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How to Write a College Transfer Essay (With Examples)

Lisa Freedland is a Scholarships360 writer with personal experience in psychological research and content writing. She has written content for an online fact-checking organization and has conducted research at the University of Southern California as well as the University of California, Irvine. Lisa graduated from the University of Southern California in Fall 2021 with a degree in Psychology.

Learn about our editorial policies

Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Undergraduate transfers continue to increase, growing 5.3 percent from the fall of 2022 to fall of 2023. Students may transfer for a variety of reasons, ranging from academics to athletics to geography. Some students simply want to be closer to home or found that the culture of the college started out in is not a fit for them. 

If you are in the process of transferring colleges, it’s likely that you will have to write a personal essay as part of your transfer admissions process. Ultimately, there’s no one way to write a college transfer essay. Everyone is unique, and this individuality should shine through in your essays.

However, there are some recommended things to include, and even a real example essay that was used to successfully transfer college! In this post, we’ll help you write a powerful transfer essay so you can tell your story to the admissions committee.

Jump ahead to…

• Do’s and don’ts
• Why did you choose your current school?

What are your main reasons for transferring out of your current school?

Why do you want to attend the transfer school.

• Example essay

Additional resources

• Key takeaways
• Frequently asked questions

College transfer essays: The do’s and don’ts

Before we start, we want to cover a few basics do’s and don’ts about what your transfer essays should be about.

• Elaborate on how your current school has helped you progress towards your goals. Positivity is always a good thing!
• Research your prospective school (e.g. specific classes, organizations, opportunities) for why you want to go there.
• Make sure to follow the standard/correct essay format! Transfer essay prompts may vary from college to college so you should make sure that you’re answering the exact question.
• Use up your limited word count by listing negative aspects about your current school. Instead, focus on how it has helped you grow, but how another school could further help you develop your interests/passions 
• List a group of random classes or opportunities available at your new school. Mention opportunities you’re (genuinely) interested in that relate to your goals and passions – make sure you’re telling a story through your essay.
• Copy your initial admissions essay (the one that you used when applying to colleges in high school) – you’ve changed a lot during your time in college so you will want to write a brand new essay.

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What is the goal of the transfer essay.

Potential transfer students should know that not all colleges and universities require transfer essays, so when in doubt definitely check-in with the college in question for clarification. For the purposes of this article and the sample transfer essay, we’ll be using this prompt:

Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. 

Most colleges will be interested in learning why you want to transfer and how transferring will help you achieve your goals. However, specific prompts will vary from college to college, so you should definitely pay attention to the specific prompt you are asked to respond to.

Some of the common questions you’ll come across include:

• How will your transfer school help you accomplish your goals?

Below I’ll break down how to respond to each of these questions and include an example from a successful transfer essay.

Also see: Can you transfer into an ivy league school?

Why did you choose your current school? 

To answer this question, you’ll have to go back in time when you were in 12th grade and selecting your college. Did you choose the college because it had a program you liked? Maybe you really wanted to take classes with a specific professor? Maybe you thought you wanted to attend college in a specific part of the world? Whatever the reason you should lay it out in the most factual way possible.

Here’s how I responded to this question:

Just like Jeopardy, Criminal Minds is also a show that I have watched from a very young age, and one that I continue to watch quite regularly. Being exposed to this interesting world of FBI profilers for so long inspired me to want to dive into the world of psychology myself. Due to this, I originally chose the University of Wisconsin, Madison for its amazing psychology program, and because I wanted to try something new. Being from California, this “something new” came in the form of watching snow fall from the sky, seeing cheese curds being sold in all the grocery stores, and simply living somewhere far away from home.

Also see: How to write a 250 word essay

This is always an important question for transfer admissions officers: why did your current college not work out? We recommend that students be as honest as possible and stick to the facts (as opposed to simply complaining about your current school).

Students have very different reasons for changing schools, which often depend on what type of school you’re transferring from (a 2-year or 4-year). While many community college students transfer because their plans did work out and they’ve accomplished what they wanted to at their school, those transferring from four-year universities often do so for less positive reasons (which was my experience).

If the situation at your college didn’t exactly pan out as you thought it would, you should also try to talk about some of the ways you are making the most of the situation. This shows the admissions officers that despite the less-than-ideal circumstances, you have continued to learn, grow, and contribute to your community.

Here’s how I accomplished this:

Arriving in Wisconsin, I got exactly what I wanted: an amazing psychology program and the experience of being somewhere quite different from the place I called home. My classes were interesting, my professors were helpful and caring, and experiencing the first snow was quite exciting. However, as winter progressed, walking back from class everyday under the progressively gloomier sky seemed to be a cruel reminder that I was no longer in sunny Southern California. While eating dinner in our many dining halls, I always viewed the wide array of food available: quesadillas, Chinese food, burgers, even pecan pie. The food was all delicious, but going day after day without even seeing Korean food once made me miss those fun dinners with my family. Back at my dorm, my “home away from home”, it started to feel like anything but being at home. To feel more comfortable where I was, I decided to pursue things I liked, and that I was familiar with. My passion for psychology led me to join the university’s Psychology Club, where I was able to learn about recent revelations within the field of psychology, furthering my interest in the subject. 

Going through the admissions process as a transfer student is interesting, because you have learned a lot about yourself and your preferences at your first college. This should provide you with a great perspective on what you are looking for next.

The two major things you’ll want to accomplish when answering this question are why the transfer college in question is a good fit for you and how it can help you accomplish your goals as a student.

Specificity is always more ideal here so you can show that you have spent some time thinking about what you want and also how the new college fits.

Here’s how I did this:

I plan on using the knowledge I gain in psychology, either from organizations or classes, to help people. I want to one day apply this knowledge to research, to discover possible methods to help the people suffering from the psychological problems I study. Alternatively, I hope to use this knowledge as a criminal profiler, using my understanding of psychology to narrow down pools of suspects.  To be able to accomplish either of these, I need to develop a much deeper understanding of both people’s motivations for the things they do as well as of the many psychological issues people face. For these reasons, I am very excited at the prospect of exploring and enrolling in the classes offered by USC’s Department of Psychology. In particular, Psych 360: Abnormal Psychology would be an amazing introduction to psychological disorders and their causes. Psych 314L: Research Methods would then help me put this knowledge about disorders to good use by teaching me how to properly conduct research and find possible solutions for people’s problems.

College transfer essays: an example

Here we go! Throughout this article, I’ve shown you my college essay divided into sections, and now’s time for the full thing. I can honestly say that this essay had a 100% success rate! Without further ado, here is my full college transfer essay (and prompt):

Prompt: Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. 

I wake up from my daily after-school nap to realize that it is already dinner time. As I walk downstairs, I smell the delicious fragrance coming from my mom’s samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup), one of my favorite meals. Soon enough, everyone sits down to watch the newest episode of Jeopardy , a tradition we’ve had going on for as long as I can remember. As I take that first sip of samgyetang, and miss yet another geography question on Jeopardy – and wait for my family to inevitably tease me about it – I feel at home, like I am somewhere that I belong. Wherever I go, I hope I can encounter that same warm feeling. Just like Jeopardy , Criminal Minds is also a show that I have watched from a very young age, and one that I continue to watch quite regularly. Being exposed to this interesting world of FBI profilers for so long inspired me to want to dive into the world of psychology myself. Due to this, I originally chose the University of Wisconsin, Madison for its amazing psychology program, and because I wanted to try something new. Being from California, this “something new” came in the form of watching snow fall from the sky, seeing cheese curds being sold in all the grocery stores, and simply living somewhere far away from home. Arriving in Wisconsin, I got exactly what I wanted: an amazing psychology program and the experience of being somewhere quite different from the place I called home. My classes were interesting, my professors were helpful and caring, and experiencing the first snow was quite exciting. However, as winter progressed, walking back from class everyday under the progressively gloomier sky seemed to be a cruel reminder that I was no longer in sunny Southern California. While eating dinner in our many dining halls, I always viewed the wide array of food available: quesadillas, Chinese food, burgers, even pecan pie. The food was all delicious, but going day after day without even seeing Korean food once, it made me miss those fun dinners with my family. Back at my dorm, my “home away from home,” it started to feel like anything but being at home. To feel more comfortable where I was, I decided to pursue things I liked, and that I was familiar with. My passion for psychology led me to join the university’s Psychology Club, where I was able to learn about recent revelations within the field of psychology, furthering my interest in the subject. I plan on using the knowledge I gain in psychology, either from organizations or classes, to help people. I want to one day apply this knowledge to research, to discover possible methods to help the people suffering from the psychological problems I study. Alternatively, I hope to use this knowledge as a criminal profiler, using my understanding of psychology to narrow down pools of suspects.  To be able to accomplish either of these, I need to develop a much deeper understanding of both people’s motivations for the things they do as well as of the many psychological issues people face. For these reasons, I am very excited at the prospect of exploring and enrolling in the classes offered by USC’s Department of Psychology. In particular, Psych 360: Abnormal Psychology would be an amazing introduction to psychological disorders and their causes. Psych 314L: Research Methods would then help me put this knowledge about disorders to good use by teaching me how to properly conduct research and find possible solutions for people’s problems. With so many opportunities available at USC, I hope to not only help others feel more comfortable, but to find a second home for myself after all.

And that’s it! This essay touches on all of the tips listed above, and should serve as helpful inspiration as you begin your writing. Hopefully, it gives you an idea of how to integrate everything you should mention in a cohesive essay. With that, I wish you good luck with your college transfer essays (and applications)!

Don’t miss: What looks good on a college application?

If you finish your essay and still have questions about the transfer process, consider checking out these Scholarships360 resources:

• How to transfer colleges
• How to transfer from a community college
• Top scholarships for transfer students
• How to choose a college
• What’s the difference between a private and public university?

Key Takeaways

• Explain why you want to transfer, what you need that you are not getting at your current school, and why you chose your current school to begin with
• Always present things in a positive light
• Share how the transfer school will help you achieve your goals and why you are a good fit for the school

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Frequently asked questions about writing college transfer essays 

How are college transfer essays different from regular application essays, do all schools require transfer essays, can i reuse my old college essays for a transfer, what should you not say in a transfer essay, scholarships360 recommended.

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How to Write a College Transfer Essay: All You Need to Know

By Eric Eng

Write a College Transfer Essay: All You Need to Know

Writing a college transfer essay can be a daunting process. For those wondering “How to write a college transfer essay,” not only do you need to express your desires and goals coherently, but you also need to convince the admissions officers that the transfer is the best decision for your academic future. Fear not, this comprehensive guide is here to help you make sense of it all and deliver a clear, compelling transfer essay.

Understanding the Purpose of a College Transfer Essay

The first step in writing a successful college transfer essay is understanding its purpose. Unlike your typical application essay, a transfer essay serves multiple purposes. Most importantly, it gives you a platform to explain why you want to transfer to a new college.

Transferring to a different college can be a significant decision, and it’s essential to convey your reasons effectively. Your transfer essay serves as a bridge between your current educational journey and your aspirations for the future. It allows you to articulate your motivations, goals, and how the new college aligns with your academic and personal growth.

The Role of a Transfer Essay in Your Application

Your transfer essay plays an indispensable role in your application. It supplements your academic records and test scores by giving admissions officers a deeper understanding of your motivations and aspirations. This is your chance to explain why the school should consider you and why you believe it’s the right fit for you.

When crafting your transfer essay, it’s crucial to showcase your self-awareness and maturity. Admissions officers want to see that you have carefully evaluated your current college experience and have valid reasons for seeking a transfer. Additionally, they are interested in understanding how the new college can provide you with the opportunities and resources you need to thrive academically and personally.

Key Elements Admissions Officers Look For

Admissions officers are keen to discern a few key elements in your transfer essay. One, they want to know why you’re looking to transfer. The reasons should be specific to academics, not generic or personal issues.

It’s essential to reflect on your current college experience and identify any limitations or gaps that have hindered your academic progress or personal growth. Perhaps your current college lacks certain courses or research opportunities that are vital to your academic interests. Or maybe you have discovered a new passion or career path that the new college specializes in. Whatever the reasons may be, it’s crucial to articulate them clearly and convincingly.

They are also interested in what you’ve achieved in your current college and how you aim to contribute to their campus community. Admissions officers want to see evidence of your engagement and involvement in extracurricular activities, leadership roles, or community service. Highlighting your accomplishments and demonstrating your potential to make a positive impact on the new college community can significantly strengthen your transfer essay.

Lastly, your future goals in relation to the prospective college’s offerings are crucial. Admissions officers want to understand how the new college can help you achieve your academic and career aspirations. Whether it’s through specialized programs, renowned faculty, or unique research opportunities, it’s important to showcase how the new college’s resources align with your goals and how you plan to make the most of them.

Preparing to Write Your Transfer Essay

Before you put pen to paper, you have to do some preliminary work, which is crucial in understanding how to write a college transfer essay. This includes determining why you want to move to a different college and researching your prospective college.

Self-Reflection: Identifying Your Reasons for Transferring

Identifying your reasons for transferring is a critical step. Reflect on your experiences in your current college. Work to distinguish the academic opportunities you felt were lacking that led to your decision. This exercise helps you construct a convincing case in your essay.

When reflecting on your reasons for transferring colleges , it’s important to consider both the academic and non-academic aspects of your college experience. Think about the courses you’ve taken and whether they align with your academic goals and interests. Are there any specific majors or programs that your current college doesn’t offer, but your prospective college does? Additionally, reflect on the social and cultural environment of your current college. Are you looking for a more diverse and inclusive community? Do you want to be closer to home or have access to certain extracurricular activities? These are all valid reasons for considering a transfer.

Furthermore, it’s essential to delve deeper into your personal growth and development during your time at your current college. Reflect on any challenges you’ve faced and how you’ve overcome them. Consider the relationships you’ve built with professors, classmates, and mentors. Have these relationships positively impacted your academic journey? Have you been able to engage in meaningful research, internships, or community service? By evaluating these aspects, you can better understand how your current college has shaped your aspirations and what you hope to gain from a transfer.

Researching Your Prospective College

Thorough research on your prospective college is a must. Gain an understanding of the curriculum, faculty, student life, and opportunities available. The more informed you are about the college, the better you can articulate why it’s the right fit for you.

Start by exploring the college’s website and familiarize yourself with the different academic departments and majors they offer. Look into the faculty profiles and see if any professors align with your research interests or have notable accomplishments in your field of study. Consider the college’s approach to education and whether it aligns with your learning style and goals. Are there any unique programs or initiatives that stand out to you?

Additionally, delve into the student life aspect of the college. Research the various clubs, organizations, and extracurricular activities available. Are there any specific clubs or groups that align with your interests and passions? Consider the campus culture and the opportunities for personal and professional growth outside of the classroom. Are there internship or study abroad programs that intrigue you?

Furthermore, it’s crucial to gain insights from current students or alumni of the prospective college. Reach out to them through social media or online forums to ask questions about their experiences. Attend virtual information sessions or college fairs to interact with admissions representatives and get a better sense of the college’s community.

By conducting thorough research, you will not only gather valuable information about the college but also demonstrate your genuine interest and commitment in your transfer essay. This knowledge will allow you to highlight specific aspects of the college that resonate with your academic and personal goals, making your essay more compelling and persuasive.

Structuring Your College Transfer Essay

Now that you’ve done your groundwork, it’s time to write the essay. A well-structured essay usually has an engaging introduction, well-outlined body paragraphs, and a strong conclusion. However, there are additional aspects to consider when crafting your college transfer essay that can make it even more compelling and impactful.

Crafting an Engaging Introduction

Your introduction should be engaging and set the tone for the rest of your essay. While it is important to immediately address your intention to transfer and give a brief hint on why, you can also consider adding a personal anecdote or a captivating story that highlights your journey and the challenges you have faced. This will not only grab the reader’s attention but also create a connection between you and the admissions committee.

Furthermore, you can incorporate relevant statistics or research findings about the benefits of transferring to colleges. This can help support your decision and provide a solid foundation for your essay. By including these additional details, you demonstrate your dedication to thorough research and showcase your ability to make informed decisions.

Outlining Your Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs provide a detailed explanation of your reasons for transferring, your academic achievements, and how you can contribute to the new college community. While it’s advisable to have a paragraph for each point to maximize clarity, you can also enhance your essay by including specific examples and experiences that illustrate your reasons for transferring.

For instance, instead of simply stating that you want to transfer to a college with a stronger program in your major, you can share a story about how you discovered your passion for that field and how your current college lacks the resources or opportunities to fully nurture that passion. By providing concrete examples, you not only make your essay more engaging but also demonstrate your ability to reflect on your experiences and make informed decisions about your academic journey.

Writing a Strong Conclusion

A strong conclusion does more than repeat the essay’s main points. While it is important to summarize your reasons for transferring and reiterate your future goals, you can also consider expanding on the prospective college’s role in achieving these objectives.

By researching specific programs, clubs, or initiatives offered by the college, you can demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment to making the most of your transfer experience. Additionally, you can discuss how the college’s values align with your own and how you envision contributing to the campus community. This not only shows your genuine interest in the college but also highlights your potential as a valuable addition to their student body.

In conclusion, by incorporating personal anecdotes, research findings, specific examples, and a discussion of the prospective college’s offerings, you can expand and enrich your college transfer essay. These additional details will not only make your essay longer but also make it more compelling, memorable, and persuasive. Remember to revise and edit your essay thoroughly to ensure that it flows smoothly and effectively communicates your reasons for transferring and your aspirations for the future.

Essential Tips for Writing a Successful Transfer Essay

Writing a transfer essay can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can create a compelling narrative that showcases your unique qualities and reasons for seeking a new academic environment. In this article, we will delve into some valuable tips that can enhance the quality of your transfer essay, helping you stand out among other applicants.

Highlighting Your Academic Achievements

One crucial aspect of a transfer essay is highlighting your academic achievements in your current college. Don’t shy away from flaunting your accomplishments, such as high grades, research projects, or any other notable academic endeavors. By doing so, you’re not only showcasing your abilities but also demonstrating to the admissions officers that you can excel in their learning environment too.

Additionally, it is essential to provide context for your achievements. Explain the challenges you faced, the skills you developed, and the impact these achievements had on your personal growth. This will give the admissions officers a deeper understanding of your academic journey and the dedication you bring to your studies.

Discussing Your Future Goals

Articulating your future goals is another crucial aspect of a transfer essay. By sharing your aspirations, you show that you have a clear direction and purpose in seeking a new academic setting. Be sure to link these goals with the curriculum and opportunities that the prospective college affords. Research the specific programs, courses, or extracurricular activities that align with your interests and explain how they will contribute to your personal and professional development.

Moreover, it is important to demonstrate how your current college has prepared you for these future goals and how transferring to the new institution will provide you with additional resources, experiences, or mentorship that will further enhance your journey toward achieving them.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Transfer Essays

While writing your transfer essay, it is crucial to avoid common pitfalls that can diminish its impact. One common mistake is focusing on criticizing your current college. Instead, focus on the positive aspects that are driving you to transfer. Highlight the opportunities you seek, the academic environment you desire, or the specific resources that the prospective college offers.

Another pitfall to avoid is being vague about your reasons for transferring. Be specific and honest about why you believe the new institution is a better fit for your academic and personal growth. Explain how the new college aligns with your values, interests, and ambitions, and how it can provide you with the support and opportunities you need to thrive.

Lastly, ensure that your transfer essay reflects your authentic voice and personality. Admissions officers are looking for students who will contribute to the campus community, so let your true self shine through your writing. Share personal anecdotes, experiences, or challenges that have shaped your academic journey and demonstrate how these experiences have prepared you for the next chapter in your education.

By following these essential tips, you can craft a transfer essay that not only showcases your achievements and goals but also highlights your unique qualities and potential contributions to the new academic environment. Remember to proofread your essay carefully, seek feedback from trusted individuals, and submit your application with confidence.

Editing and Polishing Your Transfer Essay

Once your draft is complete, it’s time to edit and polish your essay. This process helps you enhance clarity, correct errors, and bring out a well-structured piece.

Proofreading for Grammar and Spelling Errors

Proofread your essay carefully to correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. These mistakes could distract the reader and undermine your credibility.

Ensuring Clarity and Coherence

Ensuring your essay is coherent and clear is important. The flow of thoughts should be logical, and each paragraph should reinforce your central argument.

Seeking Feedback and Making Revisions

Don’t underestimate the power of a second pair of eyes. Seek feedback from teachers, friends, or family and make necessary revisions to elevate your essay.

In conclusion, writing a college transfer essay requires thorough preparation, clear communication, and an eye for detail. With these tips in hand, you’re ready to write an outstanding transfer essay. Good luck!

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Guide to Writing a Great Transfer Essay

Here is the most common prompt for transfer students applying through the Common App :  

“Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve.” (250-600 words)

The three key steps to mastering the transfer essay are as follows:

Step One: Establish why you want to transfer.

Tell admissions why you want to transfer, and do so without speaking negatively about your current institution. Are you looking for a bigger school? Do you want to attend a university in a tech-centric city? Did you just discover your passion for a major that your current institution doesn’t offer? Transferring is a big decision, so it’s important to show that your intentions are clear. Whatever the reason, refrain from speaking ill of your current school. You want to come off as optimistic and forward thinking to admissions.  

Step Two: Demonstrate your interest.

Why are you applying to this school in particular? You’ve been through the admissions cycle before and you are wiser than you were a year or two ago. Admissions officers will expect that you’ve done your research and are making a calculated, thoughtful decision to transfer. Your interest in transferring to one school should be directly related to your reason for leaving your current school: What gaps or unmet needs will your prospective institution address? Do you want to transfer for the school’s humongous alumni network, award-winning journalism program, or non-profit affiliations? Have you always dreamed of living in the city in which the school is located? Make sure admissions knows that you aren’t applying because “it’s gotta be better than my current school” but because this school is where you feel you truly belong. Illustrate your drive and maybe you’ll be hitting the ground running come the fall. (Hint: the best way to get the information you need is by setting aside a chunk of time to pore over the school website. Sorry, there’s no shortcut, even the second time around.)

Step Three: Establish the highlights of your collegiate career so far.

You have an edge that most freshman don’t: You’ve already been to college, so you know a bit more about the experience as well as your own academic and career goals. Being able to say that you know you will succeed at your school of choice because you flourish in small classrooms, lead in group projects, excel in the math and sciences or whatever your reasoning may be is crucial. Talk about what you have enjoyed about college thus far (again, be positive!) and how you hope to build on your experience at your (hopefully) new school!

Once you complete these three steps, you will have all the ingredients for a fantastic transfer essay! But before you hit submit, a final word of warning: some schools require transfer applicants to submit supplemental essays (remember those?). Do yourself a favor and compile a list of these in advance to ensure that every essay you write reveals something new and special to admissions. But first, give yourself a pat on the back. By reading this post, you’ve already given yourself a leg up (at least we think so). Go you!  

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Transfer Essays That Worked

The essays are a place to show us who you are and who you’ll be in our community.

As a transfer applicant, your essay is a chance to tell the admissions committee more about your background or goals and how you would pursue them at Hopkins. Below you’ll find selected examples of transfer applicant essays that “worked,” as nominated by our admissions committee.

These selections represent just a few essays we found impressive and helpful during the past admissions cycle. We hope these examples inspire you as you prepare to compose your own essay. The most important thing to remember is to be original as you share your own story, thoughts, and ideas with us.

Read essays that worked from first-year applicants .

Essays that worked.

Bedtime Stories

Summer Mai Li connects the personal stories of her loved ones to global civil and human rights issues that she intends to study during her time at Hopkins.

Becoming a Better Mathematician

Jorge’s essay provides the admissions committee with a detailed narrative about his lifelong interest in mathematics: how he discovered it, cultivated it, and pursued it to the highest level available.

Pursuing My Passion in Research

Through her transfer essay, Klaire showcases her deep interest in advancing scientific research through her experiences at her community college and her future at Hopkins.

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How to Write an Effective Transfer Essay

• February 4, 2023
• College Admission Guidance , Parents Must Read , Student Admission , Under Graduate

Transferring to a different university can be a stressful process. The transfer essay, which is usually 500 words, is one of the most important features of your transfer applications. This essay is your chance to show an admissions officer their school is the right fit for you. In this post, we will walk you through how to write effective transfer essays along with strategies, tips, and examples.

How to Write a Transfer Essay

Co-authored by Jaya Ghosh

What are Colleges (or Admission Officers) Looking for in a Transfer Essay?

Transfer essays are different than the original application essay you wrote to be accepted in the first place; transfer essays are more focused on:

• How you have grown from your time at your current university
• Why do you want to transfer
• Your specific goals for your future at your new university

DOs and DON’Ts of a Transfer Essay

Every student is different from the other and hence a specific method cannot be maintained for everyone when writing transfer essays. Let us first see the DOs and DON’Ts of college transfer essays.

• Explain how you have benefitted from your current college (or university)
• State the goals that you intend to achieve by attending the new university
• Make a logical and consistent case for why the school to which you are applying is apt for you.
• Explain how you spend your leisure time, particularly your extracurricular activities, which you are extremely dedicated to.
• Give reasons why the new university is the right place to pursue your academic interests.
• Your transfer essay should be written in such a manner that the committee gets a sense of your talents, character, and personal qualities. In other words, they get to know you well through your essay.
• Be descriptive when writing. Focus on specifics that will grab the attention of admission officials and give them something to hold onto—and remember you by. Always remember the “Show; Don’t Tell” rule.
• Some schools do not offer interviews, hence this essay would be a good platform to establish a personal connection between you and the committee and thus make a personal connection to a fellow human being.

DON’Ts

• Do not write anything negative about your current school.
• Never make excuses for past academic performance or your lack of outside-the-classroom involvement.
• You should not make sugar-coated statements regarding your desire to attend a new school.
• Do it alone: Give your essay to a mentor and/or counselor to review your work—preferably someone who knows you well, who may be from your hometown or high school—both for errors and content. Friends and family can be helpful as well.
• Last but not the least, do not forget to do adequate research on your prospective academic home. Details do matter a lot.

Related Article: Transfer Admission to US/Canada from India – A Mother’s Perspective

Key Components of an Effective Transfer Essay

Start with your core values.

make the opening paragraph awesome and impressive and everlasting. It should be to the point. Focus on establishing a few core values or the essential part you are suffering in your current school and present situation. Focus on the needs that are not met within the present school.

How to Express Core Values in Transfer Essays

You need to come up with an essence image that captures that value (or those values).

See this example below, where the applicant wanted to communicate her core values of connection, intimacy, family, and listening. So she chose the dinner table:

Breakfast isn’t the most important meal of the day. In my family the most sacred meal is dinner. The aroma from my mother’s authentic Persian saffron and Barberry spirals around the circular dining table as we prepare to pile each other’s plates high with current events, future plans, and questions about what we learned that day. Slowly, the notification bells and piercing ring tones are replaced by the clamor of metal utensils as my sisters try to fit the plates and silverware around our carefully crafted dinner table. Each person sits the same distance from the center as we listen to my little sister’s attempt at hopscotch from earlier that day with as much interest as my Dad’s stories about his patient with Atherosclerosis. Listening is how we take care of one another.

Here is another example:

Before I could even walk, my parents instilled in me a love for history. And thanks to their passion for travel, much of my early education was experiential. At eight, I could not only recite knowledge of Corrie Ten Boom, I’d visited the house where she’d hidden Jews in her home during WWII. By 10 I’d seen the Roman Ruins just outside Paris and by 11, I’d visited Rome and Florence, and begun to develop a passion for Michelangelo. By 14 I’d climbed the caverns of Mykonos and by 16 I’d walked barefoot through India and jogged along the Great Wall of China. Though moving around wasn’t always easy, travel gave me the opportunity to become more adaptable and resourceful, and I came to embrace differences as not only normal but exciting. My passion for cultural experiences and history continued in high school, and I looked forward to more experiential learning opportunities in college.

Explain the Reasons for Choosing this Particular College

Share with your prospective college what makes them unique. You can mention the class size that matters to you, a particular college program, a diverse environment, or the opportunity for hands-on learning and research opportunities.

Write about specific courses that you are eager to take at their institution, certain distinguished professors who you desire to study under, and unique clubs, activities, or campus traditions in which you are excited to take part.

Here is your chance to impress admissions officers with your thorough knowledge of their institution and how you will take advantage of your next few years there. Doing this will definitely make you stand out from other transfer applicants.

Tell the Readers Why you Want to Leave your Current College

What you communicate to the admission committee through your essay is very important. You need to start with the reasons for choosing the current college in the first place. Here is an example:

I originally chose Pasadena Community College because I wanted to a) stay close to home to take care of my mom, who was recovering from cancer when I graduated high school, b) save money by living at home and finishing my general ed requirements for under $50 per credit, and c) help my dad at his TV repair business.

Make sure that the reasons you give for leaving the present college do not leave a bad note on the mind of the person reading your essay. Do not give a bad review of your present school, or sound bitter about your experiences there.

Remember that the school to which you are applying wants to feel wanted.

Demonstrate the Attributes you will bring to the Campus

While admissions officers toil on the transfer admissions process, they are tasked with intensifying the diversity of their undergraduate student body and adding individuals who are likely to be contributing members of the campus community.

It could range from a particular club that you are eager to join or wish to start your own, or a desire to assist a professor in research work, the kind of books you like to read, if you have a hidden talent or area of expertise; you may also add that point.

Your nature as an introvert or extrovert could both be used in a positive way. The ideas, activities, or dreams that haunt you. Give the admissions officers a full picture of what your life and what it will look like at their school and how you will make an impact over many of your peer groups.

Speak about your Extracurricular Interests

Most high schools (and colleges) provide a plethora of extracurricular activities for their students. Exposure to a wide range of such special interests — sports, drama, dance, painting, singing, scouts, volunteer work, debating, fundraising, and even a foreign language can be the single thing that sets you apart from other candidates.

These activities bring many benefits and improve your social skills as a result. This is also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your record of involvement on your current campus. It is far easier to sell yourself as someone who will be a contributing member of the campus community if you displayed these qualities at your previous college.

Students with an eye on transferring are sometimes so focused on escaping the first institution that they fail to become involved in anything outside of the classroom and thus miss out on valuable opportunities to demonstrate leadership and passion—the very traits needed to transfer to a prestigious school. Write about what you are most proud of.

Write about your Academic Aspirations and Career Goals

Use your transfer essay as a tool to communicate your genuine passions and what motivates you. Doing so gives your essay broader context and deeper meaning, as it explains the true significance of all of the information you shared.  

You could write about the subjects that interest you and how they will help you progress in the future. As a transfer student, you should share where your experiences and interests will take you someday.

Related Article: All You Need to Know about Transfer Acceptance Rates

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College Reality Check

How to Write Best College Transfer Essay: Secrets, Tips and Tricks

If the college you wish to transfer to is asking for a transfer essay, you can rest assured that it’s something that can have a considerable impact on the admissions decision.

As a matter of fact, you should consider submitting one even if it’s optional — it can work to your advantage should admissions officers compare you with another applicant with similar qualifications.

Since it’s not uncommon for the acceptance rates for transfer applicants to be lower than the acceptance rates for freshmen applicants, writing a winning one can help you win an acceptance letter.

How to Start a College Transfer Essay

Because it’s the very first thing that admissions officers will read, the introduction of a college transfer essay is an opportunity for the transfer applicant to stand out from other applicants.

While there are many ways to start a college essay, only a few of them can deliver each time.

Let’s take a look at some of the most commonly used opening techniques that never fail to engage admissions officers, thus making the task of getting to know you through your college transfer essay an enjoyable endeavor:

Open with an attention-grabbing sentence

The goal is to make admissions officers want to read the entirety of your transfer essay from the get-go. And that is why you should start yours with something that can get them hooked and curious enough right away.

Here are some examples of successful good openings from winning college essays submitted to Stanford:

• I have old hands.
• When I was in the eighth grade I couldn’t read.
• I change my name each time I place an order at Starbucks.

Describe a moment without revealing much

Opening with an image-based description of a particular moment without explaining much gives the audience, the admissions officers, a sense that something important is happening, the full significance of which is yet to be revealed, which is why it can keep them from wanting to grab another college essay to check out.

The following is an example of a great college transfer essay that takes advantage of this effective opening technique:

Bowing down to the porcelain god, I emptied the contents of my stomach. Foaming at the mouth, I was ready to pass out. My body couldn’t stop shaking as I gasped for air, and the room started spinning.

Create an expectation and then give a twist

Nothing can surprise admissions officers more than reading a bunch of sequential sentences establishing things that create a certain expectation by the readers only to take them in a different direction entirely.

Check out this college essay’s opening that leverages the twist approach to its full advantage:

I am on Oxford Academy’s Speech and Debate Team, in both the Parliamentary Debate division and the Lincoln-Douglas debate division. I write screenplays, short stories and opinionated blogs and am a regular contributor to my school’s literary magazine, The Glue Stick. I have accumulated over 300 community service hours that include work at homeless shelters, libraries and special education youth camps. I have been evaluated by the College Board and have placed within the top percentile. But I am not any of these things. I am not a test score, nor a debater, nor a writer. I am an anti-nihilist punk rock philosopher.

What to Write About in the Transfer Essay

The things to talk about in one’s college transfer essay depend on the prompt chosen. But generally speaking, it’s a good idea for transfer applicants to focus more on their postsecondary experience thus far.

And because the essay is for transfer admissions purposes, it’s also recommended to discuss future goals at the target institution.

It’s the body that’s the longest part of a college essay. As a result of this, as the word limit permits, the transfer applicant has plenty of room to demonstrate his or her creativity and writing skills as well as reasons for switching colleges.

However, it’s a must that the right matter is discussed in the main part of the transfer essay.

There’s something transfer applicants have that first-time, first-year applicants don’t: a higher education experience.

As such, it’s just suitable and necessary for them to talk about theirs in their college transfer essay.

After all, when reviewing transfer applications, admissions officers want to get to know how much applicants have grown since high school.

Generally speaking, the following are some of the most fitting things to write about when asked to submit a transfer essay — most college essay prompts, anyway, ask transfer applicants to discuss them:

• How you have grown from attending your current school
• What your specific goals are at your new school

How to Conclude Your Writing

Depending on the approach or method of choice, a college transfer essay can be concluded in a number of ways. For instance, the students may return to the beginning or look forward.

Ending on an action or revealing the main point, if not disclosed in the introduction and main body as a part of the preferred style, are also options for closing one’s college transfer essay.

In some instances, it’s a much better idea to know the things to avoid at all costs as far as putting your transfer essay to an end. The general consensus is that the following are some bad ones:

• Summarizing the essay
• Stating the point of the essay even if it’s obvious
• Opening the ending with cliché transitions
• Extending the desire to get accepted to the college

Tips for Writing the Best Transfer Essay

It’s important for admissions officers to know you beyond your GPA from your current college and test scores, which are required by many colleges and universities for transfer applicants to submit.

And that is why a transfer application essay is commonly a required material to include in one’s application other than the Common App or Coalition App essay.

Here’s a rundown of some dos and don’ts when it comes to writing a transfer essay so that you will find it even easier to remember the things to do to strengthen it and the things to avoid that can lower your admissions chances:

• Do focus on what you have learned. Talk about what you have discovered about yourself and what you want in life as a result of your experience at your current college. Needless to say, you should consider discussing the changes in your academic and professional goals that your college experience thus far has caused.
• Do point out the reasons for wanting to continue at another school. Of course, admissions officers at the college you are applying to would like to know why you want to switch schools. Remember to provide clear objectives and plans so that the school can have an idea of whether or not it could serve your needs better than your current institution.
• Do mention the things you like about the new college. Demonstrated interest is not considered in the admissions process at many institutions. Still, a college would be interested to know what about it that you like. Is it the academic program? How about the research opportunities available? Or is it the summer internships offered?

Don’ts

• Don’t bad mouth your current school. Avoid using your transfer essay as a platform for whining, enumerating everything you hate about the institution you are attending currently. However, there is nothing wrong in pointing out the obvious, as you will later find out in a couple of examples of successful transfer essays — so keep reading!
• Don’t use your current school as an excuse for having bad grades. While it’s true that a terrible program, campus culture or roommate can affect your academic performance negatively, there’s always a workaround for a determined and hardworking student. You don’t want the college you are eyeing to suspect that you are lazy.
• Don’t waste precious word count. Always keep in mind that it’s not just your transfer essay that the admissions officer at the college you are applying to will check out — they will, of course, also take a look at the rest of your application. To let them know you more, consider talking about things that are nowhere to be found in your Common App.

What Colleges are Looking for in Transfer Essays

According to the associate dean of admission at Hamilton College in New York colleges and universities are looking for the reasons why transfer applicants want to transfer .

She added that transfer essays are nothing like first-year essays that are more open-ended for the lack of the students’ postsecondary education experience.

True enough, a retired dean of admission and financial aid at Amherst College said that — still as a part of the same report — transferees should be more reflective about their educational goals due to their experience after high school.

Of course, different institutions have different prompts for transfer essays.

Most of them, however, want to see the very same things. And spearheading the short list is the transfer applicant’s future goals, both academically and professionally, and how transferring to the school can help in the achievement of those.

It goes without saying that the transfer applicant should be certain that the new school is a better fit for him or her than the current school. Being able to provide specific examples of why he or she deserves to be a part of the campus is also expected.

Otherwise, it’s not unlikely for the admissions officers to give any available spot to a more deserving transferee.

And to conclude this part of the post, here’s a 6-minute video of a college admissions reader talking about everything that any transfer applicant needs to include in his or her college transfer essay.

Two Transfer Essay Examples

It’s one thing to know how to write a good college transfer essay. But it’s another thing to know what a good college transfer essay looks like. And that is why in this part of this post I will give you a couple of examples of successful transfer essays, the kinds that won transfer applicants a much-coveted acceptance letter from their top-choice schools.

This first example is a transfer essay submitted to the University of Pennsylvania, in response to a prompt asking the applicant to state the reasons for transferring and the objectives he or she hopes to achieve using a minimum of 250 words:

My reasons for transferring are two-fold and equally important. Academics and campus life are arguably the most vital components of the college experience and these two areas at [current school] have been unsatisfying for me. My unhappiness at [current school] is rooted in the difference between my academic philosophy and [current school’s]. Based on my experience in class I feel like the educational emphasis at [current school] is on knowing and not learning. An example of this comes from my philosophy class in which one of the teacher’s most common responses to a question is, “let’s bracket that for now,” when the inquiry is not about something printed on the syllabus for that day. To me, this sort of teaching discourages curiosity and in a philosophy class, especially, a deeper discussion that strays from the lesson plan is what gives the class its significant and educational value. The process of learning is pared down to its most straightforward and austere so that the state of knowing can be achieved as soon as possible.

What I hope to get out of transferring is to find a school that fits my academic philosophy and believes that learning for the sake of learning is vital to a healthy education. My favorite part about classes is taking a long, winding, side-note-packed path on the way to knowing, and if we never get there it doesn’t matter because knowing isn’t the point of learning — learning is the point of learning.

As for campus life, the prevailing campus social culture has been disappointing to me. No one ever seems to tire of doing the same thing week after week and the students admit that none of the events they attend would be fun without alcohol. I prefer an environment where the sober experiences trump the drunken ones. The ongoing joke about extracurricular life is that all of the clubs and organizations are “drinking club with debate” or “drinking club with community service” and so in this manner. The students do their work so they can go out at night as opposed to doing their homework to learn something. The prevailing culture sets the tone for the whole school and creates an uninspired environment. I’d like to go to a school where the spirit is less unimaginative and more intellectually ambitious.

Both my academic and cultural concerns center on differing philosophies. The academic approach at [current school] is too pragmatic, especially given that I am a classics major, and the social life is too alcohol-centered for my liking. I’m aware that all college campuses have drinking and it is a part of college life, but I’m looking to transfer to a school where drinking is more a means to an end of socializing than an end in itself.

And now, this second example of a transfer essay submitted to the University of Texas at Austin was a response to a long prompt that basically ask applicants to talk about their current studies and future academic and professional goals:

I stood still, lost amidst a sea of towering figures. I felt the familiarity of being alone. Each time I change environments, it doesn’t come any easier. A broad-shouldered girl in a blue shirt asked accusingly me where I needed to be. Despite intimidating me at first, she turned out to be sweet and concerned for my well-being.

She took me to my classroom and introduced me to the other girls. They all seemed so different from me. My family left the United States when I was young, and during my ten years spent in India, I switched between three very different schools.

Accustomed to American schools that are relatively orderly and organized, it took time to adjust to India’s disorderly schools. Just as I started feeling comfortable with the unusual teaching methods of my new school, my parents transferred me to a more “cultural” school. With a total of seven students in the entire school, we learned in literal shacks.

My classmates were behind in their education and far below my grade level, so the teachers focused most of their time on them. I suffered greatly when I switched back into mainstream schooling. Now, it was my classmates who raced through their work. I was thrown, unprepared, into India’s rigorous education system. I struggled with constructing angles and balancing chemical equations. I had to work especially hard to make up for the time lost at my cultural school.

I made it through Tenth grade with extensive additional coaching. Despite my setback, I knew that I could do better. Through my classes, I began to develop an interest with the mathematical functions that power finance and accounting. My accounting teacher became my biggest inspiration. The way she related accounting procedures to current business crises convinced me to learn more. I started keeping up with companies’ corporate strategies and their effect on the economy.

Before my board exams, I completed additional work on my own and solved about 70 papers in preparation. The work ethic I acquired under her guidance is something that has stuck to me through the challenging times at community college. I continue to self-study with online courses offered on Khan Academy to further exceed expectations.

Additionally, my internship at the Pratham International School in the summer of 2016 gave me real-world experience with auditing and organizing financials. I applied my classroom and self-studying knowledge to help with vendor payment methods and profitable tuition pricing.

I also pursued an internship in the accounting department of The Home Depot. For the first time, I saw theoretical concepts come to life as I helped facilitate vendor payment methods and profitable product pricing. The chance to interact with higher-level financial managers gave me exposure to strategic decision-making and contingency planning.

I look forward to pursuing another internship and taking advantage of the connections provided by the McCombs School of Business. I hope the university will help connect me with fruitful opportunities to develop my business competencies. By participating in the Texas Stock Team and The University Finance Association, I can explore different interests and develop my network. I don’t have these opportunities at Houston Community College, and I don’t think any Texas university offers the unparalleled opportunities of UT. Doing research under award-winning professors like Laura Starks and Robert Parrino will give me a head start in the industry.

Like The University of Texas, I also want to transform myself and change the world. The past few months at Houston Community College have helped me realize that I need an environment with a limitless ceiling for growth. Since I have experienced many different educational environments, I have a good idea for what I seek while avoiding opportunities that may not be in my best interest. I bring a different perspective that will contribute to classroom discussions and be a valued addition to the McCombs community.

College Transfer FAQs

Before this post comes to an end, let’s answer some pressing questions many transfer applicants who are in the process of brainstorming for their college essay feel too embarrassed to ask:

Do all colleges require a transfer essay?

Not all institutions of higher education make a transfer essay a part of the admissions process for transfer applicants. However, many colleges do, including some of the most selective ones.

Some require transfer applicants to answer just a single prompt, while others oblige them to answer multiple prompts. Most prompts call for an explanation for wanting to attend the school.

Can you use a common topic for your transfer essay?

Admissions officers do not expect all transfer applicants to talk about never-before-seen topics in their college transfer essays.

Even a common topic can become fresh and exciting if the student discusses it from a unique perspective or gives it a surprising story arc. Needless to say, using an advanced or creative writing style can make any everyday topic new and exciting.

How do you cite sources in a transfer essay?

Compared to research and academic writing, a college essay, whether by a first-year applicant or a transferee applicant, is less formal. As such, using an established style of citing sources and providing a reference list is unnecessary.

The transfer applicant may instead cite sources casually in the essay, in practically any part where it will not disrupt the flow of thoughts.

How do you meet the word count limit?

Going past the word limit necessitates going over the transfer essay to eliminate any irrelevant details. Since brevity is an important component of a written piece, unnecessary words that clutter the submission should be removed, too.

On the other hand, sharing stories, feelings and insight by vividly describing them is a solution when struggling to reach the minimum word count.

What is a diversity essay?

A diversity essay is a supplementary essay some institutions of higher education or scholarships require that is focused on the unique identity, background, culture, beliefs or characteristics of the college applicant.

In most instances, a diversity essay is asked to be submitted as part of the admissions process where diversity is believed to be enriching for the campus community.

Recap: How to Write a Winning College Transfer Essay

In most instances, transfer applicants need to include a transfer essay in their application. There are recommended ways to open and close a transfer essay, such as the ones we talked about in this post, which can help increase one’s admissions chances — since transfer acceptance rates are generally lower, they need to ace every part of their application.

Transfer students, typically, have to talk about their experiences with their current school and their goals at the new school, which are things that admissions officers look for other than writing skill and creativity.

Take your time when writing your transfer essay because it’s an important component of your application.

Independent Education Consultant, Editor-in-chief. I have a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and training in College Counseling. Member of American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

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How to write an effective transfer application essay

After completing a semester or more at one university, you’ve decided to apply elsewhere as a transfer student. Maybe you earned an associate’s degree at a community college, and now you’re ready for more. Or maybe the university you chose for your freshman year didn’t live up to your expectations. Regardless of your motivations, you’ll probably need to write an essay for each of the schools you’re considering.

Let’s explore the elements of a strong transfer application essay!

The essay prompts.

While the wording may differ from school to school, transfer essay prompts are similar in theme. Here are some examples:

• Tell us in 500 to 750 words why you wish to transfer from your current or most recent institution. Why are you interested in Yale, and how do you think that being here would be a great next step in your education?
• Boston University welcomes hundreds of transfer students to campus each year. We want to learn more about you and your reasons for transferring, in particular what you hope to accomplish at Boston University. (600 words max.)
• Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve [at Brandeis]. (650 words max.)

These prompts all ask you to explain why you’re transferring schools (your past and present) and what you hope to accomplish at your new school (your future).

Your Past and Present

When you write your transfer essay, be careful not to badmouth your current or previous school. Instead, try putting a positive spin on your decision by focusing on what you’ve learned about yourself and your needs as a student.

Maybe you’ve realized you want to conduct independent research, but you can’t find the right faculty mentor. Or perhaps you’ve discovered a new intellectual interest that your current school doesn’t support. Jot down any ideas that come to mind!

When you feel ready to write this section of your essay, you can keep it pretty short. Briefly share why you chose to attend your current or most recent institution, describe what you’ve realized about your educational needs and goals, and explain why you’re looking to transfer.

Your Future

We’ve covered why you’re transferring… now, it’s important to show the admissions reader why you want to transfer to their school specifically . This will make up the majority of your essay, so make sure you do your research so you can connect your academic and personal goals to the school’s unique offerings.

Start by listing out your goals for the remainder of your college experience. How do you hope to deepen your understanding of a particular topic or field? If you have concrete career goals, what skills do you need to gain in order to succeed beyond college?

Next, match each of these goals to a particular opportunity at the school. The nitty-gritty information won’t be on the college’s home page, so see if your major or department has its own website. There, you can learn more about the curriculum requirements and opportunities within your particular major or academic focus. Which opportunities will you pursue? How do these opportunities align with your educational goals? What appeals to you about the way classes are run?

You can also include one or two personal goals. How will you challenge yourself in the coming years? How do you hope to grow as a person? Visit the student center website to find a club directory. Which student organizations will you join? How will joining these organizations help you enact your values? Check out the student newspaper. How do current students engage with the surrounding community? How do their actions inspire you?

Successful Essays

The most successful transfer application essays show the admissions reader how a student will enrich their school’s community. But you don’t need to be a creative visionary or a brilliant leader to contribute. Simply by engaging with a school’s resources and community, you’ll help further your peers’ education. So, the more specific you are about your goals, the easier it will be for the admissions reader to envision you at their school!

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Guide to Writing a Stellar Common App Transfer Essay

Padya Paramita

December 1, 2020

If you’re having a hard time adjusting to your college, or you’ve realized that the school you attend isn’t the right institution for you, it may be wise to search for transferring options. As you work on preparing a strong transfer application , it’s important to note that the schools you’re applying to will want to know your reason for transferring and what you would bring to your new campus. This is where a well-written Common App transfer essay comes in handy.

In the 2020-2021 application cycle, the Common App for transfer students is allowing candidates to answer the Common App personal statement prompts. Most schools also have taken the option of including the Common App transfer essay with their applications in order to understand students’ interests and motivations better. To help you put together an application that will impress admissions officers, I’ve outlined the personal essay prompts, detailed how to write a strong response to the Common App transfer essay prompt, and added final tips that can help you stand out as a compelling candidate.

The Common App Personal Statement Prompts

2020-2021 is the first application cycle during which the Common App has allowed transfer students to answer the personal statement prompts. This year, it is up to colleges whether they wish to include the Common App transfer essay among their questions as well. If you’re applying to transfer, it’s important to be aware of the personal statement prompts. These are:

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, please share your story. (650 words)
• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (650 words)
• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? (650 words)
• Describe a problem you’ve solved or a problem you’d like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma — anything of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution. (650 words)
• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. (650 words)
• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? (650 words)
• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. (650 words)

Whichever prompt you choose, what’s important is that you tell a story that is unique to you. Writing about yourself can seem like an easy task at first glance, but when you sit down to actually brainstorm, you might reach a dead end. Where do you even begin? What experience is captivating enough to share with admissions officers? How do you narrow down your entire life story into 650 words? There’s a lot of pressure to find the right topic that will help you stand out. You can read more in detail about how to answer these in our Common App personal statement prompts 2020-2021 blog .

The Common App Transfer Essay Prompt

Now we come to the question for the actual Common App transfer essay . The prompt states:

Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. (250-600 words)

If you choose to write this essay, remember that admissions officers don’t want a three-page complaint outlining why you are dissatisfied with your current college. Your application should be geared towards what your unique interests are, why you’ve chosen to transfer, and how the college of your choice can help you achieve your goals. Since you have up to 600 words in your arsenal, you can divide your essay into two or three segments so that all of your content is organized and easy to understand. Remember that you’re no longer a high school student. Since you’ve already experienced at least one semester of college by the time you’re applying, you can elaborate on how you’ve grown in the past year as well.

Regardless of whether your reason for transfer is in search of a stronger program in your chosen field or because you wish to attend college in a warmer location, it’s important to highlight how you can uniquely contribute to the campus want to attend. The prompt clearly asks “what you hope to achieve.” This indicates that admissions officers are looking to understand what their resources can provide you with that your current school can’t. So, make sure you spend time browsing the school website, understanding the different courses and major offerings, taking note of any relevant clubs and turning this knowledge into specific examples and anecdotes as you write your essay.

Further Tips for Writing the Common App Transfer Essay

• Dedicate Significant Time to Brainstorming: Since there’s only one prompt for the Common App transfer essay , a lot of students might take it lightly. However, you must stand out and write a unique response. Don’t just come up with an anecdote on a whim. Choose examples in your writing that allow you to be as specific as possible. Ensuring that your essay topic has a cohesive connection to the rest of your application can go a long way toward convincing admissions officers that you’re a strong candidate who can succeed in their institution
• Let Your Personality Shine: The purpose of the Common App transfer essay is to get to know you . You can’t be a memorable candidate if admissions officers are unable to gauge who you are, sense what you’re passionate about, and identify your goals. Don’t just repeat your personal statement. Instead, exemplify each point as concretely as possible. Whether reading about your favorite subject or how you’ve led a particular organization, the reader must be able to get a clear picture and learn new information from every essay. 

You spend some of your most significant years in college. It’s important to ensure that you attend a school that allows you to thrive and work towards your goals. If you aren’t happy at your present college and are working on your transfer application, a stellar Common App transfer essay can go a long way in helping admissions officers get a sense of who you are and what you can bring to the college. Happy writing!

Tags : transfer appilcation , Common App for Transfer Students , how to transfer , common app transfer essay , transfering colleges

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5 Tips for Writing a Great College Transfer Essay

Reviewed by Jacob Imm

Nov 19, 2021

5 Tips to Write a Great College Transfer Essay

Starting college is a once in-a-lifetime experience—well, for some people. For others, the first college they attend may not be the right fit. That’s why most schools give students the option to transfer.

Transferring schools, whether you transfer from community college or another institution, is a lot like the initial college application process. You’ll need to provide your college transcript or college report, letters of recommendation, ask whether your college credits transfer , and write a transfer essay.

There are a few key points you’ll want to hit when writing your college transfer essay. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the required content a transfer student should expect to include in their essay, along with a few tips and tricks to help seal the deal. Remember that every school is different, so be sure to check your prospective new school’s website for details on what your essay should include. For now, read on to find out what you need to know about writing your college transfer essay.

Tip #1 – Be Yourself

It may sound cheesy, but it’s true: being yourself is crucial to writing a successful college transfer essay.

More specifically, it’s important to allow your voice and personality to shine through when writing your transfer essay. Colleges get thousands of local and international applicants each year— both first-year and prospective transfer students. To stand out from the crowd, you’ll want to make sure your transfer essay is uniquely yours . 

In addition to being honest and using your unique voice, you’ll also want to hit a few key points when writing your personal statement or transfer essay.

• Your core values 

What are your unwavering beliefs? How do you view the world? What is important to you in this life? These are some high level concepts that you may not actively think about on a daily basis, but they define you  on a deeper level. By touching on these points, you’ll paint a more vivid picture of who you are and what you stand for. This will also help your personal statement stand out from the run-of-the-mill format that many others may follow.

• Your background 

Your background has shaped who you are today, and colleges want to understand where you’re coming from. Include any important details about your identity, your community, your family and your home that you think may add to the story you’re telling. 

• Previous college experience 

Part of your background information should also include the time you spent at your previous college. While there may be reasons you want to leave, it’s also crucial to include any meaningful experiences you’ve had and how they’ve shaped you and your college experience. Never paint your current school in a negative light; focus on what you’ve learned while you’ve been there--more about this to come.

• What you want 

After you’ve shared your experiences at college, it’s time to talk about what you want out of your new school. This will help the university determine whether they can provide the educational experience you’re seeking.

Don’t settle for the average essay. Be specific, draw from your real life, and don’t be afraid to use humor and creative language when appropriate. Try your best to convey who you are through your writing—especially if your prospective school doesn’t conduct in-person interviews. 

Tip #2 – Your Educational Journey

While it’s important to avoid talking badly about your current school, there is a way to discuss your reasons for leaving in a positive light. Include why you’re looking to transfer in your essay, but try to place a greater focus on what you want rather than what you’re trying to get away from. 

This would be a great time to mention:

• Your interests 

Start by explaining which program you’re interested in and why you’re interested in it. Make a note of any specific classes or resources that you believe would help prepare you for your future career. Add any extracurricular activities that relate to your educational experience, as well. 

• Your future 

Speaking of your future career, this is the time to outline your professional goals and ambitions. Believe it: your new school wants to admit prospective students with a plan, and outlining ambitious (but achievable) goals is the perfect way to prove you’re prepared.

• Changes 

It’s also crucial to talk about how your goals have changed over time. Obviously, you’ve changed paths for one reason or another, so take this time to explain what motivated your change of heart.

• Defend your decision 

Now, this doesn’t mean you should be defensive , but you should be able to explain why you believe this new path is right for you. Use this section to prove that you’re committed to this change and ready to get started. 

• Talk up your potential new  school 

There must be reasons why you’ve chosen the school you’re applying for. Take some time to discuss what you like about this new school, and be prepared to mention specifics in order to show you’ve done your research.

• Why you chose your current school 

If you’re discussing the reasons you’d like to transfer, it may also be helpful to talk about why you chose your current school. This will give your new institution a better understanding of who you are, who you were, and who you’re looking to become.

Tip #3 – Sell Them on You

If there’s any place where a little humble bragging is allowed, it’s a college essay. Don’t be afraid to explain what makes you a great student and why the college should choose you over other applicants--that’s what the reader wants to know. For this portion of the essay, try including the following information:

• Any academic or personal achievements related to your field of study
• Your GPA (if it’s high, and if it’s not, display how it’s improved or your goals for getting it higher)
• Any challenges that you’ve overcome during college, and how you’ve grown from them
• What makes you a good student, both in class and outside of class, and how you’ll make your new college a better place

At the end of the day, this essay should make you look like a prime candidate. While it’s important to be honest about any challenges you’ve faced at your current college, the focus of your essay will need to be your positive qualities as a desirable student. Don’t be afraid to give yourself some credit here!

Tip #4 – Explain How You’ve Made the Most of Your Current Situation

Colleges don’t want to read an essay that’s filled with complaints. While your previous school may not have been a good match, this is an opportunity to show your future school what a resilient, flexible, and hardworking student you are. 

Here, you’ll want to display the following points:

• Show how you’ve made things work 

Tell the story of how you’ve managed to make your current situation work for you. Even if the program you’ve been enrolled in isn’t the right fit for your future career, there may be ways to prove that you embraced your classes and resources with open arms. Use this opportunity to show just how dedicated you are to your education, even when things aren’t perfect.

• Prove you can put in the work

Next, you’ll want to outline the work you’ve put in to intellectually stimulate yourself, despite wanting a change. This may include an extra college course or two that you took, any outside research you’ve conducted, or any professional experience you’ve gained outside of school.

• Explain how you influenced your surroundings

So your situation wasn’t ideal. Did you do anything to change your surroundings to better fit your needs? In this portion of your essay, you’ll want to detail any clubs, organizations, or projects you’ve joined or started to progress your education and growth—particularly if your school didn’t have one before. This show’s you’re a dedicated go-getter who knows how to make positive changes in your community.

Tip #5 – Don’t Be Afraid to Flatter Them

While your transfer essay shouldn’t be 10straight pages of you gushing about the university, adding some flattering points never hurts. Your prospective school obviously won’t be choosing applicants based on who is the most complimentary, but incorporating a little praise will show how excited and committed you are. 

Consider touching on the following topics:

• Any programs and clubs that interest you
• How the school is going to help you achieve your dreams
• Any notable alumni or staff you look up to
• Resources the school provides that you’re excited about

Adding a few specific facts about your prospective school will also prove that you’ve done your research and you’re certain that this is the school for you. Use your essay to say that this is a  top school, and you’ve taken the time to figure out why. As a transfer student, you’ll want to put an emphasis on commitment, and ensure your new school that this is the final change you want to make.

Pursue Your Passion at North Central College

When you’re ready to transfer, you’ll want to look for a school like North Central College. North Central College is committed to helping transfer students succeed academically, socially and professionally . With helpful resources, scholarships, and local community college partners—it’s never been easier to make the switch. Find the right program to reach your career goals, and learn more with North Central College’s “Should I Transfer College” Quiz today!

Jacob Imm is a communications specialist in the North Central College Office of Marketing and Communications. He has 11 years of collegiate communications experience and has worked with hundreds of college students. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree from Northern Illinois University.

Sawyer, E. (2021, August 3). How to write a successful college transfer essay . College Essay Guy | Get Inspired. 

https://www.collegeessayguy.com/blog/college-transfer-essay-examples . 

Andrew Belasco. A licensed counselor and published researcher. (2020, December 28). How to write a winning college transfer essay. College Transitions.

https://www.collegetransitions.com/blog/how-to-write-a-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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Common App Transfer Guide – 2024

December 8, 2023

A college diploma features the name of just one institution. Yet, for many, this hardly tells the true story of their unique college journey, which is often an amalgam of experiences across two or more postsecondary settings. In fact, at some point, approximately one-third of all U.S. college students temporarily transform into “transfer applicants,” a role that they are often thrust into with little preparation or support. This time, the transfer Common App looms before you, and too often, little guidance is available.

Transfer students come in different shapes and sizes and the particular contours of a given applicant can dictate what type of process awaits. There are those who, for financial or academic reasons, began at a community college, performed well, and are now jumping up the big leagues of a four-year university. On the other end of the spectrum, there are transfer applicants already attending a reputable four-year establishment who have their hearts set on swapping out their present location for the highly selective college of their dreams.

One common denominator is that no matter what type of transfer applicant you happen to be, you will likely be tasked with filling out the Common App for Transfer, a variation of the traditional Common App that you may have used when you originally applied to college. To assist you, the following article will address:

• Do I qualify as a transfer applicant?
• When are the transfer deadlines for colleges?
• How do I complete each section of the Common App Transfer application?
• Do I need SAT/ACT scores to transfer colleges?
• How do I approach the Common App Transfer application essay?
• What are the chances of getting accepted as a transfer applicant?

Let’s begin by exploring who qualifies as a transfer applicant.

Am I a transfer or freshman applicant?

School policies vary here. At many schools, just taking one two or four-year college course post-high school is enough to make you a transfer applicant. At other schools, you’ll need 24-30 credits under your belt before transferring is even an option. You’ll want to investigate this thoroughly before beginning the Common App transfer application. Fortunately, our Dataverse has an institution-by-institution breakdown. Check out our sortable chart  for more information.

When are transfer deadlines?

Each college sets its own transfer deadline or deadlines; some schools only have one application deadline each year while others have two. The most common time to apply as a fall transfer (for the following year) is around March. In fact, all eight Ivy League schools have annual deadlines between March 1st and March 15 th :

Many universities also offer a deadline for those wishing to start at a new school in the spring semester; these applications are typically due between October 1st and December 1st (although there are outliers). For a complete and up-to-date list of transfer deadlines for the current transfer admissions cycle visit our chart of transfer admission deadlines .

How to complete the Common App Transfer Application – A section-by-section breakdown

There are four sections to the Common App transfer application: 1) Personal Information, 2) Academic History, 3) Supporting Information, and 4) Program Materials.

Before you begin, select the schools that you plan to apply to. You can do this by navigating to “Add Program.” The schools you select will then populate in the “Program Materials” section.

Need a visual? Here’s a step-by-step tutorial:

Personal information.

This includes your basic demographic info including ethnicity, physical address, gender identity, and information about your parents/guardians. Nothing here should be too challenging.

Academic History

Here, you will enter information about your high school and college(s) as well as courses you completed in college, if required. If applicable, you’ll also self-report any standardized tests you previously took, including SAT/ACT and AP/IB exams.

There is also a space for you to input continuing education courses. These can include Coursera , edX , or LinkedIn Learning courses as well as any other type of in-person or online course/workshop.

Common App Transfer Guide (Continued)

Supporting information.

The first subcategory within this section is labeled as “Experiences.” Applicants should feel free to include any experience that helps paint a picture of how they presently spend their time, including extracurricular clubs, internships, volunteer or paid work experiences, summer programs, hobbies, or family responsibilities. The greatest emphasis should be placed on experiences that have occurred since exiting high school, so we’d suggest placing those at the top of your list.

Relevant high school activities can be included, but only when they directly connect to present pursuits (i.e. a current business major was President of his Future Business Leaders of America chapter in high school). Ideally, any high school activities that you include will have occurred during your junior and/or senior years of high school.

When you’re ready to add an experience, you’ll first choose an “Experience Type,” which includes Employment, Research, Extracurricular Activities, Volunteer, and Internship.

After selecting the appropriate category, you’ll have the ability to add more information about the organization you are (or were) a part of, your supervisor’s information, and the dates of the experience. You’ll also be able to note whether the experience was part-time, full-time, or temporary. Finally, the “Experience Details” area will require the following:

• Title of the Experience (60 characters). This should be the role you held within the organization, ex. “President” or “Software Intern.”
• Type of Recognition . You can choose from Compensated, Received Academic Credit, or Volunteer.
• Description/Key Responsibilities (600 characters). Similar to the Activities section of the freshman Common App , focus on offering specific details about your level of involvement and leadership along with relevant accomplishments and measurable impact.

The second subcategory within this section is labeled as “Achievements.” You can add athletic awards, academic awards/honors such as Dean’s List or membership in an honor society, publications, and professional achievements/recognition, among others. Collegiate achievements are preferred, but significant high school achievements (i.e., those at the national or international level, such as AP Scholar with Distinction or National Merit Semifinalist) can be added.

To add an achievement, you’ll first select an “Achievement Type.” These include Publications, Honors, or Awards. You’ll then complete the following sections:

• Achievement Details (60 characters). This should be the name of the award you won or recognition received, such as “Dean’s List.”
• Name of Presenting Organization (60 characters). In this section, you’ll insert the name of the organization or school through which you received recognition.
• Issued Date.  For recognition you’ve received more than once, such as being named to your college’s Dean’s List, you’ll want to choose the earliest date that you received recognition.
• Brief description (600 characters). Here, you can provide several sentences of context and/or note the award criteria, such as the minimum GPA required to earn Dean’s List recognition.

Finally, in the third subcategory, “Documents,” you’ll have the opportunity to upload supporting documentation such as a resume, visa documentation, or military transcript.

Program Materials

This area is akin to the supplemental applications that you filled out during the freshman application cycle. In this section, you must address school-specific essays and questions that require a short response. It’s important to always check the “Questions” tab within the Program Materials section as some schools only list their essay(s) here. Other schools will list the main essay in the “Documents” section, which can be a source of confusion. Some schools list essays in both places. Within the “Documents” tab, you will also find a list of documentation required by each prospective transfer institution, which may include items such as college transcripts, a mid-term report, or a resume. You can very easily upload directly into the form.

On the Common App transfer application, the “Recommendations” tab is where you’ll add recommenders.

Need a quick breakdown of how that works? Watch here:

Do i have to submit standardized test scores.

Ever since the arrival of COVID in 2020, the majority of American colleges have introduced  test-optional policies . These policies often extend to transfer students as well. Some schools, like the UC and CSU systems, have even gone test-blind. This means that they will not consider SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process. To see which type of policy your prospective institution(s) have adopted, view our complete list of test-blind and test-optional colleges.

Overall, 99% of colleges in 2024 will not require transfer students to submit test scores. However, at highly selective schools, submitting strong test scores may greatly improve your chances. For example, elite SAT scores will help you if transferring to Ivy League or Ivy-equivalent institutions.

The Common App Transfer Essay

Not every college requires an essay as part of their transfer application; however, plenty of selective institutions do. Many present applicants with a prompt that asks them, in essence, to explain why they want to transfer. For example:

 “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?” 

In the words of Kierkegaard, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Briefly tell them where you have been and then move the conversation toward the future. As you discuss your educational journey so far and reasons for transferring, it’s important to avoid bashing your current school. Instead, focus on the opportunities your current school has provided you with and how you’ve taken advantage of them. Then, share why you’ll be better served at a different institution.

The best reasons for transferring are grounded in academics; any social or environmental factors are secondary considerations.  After taking several data science courses, perhaps you’ve decided you’d like to pursue a major in data science…but that option isn’t available at your current college. Alternatively, perhaps you’ve discovered that you’d like to attend a university with a more robust and supportive undergraduate research environment. Finally, after you explain how your past experience has brought you to this moment, make sure that you are crystal clear about your vision for the great things that lie ahead.

It’s important to note that Common App transfer essay requirements vary significantly depending on the school. Some schools will only require a version of the above essay prompt; others will ask students to also write a traditional personal statement and/or answer supplemental essay questions on topics that range from “Why Us?” to community-focused or extracurricular activity essays. Therefore, it’s essential to look at the various prompts you’ll need to write before getting started in order to figure out the balance of information across the application. Moreover, if you’re reapplying to a school that you applied to as a freshman, it should go without saying that you’ll need to write new essays.

What are my chances of getting accepted?

Of course, the answer to this question depends on whether you are applying to Columbia University (11% transfer acceptance rate) or the University of Missouri-Columbia (68% transfer acceptance rate). Last year, schools such as Bowdoin, Bates, Pomona, and Amherst all accepted fewer than 10% of applicants. Meanwhile, other stellar schools like George Mason, the University of Georgia, Indiana University, Elon, Clemson, and the University at Buffalo accepted the majority of those who applied.

Note: All of the previously mentioned schools are featured in College Transitions’ book— Colleges Worth Your Money: What America’s Top Schools Can Do for You  (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023).

It is also important to understand that transfer rates can be extremely volatile from year to year. Figures can be swayed by institutional needs and the number of open slots. For example, Dartmouth’s transfer acceptance rate has hovered between 0.5% and 10% in recent years.

Common App Transfer Guide – Final Thoughts

As a transfer applicant, you’ll be required to do things that you were not asked to do as a freshman applicant. For example, you may be required to complete a  mid-term report or  college report , and provide transcripts from both your high school and current college. You also need to approach your essays differently and may need to line up recommendation letters. Although navigating the transfer application process takes a solid amount of time and energy, you’ll be successful as long you stay highly organized, motivated, and focused on your future goals.

Andrew Belasco

A licensed counselor and published researcher, Andrew's experience in the field of college admissions and transition spans two decades. He has previously served as a high school counselor, consultant and author for Kaplan Test Prep, and advisor to U.S. Congress, reporting on issues related to college admissions and financial aid.

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Articles & Advice > Transfer Students > Articles

What's Your Story? A Guide to Transfer Admission Essays

How do you get started on your transfer essay? You need to tell the admission officers a great story! Here's a step-by-step guide to telling yours.

by Sarah E. Gibbs Director of Admissions, Grove City College

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2023

Originally Posted: Sep 21, 2016

As you consider transferring colleges, you already have enough stress. But then there's the anxiety of writing your transfer admission essay. Where do you even start? Do you take the application essay you wrote for your current college and tweak it for the new one? Do you start from scratch? Your transfer essay is your opportunity to showcase yourself and the reason you need to transfer to your potential new school. While that seems like a daunting task, all you really have to do is tell a simple story.

Tell me your story

As the Director of Admissions, I can assure you that your transfer admission essay will be an important part of your application. A college will not ask you to write an essay if they do not plan to read it, assess it, and use it to determine if you are a good fit for their institution . There are two key considerations that every college admission representative will have when reading a college application essay (whether it’s for a transfer student or not!):

1. Are you a good fit for my institution? 2. Is my institution a good fit for you?

The answers to these questions will be exposed when one of my admission counselors or I read your essay. Therefore, my top recommendation for you as you write your transfer essay is to simply tell your story.

Related: The Best Transfer Essay Advice From Admission Insiders

Your first three steps

• Your first step should be to do a quick two-minute exercise. Take out a piece of blank paper or click on that Notes app on your phone and write down three of your strengths. This may prove to be difficult for you—we all hate bragging about ourselves, but instead of thinking about what you believe your strengths are, think about what others have complimented you on. If you have been called a leader, then think about what it was you did to receive that compliment and write that anecdote down along with the strength. Continue until you have at least three strengths determined and three anecdotal examples to go along with those strengths.
• Your second step should be to get to know the institution(s) that you’re applying to. You can do this in several ways, but the first and easiest is often to simply visit the “About” page on a school’s website. If you want to impress this college in your essay, then I would try and incorporate these values—maybe even those very words—into my essay. Another way to get to know the school is by visiting the campus. Sit in the student union and listen to the conversations going on around you. You get to know the culture well when you visit the campus. Again, assuming you identify with and want to attend the institution, you should also incorporate into your essay your experience with the campus’s culture and how you see yourself fitting in.
• Your third step is to understand the transfer essay prompt. Depending on the institution to which you are applying, your essay topic may vary wildly. For example, if transferring to Brandeis University , you may be asked to respond to, “You are required to spend the next year of your life in either the past or the future. What year would you travel to and why?” Or if you’re applying to  Kalamazoo College , you could be asked about your life as a child: “Let’s go back to a time when learning was pure joy. Please tell us your favorite childhood book and why.” Stanford University asks simply, “What matters to you and why?”

Analyzing transfer essay prompts

Sense a common theme in these essay prompts? In short, they are all attempting to get to know you better. They want to draw you out in your essay. What are your hopes, joys, sorrows, achievements, goals, and dreams? Why do you want to transfer to this institution? Some colleges may even use a visionary to draw your inner visionary out. In the University of Chicago’s prompt, they tell you that Winston Churchill believed “a joke is a very serious thing” and to share with them your favorite joke and explain it without ruining the punch line. In every one of these examples, the idea is to get you to think about who you are and what you want to share with that college. Sometimes they ask you to dig deep, and other times they merely want to know more about what makes you tick.

Now that you know what the college is asking of you in the prompt, your next step is to begin writing. You have thus far written down three strengths (including anecdotal stories to back up those strengths) and visited the campus and/or the college’s website to learn more about the institution and how it identifies itself. You should now also have the essay prompt. What does it focus on? Does the college want you to read its mission statement, do they ask you more than one question, or do they ask you to reveal something about yourself? No matter what the prompt, make sure you are paying attention to every word. Your essay should answer the question and its nuances completely—while keeping all of my previous considerations in mind.

Connect with Stanford! Connect with UChicago!

How to get started with writing your essay

You may still be asking, but how do I start? What is the school really looking for? Allow me to reveal the answer to that question: there really is no right answer. The ultimate goal of a college application essay is for the school to get to know you better and determine if you’re a good fit and vice versa. As a transfer student, admission counselors want to know why you want to transfer to their institution specifically. This should free you up to get creative and also feel comfortable answering the essay prompt in a way that will truly showcase who you are and what you would bring to the institution.

How to break down your paragraphs

For some practical steps to begin writing , I always recommend starting from the basics. Use the five-paragraph essay format. It is easy to follow and will keep you on target and on topic. As a reminder, the five-paragraph essay format looks like this:

• Paragraph 1: Introduction/thesis:   Don’t forget to start with an attention-grabbing opener! Then give the reader a broad introduction and list what you will write about in your body paragraphs.
• Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4: Detail paragraphs/body:   Each paragraph should support your thesis and should not introduce additional topics. Your paragraphs should follow the same order you listed in your opening. These paragraphs are great opportunities to use those three strengths and anecdotes we determined in our earlier exercise!
• Paragraph 5: Conclusion/ending:   Give a “wrap-up” of the essay and restate your thesis. Lastly, give the essay some closure. Usually for a college essay, you should end with how you believe you will be bettered by your attendance or how the school will benefit you while you are there (see earlier considerations that colleges look to).

You don’t have to leave your essay in this format, but this is a terrific exercise to get something down on paper. Then edit and tweak the essay until it is ready to be sent to the institution.

Five things to consider before submitting your essay

These are some final steps you should take to complete your essay as well as some thoughts to consider before you send your essay to your intended transfer institution. Making sure your essay is the best reflection of who you are and what you want the college to know about you is imperative. Consider these five things before you consider your essay complete.

• Have you been original? Have you written your essay in a way that allows you to become three-dimensional to the reader? If you have, then reading back your essay should paint a mental picture of who you are while also properly answering the essay prompt.
• Have you included enough detail? If your essay is so general or vague that it could be sent to any college or university in the country, then go back and try again. Include specific aspects about the college and why you want to attend as well as showcasing yourself.
• Have you allowed yourself enough time? Your deadline should be far enough ahead of you that you have sufficient time to write, revise, and edit. If not, you haven’t given yourself the proper time to ensure accuracy and a well-written essay, so you better buckled down to finish it.
• Have you asked someone else to read and edit your essay? Make sure you do, and provide the prompt along with your essay. Ask your editor to read the prompt and then your essay, looking to see if you have fully answered the prompt, as well as catch any grammatical/spelling errors or incongruous tone.
• Have you told your story? Your story is unique, incredible, and worth telling. Make sure you and your qualities and strengths stand out. Your future college should be reading an honest and forthright portrayal of who you are—and who you hope to become.

Related: How to Avoid These 5 Common Transfer Student Mistakes

Your transfer admission essay is just that: your essay . The goal is to make it personal and leave the admission readers with a good impression of who you are as a person, why you want to transfer out of your school, and why their school is the right one to transfer to. This is your opportunity to control the narrative of your application and secure that spot in the transfer school of your dreams. Good luck!

Need a break from essay writing and reading articles? Check out more advice and fun content on the  CollegeXpress YouTube channel.

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Navigating the Transfer Application

Navigating the transfer application process.

Are you a college student asking yourself, “ Should I transfer colleges?” Or, perhaps you were not accepted to your top choice school and are now wondering, “How do college transfers work?” No matter where you are in your college journey, CollegeAdvisor is here to answer any questions you may have about the transfer application.

If you’re considering transferring, you’ll want to have all the information needed to put together a strong transfer application for schools. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you understand the process of transferring colleges. To begin, we will review the transfer application process , including:

• The transfer student meaning
• Why a student might want to transfer colleges
• How to choose transfer colleges for your list
• Transfer application deadlines

We will also break down the college application requirements for transfer applications and provide tips for writing your college transfer essay. Lastly, we will prepare you for life as a transfer student, ensuring that if you choose to transfer colleges, you do so ready for the opportunities and challenges that the decision may bring.

Fundamental Knowledge About How to Transfer Colleges

Before you transfer colleges, you must first understand the basics of how to transfer colleges. So, let’s start with the transfer student meaning. A transfer student is most commonly defined as any student who:

• has a high school degree
• has completed only some college credits as part of a degree-seeking program
• completed these credits at a regionally accredited American university after graduating from high school AND
• has not yet completed a bachelor’s degree

As such, high school students who took dual credit classes are not considered transfer students. Additionally, international students who took college credits abroad may still be considered first-year students instead of transfer students. However, each school can have its own unique transfer student meaning. For this reason, it’s important to double-check with the school about how they define a transfer student.

As you can see, the college transfer process can be complex. Still, millions of students transfer each year to find their new educational home. Without the ability to transfer colleges, some students would not be able to pursue their dream major or flourish academically and socially. In addition, transferring colleges is a way for some students to save money or live closer to family and friends. 

To some extent, applying to transfer colleges is not that different from applying to college as an incoming freshman. In fact, many students will complete a Common App transfer using the same platform and login as they did when they were in high school.

However, the key difference is that when transferring colleges, you’ll need to discuss your college experience. Schools are looking to see your academic and extracurricular achievements not only in high school but in college as well. Most importantly, they want to know why you are looking to transfer colleges. Ultimately, transfer admissions teams want to make sure that their school will be a better fit before they admit you.

The Transfer Application Landscape

While most of the attention of college admissions goes towards freshman applications, nearly 2.1 million students transfer colleges each year. Some of these students are transferring from two-year programs at community colleges to four-year programs at universities. Other students may be transferring between four-year programs, either to gain admission to a more selective college or a specific program at another four-year school. 

Many students wondering “Should I transfer colleges?” want to know if the acceptance rates for transferring colleges are higher. In essence, is it easier to get into a more selective school, like an Ivy, as a transfer student? The answer is that it depends on the transfer college. There are many schools which have higher acceptance rates for transfer students. While accurate transfer rates calculators are hard to come by, we know that larger public institutions generally have the capacity to accept more transfer students. 

However, selective schools like Harvard and MIT are known to accept very few transfer students. Each year, Harvard only accepts approximately 12 transfer students. MIT accepts 15-20 out of around 400-500 applications. We don’t need to use a transfer rates calculator to learn that MIT’s transfer acceptance rate is around 4%, slightly lower than their freshman acceptance rate.  As such, you should put a great deal of thought into your MIT transfer application or your Harvard transfer application. Cornell University is one of the few selective schools known for having a higher acceptance rate for transfers, closer to 16% . 

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get into our transferring colleges advice. As we move forward, we will discuss how to decide where to submit your transfer application. Later, we’ll go more in-depth on how to craft a compelling transfer application.

Deciding to Transfer Colleges

For students wondering “Should I transfer colleges?”, there are many motivations and factors to consider. Some students transfer for academic reasons, such as their intended major not being available at their initial school. Or, after starting in one program, they may decide they want to pursue more robust academic opportunities at another institution. Other students transfer colleges for personal reasons, like wanting to be closer to home or in a different climate. Additionally, transfer students are sometimes looking to pay less tuition at a new college.

Before starting your transfer application, consider the following questions:

Questions to Consider Before Transferring

• Why am I transferring? 
• How confident am I that my transfer college will be a better fit? 
• Is there a way I can get what I need at my current school? 
• What are the potential downsides of transferring colleges?
• Do I have the energy and time to complete a transfer college application?
• Am I prepared for the challenges of being a transfer student?

While transferring colleges may be a great decision for many transfer students, there are important challenges to consider. For example, transferring colleges means starting over in a new social environment. It may take some time to find new friends and community. Additionally, transfer students sometimes struggle to complete all their academic requirements within four years. We will discuss more of the academic challenges of transferring colleges later.

Therefore, the best transferring colleges advice we can offer is to carefully plan and consider the advantages and disadvantages of transferring before completing a transfer application for schools.

Researching and Choosing Transfer Schools

Once you have decided to transfer colleges, you might be wondering–how do college transfers work? In this section, we will begin to share information about how to transfer colleges. The first step in this process is to begin researching colleges.

Before you look at schools, determine the objectives for your search. Are you looking for a different campus culture with more social activity? Or, are you looking for a smaller, quieter campus? Perhaps you are hoping to find schools that have more resources for a specific major , like pre-veterinary studies. Or, maybe you want to be in a warmer climate or at a school with lower tuition. 

Once you have decided on your priorities for your transfer college, you can begin to research. Consider the following steps for your research process:

• Look up lists of transfer friendly colleges that provide transferring colleges advice and advising. 
• Use online resources like U.S. News or Niche.com to find the best colleges for your major.
• Consider using a transfer rates calculator to find out admissions rates for your intended transfer college.
• Visit campuses and ask to speak directly with someone who can offer advice on transferring colleges.
• Contact a reputable company like CollegeAdvisor to provide transferring colleges advice.

A Note on Articulation Agreements

Some students may be interested in finding colleges with articulation agreements. These are agreements made between colleges that allow students to transfer more smoothly and easily, to ensure that credits transfer between the schools. For instance, some community colleges have articulation agreements with universities. This helps students seamlessly matriculate into a four-year bachelor’s program after completing a two-year associate’s degree. An example is the City College of New York’s articulation agreements with a number of local community colleges. 

Other transfer friendly colleges, like Texas A&M’s Program for System Admission , allow students to complete their freshman year at another Texas campus before transferring to A&M. In this case, students must have specific majors and complete a set of requirements in their freshman year to guarantee their admission to Texas A&M. Looking into colleges with articulation agreements or other transfer-friendly practices can make your transfer application for schools infinitely easier.

Understanding Transfer Admissions

So, you have chosen where to submit your transfer application. Now, you need to develop a plan to complete your transfer application for schools on your transfer list. Here are a few aspects of the transfer process you should consider:

Make a list of transfer application deadlines. Some schools only allow students to apply for fall admission, whereas other schools have multiple transfer application deadlines each year. Most transfer application deadlines are 6-9 months before the start of your intended transfer semester. Indeed, the UC transfer application is due by November 30 for the following fall, meaning you must start preparing your transfer application for schools in the UC system much earlier. Meanwhile, other transfer application deadlines can be as late as a few weeks before the start of a semester.

Transferring Credits

Speak with the transfer specialist at each school to learn more about which of your credits will be accepted if you transfer. Sometimes schools that do not offer an equivalent course to one you have taken previously will not give transfer credit. Alternatively, they might give a general elective credit, which will not count towards specific major requirements. In this case, your graduation can be delayed, and therefore the cost of your college degree may be higher. So, it is important to understand the eligibility of your credits before transferring colleges.

Transfer Rates

College transfer rates tend to be very different from first-year admissions rates. Some transfer friendly colleges, like those with articulation agreements, accept 100% of the students who meet their transfer requirements. Other schools, like MIT and Harvard, accept only a handful of transfer students each year. As such, your MIT transfer application or Harvard transfer application must make a clear and compelling case about why you are a perfect fit for their school. 

While finding an accurate transfer rates calculator online may be difficult, you can contact the school to ask how many transfer applications they receive and how many are admitted. You should also ask what the school is looking for in a strong transfer application. With that in mind, let’s dive into the mechanics of college transfers.

How do college transfers work?

By now, you have seen how the college application process for transfer students is unique from the regular admissions process. Here, we will provide a simple overview of key parts of the transfer process.

Types of Transfers

Two main types of transfers occur regularly:

Community College → Four-Year University

Students who transfer from a community college to a four-year university are seeking to complete a bachelor’s degree. These students should consider whether the four-year university they’re applying to offers their intended major. Furthermore, it’s important to determine how many of their community college credits the school will accept towards a bachelor’s degree.

Between Four-Year Universities

Students making a transfer from one four-year program to another are generally recommended to transfer between their first and second years of college. This is because completing one year of college at your original school allows you to demonstrate the academic skills needed to strengthen your transfer application for schools. However, transferring beyond your second year may not allow you enough time to complete the requirements at your transfer college. As a result, you could end up having to spend more than four years total in college to complete your bachelor’s degree.

Transfer Admissions vs. First-Year Admissions

In many ways, transfer admissions are similar to first-year admissions. Namely, schools are looking for the same core traits: academic excellence, community involvement, extracurricular involvement, leadership, and personal growth. Additionally, the college application requirements for transfers include many of the same documents, such as transcripts and essays. More than 600 schools also use the Common App for transfer applications. With a Common App transfer, you will have the ease of using your existing account from first-year admissions. 

However, there are some important differences between transfer admission and first-year admissions:

How academic performance is evaluated

Generally, transfer colleges place much more emphasis on your academic performance in college rather than in high school. Additionally, some may not even review test scores . They believe that your performance in college is generally a better indicator due to the rigor of college classes. If you did not perform well in your college classes, speak about what impacted your performance on your transfer application for schools. Colleges want to see academic growth but understand that life can impact your grades.

Essay topics change

Many transfer college application requirements, such as the UC application , include an essay about why you decided to transfer. Make sure you do not submit the same essay you wrote in first-year admissions, as it is unlikely to answer this question. Even if you are completing a Common App transfer, you must make sure you update all your information. So, spend some time reflecting upon your choice to transfer and make a compelling case for why the transfer would be a great fit for you and the college.

Greater importance of major

While many first-year students apply to colleges as undecided majors, a successful transfer application generally demonstrates why a student is interested in their intended major. Indeed, some students may even be required to meet stricter requirements in their application to qualify for a major before they are admitted. Since you have had some time in college to explore, colleges are looking to see an intended major and a clear narrative for why you want to study this subject.

Different timelines

As we stated earlier, some schools have both spring and fall deadlines for transfer applications. As such, the deadlines can differ from first-year admissions deadlines. In a later section, we will provide transfer deadlines for some of the most popular transfer schools.

Now that you know how to transfer colleges, we recommend preparing early for the process

Preparing to Transfer Colleges

Here are some tips for successfully transferring colleges while minimizing stress:

Tips for Transferring Colleges

1. research early.

If you think you might want to transfer, start researching colleges right away. Some students even begin researching before they start their freshman year at their original institution if they think they want to transfer for their sophomore year. Case in point, your UC transfer application will be due November 30 of your freshman year if you wish to start at a UC school in your sophomore year. 

2. Give your full effort at your original institution

Just because you think you may transfer does not mean you should slack off in your classes at your original institution. As we shared above, transfer applications are made stronger by academic achievement in college courses. As such, make sure to take all your courses seriously and get help at the first sign of struggle. If you are hoping to put together a stellar Harvard transfer application or MIT transfer application, you will need to demonstrate strong academic achievement. 

3. Investigate transfer credits early

If you know you may want to transfer, then understanding which classes are more likely to transfer to other schools is important. For example, if you know that a calculus class is likely to transfer to any other college, then it would be smart to enroll in calculus. Taking a rare and specific elective course may mean those credits do not transfer directly to your transfer college.

Remember to seek out help in your transfer process. You can speak with students who transferred previously to hear about their experiences. And, try to meet with transfer advisors at both your original college and your intended transfer college. CollegeAdvisor can also help provide you with personalized college application guidance.

When to start your transfer application?

As we shared above, the transfer application process differs slightly from the first-year admissions process. Importantly, the deadline for transfer application for schools can vary greatly from first-year applications. Here is a list of the top 20 schools with the most transfer students and their application deadlines for the fall semester.

Top 20 Schools with the Most Transfer Students 

As you can tell, transfer application deadlines vary immensely from school to school. For California public schools, you must apply nearly a year in advance of the fall term at the transfer college you want to enroll in. As previously stated, your UC transfer application is due by November 30 for admission the following fall.

Meanwhile, you can submit a transfer application for schools like the University of North Texas up until a few weeks before the fall semester starts. Researching this information earlier will empower you to avoid stressful rushing to complete your applications. And, it will give you plenty of time to strategize for putting together the most successful transfer application for schools.

Exploring Transfer Requirements

When completing any transfer application for schools, there are certain college application requirements you’ll need to fulfill. In general, each application will have the same essential requirements. However, always check the admissions sites to have the most updated information on application deadlines and requirements. With that in mind, let’s look at the requirements that you’ll need for most schools when transferring. 

Letters of Recommendation

First, be sure to secure strong letters of recommendation. If you’re transferring colleges after a full year of school, the letters of recommendation for your transfer application should be different from those used on your initial college application. Your transfer application for schools should reflect your most recent achievements–that includes relationships with college professors rather than high school teachers. 

Extracurriculars

Similar to when you’re applying to college for the first time, extracurricular activities and work experience are important sections in your transfer application for schools. Remember, you shouldn’t just list these activities. Rather, put some thought into how to describe each experience to make your transfer application stand out. Use strong, active verbs to describe your involvement in activities as well as to highlight your leadership qualities (organized, collaborative, communicative). And don’t waste any words on filler text–your transfer application will be stronger for it! 

Supplemental Materials

Each transfer application will also require supplemental materials. Some schools may require a supplemental essay to transfer colleges, just like a first-time college application. Your transfer application will also require a fee. However, if you don’t have the funds, you can likely get a fee waiver.

Some transfer applications require students to submit standardized test scores, though many are now test-optional. For example, the Harvard transfer application doesn’t require test scores. However, the MIT transfer application does require SAT or ACT scores, just as it does for first-year applicants. 

Transfer Application Nuances

Every transfer application is different. For example, the Harvard transfer application is specifically looking for “a clearly defined academic need to transfer, a proven record of achievement at your current institution, and strong faculty recommendations.” You also need to have been a student at another institution for at least one full year, but no more than two. The Harvard transfer application is pretty standard and is similar to the NYU transfer application. 

Similar to applying as a first-time student, when you transfer colleges, you can apply to many schools through the Common App. However, some colleges don’t use the Common App transfer application and have their own. Students will submit the MIT transfer application via MIT’s platform. On the other hand, both Harvard and NYU accept the Common App transfer application.

Now, we’ve learned a bit about general college application requirements for transfer students. Next, let’s go into more detail about how to use the Common App to transfer colleges. 

Common App Transfer Requirements

If you’re considering transferring colleges and want to apply to multiple schools, you’re in luck—the Common App has got you covered! Just like with first-year applications, you can apply to transfer colleges using one standardized application. Whether you’re transferring from one four-year program to another or a community college to a four-year school, the Common App gives you access to over 600 colleges . 

For your transfer application, you’ll need your college transcripts, college credits you’ve earned, and letters of recommendation. On some schools’ transfer applications, a personal statement or supplementary essay is required. These essays will be more focused than some other college essays, asking you to explain why you want to transfer colleges. 

The transfer application hosted by the Common App also requires a fee, though you can contact the school you want to transfer to individually for a fee waiver. Just like with other college applications, some transfer applications require test scores, but most are test-optional. 

In addition to using the Common App to transfer colleges, you may encounter other transfer applications, like the UC application.

UC Transfer Requirements

The University of California system is a collection of public universities in California. The UCs include some of the best public colleges in the U.S., like UC Berkeley and UCLA . The UC transfer application is separate from the Common App and has its own requirements . 

The UC application for transferring colleges is similar to the Common App: it will ask you about your academic history, which UC campuses and majors you want to pursue, and your activities and awards. Additionally, the UC transfer application has a “ personal insight ” section. In this section, you will answer written questions about yourself. Think of these as supplemental essays: they’re how the UCs will get to know you better. 

If you’re interested in completing the UC transfer application, you’re certainly not alone. Almost a third of students entering the UCs each year are transfers—most from community colleges. In fact, many students transfer from community colleges. Let’s look at what that process is like next!

Transferring from Community College

Students choose community colleges for many reasons, and attending a community college is a great way for students to start their college journey. Since many community colleges only offer associate’s degrees, some students want to transfer colleges to earn a bachelor’s degree. 

Transferring to a four-year program from a community college is common, and there are often resources on your community college campus that can help you in the process. See if your school has a dedicated transfer center or advisors who can help transfer students find transfer friendly colleges. Using these resources will guide you in crafting your best transfer application. 

Unfortunately, not all schools will accept community college applicants. Some elite institutions only accept students who transfer from one four-year program to another. However, as we mentioned earlier, some community colleges have partnerships called articulation agreements . These agreements with transfer friendly colleges make it easier for students to transfer colleges. For example, NYU has partnerships with nearby community colleges.

If you want to transfer from a community college to a public or private university, then the process will be different from the one for transfer students in other four-year programs. Often, when you’re transferring from community college, you will have graduated and finished a degree after 2 years—your associate’s degree. This may seem confusing since even though you are technically a transfer student you have already concluded one degree before you transfer colleges. 

If you think you want to transfer colleges from a community college to a four-year program, start thinking about it as early as possible. You’ll need to make sure that your credits are transferable. Additionally, you’ll need to demonstrate that you made the most of your time before transferring colleges. This means showing work experience or extracurricular involvement in addition to your academic coursework. 

Preparing Your Transfer Application

If you’re wondering how to transfer colleges, your best shot at success is to ace your transfer application. Remember, each school could have a different transfer application deadline. Make sure you double-check each school’s transfer application deadline so you have plenty of time to prepare your application materials. The transfer application deadlines are often later than regular first-year application deadlines.

The transfer application requirements are similar to the college application requirements. And, admissions advisors will be evaluating your application holistically. However, as a transfer student, you have the added responsibility of explaining why you want to transfer and demonstrating what you have done at your first college.  

Calibrating to Your Individual Transfer Circumstances

When asking yourself, “Should I transfer colleges?”, keep in mind that there are various facets that define what a transfer student is. Depending on the transfer student meaning that applies to your situation, you will need to tweak your application accordingly.

For example, you may have already applied to the college you’re trying to transfer to but were denied admission. If so, you’ll have to convince these colleges that you are now qualified and ready to be a member of their student body. You’ll need to stress how you have used the previous year (or two) to grow at your current institution in your application.

Reflect on the Why

Take the time to really reflect on your experiences at your current institution. What has served you and what hasn’t? What are you looking to gain by transferring? If you feel like the resources at this institution aren’t working for you, what have you achieved despite that? And what resources would you take advantage of at the school you’re applying to?

Remember, the answer to “Should I transfer colleges?” shouldn’t be based solely on prestige. Your transfer application for schools like Harvard or Yale can’t revolve around these schools’ elite nature. Work on reframing what prestige means to you. Does it mean increased job prospects? If so, in what fields? What are your career goals and how can these institutions help you achieve them? Maybe you’re focused on research opportunities that only exist in schools with enough resources for specialty labs. In your transfer application for schools like the Ivies, stress their specific offerings, not the fancy name.

Transfer Essay

Additionally, one of the most important parts of the transfer application for schools will take some time to complete: the transfer essay. This essay is different from the personal statement you may have written in high school– so don’t just reuse the same essay! Your essay is an excellent opportunity to tell your story.

Brainstorm by asking yourself why you want to transfer and what you have learned from your experience at your first school. You’ll also want to highlight what you will bring to a new school and how that school will help you achieve your academic and career goals. 

As the essay is a crucial part of the transfer application, we’ve compiled some tips to help you in our next section. 

Tips for Writing the College Transfer Essay

The essay portion of the transfer application for schools is one of the most important sections of the application. To transfer colleges, you must convince the admissions committee that you would immensely benefit from a different college experience than the one you are currently having. Or, if you studied at community college, you’ll need to show that you are passionate about taking the next step in your academic journey. 

Here are some tips for crafting the best essay for your transfer application for schools. 

Tips for Writing Transfer Application Essays

1. be specific.

Similar to a “why school” essay that you likely wrote as a first-year applicant, the essay for your transfer application for schools should be detailed and specific. If you’re trying to transfer colleges, always do your research on each school of interest. Admissions committees want to see that you have put in the work and understand why their school in particular would be a good fit for you. If you could submit your essay to transfer colleges to various schools, you’re not getting specific enough. An essay for Binghamton University won’t be the same as one for Cornell University . 

2. Explain why you want to transfer colleges — without bashing your first school.

When you’re looking to transfer colleges, you need to walk a fine line. In your essay, you need to express that there is something at a new institution that you just can’t get at your current one. However, you must do so without being rude about your current school. Framing your desire to transfer colleges in quest of resources, opportunities, or a specific major or program that your school doesn’t offer will help you walk this line. This closing paragraph from an Emory transfer student exemplifies how to find this balance: “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.” 

3. Express your academic or career goals.

When you filled out your college application the first time, you may not have known what you wanted to study. However, schools expect that transfer students are more confident in their academic paths. They expect that, as a transfer student, you have settled on a major. Talking about your academic and career goals is also a great way to express why you’d be a better fit at a new school. If your current college doesn’t have the same opportunities, that’s a great reason for you to transfer colleges. Let’s say you want to pursue an interdisciplinary major or study a very niche topic. Write about this in your essay as a reason why you need to be at that school and nowhere else! 

4. Be yourself

Just like in a typical college essay, the most important thing to remember about your transfer application is that it should show a college who you are. Each one of us is unique, and your transfer application should reflect your distinct skills, qualities, and goals. You can express your uniqueness by being specific about your experiences and sharing relevant anecdotes about your life. Remember that the transfer student meaning has different nuances–use the transfer application essay as an opportunity to show who you are, not only as a transfer student, but as a person. Also, don’t be afraid to have a little fun with applications to transfer colleges! If you’re a creative person, show that in your essays. Not only will this make your application feel authentic to who you are, it will help you stand out.

5. Don’t forget to use great grammar, spelling, and word choice.

All the rules of great writing still apply to your transfer application and essay.  With access to online spellchecking and grammar tools, there’s no excuse for submitting typos or grammatical errors in your essay. Always read your essay out loud before you submit it to catch any mistakes. Additionally, enlist the help of friends or family in the proofreading process. 

Remember that while you can get creative with your essays, don’t get so creative that you forget about grammar. You want to show off your writing chops–don’t let grammatical errors distract from your narrative! These example essays from USC are a good reference—the writer talks about silly things but provides vivid descriptions using impeccable vocabulary and grammar.

Ultimately, writing your essay to transfer colleges should focus on expressing your unique reasons for wanting to transfer using specific details, vivid descriptions, and flawless spelling and grammar. If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out our article on transfer essay examples. 

More College Transfer Advice

Transferring colleges can be a daunting process. If you’re still asking yourself, “How do college transfers work?”–here’s some more transferring colleges advice.

Start the Transfer Process Early

If you’re at a community college, make sure you talk with your admissions counselors about transfer friendly colleges that interest you. If you’re in a four-year program, your grades and extracurriculars will be an important part of your application. So, even if you plan to transfer, get involved at your first school. Preparing early is one of the best pieces of transferring colleges advice to ease the transfer process.

Build an Application Narrative

Keep in mind that the transfer student meaning includes many students with different goals and experiences. Sometimes transferring colleges is a backup plan for people who don’t get into their top schools the first time around. In fact, this is very common.

While it can feel exhausting, you should aim to make your transfer application as competitive (if not more) than your first college application. After all, just because you apply to transfer colleges, doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily get in. Take the time to craft the best application narrative possible!

If you’re a student who has lower stats than the average student at the universities you’re applying to, or you get mostly B’s , don’t panic. However, you’ll want to put extra energy into other parts of your application, like your essays or your letters of recommendation. You could also tell a story of academic growth over time and explain any extenuating circumstances. 

Do Your Research

When seeking out transferring colleges advice, remember that college lists are important in the transfer process. Look at a transfer rates calculator, or a list of transfer rates, to understand which schools are more friendly to transfer students. The UCs, for example, take far more transfer students than somewhere like Harvard. It’s useful to look at a transfer rates calculator because these rates are different from regular admission rates. For example, at UC Berkeley, the transfer rates calculator shows rates that are higher for transfer students than for first-year students.

And our last piece of transferring colleges advice is to stay organized! We’ve provided an easy way to do so below.

College Transfer Application Checklist

If you started reading this guide wondering, “How do college transfers work?”, then you’ve probably learned plenty about the process. Now, a better question might be: “How do I stay organized when completing the transfer application for schools?” Here’s a checklist to keep you on schedule:

• During your first year of college, ask yourself, “Should I transfer colleges?” 
• Talk to a counselor at your school about how to transfer colleges—there may even be a designated office to assist with transfers.
• Make sure that your academic plan has transferable credits. 
• Research transfer-friendly schools.
• Familiarize yourself with the transfer application and the requirements for each school.
• Check the transfer application deadline. Every school has different transfer application deadlines, so make sure you know when to apply .
• Secure letters of recommendation from your professors who can speak to your strengths.
• Give yourself plenty of time to work on your transfer essay. 
• Order your transcripts from your school’s registrar.
• Fill out and submit your transfer application by the transfer application deadline!

Remember, during your first semesters at a new school, make sure to keep your grades up and get involved with extracurriculars. You should have a good idea of what academic goals you want to pursue once you transfer colleges. And, you need to be able to demonstrate that you made the most of your time at your first college in your transfer application. 

We know that navigating the transfer application process can be tricky. But we hope that this transferring colleges advice and checklist make you more confident in the process. Now, we’ve covered a lot, so let’s go over some final takeaways.

Navigating the Transfer Application Process – Final Thoughts

Transferring colleges can be a challenging and stressful process, but remember the light at the end of the tunnel. A successful college transfer means more educational opportunities and a college that feels like the perfect fit. If you decide that your first college isn’t the right fit for you, or that you want to pursue a bachelor’s degree after attending community college, then going through the transfer application process may be the right choice for you.

Make sure that you do your research and choose transfer friendly colleges—schools that have the right financial fit, coincide with your academic goals, and provide meaningful extracurricular, career, and research opportunities. If you’re wondering what your chances are of getting into a particular school, don’t just rely on their regular admissions stats. Transfer rates calculators offer a more accurate picture of your chance of getting admitted as a transfer applicant. 

Most transfer applications can be filed using the Common App, just like most first-year applications. However, some applications, like the MIT transfer application or the UC application, have their own platforms via their school websites. Make sure that you know where and when to apply. Remember to put a lot of thought and effort into your transfer essay since that’s where you’ll explain to the admissions committee why you want to transfer to their school.

More Transfer Resources

If you want more resources on how to transfer colleges, check out these free CollegeAdvisor resources. This webinar on transferring colleges can help assuage any concerns and this one gives you a first-person perspective from a student who successfully transferred to Vanderbilt. 

Regardless of where you are in your college journey, CollegeAdvisor is here to support you. We can provide one-on-one counseling from expert advisors, and we have countless guides to help you transfer to your dream school.

This article was written by senior advisors, Courtney Ng and Rachel Kahn . 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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A Guide to Transferring: What You Need to Know About the Transfer Admissions Process

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Transferring schools is a process that students undertake for a number of reasons; students whose majors are discontinued, whose financial aid falls short, who are making the transition from a 2-year or community college to a 4-year, or who are otherwise dissatisfied with the academic or social environment of their current school all may choose to transfer. In fact, more than a third of all students transfer at some point in 6 years. Yet for how common transferring is, there is relatively little literature available on the process compared to applying for admission as a first-year student. We at CollegeVine have decided to break down some of the most important aspects of transferring process, as well as the ways in which this process is distinct from applying for first-year admission.

Why Transfer?

For students who have just finished applying for first-year admission a year or two prior, the notion of applying to college again so soon can seem unappealing, to say the least. Unfortunately, in many cases, it’s necessary. The largest group of students who transfer colleges is probably community or 2-year college students, who complete their general education requirements at a community college and apply for admission at a 4-year college to finish their degree.

Many other students transfer for financial reasons – whether it’s due to an increase in tuition, an insufficient financial aid award , the loss of a scholarship, or an unforeseen shift in financial circumstances, a change in a student’s ability to finance their education at a certain school may require them to transfer to a more affordable option.

Academic factors are also a common motivator for transfer students. Schools sometimes stop offering certain majors, forcing any students who wish to continue that path of study to transfer to a school that still offers their major. Many students who feel the academic environment at their school does not align with their personal goals, or that they have little in common academically, ideologically, or otherwise with their classmates, may choose to transfer to a school which they feel will provide an environment more conducive to achieving their professional, personal, and academic goals.

How Do I Transfer?

The process of applying as a transfer student is largely the same as applying for first-year admission. Students are required to submit all their same information as they would for first-year admission (transcripts, extracurriculars, essays, recommendations, etc) as well as grades and recommendations from college professors. It’s important to note that many of the materials you’ll need to apply will need to be sent directly by your high school or teachers at your high school, so getting in contact with them as soon as possible is necessary. You should check the application instructions for any schools you’re applying to and be very careful to send in all materials by the required dates.

Just as in first-year admissions, the key to success as a transfer applicant is organization and effective time management. It’s crucial to start your applications early, especially because with a college-level workload, you’ll have even less free time to work on applications than you did in high school. Ask recommenders well in advance, as professors and teachers are busy; you don’t want to find yourself unable to submit your applications the day before they’re due because your recommender still hasn’t completed your letter. Selecting professors to serve as recommenders can be difficult if you have mostly large lecture-style classes that don’t offer many opportunities for student-teacher interactions. If this is the case, visit your professors during office hours, especially those in whose classes you are doing well, and spend some time getting to know each other. It’s important in any such meetings to be careful to articulate your academic goals and personal character. A strong recommendation can go a long way in a transfer application, just as in a first-year one.

If you plan on transferring, one area you should be sure to research thoroughly is if all or any of your credits will transfer. General education and major-specific requirements vary from school to school, and if you don’t ensure that your credits from previous classes have transferred, you may be in a difficult position come your senior year. This is especially true for community college students; many universities have agreements with community colleges that students who take a certain course load are automatically guaranteed admission, but this does not necessarily mean all credits will transfer.

For any students who aim to “transfer up” – that is, apply to transfer to a more competitive school than they currently attend – you may have to retake your ACTs or SATs in order to have a score within the range typically accepted by that school (unless your test scores from high school already fall into this range). The process of registering and studying for these tests, along with setting aside time to take them, is oftentimes lengthy and arduous. Tests are as time-consuming and their results as important for a transfer applicant as they are for a first-year, so be sure not to discount their impact.

How is Transferring Different from Applying as a First Year?

For all of their similarities, there are some key differences in the processes of applying as a first-year applicant and as a transfer applicant. A major one is competition, a difference which is especially pronounced at top universities. Stanford, for example, had a first-year admission rate of 5.1% in 2015. For transfer applicants, this rate drops down to about 2%. Most top colleges have transfer student acceptance rates in the single digits as well, and transfer acceptance rates are usually (although notably, not always) lower than first-year admissions rates.

Another difference is in the application itself. Because typically transfer applicants have completed at least one semester of college, students are no longer evaluated solely on their performance in high school, but must demonstrate aptitude and an ability to succeed in a college-level environment as well. This is true not only for academics but extracurriculars and recommendations as well, so be sure to thoroughly develop these aspects of your application if you’re planning to transfer. There are also significant differences in the essays. For example, the Common Application features only one essay prompt for transfer applicants: “Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve.” This prompt is more straightforward in what it requires from students than the prompts for first-year applicants, which usually encourage more creative storytelling. Many transfer applications require students to write both an essay on why they’ve chosen to transfer as well as an essay that more closely resembles a typical college application essay.

Another major difference is timing. While nearly every application for first year admission is due by mid-January, most transfer applications aren’t due till February or March. This also means you’ll be getting your decisions back later, and won’t be making your final decision likely until the end of the year. This timing can cause complications for some students in regards to things like summer internships or activities and travel plans, so be sure to familiarize yourself with all deadlines and start dates to avoid any inconvenient scheduling.

While the process of transferring colleges is time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially when combined with a college workload, transferring can allow many students to reach personal goals and transform their college experience for the better. With research, ambition, and the same painstaking effort that you put into your first-year applications, you can make your goal of transferring a reality.

Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!

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Transfer Applicants

Transfer students play a meaningful role in the life of the College. Your experiences at other institutions contribute to the diversity of our student body and provide valuable perspective to all kinds of interactions on campus, from classroom conversations to coffee chats on the quad. We are committed to assembling a community of talented scholars from a wide range of backgrounds, and this includes transfer students.

If you have already completed at least one term as a full-time student in a bachelor's degree-seeking program at another college or university, you should apply as a transfer student. All others, to include high school students who have taken college-level courses, should apply as  first-year applicants .

The University of Chicago offers transfer applicants a choice of two application plans. Your application will go through the same careful review process no matter which of these plans you choose, so you should pick the one that suits you best. In picking the UChicago application plan that's right for you, you'll want to consider when you will be ready to apply and whether you are prepared to make a binding commitment to UChicago.

2024-2025 Timelines

*11:59 p.m. applicant's local time on March 1 or first business day of March.

**Late afternoon Chicago local time on the last business day in March.

Transfer Application Plans

Transfer early decision.

Our Transfer Early Decision (TED) application is best for students who have identified UChicago as their absolute first choice for transferring and know they would choose to attend UChicago immediately if admitted. This admission plan is binding, meaning that if admitted, you commit to attending UChicago, withdrawing outstanding transfer applications from any other school, and agreeing not to apply to transfer to any additional colleges. If you apply Early Decision, you will need to download, complete, and submit a Transfer Early Decision Agreement by uploading it in your UChicago Account.

If you are enthusiastic about applying to UChicago but would like to compare admissions offers, transfer credit estimates, or financial aid packages from multiple colleges before making a final decision, you should consider applying through the Rolling Decision plan.

Transfer Early Decision applicants will receive an admissions decision of admit, deny, or waitlist.

Transfer Rolling Decision

In our Transfer Rolling Decision (TR) application plan, students are strongly encouraged to submit their application by the March 1 priority deadline. We will continue to review applications until June 1 and we will release decisions on a rolling basis starting in early May. Applying as a Rolling Decision applicant does not constitute a binding commitment to attend if admitted, and you will have until June 5 to reply to your offer if admitted.

Transfer Rolling Decision applicants will receive an admissions decision of admit, deny, or waitlist.

Required Application Materials

Transfer application for admission and supplement essays.

Applicants should submit their choice of Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application *, both of which include the University of Chicago Supplement . Applicants will also be prompted to create a UChicago Account , where they can submit information and view their admissions decision.

Select One of Two Applications

There are several online application platforms accepted by many colleges and universities. Through the online application platform, you submit basic information about your background, academic profile, and extracurricular activities, as well as a brief personal statement; all of this information can be easily shared with multiple colleges you decide to apply to. If you apply to the University of Chicago, you will also submit several supplemental essays, which will not be seen by other institutions.

UChicago accepts Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application for transfer applicants. We treat both equally in the admissions process. You'll want to pick a single application platform to use, whichever you feel works best for you.

Questions about technical matters related to using one of these consortium applications should be directed, respectively, to the folks at Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application . Questions about our own requirements should be directed to us .

Extracurricular Activities

In your list of extracurricular activities, you should include whatever it is that you have spent your time doing outside of class during high school and college. This could be an official club, team, or competition; a hobby you pursue on your own; a part-time job; a family responsibility; or anything else you do with your time outside of class. Colleges ask for this information not because they have any specific expectation or preference for how you spend your time, but to see what's meaningful, worthwhile, or interesting to you. We do not require certificates proving participation in activities. If the space provided on the application to list all extracurricular and work experiences is not sufficient, you may share further details through the "Additional Information" section or in your UChicago Account.

Application Essay

The personal statement is your chance to present yourself and your ideas in your own words. Through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application, your essay will be sent to the schools you are applying to, and should not be specific to any one school. Your essay should be appropriate for a wide array of audiences and should put your best foot forward.

The personal statement is not required for the transfer application. You have the option to submit one if you like. If applying through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, the application will say that the Coalition Essay is required. You may submit a personal statement, or you may write “N/A”. If applying through the Common Application, the personal statement will appear as optional.

UChicago Supplement

The University of Chicago Supplement requires one extended essay of your choice from our list of several prompts and one short essay on why you would like to attend the University of Chicago as a transfer student. For this second essay, transfer students will be asked to answer the following prompt (in approximately 500 words):

• Please tell us why you are planning to leave (or have already left) your current college or university, and how the University of Chicago will satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future. Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

The Supplement essays should be submitted through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application .

Your UChicago Account

Students may create a UChicago Account before or after starting their application on the Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir. To create a UChicago Account before you begin working on your application, please visit getstarted.uchicago.edu .

If you begin by working on the application, you will receive an email with instructions on how to set up your UChicago Account. When you sign in to your UChicago Account , you will be able to complete and update your profile, apply for financial aid, upload supplementary materials if you wish, and eventually view your admissions decision.

If you previously applied to UChicago as a first-year, transfer, or Summer Session student, you already have a UChicago Account in your name and will not receive emailed instructions. If you forgot your password from your previous account, please use the “forgot password” function with the email address you used in your Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir application to access your account.

Application Fee or Automatic Waiver

The University of Chicago does not charge an application fee for students applying for need-based financial aid. For students not applying for need-based financial aid, our application fee is $75 and can be submitted through the Common Application or Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir.

Credit Card

Please follow the instructions on the application for submitting the application fee online.

Check or Money Order

Please include a note with the check or money order with the applicant's full name and address and mail it to the College Admissions Office by the application deadline. Checks should be made payable to the University of Chicago.

The Office of College Admissions Attn. Matt Cowell 1101 E. 58th St. Rosenwald 005 Chicago, IL 60637

High School and College Transcripts

Transfer students are required to submit both a final high school transcript and college transcripts for every post-secondary school attended. You are welcome to submit either official copies or unofficial copies; official copies are only required for admitted students who choose to enroll. If applying with unofficial copies, each transcript must show your full name and school name. Unofficial copies can be uploaded in the documents section of the Common Application , in the Coalition Application Supplement if applying through Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir , or in your UChicago Account. We prefer electronic submission instead of physical mail for official transcripts.

Final High School Transcript

We require a transcript detailing your coursework and grades over your entire high school career. If you graduated, the transcript should list your graduation date. In reading your application, your transcript will serve as a roadmap of your academic path in high school. We will be looking at your academic record across all four years of high school, primarily to see that you have challenged yourself productively in your course selection and done well in those courses.

Your transcript is considered in the context of your high school. Course offerings and opportunities can look very different from one high school to the next, and we want to see how you took advantage of what was available to you at your high school. You would never be at a disadvantage in the admissions process for not having pursued an opportunity that was not available to you. A School Profile is usually included with your transcript that tells us about the environment at your school, course offerings, curriculum, and educational outcomes. We do not require complete syllabi.

If you have taken courses during high school at institutions other than your final high school, such as a previous high school or a local college, please be sure to submit transcripts for these grades if they are not included in your final high school transcript.

College Transcripts

Please make sure to include transcripts from every post-secondary school you have attended after high school. If you received pass/fail marks for college or university courses instead of grades, please request that your instructors submit a short, written evaluation of your work to the admissions office separately.

Current College Coursework

If using Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, please include any in-progress or future college coursework through the end of the current academic year in the College Coursework section of your application profile. If using the Common Application, you should include any in-progress college coursework in the Mid-Term report. If you are not currently enrolled in courses, you do not need to complete the College Coursework section or the Mid-Term report.

Transcripts written in a language other than English

Transcripts written in a language other than English should be accompanied by a certified translation and a grading scale.

Two Teacher Evaluations

We require two recommendations from teachers who have taught you in an academic subject. Academic subjects, as defined for the purposes of letters of recommendation, include mathematics, social studies, history, science, English or literature, foreign language, and other courses in which you are doing substantial amounts of reading, writing, or class discussion.

If you feel that you have not had satisfactory contact with professors at your college or university, you may ask a teaching assistant or lab instructor who may have had more experience working with you to provide a recommendation. A recommendation from a recent high school teacher is also acceptable for those who are just in their first year of college, though we recommend at least one of your recommendations come from someone who has worked with you in an academic context in college. If you have questions about whether a particular course is a good choice, feel free to contact your regional Admissions Counselor .

Ask for recommendations from teachers who know you well and can speak specifically and positively about your contributions in the classroom, academic interest, and interactions with classmates. This does not necessarily need to be the teacher who gave you the best grades, but instead someone who best knows your academic personality and thinks highly of you. Plan to have a brief conversation with your recommender to give them context on your educational plans, as this can be helpful in writing a more detailed letter.

As teachers are often writing letters of recommendation on their own time and are therefore not getting paid to do it, we also strongly encourage students to write their recommenders a thank you note.

Submitting Letters of Recommendation

All teachers have the option of submitting letters of recommendation and school forms online via  Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application. They should follow the instructions on the application for submitting these forms. Teachers may print out and submit these forms on paper even if you submit your application online. Letters of recommendation must come directly from the recommender and should not be sent by the applicant. Letters of recommendation can be added to your application after the application deadline, so you do not need to ask your recommender to submit their letter before or at the same time as you have submitted your application.

If your recommenders are most comfortable writing in a language other than English, they may do so. Have them submit the original letter accompanied by a translation.

Supplemental Recommendations

If you feel that we won't be able get a full picture of who you are without a third letter of recommendation from another teacher, an employer, role model, youth leader, or friend, you may submit one additional letter. Submitting a supplemental letter of recommendation is not an expectation, and please be considerate of the significant time commitment writing a good letter of recommendation takes before asking a potential recommender. 

No Harm Testing Policy

Submitting an SAT or ACT is optional and not required for admission. In addition to being test-optional, UChicago practices a “No Harm” policy for application review when considering SAT or ACT scores. Any SAT or ACT score submitted will only be used in review if it will positively affect an applicant’s chance of admission. Test scores that may negatively impact an admission decision will not be considered in review. All applicants, including domestic students, international students, and transfer students will be reviewed under this policy.

Reporting Scores

Students submitting SAT or ACT scores may share either official or self-reported scores. Students sharing self-reported scores will not be required to submit official score reports unless they are admitted and choose to enroll. You are able to self-report test scores through Coalition, Powered by Scoir or the Common Application . You will not need to superscore your own results or recalculate your scores in any way; send your scores exactly as you receive them. To be considered official, scores can be sent by a school official, listed on a transcript, or sent to the University of Chicago directly from the testing agency. UChicago’s SAT code is 1832; the ACT code is 1152.

Testing Deadlines

While we would, of course, like to receive your scores before the appropriate deadline, we will accept the February ACT for Transfer Early Decision and Transfer Rolling Decision and the March SAT for Transfer Rolling Decision.

College/Transfer Report

Transfer students are required to submit a College/Transfer Report indicating their academic standing at their current or most recently attended college or university. The report should be completed by a dean, registrar, or academic adviser who has access to your disciplinary and academic records and sent directly to the Office of College Admissions. If using the Common Application, you can download the College/Transfer Report in the “Supporting Documents” section in the Common Application. If using Apply Coalition, Powered by Scoir, you may use the University of Chicago College/Transfer Report.

If a college or university cannot provide an official report, don’t panic!  We will still be able to review your application in its entirety without any penalty.

Optional Components

Financial aid application.

While funding is limited for transfer students, we are committed to meeting 100% of your demonstrated need with a loan-free financial aid award for all U.S. citizens and permanent residents if you are admitted and applied for funding. Transfer students are eligible for financial aid only if they apply for funding during the admissions process and will not be eligible for financial aid after receiving their admissions decision or during their four years in the College. If you think you will need financial aid at any point during your four years at UChicago, you should apply for financial aid when you apply for admission.

The number of quarters for which you receive financial aid will depend on your transfer credit evaluation, which you will receive after you are offered admission. Learn more about  applying for financial aid .

If you are neither a citizen of the United States nor a permanent resident, then we consider you to be an  international transfer applicant , even if you are currently studying at a U.S. college or university. International transfer applicants are not eligible for financial aid.

Recommended Video Profile

If you would like to add your voice to your application, you have the option to submit a two-minute video introduction instead of the traditional college interview, which is not part of our application process. Your recording does not need to be extensively rehearsed or polished, and the video does not need to be edited.

You may record your video introduction using the platform of your choice, and then upload a file to your UChicago Account. You may upload your video to your UChicago Account at any time, but we recommend uploading by March 6 th for Transfer Early Decision and within a week of submitting your application for Transfer Rolling Decision.

We hope students find creative ways to share their voice and ideas, so we focus on content rather than filming quality when reviewing recommended video profiles. For the purposes of our review, it is still impressive if a student is sharing important ideas and perspective on their specific potential for contribution to UChicago even if that video was filmed “selfie-style” on a phone. It is much less helpful if the video is professionally lit and edited, but contains little to no unique information about the student or their specific candidacy for UChicago. We encourage students to film in a quiet space that limits outside distractions (background noise, music, pet or sibling interference, etc). While it’s ok to rehearse your message a bit so that you feel confident and ready, it’s helpful for us to hear these spoken in your normal, conversational voice—memorizing a “script” or reading from prepared sheets/notecards may come appear as a less engaged and conversational experience. If there is any important information relevant to your candidacy you were unable to address elsewhere in the application, please share that information here.

Supplemental Materials: Optional Art, Creative, Research, or Other Supplements

Students may submit supplemental material representing a significant talent, passion, or achievement by uploading it through their UChicago Account. These materials include, but are not limited to, creative writing projects, highlights from music/dance/visual art/theater performance, school capstone projects such as AP Capstone or the equivalent, research projects, business plans, or other work of note.

Students may also elect to submit results of AP exams, SAT Subject Tests, IB courses, or A-Level courses on an optional and self-reported basis.

Transfer Credit

If admitted, the Dean of Students office will provide you with an initial evaluation of your transfer credits. We recommend you submit your transfer credit materials when you apply for admission in order to receive an initial credit evaluation in a timely manner. These materials include the Transfer of Credit form and syllabi for each course you would like to receive a credit evaluation, all of which can be submitted in your UChicago Account. Learn more about how UChicago considers transfer credit and how to submit your coursework for evaluation.

Academic and Campus Requirements for Incoming Transfers

Transfer students must attend the University of Chicago for at least two academic years (six quarters) and complete the Core curriculum , along with more than half of their major requirements bearing UChicago course numbers. Certain College-sponsored study abroad programs (chiefly the Civilizations study abroad programs) may be used to meet these requirements. Transfer credit may not be used toward the Humanities, Civilization Studies, and Social Sciences core requirements; other core requirements may be fulfilled through transfer credit, if eligible. 

Starting the summer before matriculation in the College, transfer students may not earn additional credits from schools other than the University of Chicago, except through direct-enrollment study abroad programs sponsored by UChicago. However, these courses will not count toward the residency or course requirements. Most transfer students can complete their studies with no more than one extra quarter beyond the usual four college years, although this may depend on how coursework completed elsewhere fits into the structure of their degree program. Transfer students are required to live on campus for their first academic year at UChicago.

If you would like to visit the University to study for one year or less before returning to another institution, you should apply as a student-at-large . Students who already have a bachelor’s degree are not eligible to apply to the undergraduate College at the University of Chicago, as the College does not grant second bachelor’s degrees. However, you are welcome to pursue a  graduate degree  or apply as a  graduate-student-at-large  through the  Graham School of General Studies.

Academic Opportunities for Incoming Transfer Students

Incoming transfer students are invited to take classes during the summer before matriculation through Summer Quarter and/or September Term, and will receive information about how to register for these courses in late Spring. Learn more online about Summer Quarter and September Term course offerings.

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Transfer Admissions

Take Your Next Bold Step

Congratulations on exploring this important step in your academic journey. As a Matador, you’ll find the support you need to successfully achieve your goals and complete your bachelor’s degree.

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Applications for fall '25 open Oct. 1.

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Transfer Student Requirements

• Complete 60 transferable semester units (90 quarter units). Visit assist.org to see which courses transfer from a community college to CSUN.
• Have a GPA of 2.0 or higher.
• Complete the “Golden Four” general education course requirements: written composition, critical thinking, mathematics/quantitative reasoning and oral communication (speech).

Learn More About Transfer Student Requirements    Review the Transfer Student Admissions Process

Unique Opportunities for Transfer Students

Associate degree for transfer (adt).

An associate degree for transfer (either AA-T or AS-T) from a California community college allows for easier transfer and faster degree completion at a California State University campus. If your AA-T or AS-T degree has been approved for transfer to CSUN, you can complete your bachelor’s degree in 60 additional units.

Learn more about the Associate Degree for Transfer program.

California Promise

If you’re admitted to CSUN with a verified Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), you can participate in the California Promise program. You take a two-year pledge to complete your bachelor’s degree in two additional years. If you qualify, you will receive priority registration and academic advising designed for ADT students.

Learn more about California Promise at CSUN .

Transfer Success Pathways (TSP)

The Transfer Success Pathway program is designed to support students who faced academic, financial or personal hardships that prevented them from attending a California State University campus. If you are eligible, you can apply for dual admission to both a California community college and CSUN. You will receive personalized guidance to help you prepare to transfer within three years or fewer.

Learn more about the Transfer Success Pathways program. For questions about the program at CSUN, email [email protected] .

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Important Things to Know

California residents — impaction.

CSUN has implemented academic impaction. If you’re a California resident, you’ll need to meet higher admission requirements if you’re applying to an impacted major. 

If you’re an international student, or you’re from out of state, an active military student or a veteran, impaction doesn’t apply to you.

Learn more about academic impaction at CSUN .

First-Generation Students

If you’re a first-generation student, you might benefit from the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). EOP provides services to historically low-income, educationally disadvantaged students who are the first in their immediate family to go to college. If you quality for EOP, you’ll have access to a variety of additional resources to help you succeed as you earn your bachelor’s degree.

Learn more about EOP at CSUN .

Veterans and Veteran’s Dependents

The Office of Veterans Affairs is available to review your documents and guide you through the admissions process.

Learn more about veterans admissions and support .

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UMW Application for Admission

Yes, you’re in the right place! You can start and complete your application to University of Mary Washington directly from our exclusive online UMW Application. 

Applying to UMW as a First-Year or Transfer:

Students have the option to submit either the UMW Application or the Common Application. You only need to apply once using one of these applications. There is no fee to apply with the UMW Application. If you choose the UMW Application, you can create an account or log in and begin your application from this page.

Applying to a UMW Graduate Program:

Students can submit the UMW Application, available below. You only need to apply once using a single application. There is no fee for applying with the UMW Application. To apply, create an account or log in and start your application from this page.

Check your application status:

You can check your application status for UMW—regardless of whether you used our exclusive UMW Application or the Common Application—by logging into the portal here . If you applied through the Common Application, please create a login below to access your status.

We look forward to receiving your application! The UMW Admissions office will use your application status page to provide admissions decisions and other important enrollment information.

Questions? Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 540-654-2000 or [email protected] .