where you can select specific programs within your desired schools.

Moreover, not every college will have a standard transfer essay format. Rather, you might find different prompts, word counts, and other requirements for different transfer applications. With that said, you can likely repurpose a certain amount of information from your college transfer essays for different schools. 

Additionally, note that not every college where you may want to transfer will use the Common App. While the Common App has over 1,000 member institutions at the first-year level, around 600 colleges use the Common App for transfer. So, you should always check each college’s application requirements. Some schools may also use the Coalition Application. Schools like UIUC , UMiami , and USC will all have their own transfer essay requirements. 

Next, let’s take a closer look at transfer application requirements. Then, we’ll look at some sample transfer essays and discuss different college essays that worked. 

Understanding Transfer Application Requirements

In general, most colleges will ask for a similar set of transfer application requirements. These include: 

• The Common App transfer application  
• A writing supplement, including your college transfer essay(s)
• Standardized test scores, though some colleges remain test-optional
• Official college transcript
• Dean’s/College’s/Registrar’s Report
• College instructor recommendations (2)
• Official high school transcript

As you begin the transfer application process, make sure you’re prepared for these requirements. Additionally, while you may or may not submit a full resume when you apply to college, it’s good to have one on hand. 

Staying Engaged on Campus

Note that as a transfer student, colleges will pay attention to how you’ve used your time on your original college campus. So, to increase your admissions odds at top schools, you should earn high grades and engage in various extracurricular activities. Even if you don’t want to complete your college experience at your current school, you should still make the most of your time there. 

On some of your college transfer essays, you might be asked to discuss an extracurricular activity or engagement. You won’t see this kind of prompt in most of our transfer essay examples. However, you should be prepared to discuss your involvement on campus in your college transfer essays. Colleges want to see that you’re an engaged member of your community. 

Common App Transfer Essay Prompts

Next, let’s take a look at some Common App transfer essay prompts and review some transfer essays that worked. 

As we’ve discussed, students won’t all answer one Common App transfer essay prompt. Instead, you’ll respond to a different Common App transfer essay prompt for each school. However, as you’ll notice from our collection of transfer essays that worked, college transfer essay prompts tend to be similar. 

Comparing Some Common App Transfer Essay Prompts

To begin, let’s look at the Common App transfer essay prompts from Harvard University: 

• Briefly, please indicate the most influential factors in your decision to attend your present college (for example, location, cost, size of student body, only option, special program offered, Early Decision plan, etc.) 
• What alternatives to transferring to Harvard are you considering?
• Please indicate your field of specialization and briefly outline your academic plans at Harvard College.
• What are your current postgraduate/career plans?
• Briefly discuss one book that has strongly influenced you.

As you can see, if you apply to Harvard as a transfer student, you’ll have to write several college transfer essays. In our college transfer essays that worked, successful students make the most of every Common App transfer essay prompt. 

Notre Dame transfer essay prompt

Remember, each of your college transfer essays offers the admissions team a chance to learn more about you. So, you should make the most of every one of your Common App transfer essays. Regardless of the college transfer essay format, view each college transfer essay as a chance to teach your reader something new. 

While we won’t see Common App transfer essay examples from Harvard here, we’ll read sample transfer essays from other competitive colleges. You can apply these transfer essay tips to any college transfer essay. 

Let’s take a look at another Common App transfer essay prompt—this time, from Notre Dame.

Unlike Harvard, Notre Dame does not ask students to complete a collection of Common App transfer essay prompts. Instead, when it comes to college transfer essays, Notre Dame just asks for one thing :

“a well-crafted personal statement explaining your interest in Notre Dame, your academic and professional goals, and how transferring to Notre Dame can help you achieve them.”

Clarifying your academic goals.

You might notice one similarity between the Common App transfer essay prompts for Notre Dame and Harvard. Both schools ask you to have a clear sense of your academic and professional goals. 

As a first-year applicant, your choice of college major matters less than it does as a transfer applicant. In fact, in some cases, the major you indicate will have little to no bearing on your admissions odds. However, as a transfer student, colleges expect you to have some sense of your future goals. In light of that, you should be able to articulate your future college major in your college transfer essays. 

When you read our Common App transfer essay examples, you’ll notice the authors clearly explain their academic and future goals. This allows the writers of our sample transfer essays to clarify why a given school meets their academic needs. 

Look for these strategies in our UMiami essay examples, USC transfer essay examples, Emory essay examples, and other college essays that worked. Now, let’s dig into some targeted transfer essay tips and read some great Common App transfer essays. 

College Transfer Essay — Emory Essay Examples

Let’s start by reviewing Emory essay examples from accepted transfer students. By reading these Common App transfer essay examples, you can learn more about how to approach the college transfer essay process. 

Here’s our Emory transfer essay example: 

Emory Transfer Essay Example

My time at Texas Christian University has been an orienting and insightful experience. Despite the brevity of my stay, I grasped a better understanding of the type of qualities that I desire from a college. In addition, I gained new perspectives, forged relationships, and made memories that I’ll cherish for life. The decision to apply to Emory was made with careful consideration, but ultimately with confidence. While I will always be grateful for my experience at TCU, I’ve concluded that Emory is where I can thrive academically and socially.

I took a medley of courses during my first semester at TCU to ensure that I chose my path with confidence. Comparative Literature was the major I was searching for. It allows me to channel my desires for a diversified education, and pairs well with my ardor for foreign languages.  Unfortunately, despite the enthusiasm, it isn’t offered at TCU, but it is at Emory. However, the ability to pursue Comparative Literature may have drawn me to Emory, but it was the breadth of the academic curriculum and resources that helped me to conclude that it was the right school for me.

The breadth of the curriculum itself covers a broad range of topics ranging from Post-Colonial Literature to “Love & Sex in the Italian Renaissance.” I would truly be able to get a diversified education through a host of interesting topics. Attending Emory would allow me to supplement my education with curriculum outside the classroom, allowing me to enrich my educational experience. Through the thesis during senior year I could gain insight from conducting intense exploration on a subject I deeply care about.

As a research assistant I conducted research on Horace Walpole’s influence in early British Parliament. Through this, I learned how to organize and structure knowledge, how to communicate and how to be a more attentive and critical interpreter of history. Those are the kind of skills I want to amplify and Emory’s focus on Undergraduate Research would give me support for that in spades. I could also have fun attending poetry readings, symposiums, and film screenings. In terms of my major, the depth of the classes and the sheer possibilities enabled by Emory’s academic resources would truly allow me to make the most of my education at Emory.

What stands out about Emory for me and makes it so desirable is the intimate approach in the faculty-to-student relationship. Engaged professors who genuinely care for the wellbeing of the student is the type of setting fostered at Emory and would allow me to flourish as a student.

Diversity, not just in race, but in socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and most importantly, perspective, both academically and socially, is the type of variation fostered at Emory. This is the type of college experience I want as I’ve learned that only through differences can intellectual curiosity truly be fostered.

Emory’s location would allow me the amenities of Atlanta without having to forego a traditional college experience. I could try authentic Persian food one night and go karaoke the next. Art is a personal hobby of mine and I can foresee many art crawls given Atlanta’s vibrant art scene. Of course, a visit to Emory’s own Michael C. Carlos museum would be due first.

Beyond the city, Georgia is host to a myriad of beautiful landscapes. I could hike at Tallulah Gorge or enjoy the scenic view at Amicalola. Emory’s active campus life would also mean weekends filled with prominent guest-speakers and exploring new hobbies. What I appreciate about Emory is the balance between academics and social life because while college is a place to learn, it is also a place to make memories.

I’ve never regretted my time here. I simply exhausted all the available resources and it’s my responsibility to go where I can flourish as a student in every sense, and this place for me, is Emory University.  

Why This Essay Worked

Successful Emory essay examples will specify what makes Emory the right place for an applicant. This essay does just that. Moreover, it offers a great example of a common college transfer essay format. Namely, it describes why the student wishes to transfer while detailing what makes Emory the perfect fit for them. 

As one of our Emory essay examples, the writer of this sample transfer essay makes it clear why Emory is the right fit for them. First, the writer describes how they’ve used their time at TCU to gain a sense of their academic interests and goals. They then clarify how, in this journey of self-discovery, they have realized why TCU isn’t the right place for them. 

This sample transfer essay then uses specific examples of why Emory would be a better fit. They mention specific courses, programs, and other offerings. This sample transfer essay also highlights why Atlanta would be a better college setting for this student than Fort Worth. Strong Emory essay examples will be specific—that is, they’ll discuss particular programs and offerings only found at Emory. 

Overall, this transfer essay example excels at describing who this student is, why they wish to transfer, and how they’d leverage Emory’s resources. 

Next, let’s look at some more transfer essays that worked—namely, a successful Wesleyan essay. 

Wesleyan Essay — Transfer Essays That Worked

Next, let’s dig into another one of our Common App transfer essay examples. Like the first of our Common App transfer essay examples, the essay below includes detailed and specific information about how the writer will thrive at their new institution. 

Our next transfer essay example is for Wesleyan . Let’s take a look at the essay and explore why it stood out to Wesleyan admissions:

Wesleyan Transfer Essay Example

My need for academic diversity marks the first reason behind my desire to transfer. The reality is that there is a disproportionate emphasis placed on business and natural sciences at my current college. While these majors deserve merit, the situation here translates to a lack of the same quality of opportunities and resources for the humanities. I realized that I need a setting where every academic field is equally regarded because it is in these types of environments that intellectual curiosity is truly fostered.

While I spent my initial months as a pre-major, I took a medley of courses to ensure that I chose a path I was genuinely passionate about. I am unable to pursue my academic desires here, but at Wesleyan, I can. My first year of college helped me to narrow down my want for a cosmopolitan education. During a class, I was introduced to literary and post-colonial theory and discovered a new passion. I want to pursue certification in Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory for a diversified education, and with the interdisciplinary coursework at Wesleyan, I could do so. With intense courses and guidance from caring faculty, Wesleyan would allow me the strong and intimate academic foundation that I desire.

Wesleyan has what I am looking for and am unfortunately unable to find at my current school: enthusiasm for languages. I possess a passion for foreign languages and with Wesleyan’s orientation intense curricula for foreign languages, I would have a supportive environment. While I am currently taking 2 languages, I hope to pursue Arabic language and culture, and in addition, live in the Turath Program House. Foreign languages are usually regarded as a side-study but with the open curriculum and programming at Wesleyan, I could allow foreign languages the space in my academic schedule that it deserves. 

My first year made me realize how I took diversity for granted. Diversity, not just in ethnicity, but in socioeconomic background, sexual orientation, and most importantly, perspective, is the type of representation I want on a campus. Wesleyan truly reflects the concept of equal opportunity in every sense. Coming from a background where food stamps were normalized and then moving to a school where most of the student body comes from the upper socioeconomic trend has been eye-opening.

The notion that there is a disparity in resources and experiences between polar financial levels is swept under the rug here. I appreciate that Wesleyan not only acknowledges but acts towards lessening the gap by providing resources and opportunities to low-income/first-gen families. It’s this type of effort that will allow those without equal access to have the stability for their academic merits to shine through.

Wesleyan’s location also offers me the scenic nature-based and intimate small-town vibe that I desire. While I love Fort Worth, the climate, people, and attractions in Middletown would fit me better. Whether I’m hiking at Cockaponset or attending a play by ArtFarm with my friends, I would get the college experience that I desire without foregoing an intimate college community. 

Why this essay worked

While this Common App transfer essay prompt isn’t in use anymore, this Wesleyan essay answers a standard question: why do you wish to transfer, and why Wesleyan? 

Once again, the writer of this transfer essay example gives reasons why their current school isn’t the right fit. They express their desire for more academic, cultural, racial, and social diversity than is available on their current college campus. Many college essays that worked discuss diversity and inclusion; this Wesleyan essay writer showcases how they’ll enrich their future campus community. In doing so, it gives Wesleyan admissions officers a strong sense of the student’s values. 

Additionally, this Wesleyan essay uses specific details to show what makes Wesleyan the right fit for this student. In particular, this sample transfer essay describes in detail the writer’s passion for studying languages. The writer details how they would use Wesleyan’s resources to explore this passion. 

In reading this essay, the Wesleyan admissions team can see clearly how the student would make use of Wesleyan’s resources. 

Like our other Common App transfer essay examples, this Wesleyan essay illustrates why the writer wishes to transfer. At the same time, it emphasizes how they would make the most of their new institution. 

USC Transfer Essay Examples

Let’s move on to more college transfer essay examples and take a look at some USC transfer essay examples. We hope these Common App transfer essay examples help you prepare to craft your own essays. 

In the 2021 admissions cycle, the USC transfer acceptance rate was about 26% according to the USC admissions office. While USC does not widely publicize the USC transfer acceptance rate, it’s generally reported as around 24-26%. In other words, you can assume that the USC transfer acceptance rate is relatively low. That means you should do all you can to prepare your transfer application ahead of the USC transfer deadline. Note that the USC transfer deadline is February 15th for most programs. 

Overall, the USC transfer requirements are similar to those for other schools. They include the Common Application, your high school transcript, and your college transcript. Some academic programs require additional letters of recommendation, portfolio materials, and other supplements. You’ll complete the USC college transfer essays through the Common App. 

USC Transfer Essay Examples — Long Answer

The USC transfer requirements will vary by major. However, regardless of additional USC transfer requirements for certain programs, you’ll need USC college transfer essays.

Unlike the rest of our transfer essay examples, the USC transfer essay examples also include short answer responses. So, in addition to the main USC college transfer essay, you’ll find some short-form USC transfer essay examples below. 

Let’s start with the main USC transfer essay: 

USC Transfer Essay Example

The feature that appeals the most to me about USC is the zeal that the English department displays. It was the amount of English-oriented events that hooked me and the quality of them that finally reeled me into USC’s shore. Numerous poetry readings, prominent guest speakers, and enthusiastic organizations geared towards English would help immensely with supplementing my learning experience. The cherry on top is the study abroad program entwined with English, allowing for total immersion into the culture and subject.

These types of academic opportunities are integral to making the most of my studies. Furthermore, I would be remiss to not acknowledge the world-class faculty at USC’s English department. What USC presents is an academic environment where the ardor I have for English is matched. It’s a community where college isn’t viewed as a method of job placement but a place to foster intellectual curiosity.

Socially, my current school has been full of learning experiences as I navigated a social scene that starkly contrasted against the ones I grew up with. However, I knew this was a common experience and stayed optimistic. I dabbled in clubs, finding some that piqued my interest, and rushed a sorority before discovering what I wanted to direct my time and effort towards.

While I opted out of Greek life, I did find organizations and people on campus that I enjoyed, such as Spectrum (LGBTQ+) and Hall Crew, an organization geared towards dorm-community bonding. However, some contemplation allowed me to recognize that the people I had gravitated towards drew me in due to a recurring sentiment: my desire for a more diverse setting.

When the word “diversity” is mentioned, people naturally assume ethnicity. While this factor is an important component in the multi-faceted topic of diversity, it isn’t all-encompassing. My current school has helped me realize that diversity, not just in race, but in sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and most importantly, perspective, is a necessary aspect of a college environment. Attending USC would give me a chance to experience the kind of diversity I crave; a campus comprised of students from all over the globe would ensure this. 

The first of our USC transfer essay examples indicates exactly what attracts this applicant to USC. In this sample transfer essay, the writer describes their interest in USC’s English program and why it would fit them. As you read this transfer essay example, you can imagine this student thriving on USC’s campus. 

Once again, like other transfer essays that worked, this transfer essay example shows why the writer was dissatisfied with their college. However, it doesn’t dwell on the negatives—instead, this sample transfer essay looks forward to the writer’s goals at USC. 

To make the most of your USC essays, make sure you draft them well ahead of the USC transfer deadline. This gives you enough time to polish your essays and make sure they highlight your strengths. Transfer essays that worked are often initially written well before the deadline and revised several times.

USC Transfer Essay Examples — Short Answer

Next, let’s take a look at more Common App transfer essay examples—namely, the short answer USC transfer essay examples: 

1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately?

On the Fourth of July, I braved the scorching heat at Six Flags over Atlanta, my favorite childhood vacation spot. I got drenched on Thunder River, lost my voice on Goliath, and won a giant stuffed Pokemon in a ball toss game. As the sun set, I admired the fireworks while devouring two plates of food at the all-you-can-eat buffet.  

2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?

After joining the middle school swim team, I discovered that I was a terrible diver and would always painfully belly flop into the water. I begged my parents to let me volunteer at the library instead. While watching the librarian’s favorite movie, “Ella Enchanted,” she affectionately shortened my name to Ella. I moved the next summer, so the nickname always evokes nostalgia for my hometown. 

3. What are three things you don’t care about at all?

The difference between white and yellow onions (I use them interchangeably in my recipes.)

The iOS versus Android debate (I have a Galaxy phone and a Macbook.) 

The correct way to hang toilet paper (I keep the rolls in a cabinet to hide them from my two mischievous cats.) 

4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved.

With plans to diversify the fundraisers and collaborate with community partners, I campaigned to be UNICEF Club president my junior year of high school. I was excited to be more involved in the organization I had volunteered with for years. Unfortunately, I had to miss the election day to receive my green card and was ultimately not selected.

5. What do you see as the physician’s role in Public Health? Please answer the question in 150 words or less.

Especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, I see physicians as educators and advocates for their communities. While conducting research and volunteering at my local food pantry, I saw how the pandemic led to rising medical misinformation and mistrust and exacerbated barriers to accessing healthcare. When unemployment soared in March 2020, I noted the strain on clients at the local food bank, who struggled to afford groceries, utilities, and medical bills. I believe that physicians should advocate for increasing access to affordable healthcare, from expanding subsidized coverage to lowering surprise medical bills.

As a Research Assistant, I discovered that a quarter of the rural patients with HIV in our study believed that COVID-19 vaccinations were dangerous or linked to autism. Through creating trusting relationships and supportive environments, I believe physicians can guide patients to make informed health decisions that optimize their clinical outcomes. 

Why these essays worked

Like any college essays that worked, these USC transfer essay examples showcase what makes the writer unique. The best Common App transfer essay examples clearly demonstrate the writer’s personality and how they’ll enrich their next college campus. 

Remember, every college transfer essay gives you the chance to tell the admissions team something new about you. Certainly, these short answer responses follow a different college transfer essay format than our longer Emory essay examples or the Wesleyan essay. However, they manage to include a lot of valuable information in a limited number of words. 

Let’s look at the last of our transfer essays that worked—our UMiami essay examples. 

UMiami Essay Examples — College Transfer Essay

Next, we’ll dig into UMiami essay examples to get a better understanding of college essays that worked. 

Here’s one of our UMiami essay examples from an admitted transfer student:

UMiami Transfer Essay Example

I took a medley of classes to ensure that I chose my major with confidence, which led to my decision to apply as an English major and Modern Language and Literature minor to UMiami. I hope to study Japanese and Arabic, along with French if my schedule permits. Beyond the depth, rigor, and range of the courses themselves, the sheer breadth of the programming would allow me to supplement my education with a curriculum outside the classroom. Both the English and the MLL department have enthusiastic programming ranging from lectures given by prominent guest-speakers, friendly gatherings, and study abroad programs that would really allow me to make the most of my education.

I fully intend to pursue research as well, as my time as a research assistant has fostered my passion for knowledge and discovery in the humanities. The experience will also help me while I pursue the Departmental Honors Program in English Literature. Beyond purely academic resources, the intimate approach to advising and the close faculty-to student ratio is what drew me to UMiami. The dedication to providing students with resources like research grants, internships, and career connections is the type of care that I want. I learned that while the right academic environment is important, support is essential to thrive not only as a student, but as a person.

Socially, UMiami leaves nothing left to be desired. I could take a stroll on the beach or finally get to try the famous Cafecito. The active campus itself would mean opportunities to discover new hobbies or make new memories with friends. I want to be able to look back fondly at the memories I made in college and UMiami would allow me to do that. I would also love to start a Dream Outside the Box chapter at UMiami as my experience with this organization geared towards better access to education has been profound and I am a staunch believer in bettering local communities first.

In the last of our Common App transfer essay examples, the writer includes specific details about why UMiami is the right place for them. 

Once again, the writer of this sample transfer essay delineates what UMiami offers that their current college does not. Successful UMiami essay examples will be specific to the school. So, as you read UMiami essay examples like this one, look for ways to link your interests to the school’s offerings.

In this transfer essay example, the writer outlines the specific programs, foreign languages, and offerings that they plan to pursue at UMiami. They also include specific details about the college’s location and culture. These details make obvious their interest in the institution and the time they’ve taken to research their (prospective) future home.

Understanding the UMiami Transfer Acceptance Rate

In general, transfer acceptance rates are not widely published online—the UMiami transfer acceptance rate is no different. While it’s generally reported to be around 50%, students should still assume that the UMiami transfer acceptance rate is relatively competitive . To put it another way, don’t take the UMiami essay for granted. After all, UMiami is one of the best colleges in Florida, so admission is never guaranteed. 

By now, we’ve read UMiami essay examples, Wesleyan essays, and other transfer essays that worked. We hope you now have a better understanding of what makes a successful college transfer essay. Next, let’s dig into some more transfer essay tips to help you succeed. 

How is a college transfer essay different?

Overall, the transfer application process is slightly different from the first-year application process. As you’ve likely noticed in our successful transfer essay examples, most transfer essays look rather different from standard personal statements. 

When applying as a transfer student, admissions officers want to know why you’ve decided to transfer and what interests you about their school. They also want to learn about your educational plans (including your choice of major) and your career goals. 

Similar to our transfer essays that worked, college transfer essays often revolve around an applicant’s character as a student and future professional. Compare this to a Common App personal statement, which usually focuses on who you are as a person. Clearly, your academic and career pathways matter a bit more as a transfer student. 

Of course, you should take every opportunity to show the admissions committee what makes you unique. However, you should also ensure you include specific details about what makes your future academic program a better fit. 

College Transfer Essay Format

In general, most schools use a similar college transfer essay format. The Common App transfer essay prompts you’ll find will also often have some similarities. Most schools will ask students to state their reasons for transferring and explain why they’ve chosen to apply. 

As you approach this type of prompt, think about:

• The major you’d like to pursue
• Academic programs that are not available at your current school
• Important differences between your current campus community and the school where you’re applying

Word counts will vary by school, so always check each institution’s requirements. You should also read each Common App transfer essay prompt carefully to ensure you follow the right format. 

You can also write an initial college transfer essay and adapt different sections to suit different prompts. However, you should always include specific details about how you plan to spend your time at your next college. 

Additional Transfer Essay Tips

We’ve looked at some successful Common App transfer essay examples. Next, let’s review three transfer essay tips to help your essays shine:

• Be specific. Tailor each college transfer essay to your chosen school, even if you start with the same basic details about yourself. Make sure you indicate specific things that school offers that you can’t find at your current institution.
• Keep it positive. As a transfer student, it might be tempting to write negatively about your current school. However, focus instead on what your current school has taught you about yourself and prepared you to succeed elsewhere.  
• Be thorough. Your college transfer essays are one of the few chances you get to address the admissions committee on your own terms. Make the most of the word count to highlight who you are and how you’d enrich their campus. 

We hope these transfer essay tips give you confidence as you approach the college transfer essay process. 

Other CollegeAdvisor Essay Resources to Explore

As we’ve discussed, while there are some key differences, writing a college transfer essay is relatively similar to writing a first-year admissions essay. For more transfer essay tips, check out some of our other resources below:

• AO Advice: How to Write Great Supplemental Essays That Stand Out — In this webinar, our former Admissions Officers share how to write supplemental essays that shine. 
• Columbia Essay Examples — This guide includes several successful essays from Columbia University and explains what made them work. 
• Editing Your Supplemental Essays —  This webinar walks you through the process of editing your Common App transfer essays to make them strong, clear, and concise. 
• How to Write a Personal Statement — Read more college essays that worked and learn expert tips to make yours unique. 

For more guidance, you can also check out Carnegie Mellon’s tips on writing strong Common App transfer essays. Amherst also offers useful tips, including a successful Common App transfer essay. Finally, Moorpark College has a great slide deck featuring some advice on the UC transfer process. 

If you’re certain about transferring but unsure about where you want to go, we can help. Our three-part College Finder series covers the college search process, making a college list , and comparing colleges . Although many of our free articles are aimed at first-year applicants, their advice is broadly applicable. They can help you figure out how to frame your college transfer essays or research where you want to go.

College Transfer Essay — Final Thoughts

In this article, we walked you through different sample transfer essays and Common App transfer essay prompt responses. Additionally, we offered some transfer essay tips to help you write the strongest college transfer essays you can. We hope our Common App transfer essay examples help you feel more confident as you navigate the transfer application process. 

If you want more support as you complete your Common App transfer essays, we’re here to help. Click here to schedule a consultation with our Admissions Specialists. We’ll help you learn more about how CollegeAdvisor can help you maximize your admissions odds.

This article was written by Abbie Sage. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a free meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Tips for Writing a Winning College Transfer Essay

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The essay for a college transfer application presents students with challenges that are quite different from a traditional admissions essay. If you're thinking about transferring, you should have specific reasons for doing so, and your essay needs to address those reasons. Before you sit down to write, make sure you have clear academic, personal, and professional goals in mind to explain your desire to change schools.

The prompt for the 2019-20 Common Application for transfer makes this clear. Unlike the regular Common Application , the transfer application has a single essay option: “The personal statement helps colleges get to know you better as a person and a student. Please provide a statement discussing your educational path. How does continuing your education at a new institution help you achieve your future goals?” Even if the school to which you are applying does not use the Common Application, the prompt is most likely similar. The school will want to know how the transfer fits into your educational and career goals.

The tips below can help you avoid common pitfalls.

Give Specific Reasons for Transferring

A good transfer essay presents a clear and specific reason for wanting to transfer. Your writing needs to show that you know well the school to which you are applying. Is there a specific program that is of interest to you? Did you develop interests at your first college that can be explored more fully at the new school? Does the new college have a curricular focus or institutional approach to teaching that is particularly appealing to you?

Make sure you research the school well and provide the details in your essay. A good transfer essay works for a single college only. If you can replace the name of one college with another, you haven't written a good transfer essay. At selective colleges, transfer acceptance rates are extremely low, so a generic essay isn't going to be good enough.

Take Responsibility for Your Record

A lot of transfer students have a few blotches on their college records. It's tempting to try to explain away a bad grade or low GPA by putting the blame on someone else. Don't do it. Such essays set a bad tone that is going to rub the admissions officers the wrong way. An applicant who blames a roommate or a mean professor for a bad grade sounds like a grade-school kid blaming a sibling for a broken lamp.

Your bad grades are your own. Take responsibility for them and, if you think it's necessary, explain how you plan to improve your performance at your new school. The admissions folks will be much more impressed by the mature applicant who owns up to failure than the applicant who fails to take responsibility for his or her performance. This doesn't mean you can't mention extenuating circumstances, but you do need to own up to the way in which you dealt with those circumstances on the academic front.

Don't Badmouth Your Current College

It's a good bet that you want to leave your current college because you are unhappy with it. Nevertheless, avoid the temptation to badmouth your current college in your essay. It's one thing to say your current school isn't a good match for your interests and goals; however, it's going to sound whiny, petty, and mean-spirited if you go off about how terrible your college is run and how bad your professors have been. Such talk makes you sound unnecessarily critical and ungenerous. The admissions officers are looking for applicants who will make a positive contribution to their campus community. Someone who is overly negative isn't going to impress.

Don't Present the Wrong Reasons for Transferring

If the college you are transferring to requires an essay as part of the application, it must be at least somewhat selective. You'll want to present reasons for transferring that are grounded in the meaningful academic and non-academic opportunities afforded by the new college. You don't want to focus on any of the more questionable reasons to transfer: you miss your girlfriend, you're homesick, you hate your roommate, your professors are jerks, you're bored, your college is too hard, and so on. Transferring should be about your academic and professional goals, not your personal convenience or your desire to run away from your current school.

Clearly personal issues often motivate a college transfer, but in your essay you'll want to emphasize your academic and professional objectives.

Attend to Style, Mechanics and Tone

Often you're writing your transfer application in the thick of a college semester. It can be a challenge to carve out enough time to revise and polish your transfer application. Also, it's often awkward asking for help on your essay from your professors, peers or tutors. After all, you're considering leaving their school.

Nevertheless, a sloppy essay that's riddled with errors is not going to impress anyone. The best transfer essays always go through multiple rounds of revision, and your peers and professors will want to help you with the process if you have good reasons to transfer . Make sure your essay is free of writing errors and has a clear, engaging style .

A Final Word about Transfer Essays

The key to any good transfer essay is that it be specific to the school to which you are applying, and it needs to paint a picture that makes the rationale for the transfer clear. You can check out David's transfer essay for a strong example.

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College Transfer Essay: Student Guidelines & Winning Examples

• Icon Calendar 11 September 2024
• Icon Page 8093 words
• Icon Clock 36 min read

When students want to change their higher education institutions, they need good guidelines for writing a college transfer essay. In this case, a current article provides essential insights, including a definition and purpose of a college transfer essay, its format, defining features, some topics, 7 writing sections that students should consider, common prompts that they can use to produce their papers, 20 tips for creating a high-standard paper, including what to include and what to avoid. Besides, students can get a glimpse of an outline, template, and an example for a practical impression of how a correct essay should appear in writing. Therefore, reading this guideline is helpful to students who need to convince college admission committees that a transfer request is genuine and why they should grant it.

General Aspects

Reading scholarly texts is intellectually refreshing and essential in grasping insights into basic mechanics of writing different types of papers. Moreover, students write different types of essays to assess their course content understanding continuously. Therefore, learning to write academic papers is critical to one’s performance in those assessments. As such, this article provides a guideline for writing a successful college transfer essay, covering key insights and crucial details that students and anyone interested in writing should study to create high-standard documents. Some insights include a definition and purpose of a college transfer essay, its format, main features when to write this document, possible topics, outline, template, practical examples of this work, 20 tips for producing a high-standard paper. In turn, critical details include an easy step-by-step writing process of starting a college transfer essay, emphasizing principal technical aspects of creating an entire piece with what people can include and what they should avoid. As a result, reading a presented guideline can help all individuals to understand a specific writing attitude they should adopt to have a high-quality essay.

What Is a College Transfer Essay and Its Purpose

According to its definition, a college transfer essay is a personal statement written by a student who wishes to move from one educational institution or university to another. For example, the main purpose of writing a college transfer essay is to convey a clear and compelling story about why a student is seeking a change, what this individual has learned from his or her experiences, and how a new educational institution will offer better opportunities for personal and academic growth (Franklin, 2023). Basically, this type of paper provides an opportunity for students to explain some reasons on why they are seeking a transfer, such as academic, social, or personal factors that have influenced their decision. Further on, students need to highlight their academic goals, achievements, and experiences at their current institution while demonstrating how these align with key offerings of a prospective school (Sawyer, 2020). In essay writing, they must showcase their unique qualities, clarify any challenges they may have faced at their current school, and explain why they believe a new institution will better meet their academic and personal needs. Moreover, such compositions help admissions committees to determine whether a student is a good fit for a new college and if a chosen educational institution can offer necessary resources, opportunities, and environments that will support a person’s growth and success (Turner, 2020). In terms of pages and words, the length of a college transfer essay depends on academic levels and specific requirements of a chosen institution, while general writing guidelines are:

High School

• Length: 1-2 pages
• Word Count: 250-500 words
• Length: 2-3 pages
• Word Count: 500-750 words
• Length: 3-4 pages
• Word Count: 750-1,000 words
• Length: 4-6 pages
• Word Count: 1,000-1,500 words
• Length: 6-8+ pages
• Word Count: 1,500-2,000+ words

Note: Some writing sections of a college transfer essay can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, but students should observe specific requirements for word counts or page limits and admission guidelines for a chosen program. For example, a standard college transfer essay format includes an introduction, reasons for transferring, experiences at a current institution, academic and career goals, and a conclusion summarizing an entire motivation to move and why a new institution is a better fit (Franklin, 2023). In writing, a college transfer essay should be between 500 and 750 words long, depending on key requirements of a chosen institution. Further on, college transfer refers to a specific process of a student moving from one college or university to another, usually due to academic, personal, or social reasons, in search of a better fit or new opportunity (Sawyer, 2020). Basically, most college transfer applications require an essay as part of an admission process to explain main reasons for a move and how a new institution will better meet student’s academic and personal goals. Moreover, the main difference between a college transfer essay and a personal statement is that the former focuses specifically on writing why a student wants to switch institutions, addressing experiences and goals related to a move, while the latter offers a broader overview of an individual’s background, achievements, and future aspirations (Turner, 2020). As such, college transfer essays are very important because they provide a personal explanation of why students want to move, helping admission officers understand their motivations, goals, and fit for a new institution. Finally, good reasons for transferring schools in writing an essay include seeking stronger academic programs, needing better alignment with career goals, finding a more suitable campus culture, pursuing specific research or extracurricular opportunities, or addressing personal or geographical circumstances (Alvero et al., 2022). In turn, to start a college transfer essay, people begin by introducing themselves, mentioning their current institution and major, and providing a brief overview of key reasons behind their decision to move.

Defining Features

From a simple definition, a college transfer essay is an academic document that students write to move from one educational institution to another. For example, to answer a “why transfer?” essay, people explain their specific academic, personal, or social reasons for transferring and describe how a new institution will better align with their goals and aspirations (Franklin, 2023). Essentially, students communicate their desire to move and highlight details that can help a committee to accept a request by following a well-organized essay structure. In writing, this structure comprises 7 basic sections, each providing details that allow an intended audience to understand a student and a reason for requesting a college transfer (Turner, 2020). The essential writing information includes students’ core values, a reason they chose their current school, why they want to relocate to another education institution, a demonstration that they have maximized or optimized their current situation, their dream, how a new place will help them to actualize a specific goal, and a memorable closure (Franklin, 2023). Therefore, writing a transfer essay means that people must convince a target audience, mainly a college admission committee, to accept them as new students. As a result, most college transfer students are required to write essays as part of their application to explain their reasons for transferring and how a new institution aligns with their goals (Sawyer, 2020). In turn, a Common App includes a specific essay writing prompt for transfer students where they can explain their reasons for transferring and how a new college aligns with their goals.

Use exceptional writing services that guarantee original and well-researched papers.

• An Impact of Academic Misalignment on My Transfer Decision
• How Career Aspirations Drive My Need for a New College?
• A Role of Campus Culture in My Desire to Change
• Why Limited Major Options at My Current School Prompted a Change?
• Seeking Better Opportunities for Personal Growth and Development
• Academic Resources at My New Master’s Program and Their Influence on My Relocation
• An Importance of Extracurricular Activities in My University Transfer Decision
• How Diversity and Inclusion Shape My High School Transfer Aspirations?
• Geographic and Environmental Factors Behind My Ph.D. Transfer
• Financial Challenges and Their Role in My Doctoral Transfer Journey

💠 Section/Paragraph 1: How to Write About Core Values & Example

As stated above, Section 1 of writing a college transfer essay highlights a student’s core values. For example, to write a good transfer statement, people clearly explain their reasons for transferring, highlight personal and academic growth at their current institution, and demonstrate how a new school aligns with their future goals (Franklin, 2023). In this case, core values determine people’s behaviors, what they can and cannot accept in their social circle, and what inspires them. When outlining these values in writing, students should focus on making a first impression when presenting their essays (Cepeda et al., 2021). Therefore, core values should convince an intended audience to accept a student’s relocation request. In essay writing, some core values that can help to make a first impression in such a request include a family; caring; a willingness to serve, learn, grow, fight injustice; and solve problems (Turner, 2020). Basically, students can communicate effectively by using personal stories to emphasize these values and explain how a current school does not align with some of these values when writing an essay. Moreover, they should avoid exaggeration and use a hook to keep readers interested in continuing reading.

An Example of a Paragraph for Section 1

I hold dear core values that define my personality and identity, including a desire to do good, dependability, hard work, commitment, integrity, generosity, and moral uprightness. One reason for seeking a transfer to your institution is your anti-plagiarism policy. While my current college has been valuable in helping me to demonstrate most of these values, it could have been more helpful regarding integrity. Academic honesty is the most relevant issue in demonstrating integrity today. Typically, colleges and professors clarify to students with solid emphasis the penalty of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism. While my current place of eduction does this activity, I do not find the penalties sufficient to dissuade academic dishonesty. Such laxity may expose me to circumstances where I may violate my value system. For example, I have faced a dilemma severally of whether to report my peers who plagiarize their work.

💠 Section/Paragraph 2: A Reason Why I Decided to Choose Your College & Example

Section 2 of writing a college transfer essay should explain why students chose their place of education. For example, in a college transfer application, students write about their reasons for transferring, their academic and personal experiences, and how a new institution will better support their goals (Sawyer, 2020). Basically, students should understand that a target audience is interested in hearing why they want to relocate and about their places of education. While a negative issue may compel a transfer request, one should communicate a problem without painting a school negatively (Lukszo & Hayes, 2019). In writing, essential details of this section include what made a student choose a college; a current experience, including what one is doing to develop intellectually; and how a school has helped to meet a learning objective, such as going on field trips to gain practical experience. When writing this section of an essay, a students’ focus should be to demonstrate to a target audience that they are using their time in a current place of education optimally. In turn, one should focus on positive aspects rather than negative ones of a given institution when writing an essay.

An Example of a Paragraph for Section 2

My current school has proven helpful to my quest for intellectual development because of its various programs. However, I chose it primarily because it is in the same city as my home, and I could save on accommodation money. Nonetheless, I have made important leaps in knowledge since I joined. I am in the second year of college education and spend most of my time researching topics in the library. Indeed, my research skills have developed incredibly during my time at the institution. I credit this intellectual development to professors and other instructors who give assignments, including essays and research papers, requiring students to research materials. As such, the college library has been like a second home to me. As I seek to leave, I take these experiences as a ladder for greater intellectual development in my next destination.

💠 Section/Paragraph 3: A Reason Why I Want to Leave a Current College & Example

Section 3 of writing a college transfer essay should convince an intended audience why a student seeks to move to their institution. For example, people should avoid criticizing their current school harshly, focusing solely on negative experiences, or being too vague about their reasons for transferring (Sawyer, 2020). In writing, they should not paint their current college negatively but focus on explaining why they think an institution they want to move to is ideal for achieving their goal. Further on, students should explain why they want to leave their current school, such as a lack of critical resources like a science lab, limited opportunities for exposing students to a corporate world, or a new policy like mandatory online learning (Turner, 2020). When writing this section of an essay, students should convince a target audience that a current school can not push them toward their goal and that the one they seek to join is ideal. As a result, the most crucial writing detail in an essay is not to talk badly about a current school.

An Example of a Paragraph in Section 3

One reason for requesting a transfer from my current institution is the limited opportunities for career exposure. For example, it is normal for students to go a whole year without a field trip despite course content insisting on the need to link theory and practice. While researching the college to transfer to, I came across your website and how the institution prioritizes field trips as a pillar of students’ practical learning. As a nursing student, I must get first-hand experience with the dynamics that influence healthcare in the clinical environment, such as the relationship between nurses and patients, including the issues that nurses confront daily in developing or nurturing the relationship. As I investigated your college, I learned that nursing students have at least two field trips each academic year. This orientation is ideal for my dream.

💠 Section/Paragraph 4: Maximizing or Optimizing Time and Achievements & Example

While students may want to explain why they think a new educational institution they wish to relocate to is better than their current one, people should also tell a target audience how they maximize or optimize their time in a school. As such, section 4 of writing a college transfer essay allows students to tell an intended audience how productive their time in a current institution is. For example, this message is essential to convince a target audience that one is not preoccupied with a desire to leave at anexpense of their academic development (Franklin, 2023). Instead, they should show that they are working on their intellectual growth but see a transfer as more effective in accelerating it. In writing, doing so in an essay convinces readers that a change is necessary during a learning process (Sawyer, 2020). Moreover, students should state their accomplishments in a current school and how they have met instructors’ expectations when writing their essays.

An Example of a Paragraph in Section 4

My time in my current institution is productive and intellectually engaging. Although there are reasons why I want to transfer from my current place of education, I am spending my time to get the best of what I have. For example, I use the college library to gain insights into nursing topics and interact with instructors to seek clarification on complex concepts. Some resources in my current place of education are still beneficial to my intellectual development and career preparation. A core value that enables me to optimize my time in school is commitment, and I am deeply committed to my intellectual growth, not allowing a desire to transfer derail me from what is essential. While an institution may be supportive, the student’s attitude determines their success.

💠 Section/Paragraph 5: My Study Dream & Example

Section 5 of writing a college transfer essay focuses on a student’s dream, career aspirations, or what a person wants to become after graduation. For example, people have different reasons on why they pursue a higher level of education (Turner, 2020). In essay writing, students should use this section to educate an intended audience about an end goal of their place of education. Therefore, they should tell readers about their dream and how they intend to achieve it. At this point, authors should state how a transfer request is open to plans because it allows them to get into a resourceful learning environment (Franklin, 2023). When a target audience reads this writing section, they should answer “why us?” because students emphasize how a new college differs from their current institutions. However, they should briefly mention a new school’s positives because a central focus of writing an essay is on their dream.

An Example of a Paragraph in Section 5

My dream to become a registered nurse is the reason for my college transfer request. All my life, I have dreamed of becoming a healthcare professional to enable people to live healthier lives. A college education is a prerequisite for this dream. While my current institution has taught me the fundamentals of a nursing career, it has not immersed me fully into the practical environment. This gap is why I seek to move from my current school to your institution. While searching for an alternative place of education, I learned how your institution considers practical education integral to holistic learning. Your college immerses learners into the career environment through field trips and student attachment programs. This orientation is critical and beneficial to my quest to become a registered nurse knowledgeable in theory and practice.

💠 Section/Paragraph 6: How Your College Will Help Me & Example

Section 6 of writing a college transfer essay is about a competitive advantage of a specific school or program students seek to join, meaning they inform an intended audience about some aspects of their institution that make it attractive. For example, these writing aspects may include education programs, student policies, and resource availability (Sawyer, 2020). Moreover, people must emphasize college’s advantages over their current institution and how they support their career aspirations (Turner, 2020). In writing their essays, students should inform a target audience about what they need and how their school has helped to meet it. An example of a need may be practical skills, and some resources that a particular place of education has at a moment may help them to develop themselves, including attachment programs that immerse learners into a realistic environment, such as a workplace (Franklin, 2023). Besides, writing a college transfer essay must emphasize how a target institution beats the rest as an ideal place to achieve a learning outcome.

An Example of a Paragraph in Section 6

Prioritizing students’ practical knowledge is central to your college’s identity and the primary reason for my college transfer request. I have learned how nursing students get at least two field trips per academic year and how an attachment program allows learners to work in a clinical environment during holidays. These orientations are fundamental to gaining insights into the dynamics in the healthcare environment and their impact on the nurse-patient relationship. Unfortunately, my current place of education has limited opportunities for such exposure, questioning its commitment to students’ holistic learning. As a nursing college that minds students’ practical skills, your institution stands above the rest as the institution of choice for students aspiring to a nursing career. In this respect, I am confident I have made the right choice to seek a transfer to your institution.

💠 Section/Paragraph 7: Memorable Closure & Example

Section 7 of writing a college transfer essay summarizes a student’s communication with an admission committee. For example, to end a college transfer essay, people summarize their main points, reaffirm their desire to move, and express their enthusiasm for principal opportunities that a new institution offers for their academic and personal growth (Sawyer, 2020). As such, they must make an essay short, relevant, and impactful in their writing. Further on, these outcomes are essential in making it memorable to a target audience and a reason to grant a transfer request (Turner, 2020). In principle, various strategies for writing this section include using an academic tone to wrap an essay. Moreover, this inspiring closing emphasizes one’s personality, ending with a statement beginning with “I have a dream,” commenting on how a new school will be a new or second home or how people will benefit a new family as much as they can (Franklin, 2023). Regardless of writing an entire ending of an essay, students should refrain from introducing further information in this section because they must exhaust all they have to say in preceding paragraphs.

An Example of a Paragraph in Section 7

I firmly believe my college transfer request is timely. The information I have offered is genuine and shows my desire to join your institution as my new family. I promise to do my best to contribute to the welfare of this family without losing sight of my core values. As you read my request, please, consider the resources lacking in my current institution but available in yours and how they are essential to my career aspiration.

Example of a Full College Transfer Essay

Comment: Key writing details in each section of a college transfer essay should help students to produce a persuasive paper as below:

The core values that define my personality and personal identity are a desire to do good, dependability, hard work, commitment, integrity, generosity, and moral uprightness. One reason for this transfer request is your institution’s anti-plagiarism policy. While my current college has been valuable in helping me demonstrate most of my core values, it could have been more helpful regarding integrity. Academic honesty is the most relevant issue in demonstrating integrity today. Typically, colleges and professors clarify to students with solid emphasis the penalty of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism. While my current place of education does this, I do not find the penalties sufficient to dissuade academic dishonesty. Such laxity may expose me to circumstances where I may violate my value system. For example, I have faced a dilemma severally of whether to report my peers who plagiarize their work.

A host of programs in my current school has proven valuable in my quest for intellectual development. However, I chose the institution primarily because it is in the same city as my home, and I could save on accommodation money. Nonetheless, I have made important leaps in knowledge since I joined. I am in the second year of college education and spend most of my time researching topics in the library. Indeed, my research skills have developed incredibly during my time at the institution. I credit this intellectual development to the professors who give assignments, including essays and research papers, requiring students to research materials. As such, the college library has been like a second home to me. As I seek to leave, I take these experiences as a ladder for greater intellectual development in my next home.

One reason for requesting a transfer from my current institution is the limited opportunities for career exposure. For example, it is normal for students to go a whole year without a field trip despite course content insisting on the need to link theory and practice. While researching the college to transfer to, I found your website and information about how the institution prioritizes field trips as a pillar of students’ practical learning. As a nursing student, I must get first-hand experience with the dynamics that influence healthcare in the clinical environment, such as the relationship between nurses and patients and the issues that nurses confront daily in developing or nurturing the relationship. As I investigated your college, I learned that nursing students have at least two field trips each academic year. This orientation is ideal for my career aspiration.

My time in my current institution has been productive and intellectually rewarding. Although there are reasons why I want to transfer from my current place of education, I am spending my time to get the best of what I have. For example, I use the college library to gain insights into nursing topics and interact with instructors to seek clarification on complex concepts. Some resources in my current place of education are still beneficial to my intellectual development and career preparation. A core value that enables me to optimize my time in school is commitment, and I am deeply committed to my intellectual growth, not allowing a desire to transfer derail me from what is essential. While an institution may be supportive, the student’s attitude determines their success.

My dream to become a registered nurse is the reason for my college transfer request. I have dreamed of becoming a healthcare professional to help people live healthier lives. A college education is a prerequisite for this dream. While my current institution has taught me the fundamentals of a nursing career, it has not immersed me fully into the practical environment. This gap is why I seek to move from my current school to your institution. While searching for an alternative place of education, I learned how your institution considers practical education integral to holistic learning. Your college immerses learners into the career environment through field trips and student attachment programs. This orientation is critical and beneficial to my quest to become a registered nurse knowledgeable in theory and practice.

Therefore, the primary reason for my college transfer request is your institution’s tradition of prioritizing students’ practical knowledge. I have learned how field trips and an attachment program allow learners to work in a clinical environment. These orientations are fundamental to gaining insights into the dynamics in the healthcare environment and their impact on the nurse-patient relationship. Unfortunately, my current place of education has limited opportunities for such exposure, questioning its commitment to students’ holistic learning. As a nursing college that minds students’ practical skills, your institution stands above the rest as the institution of choice for students aspiring to a nursing career. In this respect, I am confident I have made the right choice to seek a transfer to your institution.

Why and Where Do You Need to Write

Students write a college transfer essay to move from a higher learning institution they are currently in to another one. For example, to explain why students want to transfer colleges, they begin by focusing on specific academic, social, or personal reasons that their current institution cannot fulfill and describe how a new school offers better opportunities for their growth and future goals (Sawyer, 2020). As such, various reasons compel students to write this essay, such as an unsatisfactory learning environment, new unfriendly policies, increased fees, or any other reason that might make one want to leave. However, transfers are not automatic, and students must convince an institution they seek to relocate to that their request is valid (Turner, 2020). In other words, higher learning institutions do not encourage students to transfer for a sake of it. Further on, admission committees demonstrate this attitude by requiring students to explain through their essays why they want to move to a new institution (Franklin, 2023). Therefore, when writing an essay, one should approach such a document with some seriousness because any admission committee can reject a request if it finds that key reasons on why a person wants to relocate are invalid. In turn, some writing examples of sentence starters for beginning a college transfer essay are:

• As I reflect on my past academic journey, I realize that my current institution no longer aligns with my goals of [specify them].
• A current decision to transfer was not made lightly but rather through a careful consideration of my academic and personal experiences.
• During my time at [current place of education], I have come to understand an actual importance of finding a college that fully supports my aspirations.
• While I have gained valuable insights at my current school, I now seek a new environment that offers greater opportunities in [name them].
• Academic challenges I have faced have prompted me to reevaluate my path and pursue a university that better suits my ambitions.
• After much reflection, I recognize that my growth requires a shift to a new master’s program that offers specialized resources I need to [answer what you need].
• My experiences at [current university] have shaped who I am, but they have also highlighted a need for a new academic direction.
• What initially seemed like a right college fit has proven to be limiting in ways I had not anticipated, leading me to seek [answer what you seek].
• A combination of academic curiosity and a desire for personal development has led me to a decision to transfer to [indicate a master’s program].
• As I consider my future, it is clear that a next step in my academic journey lies in a doctoral program that can provide [answer what you want to study].

Most Common College Transfer Prompts

• Some students believe their college transfer request is complete with a mention of their background, identity, interest, or talent, which they consider meaningful. If this statement describes you, kindly share your story in an essay.
• Obstacles can provide lessons that prove fundamental to later success. Please, write about your experience of a challenge, failure, or setback, how it affected you, and the lesson(s) you learned.
• Recall when you challenged or questioned a belief or an idea and reflect on it, commenting on what prompted the thinking and the outcome in an essay.
• In an essay format, describe a problem you have solved or would like to solve, stating its significance and the steps you took or would take to find a solution. Consider problems important to you regardless of their orientation or magnitude, such as a research question, ethical dilemma, or intellectual challenge.
• Discuss how a personal accomplishment, event, or awareness triggered a period of personal growth and a deeper understanding of self or others in an essay.
• Describe an idea, concept, or topic that captivates you to the extent of losing track of time. Explain why it has this effect and what you do to learn more about it.
• Choose a topic for an essay. Feel free to consider topics you have written about, topics that respond to a different prompt, or a topic you design from the knowledge you have gained.
• Explore some ideas that make you hungry for intellectual development. In your writing, state how these ideas can help describe your life perspective.
• In your essay, write about how a career aspiration can propel one’s desire for academic achievement and state some behaviors students demonstrate when pursuing a career goal.
• How do you define a dream, and how is it relevant to one’s education? Describe how your dream underscores your choice of a college in an essay.
• What are motivations? What motivations underscore your desire to join a specific school? Write about them.
• Discuss life experiences as educational in your writing. Describe a personal experience that has taught you important life lessons that underscore your value system in an essay.

The Prompt That Represents Your Strength the Most

Typically, student admission committees ask students to describe certain aspects of their education as a basis for their transfer request. For example, to start a college essay as a transfer student, people begin by introducing themselves, briefly describing their current academic situation, and providing a clear, concise explanation of why they are seeking to move (Sawyer, 2020). While addressing all the prompts above in a college transfer essay is standard, students may need to focus on one or several themes. The best way to write a perfect essay focusing on a few prompts is to choose those that represent their strength the most (Turner, 2020). In writing, one may select prompt #7, which asks students to write some essay topics of their choice. Moreover, a key reason for choosing such a prompt is that it gives one enough room to generate ideas. Since different topics decide an overall quality of an essay one can produce, allowing students to determine a specific theme to write about is helpful because they can choose what they are passionate about or knowledgeable about.

Outline and Template

Title (Optional): Topic

I. Introduction

• Starting with a hook.
• A personal statement that highlights one’s core values in an essay.
• Provide reasons for choosing a new college.
• Include reasons for wanting to leave a current place of education.
• Explain how one has or is optimizing time in a current school or program.
• Emphasize career aspiration.
• Write about why a new institution will make an entire aspiration come true.

III. Conclusion

• End a college transfer essay with memorable information that impresses a target audience enough to grant a request.

List of References (Optional)

• Cite any academic source or website according to a required citation format, such as APA, ML, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian.

College Transfer Essay Example

Topic: How Career Aspirations Drive My Need for a New College?

I am ambitious because I always make the best of every opportunity and seek personal development. My personality’s core values include altruism, ambition, hard work, generosity, commitment, empathy, and dependability. Indeed, these values have been fundamental in shaping my experiences with people and institutions. I write to request a college transfer to the University of Pennsylvania because Amherst College no longer supports my career aspiration.

Undoubtedly, Amherst College is a wonderful place because it promotes students’ social and intellectual development. I chose this school of thought because I have heard stories about it being the home of liberal arts. Coming from a home with a father who practices as a family therapist and a mother who spends most of her working time attending to patients in a psychiatric institution, I have always dreamed of being a psychologist. Amherst College has been instrumental in my quest to attain this career aspiration.

However, I want to transfer from Amherst because I wish for a place committed to cutting-edge research and innovation. During my time at Amherst, I have seen students travel to distant colleges to gain a deeper insight into the research world. While this tradition has benefits, it inconveniences students’ intellectual development. Moreover, how a college invests in a course or program reflects its commitment to the academic and intellectual welfare of concerned students. From this perspective, Amherst College has work to do.

While I seek to transfer to Penn, I do not take my time at Amherst for granted. I continue to focus on my academic work, utilizing the available resources, including professors and the physical and online libraries, to the maximum. The core values of ambition, hard work, and commitment propel me to use every minute at Amherst to develop intellectually and move closer to my dream.

As stated, becoming a psychologist is my life-long aspiration. I dream of helping people with mental health problems because evidence shows psychiatric disorders are increasingly becoming common. Indeed, the pressures of life that continue to mount amid compounding problems trigger mental health issues, including anger, depression, stress, and suicidal ideation. Psychologists are in demand because they can prevent these experiences and conditions from resulting in severe outcomes like death.

While searching for an alternative place of education, I learned about Penn’s commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation, which enrich its brand in the United States and beyond. Psychology is an evolving discipline; only research can help equip students and practicing psychologists with evidence-based knowledge to address contemporary mental health issues. Moreover, innovation empowers psychologists to know how to use limited resources to achieve optimal results. Penn’s research and innovation orientation can propel me to a career where I become knowledgeable in using available resources to help the greatest number of people with mental health problems.

In conclusion, I write this request for a college transfer because I believe that, while Amherst is an incredible institution that has taught me the fundamentals of psychology, it lacks what I need to achieve my dream. Penn’s commitment to cutting-edge research and innovation is a ladder I intend to climb to become a psychologist who is responsive to the mental health issues of the time .

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Steps on How to Write a College Transfer Essay

Writing a college transfer essay is a technical process that demands students’ utmost focus and commitment to academic writing conventions. For example, to write a college transfer essay, people clearly explain their reasons for transferring, reflect on their experiences at their current schools, highlight why a new institution is a better fit, and connect their academic and career goals to key opportunities that a new program offers (Franklin, 2023). In writing, an entire technicality of producing this kind of document underscores key details students should consider to create a high-standard essay. Basicially, these details include preparation, stage setup, writing an essay, and wrap-up.

Step 1: Preparation

Preparation is a first step in writing a college transfer essay. For example, since an entire document must address why a student wants to move from one place of education to another, people must consider such reasons and how to defend them (Sawyer, 2020). In other words, students must brainstorm to generate essay ideas about their current school and a new institution they seek to join.

Step 2: Stage Setup

Setting up a stage is a second writing step of creating a college transfer essay. For example, students must understand that ideas are not enough, and they must know how to organize them to create a coherent composition (Turner, 2020). As such, this writing step involves adopting an attitude and approach that leads to a persuasive high-standard essay. In turn, one approach to consider is a 7-section essay outline that helps people to communicate effectively their reason for requesting a college transfer.

Step 3: Writing an Essay

Writing a first draft of a college transfer essay is a third step. For example, students should focus on producing an initial draft to demonstrate a coherent flow of ideas and thoughts (Franklin, 2023). In writing, this document has numerous mistakes because a person’s focus is to have a complete essay communicating his or her reason for wanting a change of a place of education.

Step 4: Wrap-Up

In this last step of writing a college transfer essay, students should perfect their initial drafts into final papers. For example, a priority is eliminating all writing flaws, including grammar errors and inconsistent ideas and statements (Sawyer, 2020). Revising and editing an essay helps students to produce a perfect document.

Considering the preceding sections, a college transfer essay is a complex document that requires students to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of essential writing details, like a 7-section structure and common prompts. For example, in a college transfer essay, students need to avoid blaming their current school, being overly negative, or providing vague reasons for transferring without offering specific examples or thoughtful reflections (Turner, 2020). As a result, key tips for demonstrating such understanding include staying focused on a single topic while being creative in content, knowing why one is writing an essay, focusing on an aspect of a current school that does not support one’s career dream, focusing on making oneself marketable, aiming to be the best among many candidates, demonstrating a logical progression of ideas and thoughts throughout an entire text, not bad-mouthing a current college, emphasizing a competitive advantage of a new institution, convincing a target audience that a reason for wanting to move is genuine, and concluding a paper with a memorable ending that leaves a lasting impression or does not impact on readers.

10 things to do:

• writing a personal statement that underscores one’s core values in an essay,
• describing some strengths of a new institution,
• stating some weaknesses of a current school,
• emphasizing a competitive edge of a new college,
• explaining one’s career aspiration,
• being specific in why one wants to move from their present place to a new school,
• following a 7-section essay structure in writing,
• not talking negatively about a current place of education,
• not exaggerating issues,
• ending a college transfer essay in a way that makes a lasting impression on an audience.

10 things not to do:

• failing to emphasize one’s value system in writing an essay,
• attacking one’s current school,
• exaggerating some positives of a new school,
• being informal in writing,
• assuming an audience knows why one wants to move,
• overthinking about impressing a target audience at an expense of being genuine in expressing one’s desire to relocate,
• thinking a college transfer essay is not academic because its writing is not related to a course,
• being simplistic in communication without aiming to impress,
• assuming an intended audience will have only one application to consider,
• writing an essay in a hurry and making numerous grammatical mistakes.

What to Include

Common mistakes.

• Focusing Too Much on Negatives: Dwelling on why you dislike your current school without highlighting what you learned or gained can come off as bitter.
• Being Too Vague About Your Reasons: General statements, like “I want more opportunities,” without specific examples weaken your essay writing and argument.
• Lack of Research on a New Place of Education: Failing to show a deep understanding of prospective university’s programs or resources makes your interest seem superficial.
• Not Explaining Personal Growth: Skipping over how you have grown from your current experiences makes your college transfer essay feel incomplete.
• Being Overly Critical of Your Current School: Criticizing your current place of education harshly can make your writing seem ungrateful or negative.
• Ignoring Academic Goals: Focusing solely on social or extracurricular reasons for transferring without addressing your academic needs in writing may appear unfocused.
• Using a Generic Essay: Reusing a generic essay in cases of multiple applications without tailoring writing to each school weakens your argument.
• Forgetting to Proofread: Spelling, grammatical, punctuation, and other writing errors can detract from an overall professionalism of your college transfer essay.
• Not Connecting With New College’s Values: Failing to explain how your values align with a new school’s mission shows a lack of genuine interest.
• Rambling or Lack of Focus: Writing without a clear structure or point makes it difficult for admission officers to follow your reasoning.

A college transfer essay is a crucial part of a student’s application, providing an opportunity to explain why a person wishes to change an institution. In writing, key points include addressing academic goals, personal experiences at a current school, and specific reasons on why a student wants to join a new institution. Moreover, writing such an essay should highlight personal growth, unique opportunities available at a prospective place of education, and how it aligns with student’s career objectives. Finally, a well-organized paper is essential to convincing admission committees that a transfer request is justified. In turn, principal writing takeaways to remember are:

• Find the best way to express yourself without exaggerations in an essay.
• Adopting a narrative writing approach to communicating details about a current place of education, such as personal experiences.
• Integrating humor but remaining formal in communication and writing.
• Using one paragraph to communicate a single idea or aspect of a transfer request, such as some strengths or weaknesses of a current school.
• Asking for help from a professor(s).
• Brainstorming ideas to make a college transfer essay impressive.
• Assuming an intended audience comprises scholars to avoid careless mistakes, like grammar or writing errors.
• Focusing on an aspect of a current institution that is unsupportive of one’s career dream in an essay.
• Emphasizing aspects of a new place that support one’s career aspiration.
• Proofreading a college transfer essay several times for any writing or formatting mistakes.

Alvero, A., Pal, J., & Moussavian, K. M. (2022). Linguistic, cultural, and narrative capital: Computational and human readings of transfer admissions essays. Journal of Computational Social Science , 5 (2), 1709–1734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42001-022-00185-5

Cepeda, R., Buelow, M. T., Jaggars, S. S., & Rivera, M. D. (2021). “Like a freshman who didn’t get a freshman orientation”: How transfer student capital, social support, and self-efficacy intertwine in the transfer student experience. Frontiers in Psychology , 12 , 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.767395

Franklin, C. M. (2023). A guide to writing college admissions essays: Practical advice for students and parents . Rowman & Littlefield.

Lukszo, C. M., & Hayes, S. (2019). Facilitating transfer student success: Exploring sources of transfer student capital. Community College Review , 48 (1), 31–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0091552119876017

Sawyer, E. (2020). College admission essentials: A step-by-step guide to showing colleges who you are and what matters to you . Sourcebooks.

Turner, J. (2020). Writing your way into college: How to write everything you need to get into your top school . Independently Published.

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