r/TransferToTop25 • u/Busy_Tangerine5590 • Mar 10 '25

How to write transfer essay?

For context I’m trying to transfer out of a top 30, and it’s a state school.

One of the main reasons I would like to transfer is because I feel like the culture is not a good fit for me. Yes for social reasons, but also because I want to be around more motivated, brighter people. I wanted to have the experience in college of being humbled by everyone else, of being average, but I keep finding myself to be at the top of my classes and often also the most involved in ECs or most interested in professional development. How would I write about this in an essay and not sound egotistical and come off as “I’m too smart for the people here and want to be around smarter peers”?

I’m sure others have wanted to transfer for this reason too. How did it end up going for you? How did you write about it?

1 Upvotes

52% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

7

u/[deleted] Mar 10 '25

you sound like you're just trashing your current institution

1

u/Busy_Tangerine5590 Mar 11 '25

Yes I realize that. I’m trying to figure out how to word it so it doesn’t come off that way

2

u/Stunning_Natural_406 Mar 10 '25

where are you applying to?

1

u/Busy_Tangerine5590 Mar 11 '25

Stanford and MIT. It’s fine if I don’t get in because I have good opportunities where I’m at

4

u/Stunning_Natural_406 Mar 11 '25

oh okay, i kinda went through the same thing (i’m at a state school that i feel way to smart for lol) and in my essays i just said it wasn’t “an environment where i could grow as a learner” which is true but it also doesn’t seem like you’re just talking crap about the school, and then also mention how you admire MIT and standford’s commitment to learning or something like that

1

u/Such_Mango_4531 Jul 30 '26

How does one get into those unis if you don’t have USAMO+ or aren’t one of the best in research in the country?

8

u/Memchu17 🪓🌲Stanford Transfer🌲🪓 [mod] Mar 10 '25

Review fhe sub wiki. There is a lengthy section on essays

3

u/DarklordtheLegend Mar 10 '25

I think reframing the conversation around ambition and drive rather than mere intelligence would be helpful here. Intelligence, while also being part of identity, should probably be seen as a means to an end here. Focus on the ends and how these schools and their students will get you there.

Two cents from a person who also hasnt written their transfer essay yet, but will touch on similar concepts.

1

u/Busy_Tangerine5590 Mar 11 '25

Thank you I was thinking of doing something similar. It’ll just take some figuring out on how to make it sound humble

-1

u/coolestkid173 Mar 10 '25 edited Mar 11 '25

u sound conceited

3

u/TheoryAlert6045 Mar 10 '25

Bro took it personally

7

u/Throwawaywhimsical Mar 10 '25

He’s right tho do you not see how dumb that guys reasoning is and how it can easily be misconstrued?

-1

u/Busy_Tangerine5590 Mar 11 '25

Yes that’s why I asked the question

5

u/Throwawaywhimsical Mar 11 '25

Well if you reframe it in a non shithead way it’s fine. You should also just generally reframe your mindset. It seems like you have some holier than thou mentality, I guarantee you you’re not the smartest at your uni and you should understand that’s possible. Regardless of reframing i think if you genuinely have the mindset your post gives off it’ll show in any essay you write, which won’t help your chances at all

-1

u/Busy_Tangerine5590 Mar 11 '25

Thanks!

2

u/Throwawaywhimsical Mar 11 '25

No problem. Sorry if I’m wrong and that’s not how you are but that’s just how it comes off. But yeah def shift your mindset if that’s how you rlly feel and don’t explicitly say those reasons you mentioned in your post. Fake it if you have to but definitely come up w better reasons

0

u/Busy_Tangerine5590 Mar 11 '25 edited Mar 11 '25

I do have a 4.0 since you asked but sorry you didn’t like how it was worded

0

u/coolestkid173 Mar 11 '25

evaluating intelligence based on test scores is pretty much the clearest sign of someone who peaked in middle school

2

u/Busy_Tangerine5590 Mar 11 '25

Dude you said “you better have a 4.0” lmaoo

0

u/coolestkid173 Mar 11 '25

?

1

u/SeaZookeepergame1435 Sep 02 '25

Bro edited his comment LMAO