College Application Shenanigans

[Chreman]

Heya doctor BG, looking for some advice.

I'm applying to a state college next semester on the heels of completing an associate's degree at a community college. My GPA is pretty much locked in at a 3, and I'm hoping to nail the essays & whatnot on the application to boost my chances of getting in. . . but I'm sort of at a loss as to what they expect. The prompt is this:

- Please provide a brief statement of your academic interests and career goals as they relate to your major choice or choices, including if you are still deciding on a major. (Maximum 600 characters)

What kind of info worked for you guys? Are they looking for big words or just simple grammar stuff? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ZarakiKujata]

There is a difference between a transfer student essay and a regular freshman app essay so take any advice you get with a grain of salt if its advice about a regular freshman essay. Transfer essays they are looking to understand why you want to go to the specific school, why you left the previous institution because you've already proven you can do well in college(usually) whereas Freshman essays they want to get a feel for the person to see if they will fit into the student body or w/e.

When I transfered to UCONN I had to answer the exact same question pretty much. Just give what they ask, talk about what interests you what you want the degree for and why you picked your major/why you are still undecided. I also explained ambiguous stuff on my transcript that may have been confusing cause you dont get the same ability to do so at an interview as freshman usually do.

You will be fine though, transfer acceptance rates at state schools get into like 90% alot of the time.

[nitsuj]

I'm very interested in the research I've done in [INSERT FIELD OF RESEARCH HERE]. I know that [NAME OF SCHOOL] has an amazing [FIELD OF RESEARCH] department, as well as [INSERT PROMINENT PROFESSOR NAME] and his resarch on [INSERT TOPIC].

I'm very passionate about my studies and really hope to graduate in [INSERT TIME FRAME HERE] and pursue my career in [CAREER NAME].

[BELOW IS OPTIONAL]

I'm also thinking about getting my masters in [INSERT SPECIALIZED FIELD] at your fine institution, and I look forward to learning more about the program.

Seriously. They just want to know that you're not cut/pasting every letter to every school to them. They want you to want to go to THEIR school specifically.

Show them that you've done your homework and know what school you're applying to and that you *actually* care. (Or make them think you do).

And the whole grad school thing can work, because schools definitely like your money!

[Zoolander]

Would say it depends on the University too. Was kind of sad, when I finished my AA degree here in Florida none of the schools I applied to even asked for a fucking essay. The law is here that if you have an AA and they have room in whatever college you are applying to (Arts and Sciences for me) then they have to take you. Still though, to not even ask for an essay was kind of annoying since that is one of my stronger aspects in applications (its how I got into UF >.>).

I wouldn't go overboard with big words or anything like that, just make sure you don't have any grammar/spelling mistakes (really the most important) and try to hit the middle ground of just enough but not too much bull shit that they inevitably want to hear.

[Krazy]

Talk about how you teamed up with Kurtis Stryker to save Earth from Shao Khan's forces.

[zoobernut]

Dude transferring in after the fact is so easy. The requirements are so much lower than applying outright from HS. If you can't write a simple 600 word essay for the application that is not a good sign. Really just be straight forward concise, structure your essay appropriately, and don't make any stupid spelling/grammar mistakes.

[viperlasson]

I was at a community college for 2.5 years after transferring into a university this semester. Ended up with a 2.9 GPA. I applied at two state universities and two private ones. Just write a good 1-2 paragraphs about why you chose your major. Mine is CS so I just talked about why I like computers and want to get a job working with em. Also, being my first semester at a 4yr university, the difference is quiet large in workload/expectations... Just a heads up lol

[Mojo]

Getting into a public university isn't difficult, you'd have to fuck up heavily to be denied. My essay was only a sentence long and it worked.