usc transfer essay

USC Undergraduate Admission Blog

All Your Transfer Application Deadline Questions Answered – Fall 2024

The transfer application deadline is around the corner. Have questions? We have answers! Check out the list of questions you might have about submitting your USC transfer application for Fall 2024.   

Q: I submitted my application on February 15 before midnight, but my confirmation email says I submitted on February 16. What’s going on?  

A : The Common App timestamp is on Eastern Standard Time (EST), so depending on where you live, it may look like your application was submitted in the early morning hours on February 16. That’s okay! We still consider those applications to be on time.  

Q: When are my transcripts due?   

A : Ideally by February 15, but as long as you have at least requested to have your transcripts sent by February 15, we should receive them in plenty of time.  

Q: My transcripts won’t arrive until after the deadline. Is that okay?  

A : If your Common Application and any required department supplements (e.g., SlideRoom) are submitted by February 15, your application will be considered on time. If transcripts trickle in after the deadline that is okay, but be sure those are sent over as soon as possible!    

Q: My transcripts were sent, but they haven’t shown up on my portal checklist. What do I do?    

A : If you have only recently requested your transcripts to be sent to USC, be sure to allow at least  three business weeks  for processing.  If after a couple weeks the  USC Applicant Portal  still indicates that any of your transcripts are not yet received, please verify that your name on the document exactly matches your name as it appears on your Common Application. 

Q: How do I request official transcripts?   

A : To be considered official, transcripts must be sent to USC directly from your schools. The specific process of requesting to have an official transcript sent will vary depending on your high school and college’s procedures, but your best bet is to start with your school’s Registrar Office.  

We prefer electronic transcripts, but mailed printed copies are also accepted. If your school requires an email address to send the transcript, please provide them with the  [email protected]  email address. This address should  only  be used by school administrators to send an official transcript to USC. Transcripts emailed by students to the above address will not be considered official.     

Q: I go to a quarter-system school. Do I need to send my winter grades?   

A : Yes. We know your winter grades will not be ready by the time you submit your application . In the meantime, you should request to have your school send us an official transcript that includes your fall grades. When your winter grades are finalized, you can upload an unofficial winter transcript via the  USC Applicant Portal . Be sure to also include a list of spring courses in progress! 

Q: What is the required “Other” document I need to upload under Program Materials in the Common App? I thought USC only wanted official transcripts.  

A : Official transcripts are still required and should be sent using the preferred platform for your school. The “Other” document is for applicants to report a list of their courses currently in progress. We are asking for this “Other” document since many schools do not include courses in progress on their official transcripts. To fulfill this requirement, upload a copy of your spring schedule or a word document listing your spring term courses. Please be sure the document includes the school, term, course number, and course name as well as the number of units. For students attending a quarter-system school, you should also include courses you intend to take in the spring quarter.  

If you do not have any courses to report, please upload a document stating, “No courses in progress or planned.”  

Q: I did not graduate from high school. Do I still need to submit a high school transcript?   

A : Yes. Even if you left high school early, we still need a high school transcript with grades for the courses you did complete. We will also require a copy of your GED (or similar leaving certificate) with a statement of explanation. Please note that we do not prefer candidates who leave high school merely with the intention of starting college earlier.   

Q: What is the applicant portal and how do I access it?    

A : A couple of days after submitting your Common Application, you will receive an email with instructions to access your portal, so make sure to check your inbox! The subject of the email is “USC Admission Has Received Your Application – Set up your applicant portal today!” Your portal is where you can check the status of your application, including information about any missing items. You are welcome to check the status of your submitted application by logging in to the  USC Applicant Portal . The portal is updated as we process materials and will display the most up-to-date status of your application. Letters of recommendation will not appear on your portal checklist.   

Q: Should I send a letter of recommendation?    

A : Letters are not required for the majority of transfer applicants. A small handful of departments will require a letter of recommendation in the transfer process, but for the most part, we do not need them. 

Q: Do I have to submit my SAT/ACT scores if I have fewer than 30 units?  

A : Though they are not required, transfer applicants for the 2023-2024 academic year who have completed fewer than 30 semester (or 45 quarter) units of coursework through the end of the spring term may also choose to submit SAT or ACT scores. SAT or ACT scores are not considered for students applying with more than 30 transferrable semester units.  

Q: I am an international* applicant, what are the extra materials I need to submit?

     A : We require a signed financial statement and proof of sufficient funds as part of your application. This can be uploaded after you submit your application via the applicant portal. Additionally, if English is not your native language, we require English language proficiency test scores, even if you are currently studying at an English-speaking school—more information on these requirements can be found on our website.  

* Undocumented or DACA students in the U.S.  are NOT required to submit the additional materials listed above.   

Q: I am an international applicant. Is it okay if my financial statement is submitted after the application deadline?  

  A : Yes! In order to submit your financial statement, you need access to your portal which won’t become available until after your application is processed into our system. It is totally fine to submit your financial statement after the deadline, but don’t wait too long to do it as it is a required piece of the application for international students.  

Q: I am an international applicant and have taken an English class at my current school, can I waive the English proficiency requirement?  

A : No. Coursework or time spent at an English-speaking university (including AP or IB classes/exam scores taken in high school) will not waive the English proficiency test score requirement. If you are an international applicant and your native language is not English, we require a test score to demonstrate English proficiency. A list of acceptable exams and expected scores can be found on our website under  English Proficiency Criteria .    

Q: When will I get a decision?   

  A : All transfer applicants will hear one of two things from us by May 31:  

 An admission decision  OR   A request for final spring grades and/or more information  

Students who received a spring grade request and/or request for more information may not receive a final admission decision until mid-July. We will do our best to release decisions as final spring grades are submitted, but this is not always possible.  

Q: I received an email about signing an Affirmation, how do I do this?    

A : You will need to login to your USC Applicant Portal  and navigate to the Application Affirmation section. This is an electronic signature acknowledging that everything in your application is truthful, correct and yours. This is required for all USC applicants. You can preview the affirmations  here .   

Q: Paying the USC application fee is a financial hardship for me and my family. Can I have the Common Application fee waived?    

A : If paying the application fee would cause you a financial hardship, utilize the Common Application feewaiver option. You will find this option in the My Application section of the Common Application. School-specific fee waiver options can be found in the Program Materials section of the Common Application.   

Q: Should I submit my financial aid application before I get an admission decision? 

A : Yes! If you apply by February 15, you will be automatically considered for the Transfer Merit Scholarship, but  need-based aid has a separate process . You should submit the  FAFSA  and  CSS Profile  by March 4, 2024 in order to have your need-based aid summary soon after you receive an admission decision. USC is need-blind, meaning we do not consider financial need when making admission decisions.  

Q: Are there merit scholarships available for transfer applicants?  

A: Yes. All transfer students who submit the Common App by February 15 will be considered for the quarter-tuition Transfer Merit Scholarship. Additional scholarships may be available but will require a separate application. Visit our website for more information on scholarships you may be eligible for.  

Q: How do I log in to my Financial Aid portal?    

A : F inancial  A id  S ummary and  T asks (FAST) is a website where students can access their Financial Aid Summary and determine the current status of their application for need-based aid. You will have access to your FAST portal a couple days after we receive your application. Please log in through the  USC Applicant Portal .   

Q: I just submitted all my USC application materials. Now what do I do?  

A : Nice job! Take a look at the steps below as a final check to your USC application.   

Set up your USC Applicant Portal    A day or two after you apply, you’ll get an email confirming that you submitted your application. The subject line will read “USC Admission Has Received Your Application – Set Up Your Applicant Portal Today!”  Once you open this email, it will have the PIN you’ll need to set up your USC portal. From there you can check on the status of your materials and, eventually, see your admission decision.   

Be patient as we process your materials    If you’ve submitted your Common Application by the deadline, your application is considered on time – even if materials like transcripts, recommendation letters, or test scores arrive a little later. We receive thousands of documents that we need to process which includes transcripts, letters of recommendations, and test scores.  It takes us about  two  to  three  weeks to process documents during our busy season, so please give us some time. There may be additional delays if documents lack proper identifying information. For example, if the name on your transcripts does not exactly match the name on your application.     A green check mark will only appear on your  USC Applicant Portal  next to items we have processed which means that we may have already received those materials, but they just have not been added to our system yet. *     *Please note that the USC Applicant Portal checklist will not list letters of recommendation or SlideRoom as items.  

Sign the Applicant Affirmation and Notice of Potential Audit    Your application will not be complete until you electronically sign the Application Affirmation form, which can be accessed through your  USC Applicant Portal . The notification that the form is ready to be signed will come a couple of days after you submit your application. 

Finally, don’t fret about the timestamp on your Common Application   If your Common Application is submitted by 11:59pm in your time zone on the deadline, your application will be considered on time. The Common App timestamp is on East Coast time, so depending on where you live, it may look like your application submitted after the deadline.    

  Bonus step,  breathe   Take a deep breath, relax and congratulate yourself on a job well done! You did all that you could, submitted all the required materials and now all you have to do is wait. Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy some time to yourself! 

Q: I have more questions. Who can I talk to?    

A: If you have any questions, or wish to email the Office of Admission, we invite you to  askUSC . Applicants can also call the Admission Contact Center at (213) 740-1111.  

Follow USC Admission on social media (@USCAdmission on  Instagram ,  Twitter  and  YouTube ) We will post application tips and reminders, as well as answer any final questions you may have.    

Good Luck and Fight On!   

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Ready for more?

• How to Transfer

We Can Help You Get Here

Steps to transfer, our transfer students come to usc from a wide array of paths and backgrounds..

We know that people are unique and we appreciate the wide variety of paths students take to become Trojan Engineers.  There is no set formula to be admitted, you have a story to tell and we want to hear it.

Admission to the Viterbi School is determined through a comprehensive review of the entire admission application.  We strive to get to know you, your interests, and goals by reading your entire application.  While all factors are important, the most influential factor is your academic history. Remember, you can transfer to USC after just one year of study elsewhere.

There is no minimum GPA required to apply .  However, to be a competitive candidate for admission you should engage in the right courses, challenge yourself and demonstrate academic success, particularly in math, science/programming, and engineering related courses.

If you would like to hear about the school and the transfer process from a Viterbi admission counselor, click the link below to attend one of our Transfer Info Sessions.

Step 1: Transfer Requirements

Step 2: transfer plans, step 3: transferable courses, step 4: apply, step 5: financial aid, do you want to stay connected with the viterbi office of admission sign up to receive information and updates, step 1: requirements & guidelines.

Below, you will find a list of requirements to apply to transfer to USC Viterbi. Keep in mind that you can be enrolled in a required course when you apply–you don’t need to have it completed. If you have a question, scroll down to see a list of our most frequently asked questions about requirements and guidelines.

• Two math courses (either calculus or higher level math beyond calculus) after high school with a minimum of Calculus II in-progress at the point of application.
• Two lab-based science courses (either chemistry, biology, or calculus-based physics) or programming courses. **See note below for computer science students.
• The equivalent of WRIT 130/WRIT 150 (Required). This is typically the second course in your college or university’s English composition sequence. You can look up your school’s equivalent to WRIT 130/WRIT 150 on the articulation websites. See Step 3 for the correct link.
• Generally, this means taking a math class, science/programming class, writing class, and GE each semester/quarter. GEs, however, are not required, so you can take an extra math or science/programming class instead if you would prefer.
• If you have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester units, we will still review your application, but we will use your high school transcript as part of our evaluation and/or wait to receive your spring-term grades.

*Please visit the articulation websites in Step 3 to identify how many semesters are needed to meet these equivalents.

Quick FAQ about Requirements and Recommendations

I already took calc ii. what should i take next.

Take a look at the Transfer Plans for your intended major. You can find those in Step 2 below. Then, choose the next math course in the sequence. For example, if your intended major is computer science, and already took Calc II, take Calc III. If you already took Calc III, take Linear Algebra & Differential equations. If you have taken every math class in your 4-Year Course Plan (course plans start on page 18 of the undergraduate handbook) then feel free to take a science class or a General Education class instead. Not sure if your current institution has an equivalent class? Check our articulation histories (a list of courses which have transferred to USC in the past) in Step 3 .

I already took two semesters of a lab-based science. What should I take next?

Check the Transfer Plan for your intended major to see if there are other science courses you could take for your degree. You can find those in Step 2 below. For example, if your intended major is Biomedical Engineering, and already took two semesters of chemistry, you could take the next two chemistry courses in the sequence, or start working on your biology courses. If you already took every science class in your 4-year Course Plan (course plans start on page 18 of the undergraduate handbook),  then feel free to take another math class or a General Education class instead. Not sure if your current institution has an equivalent class? Check our articulation histories (a list of courses which have transferred to USC in the past) in Step 3 .

*Note that computer science students may also take programming courses instead of, or in addition to, lab-based science courses before applying to transfer to USC. Please visit the section on programming courses for more information.

How Many General Education Courses do I need to take?

General Education (GE) courses are not required for admission. You might, however, still want to take one so that you have a full schedule. You can find courses at your current institution which will transfer to USC for GE credit in Step 3 below.

In general, which courses should I take to stand out as an applicant?

Since math and science courses are the foundation of engineering, we want to see you excel in these areas. If you have already followed the list of requirements and guidelines above, and you need one more class to complete your schedule, and you’re not sure which one to choose, picking a challenging math class won’t hurt.

I took AP/IB courses in high school. Will these waive requirements?

For a list of AP, IB, and A-Level courses which transfer to USC for course credit, please see our credit page. Note that there is a section on that page that will give you more information about how certain majors can receive credit for AP Physics C.

Do I need to submit SAT/ACT Scores?

If you have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester units by the end of the spring term, we will need further information for our decision from your high school record and/or SAT or ACT scores (if you choose to submit them). Please note that applicants to the 2023-2024 academic year are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, although you may still submit scores if you wish.

What are the requirements for 2nd Bachelor's candidates?

Second bachelor’s candidates have the same requirements as regular transfer students. Please see the 2nd Bachelor’s page for more information.

What are the requirements for 3+2 students?

Please see our 3+2 page for a guide to the 3+2 program.

The most common question we get is: Which courses should I take before I transfer? This is where transfer plans come into play. Use the buttons below to find a one-year course plan for your major.

See a sample transfer plan for all engineering majors (excluding Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science)

See a sample transfer plan for Computer Science Majors

See a sample transfer plan for Electrical & Computer Engineering Majors

Transfer Plans for All Engineering Majors

(Excluding Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science)

FALL SCHEDULE FOR ALL ENGINEERING MAJORS ( Excluding Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science )

Review an articulation history or agreement to see if your school offers equivalents to the USC Courses in these sample plans.

SPRING SCHEDULE FOR ALL ENGINEERING MAJORS ( Excluding Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science )

Register for a Transfer Info Session

Transfer Plans for Electrical & Computer Engineering Majors

Fall schedule for electrical & computer engineering majors, spring schedule for electrical & computer engineering majors, transfer plans for computer science majors.

Select the Computer Science major you’re interested in below to see your appropriate plan

• Computer Science
• Computer Science (Games)
• Computer Science/Business Admin.
• Computer Engineering & Computer Sci.

FALL SCHEDULE : Computer Science

Spring schedule : computer science, fall schedule : computer science (games), spring schedule : computer science (games), fall schedule : computer science/business administration, spring schedule : computer science/business administration, fall schedule : computer engineering & computer science, spring schedule : computer engineering & computer science, programming courses.

Computer science students may take programming courses instead of, or in addition to, lab-based science courses before applying to transfer to USC. While programming courses very rarely transfer for course-equivalent credit at USC, they can be good preparation for placement exams. If a student does well enough on a placement exam for a particular course at USC, the student may be able to waive that course requirement. Below, you will find programming courses which have a placement exam and/or accept AP credit.

CSCI 102 Fundamentals of Computation Fundamental concepts of algorithmic thinking as a primer to programming. Introduction to C++.

• No Prerequisite.
• AP Computer Science A Score of 4 or 5 will substitute for CSCI 102.
• Placement Exam Option: Students with some programming exposure in any of the following languages are welcome to take the exam: C/C++, Java(script), or Python.
• Course website: http://bytes.usc.edu/cs102/

CSCI 103 Introduction to Programming Basic datatypes, assignments, control statements (if, switch, for, while), input/ output (printf, scanf, cin, cout), functions, arrays, structures, recursion, dynamic memory, file handling. Programming in C/C++.

• Prerequisite: CSCI 102
• Placement Exam Option: Students with a semester-length intro course in C++ are strong candidates for this placement exam.
• Course website: http://bytes.usc.edu/cs103/

CSCI 170 Discrete Methods in Computer Science Sets, functions, series. Big-O notation and algorithm analysis. Propositional and first-order logic. Counting and discrete probability. Graphs and basic graph algorithms. Basic number theory.

• Transfer students with a prior discrete math course will have their course evaluated by the USC articulation department and the CSCI faculty. Most transfer students should expect to take our discrete math course.

CSCI 104 Data Structures and Object Oriented Design Introduces the student to standard data structures (linear structures such as linked lists, (balanced) trees, priority queues, and hashtables), using the C++ programming language.

• Prerequisites: CSCI 170 and CSCI 103
• Students must complete the CSCI 103 programming placement examination and follow the petition procedures to request that the USC articulation department review any courses for which a given student hopes to receive credit for CSCI 104. The articulation department will, in turn, request a CSCI faculty member to review the student’s syllabi and programming assignments, copies of exams if available, etc. and make a determination if the course covered the necessary topics and was of the appropriate rigor. In some cases, the student may need to complete assignments from CSCI 104 and/or take the final exam to demonstrate proficiency in the course. Most transfer students should expect to complete CSCI 104 at USC.
• Course website: http://bytes.usc.edu/cs104/

Transferring courses for credit at USC.

In this section, you will find our articulation histories and agreements with other universities. “Articulation what?” you might ask. At USC, we have a department dedicated to determining which classes taught at other schools transfer for credit (or “articulate”) at USC. This is the Articulation Department. Over the years, the Articulation Department has compiled lists of courses from other universities that have transferred to USC for credit in the past. Please view the Quick FAQ section below before viewing the articulation history/agreement with your school(s).

If you were recently admitted to USC as a transfer student, you will receive a transfer credit report after you submit your commitment deposit to USC.

For students who attend a community college outside of California or a four-year institution

For students who attend a Community College in the state of California

Quick FAQ about Articulation Agreements/Histories

What do parts 1-4 mean.

Here is a quick breakdown of the four parts of an articulation history/agreement:

Part I: These are all the General Education (GE) courses which will transfer for credit at USC and waive a course in a USC GE category. Courses in this section do not need to be considered equivalent to a course at USC to waive a GE course requirement. To waive a requirement for that GE category, they simply need to be listed in Part I underneath one of the GE categories. For example, if you took Art 100 at your current school, and Art 100 is listed underneath Category A: The Arts, this means it fulfills one course requirement for Category A. Since only one course is required under Category A, you would have fulfilled all the requirements for Category A. Remember, these are graduation requirements. GE’s are not required for admission , and will not impact your admission chances.

Part II: These are all the courses which are considered equivalent to USC courses . These will transfer for credit at USC and waive a course requirement. Typically, you will use Part II to see if any of your math, science, and writing pre-requisites are equivalent to courses at USC. For example, MATH-125 is Calculus I at USC. If the Calculus I course at your current school is next to MATH-125 in Part II, that means it was considered equivalent to MATH-125 at USC. You can look up a a sample four-year course plan for your USC major by selecting your intended academic discipline and then clicking the ‘Curriculum’ button. You are unlikely to find engineering courses in Part II, but if you are a computer science student, you may want to visit our programming page to see if any programming classes you’ve taken will prepare you for our placement exams.

Part III: These are all the courses which will transfer for some form of credit at USC. However, if you don’t see the same course listed in Part II, this means the course will not waive a course requirement at USC . Keep in mind, this means you may receive elective credit for the course, but it will not waive any required course.  Only courses listed in Part II are considered course-equivalent. You should avoid courses which are listed in Part III if they are not also listed in Parts I or II.

Part IV: These are all the courses which do not receive credit at USC. Avoid taking these courses.

My Class is in Part III but not Part II. Will I get credit for the course?

You may get elective credit for the course, but only courses in Part II waive course requirements. This is because only the courses in Part II are considered equivalent to a course at USC.

I'm in Part II. I found a course I took at my current school, along with its equivalent at USC, but I don't know what the USC course codes mean. Where can I look them up?

You can view a sample four-year course plan for your major at USC by visiting your academic department page , and then clicking on the ‘Curriculum’ button. This will give you the USC course codes you’ll need when you’re looking up equivalent courses at your current school. For example, you will notice that MATH-125 (Calculus I) is a required course for all engineering majors. To waive this course, you will need to have taken a course which is equivalent to MATH-125. You can look up the equivalent to MATH-125 in Part II of the articulation history/agreement for your school.

What's the difference between an Articulation History and an Articulation Agreement?

An articulation history is a list of classes at a particular school which have historically transferred for credit at USC.

Articulation agreements are pre-approved lists of courses which are guaranteed to transfer to USC. USC only has these agreements with California Community Colleges. These courses are updated every semester for accuracy.

Which 'Effective Period' should I use?

The most recent term, unless you  started college before Fall 2015. If you started college before Fall 2015, set your effective period as Spring 2015.

I can't find my school

When using the dropdown menu to find your school, be on the lookout for alternative names. Some examples: The  University of… or  Univ   of… or  UC – … or ___ University. If you’re still having trouble, email us at [email protected] .

My class isn't on the articulation history. When will it be reviewed?

If you don’t find your class on the articulation history, don’t panic. Articulation histories are just a list of courses which have transferred from another school to USC in the past. So, if you don’t see your school on the list, it just means we haven’t yet had a student transfer to USC with that particular class from that particular school on their transcript. But you could be the first!

After a student is admitted, the articulation department will review your transcript and give you a transfer credit report to help you understand which courses transferred for credit. For any class on your transcript which isn’t on the articulation history, but which might be equivalent to a class at USC, the articulation department will ask a professor to compare the syllabus of your class with a class at USC.

Due to the volume of requests, we unfortunately cannot review courses for prospective students; only students who are admitted will have their transcripts reviewed.

I started college before Fall 2015. Do I still follow the new GE System?

No. Students who started taking college classes before Fall 2015 only have to fill the requirements of the old GE system.

If you went to a California Community College, use this articulation history .

If you went to a four-year college or a CC outside of California, select “Spring 2015” as your effective date on the articulation history.

Do engineering classes usually transfer for credit?

It depends on the class. Some engineering classes will transfer for elective credit, but since engineering is taught differently from school to school, it’s rare to find an engineering course at another school that is considered directly equivalent to a USC engineering course. Math, science, and GE courses, on the other hand, are much more likely to transfer over.

With that being said, our articulation department will have the department review the course you took and determine if it is equivalent to a course at USC after you submit your commitment deposit to USC.

How many units can I transfer to USC?

You can transfer up to 64 units to USC. Another 64 units must be taken at USC to graduate with a USC degree.

Frequently Asked Questions

General questions, do you want any extra documents (resume, cv, portfolio) as part of my application.

No. If you have anything else you want us to see, please take advantage of the “Additional Information” section of the Common App. You can also link to a personal website there if you wish.

Is it more difficult to get into Viterbi than other majors at USC?

No.  It is no more difficult to be admitted to Viterbi than the rest of the university.  We admit our students at a similar rate as the university, and the average GPA for Engineering students is the same as the average GPA for all USC students.

Which engineering major is the hardest/easiest to get admitted to?

Your chances of being admitted to one engineering major are the same for all engineering majors. The application requirements are also the same for all majors. If you are admitted to one of our programs, you are admitted to all of our programs.

What is the average GPA for engineering students?

3.7, but a GPA only tells us so much.  The courses you take are so much more important than the number at the bottom of your transcript. And although we do look at every course you have taken, we also notice grade trends and pay closer attention to your math, science, and engineering related coursework.

My GPA/Scores are lower than your average. Should I even apply?

Our averages are just that…averages.  Some students are admitted with higher GPAs, and some students are admitted with lower GPAs.  The actual numbers are less important than your overall prep. Taking the right courses that prepare you for a degree in engineering is what you should be focusing on.

The only guarantee we can give is that you can’t be admitted if you don’t apply!

What are the min/max number of units I need to transfer?

We neither have a minimum nor a maximum number of units to transfer.  However, i f you have earned fewer than 30 transferable semester units by the end of the spring term, we will need further information for our decision from your high school record and/or SAT or ACT scores (if you choose to submit them). Please note that applicants to the 2023-2024 academic year are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores, although you may still submit scores if you wish.  And, even if you have a lot of units completed, you will still need to complete 64 units of coursework at USC to receive a degree from USC.

Do I need to finish all my GE requirements before I apply?

No.  We don’t care if you take any GE courses before you apply.  You can take GE’s to fill in your schedule (you want to make sure you are taking a full load of courses each semester), but we are much more concerned with math and science courses.  Make sure you are enrolled in those before you add any GE’s to your schedule.

Do I need to complete all the transferable courses on the Transfer Planning Guide before I apply?

No. The Transfer Planning Guide is designed to help students figure out which courses will transfer for their intended major.  You do not need to complete all of the listed courses.  Please see our list of recommended courses in the Transfer Plans section above.

I have taken a non-traditional route. Is that going to hurt my chances of being admitted?

We know that every transfer student has a different story. Some students transfer after 1 or 2 years at an institution they started right out of high school, while others take time off school to work, raise families, or have other experiences.  Whether you are continuing your education or returning after a long break, we encourage you to apply and share your story with us.

What if I can't take 2 semesters of science prior to my target transfer date? Can I still apply?

You can still apply even if you haven’t taken two semesters of a lab based science. Sometimes students (particularly those who are planning to transfer after just one year to USC) are unable to take two semesters of science. That said, if you have the time in your schedule to take science – you should.

Do the two semesters of a lab-based science have to be the same type of science?

No. However, it may help you maximize the number of units you can transfer to USC if you take two semesters of the same science. You can learn more about which courses transfer to USC here .

I have attended more than one college/university. Is that okay?

Yes.  We review each student based on the courses they take and not the school where they take them.  We understand that there is limited availability at some colleges and students need to go to more than one school to fill their schedule. That is fine.

Is it better to go to a 4-year institution before transferring?

No. We review each student based on the courses they have completed, not the school they are attending.

Can I apply for a 2nd Bachelor's Degree?

Yes.  We accept a number of 2nd bachelors degree students every year. Just follow the same transfer recommendations as all other transfer students.  If your first degree was not in math, science, engineering or another related field, you may need to complete some courses at another institution before applying. You can learn more about earning a second bachelor’s degree here .

Can I apply for Spring?

No.  USC only accepts applications for the fall semester. However, if you are admitted for the fall semester, you can request to defer your admission to the spring. Please keep in mind that space is limited, and deferrals are not guaranteed.

I do not attend a 3+2 partner school. Can I still apply to the 3+2 program

No.  The 3+2 Engineering program is a specially designed curriculum with specific, named, partner schools.  Articulation agreements have been designed, developed, and signed by the partner institutions.  Student must take very specific courses at the 3+2 partner school to be considered as part of the 3+2 program.  Student who do not attend a 3+2 partner school can apply to transfer through our regular transfer admission process.

How many years will I have left at USC after I transfer?

That depends on a lot of factors.  If you will be transferring after your 2nd year at your current institution, it does not necessarily mean that it will only take 2 years to complete your degree at USC.  You are choosing to leave the current path that you are on and the degree requirements that you started, for a new path and set of degree requirements.  Some courses may not transfer.  To find out which courses are likely to transfer from your current school, visit our the Transferable Courses section above.

I just finished my Junior year. Can I do my last year at USC?

Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. Although we have no limit to the number of units you can complete before transferring to USC, you must complete at least 64 units (1/2 the normal required units for an undergraduate degree) at USC to get a degree from USC.  This will usually take 2 years.

I am a current student at USC and I would like to change my major to engineering. Do I need to go through the admission process?

No.  If you are already a current student at USC and you want to change your major to engineering, you will need to work directly with the academic advisers in the Viterbi Admission & Student Affairs Office.  You can email them at [email protected] .

Application Questions

How do i complete my application to usc, transfer application checklist, submit these items.

• Common Application
• Official & final high school transcript with date of graduation.
• All official college transcripts
• Scores are only required from applicants who have completed fewer than 30 semester units of college coursework.

International students must also submit:

• Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support: www.usc.edu/financialstatement
• TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic Scores, if the student’s native language is not English.

Can transcripts be submitted after February 15th?

Yes. You have met the application deadline if you submit the Common App by Feb 15th.  Supporting documents – such as official transcripts – can be submitted soon after the deadline.

That being said, please get your transcripts to us as soon as possible, because we cannot review your application until we get them!

Are transfer applicants required to submit a letter of recommendation?

No. However the Common App (not USC) may require you to assign an Academic Evaluator in order to finish the application.  We will consider your application for admission complete even if whoever you assigned as your Academic Evaluator does not complete a recommendation on your behalf.

Do I need to submit the Registrar Report? How about the “Additional Forms” : the Final Report, Mid-term Report, and College Report?

No.  We do not need (or want) the Registrar Report, Final Report, Mid-term Report, or the College Report.

Which classes should I list as my “current” classes in Common App?

We’re asking about your current academic year  – the classes you are taking while applying. You should list all the classes you took in the fall semester and the courses that you are taking/will take in the winter (if applicable) and spring of the year you are submitting your application.

How am I supposed to answer the question about full time enrollment on the Common Application?

Is this question confusing you?

“For each college or university term (excluding summer) in which you were enrolled in less than four semester-unit courses or three quarter-unit courses, please provide a brief explanation as to why you were unable to enroll full time. (250 word limit) “

Were you ever enrolled in less than 4 courses in a semester (or less than 3 classes/quarter)? If so, just provide a brief explanation that explains why you didn’t enroll in more courses. That’s it!

And yes, taking 1 class at one school and 3 classes at another school in the same semesters means you were enrolled in four classes.

If you’ve always been a full-time student (4 or more classes/semester) you can simply write “N/A”.

Where should I send my transcripts?

If you are mailing your official transcripts  please send them to:

Note, you can use the address above for follow-up transcripts, application materials, and all other types of correspondence.

Do I have to send my official transcripts to the USC Office of Admission and to the USC Viterbi Admission Office?

No need to send duplicates.

When you send documents to USC they are uploaded into your file – and all offices can view your file/the documents you sent.

How can I verify that my application is complete?

You may get an update on the status of your online application by logging in to your application portal here:  admission.usc.edu/status

Please keep in mind, it can take 7-10 business days (after USC receives) documents  – like transcripts – to upload into your file.  Do not be alarmed if you recently sent in your transcripts and they are not yet in your file. 

USC will contact you if you are missing any required application documents.

When will I hear back from USC?

USC will mail an admission decision or request for spring grades by May 31st.

Do not expect to hear back from us before May 31st.  We use the entire time allotted to review your application so that we can conduct a comprehensive review of your application. We want to know your story, and it takes us time to read through each application.

Do you want me to send my SAT II Subject scores?

SAT Subject Test scores are not required. If you did not take any, this will have no impact on your chances of being admitted. However, if you already took a test and would like to send us your scores, you are free to do so.

Got Questions?

Fill out the form below and we’ll get right back to you.

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The Ultimate Guide to the USC Transfer Essay

USC, the Trojans. The school of competitive sports and fantastic programs all around. Whatever you call it, it’s one of the most coveted schools in California. That’s why we’re providing what we believe is the ultimate guide to the USC transfer essay.

If you want more USC sample essays that were accepted, you can find them here.

Table of Contents

USC Sample Transfer Essay That Worked

How important is the usc essay, usc transfer prompt, usc transfer essay tips, provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring, the objectives you hope to achieve, how to write the usc transfer essay: tying it together..

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“While I was a senior in high school, I was filled with excitement and nervousness as I applied to my dream college, the University of Southern California. Upon the news that I had not been admitted, I was saddened; however, I realized that it simply was not meant to be at the time. It was a blessing in disguise. I am grateful for the extra two years I was given in order to spend time with my parents and having the luxury of being near other close relatives. Having grown up in the same town my whole life, I also enjoyed the company of my childhood friends and re-visited my past schools to keep the connections with my grade school teachers that have shaped me into who I am today. I have been humbled by the experience of attending a community college and have built life-long relationships. In addition to all this, the extra two years has done everything to prepare me for the adventure of transferring. Not everyone is given a second chance to achieve their dreams and I have spent the last two years investing my best effort into school in order to make my goal of transferring to the University of Southern California a reality. In the Chinese calendar, I was born the year of the dragon. Dragons are a symbol of strength and I have reflected this trait in my life by overcoming discouragement and striving with increased determination. My perspective shifted from being focused on what I felt I was missing out on until I decided to enjoy what was in front of me. Becoming involved with the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as an officer and committee leader has helped me tremendously by providing friendships and being proactive with my greatest interest, using my love of art to benefit others. One of my objectives after I transfer is to continue being involved with school organizations that strive to leave a positive impact on others. I accomplished a vast amount of personal growth that has prepared me to branch out and discover what awaits. Dragons are also a thematic element incorporated in my artwork. As an artist, I am transferring because I am determined to achieve a Bachelor of Fine Arts in order to pursue my artistic interests. While attending a junior college, my yearn to learn has only grown. I have a passion for creating works of art that inspire thought, understanding, and exploration. I will use the opportunities available at USC to push my talent beyond my imagination. Attending the University of Southern California is an unsurpassable opportunity due to the expertise, connections, and location. I am grateful to have the opportunity to take advantage of the great resources and exposure available at USC to set the tone for my artistic career. In my future, I plan to find success as an artist prior to becoming an art professor. This career choice requires what USC offers: a strong foundation of art skills and knowledge that will allow me to further develop and flourish as well as successful faculty that I will learn from to guide my future endeavors.”  Anonymous –Accepted Into USC.

“But aren’t scores like GPA more important for the USC application process?” “Hasn’t it always been this way for every school?” 

Well, that only applies to certain schools. Schools that are highly competitive follow what is called “holistic admissions” this means that they run through applications with a fine-tooth comb in order to pick out the best candidates. The reason competitive schools do this is that most if not all applicants applying are, well, competitive. When there’s no other variable of differentiation because every student is the quintessential “straight-A student”, then the importance of the admissions essay expands.

Think of it as inflation of grades: if everyone has perfect grades, the value decreases and the admissions essay takes over as the paramount value structure in accepting students. 

Afraid that your transfer admissions essay won’t be good enough to beat the competition? Well, here’s our advice on how to approach the essay properly. 

“Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve.” (650 WORD) — University of Southern California, Transfer Admissions

This prompt is separated into two different categories. Therefore, you will be in some ways writing two different essays in one. One, there are the reasons for transferring; and two, there are the objectives. 

The next two sections will be dedicated to showing you how to tackle these parts of the USC transfer essay question as well as possible. But before we get to that, here are a few key things to keep in mind while writing your transfer essay. 

• Use a Grammar Checker so your essay doesn’t look sloppy. 
• Demonstrate that you care for the school you’re transferring to
• Avoid sounding boring by using strong imagery
• Keep the admissions officer’s attention with a strong introduction and hook. (more on this in our sister article)
• Avoid Cliches
• Follow the quintessential versatility rule ( more on this in our sister article )
• Keep your words concise by removing filler words to fit the maximum 650 words.

If you’ve any other burning questions about how to write essays college essays well in general, check out our other articles. (Or, if you don’t want to sift through all of them, simply give us a call or contact us through email! We’ll respond as soon as we can)

The key to answering this section is to make sure that you actually have a good reason for transferring. You’re no longer a lost high school student anymore; you’re about two years away from being a true adult! That means taking care of yourself, and, most of all, aware of what it is you really want for your future. 

“But wait a minute, doesn’t everyone have a hard time knowing what they want out of life in the future?”

Not everyone, but many. Many people have yet to form their dreams even after university and after getting their first job. You’re not everyone, though. You’re you: an applicant to one of the greatest schools in California and arguably the nation. You need to show that you are mature enough to have your plans mapped out; this will help you stand out. 

“Okay, but knowing the reasons for transferring can be hard. How do I know what those reasons are exactly?”

Well, that’s the beauty of persuasive writing. You don’t have to say everything.  In fact, you don’t have to have many reasons for transferring. You just need one or two reasons that are sufficient enough to justify your application. 

Ask yourself: “What reasons make it worth it for me to apply to USC as a transfer from my original school?” Typically this means that USC has something that can provide for either your personal development or your career, or both. 

Here’s an example. 

• Reason 1: Transferring because you want to expand on a business idea or existing business by learning from USC’s strong business program. 
• Reason 2: Knowing that you can connect well with the community in USC because you’ve fallen in love with the Southern California culture after having seen how unenthusiastic and slow the rest of the world seemed. 

These reasons are good reasons that justify your application to a prestigious school. You don’t have to have a story about how both your mother and sister died from a lightning bolt to have an interesting story to talk about.  

It’s very common for applicants to get stuck in thinking about their reasons for applying to a school other than, “getting good grades and making good money.” Chances are, if you can’t think past that level then you simply haven’t given it enough thought yet. 

Of course, you could also just have a hard time fabricating reasons for goals, which is understandable! If you have a hard time coming up with information, don’t just start writing about something random. You MUST have good reasons that are meaningful because that’s what makes a fitting applicant. Please speak to us if you can’t think of anything; we’d be happy to help in any way we can!  

As for the objectives that you hope to achieve, this connects with the previous question in the USC transfer essay prompt. Once you have a reason for applying, you should have a good idea of what the objectives are. 

In fact, we would say that it actually makes more sense to work this backward. First, think about what objectives you hope to achieve, then your reasons for applying as a transfer to USC. 

This is typically the natural stream of thought that would take place when answering this question, or simply planning for the future. “What do you really want for your future and how does applying for USC make this work?”

If your objectives don’t at least in some ways correlate with the reasons why you want to apply for USC as a transfer student, your application can sound a bit awkward. Saying that your reasons are to challenge yourself in a field you’re passionate about won’t help if you claim that your future goals involve doing something in a completely different field. It won’t really make much sense to admissions officers. 

You need your reasons and your objectives to correlate with each other in order for admissions officers to not only understand you but also to not think you’re “wishy-washy” or apathetic about your future. 

You could also think of it like this: You have a set of dreams and goals that you would like to achieve. Achieving this dream is easier if you apply for USC and capitalize on their benefits.

Here’s an example of how this would play out.  

• Objective 1: You want to learn how to expand your small business in selling affiliate products online through a string of websites. You’ve always had a passion for this and it made sense to go to a great school that can show you how to expand on said business. 
• Objective 2: You find that you don’t know very many like-minded people with the same passion and drive for business growth in your area. You find the 9-5 grind boring and, as such, you seek more entrepreneur-friendly places like Southern California to feel a sense of community and belonging. 

Great. You’ve got your objectives for the future sorted out as much as you can and you have a few good reasons to apply for UC as a transfer student to achieve said objectives. Now it’s time to merge them together.  The formula for the essay may therefore look a bit something like this: 

Intro paragraph

• Start with a good hook. You may talk about your dreams / objectives you would like to achieve. 
• Make sure not to start the hook about how much you want to attend USC, though. This is a cliche and, more importantly, does not highlight what makes YOU special and only highlights what makes USC special. (which the admissions officers already know.)
• You can make the introduction paragraph about anything in general, but it just needs to be interesting and transition into the body paragraphs without losing the admissions officer’s attention. This is best done by writing about the dreams and objectives. We recommend also to do the intro paragraph last, as it is the most difficult part to come up with ideas for. 

Body paragraph 1

• Talk about your objectives that you would like to achieve. 
• A good way of manifesting your dreams in your mind is to simply be more thoughtful about what you really want. More often than not, a better response than “I want to be a doctor” is something more wide and open such as “I aspire to dedicate what time I have left of my years doing what is most fulfilling to me: to save lives that are at risk.”

Body paragraph 2

• Talk a little bit more in depth about said objectives. 
• You may elaborate with how you came about this objective and why it means so much to you. What was the spark that made you want to commit to this objective? Why do you care so much that it would speak to your very being? 

Body paragraph 3

• Talk about your reason for applying to USC. 
• It is paramount that in this section onward that you don’t allow for your writing to fall flat. Many writers tend to use all their abilities of good imagery in the intro and first few paragraphs only for them to run out of steam at the last parts. Don’t do that. 

Body paragraph 4

• Talk about your next reason for applying to USC.
• If you only have one reason, you may disregard this. You may also use this paragraph to talk about the ways in which applying to USC will help fulfill your objectives and use that as a reason. 

Conclusion 

There you have it! A better approach to the USC transfer admissions essay. You’re at least more prepared now to tackle your dreams of becoming a trojan! Remember: the competition of entering USC as an undergraduate is fierce, and as a transfer even more so. 

Your GPA, extracurriculars, awards, and work experience are not the only vital thing being reviewed. You’re facing holistic admissions, so remember to keep your pen (or keyboard) sharp and your brain sharper. 

Have further questions about our essay guide? Concerned whether your essay-writing abilities will save you from low grades and test scores? You might want to consider talking to a college admissions counselor for advice and help. Here at PenningPapers, we provide you with free consultations to ensure that you don’t regret pressing that “submit” button. 

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USC Supplemental Essays 2023-24 Prompts and Tips

September 1, 2023

When applying to a school like the University of Southern California, it is important to grasp that their acceptance rate in 2023 is lower than Harvard’s back in the late 1990s. Last cycle, USC received roughly 80,000 applications and admitted just 9% from that pool (their first time in the single digits). We don’t bring up these numbers or the Friends -era Harvard comparison to cause future applicants unnecessary fear. Rather, we want aspiring Trojans to realize that in addition to strong high school grades and standardized test scores, they need to excel in other critical areas of their application as well. This brings us to the topic of the USC supplemental essays.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into the University of Southern California? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into USC: Admissions Data and Strategies   for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

The supplemental essay section offered by USC is a fairly epic one and presents just such an opportunity for students to differentiate themselves from swarms of other qualified applicants. In addition to several short essays, you are also required to answer 10 short answer questions. Below are the USC’s supplemental prompts for the 2023-24 admissions cycle along with tips about how to address each one.

2023-24 USC Supplemental Essays – Required Prompt #1

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (Approximately 250 words)

This is part “Why Us?” and part “Explain Your Major” and your aim is to seamlessly touch on both topics in a tightly woven 250-word composition. For a deeper dive, let’s examine a list of characteristics of a winning USC “Why Us?” essay:

• How did your interest in your major of choice begin and how has it matured over the years?
• While pursuing your majors(s)/interest(s) of choice, how will you take advantage of the university’s immense resources both inside and outside of the classroom? Be sure to cite specific  academic programs ,  professors ,  research opportunities ,  internship/externship programs , and  study abroad programs . Discuss why they pique your interest.
• Feel free to touch on  student-run organizations  related to your field of study that you would like to join.
• Lastly, don’t ignore your second-choice major in this essay.

In any “Why Us?” composition, you need to show that you’ve done your homework on a given school, but you don’t want it to read like a robotic list of items that you Googled ten minutes before writing the essay (even if the timing of the Google search is roughly accurate). In addition to the pure research element, a lot of the time and skill required in creating a stellar USC essay will involve connecting the classes, professors, opportunities, etc. of interest that you have uncovered to your distinct values, talents, aims, proficiencies, and future goals.

USC Supplemental Essays – Short Answers

(#1 provides 25 characters for each word, and #2-10 provide 100 characters each)

• Describe yourself in three words.
• What is your favorite snack?
• Best movie of all time
• If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
• What TV show will you binge watch next?
• Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?
• Favorite book
• If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?

USC Supplemental Essays (Continued)

It would be a bit silly to try to advise you on what your favorite snack is. Obviously, the USC admissions committee wants to hear “Pepperoni Pizza Combos” but will also accept “Ranch-flavored Bugles.” As such, we’ll keep our advice on these a bit broader:

• This is a chance to make a personal connection with an admissions officer. Don’t overthink these or pick movies, books, songs, or trips that you think an admissions officer will find impressive. Just be genuine.
• For #1, try to avoid words like “interesting” that are…well, not very  interesting , or words that could describe most of USC’s applicant pool, like “hard-working” or “dedicated.”
• For #10, don’t pick a general topic in a traditional discipline. Instead, pick something about which you are passionate. This could be a blend of pop culture and academics or a highly esoteric topic that you happen to be obsessed with (e.g., the Beatles 1965-67 mid-career era, the history of jai-alai, or how to groom a ferret).
• You have 100 characters to utilize, so do include some short explanations that infuse your answers with extra personality. For example, you could jazz up Ranch-flavored Bugles as follows: “Ranch-flavored Bugles, me and my mom’s go-to Jeopardy snack.”
• Final tip: if you feel stuck, try brainstorming a few options for each one before choosing your favorite.

USC Supplemental Essays – School-Specific Prompts

In addition to the required essays noted above, you’ll also need to answer at least one additional essay question that is dependent on the school or college you are applying to at USC. Below, we’ve broken down the most popular options:

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about – a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about? (250 words)

What makes you tick? What keeps you up at night? Which subjects could (and do) you talk about for hours if given the opportunity? If you could address one problem in the world, large or small, what would it be? Here’s your chance to tell us all about it. You’ll then want to explain “why”—why will (or should) your passion/topic of choice be made relevant to a wider audience? Why is it so important that others hear your message? Your answer will give admissions readers greater insight into what type of issues are most important to you.

Viterbi School of Engineering

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and their 14 Grand Challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. Engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. Learn more about the NAE Grand Challenges at  http://engineeringchallenges.org  and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 words)

The NAE Grand Challenges list is expansive and includes a number of pressing issues, like clean water access, solar energy, and nuclear terrorism. Basically, you are 100% guaranteed to find at least one item on this list that resonates with you. After reviewing the options, which one are you most passionate about, and why? Is there something from your personal background or experiences that inspired your interest in this area? Alternatively, have you engaged with this topic either inside or outside of school, and if so, how? What would you still like to learn about it? If you choose an issue that you are genuinely interested in and clearly convey your reasoning for doing so, you’ll be well on your way to a compelling response.

The student body at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. Describe how your contributions to the USC Viterbi student body may be distinct from others. Please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250 words)

Take note of the wide-open nature of this prompt. You are essentially invited to talk about any of the following topics:

• A perspective you hold
• An experience/challenge you had
• A community you belong to
• Your cultural background
• Your family background
• A personality trait
• A skill you hold

Although this prompt’s open floor plan may feel daunting, a good tactic is to first consider what has already been communicated within your Common App personal statement, activities list, and other USC essays. What important aspects of yourself have not been shared (or sufficiently discussed)? The admissions officer reading your essay is hoping to connect with you through your written words, so—within your essay’s reflection—be open, humble, thoughtful, inquisitive, emotionally honest, mature, and/or insightful about what you learned and how you grew. No matter what type of story you tell, the goal is to have the reader come away saying, “I can definitely see this applicant as a contributing member of our talented and engaged Viterbi community.”

How important are the USC supplemental essays?

There are five factors that USC considers to be “very important” to their candidate evaluation process and the essay section is one of them. Along with GPA, standardized test scores, rigor of high school coursework, and recommendations, the Common App and supplement essays play a huge role in the USC admissions staff’s decision-making.

Want personalized assistance?

Lastly, if you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your USC supplemental essays, we encourage you to  get a quote  today.

• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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How to Apply

We want to make the application process as easy as possible for you.

First-year application process, first-year deadlines for fall 2024.

• November 1, 2023 Early Action Deadline and Merit Scholarship Consideration
• January 15, 2024 Regular Decision Deadline

Transfer Student Application Process

Transfer student deadlines for fall 2024, international student application process, first-year and transfer students, usc dornsife application supplement (first-year applicants).

As part of the Writing Questions section of the Common Application, all first-year applicants applying to a USC Dornsife major as a first-choice major will be asked to complete a Dornsife supplemental question. The question will appear on the Common Application after you have selected a Dornsife major as your first-choice major. You will provide a brief (250 words or less) response to this supplemental question.

There is no “best” or “right” answer. We simply want to know more about you and your motivations and passions. Because application reviewers will have access to all portions of your application, we suggest that you focus your Dornsife supplemental response on a different topic than what you’ve already discussed elsewhere in your application.

The Dornsife supplemental question is:

Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about – a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about?

Graduate Student Application Process

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

3 USC Essay Examples By Accepted Students

The University of Southern California is a selective private school in Los Angeles. Its film school is consistently ranked the top in the country, though its other academic programs are incredibly strong as well.

USC requires applicants to fill out a variety of prompts, some in the form of essays and others as short-answer questions. In this post, we’ll go over three essays that helped real students gain acceptance to USC and explain what each essay did well and where it could be improved. 

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our USC essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts. 

(Also, CollegeVine has a ton of other resources for your USC application. Want to learn what USC will actually cost you based on your income? And how long your application to the school should take? Here’s what every student considering USC needs to know. ) 

Essay Example #1 – 10 Minutes to Change the World

At what point does injustice become background noise?

Bloodied black bodies can be “liked” on Instagram. Gunshots in classrooms are easily reposted via Tiktok. My generation’s digital environment is so overwhelming we’re desensitized. Given the numbing nature of dark humor, youth prefer it over justice. Rape culture is palatable once it’s a punchline. Laughter is more socially acceptable than tears. 

A recent documentary about Jeffery Dahmer (which his victim’s family members did not consent to) has led to several callous jokes about his horrifying devastation of the Black gay community. Tiktok now hosts several trends concerning Dahmer, all spearheaded by Generation Z youth.

Humor is a valid coping mechanism, but it’s now a crutch for a generation that needs to start walking on its own. 

Why is shock humor desired today? Dark humor was how I grappled with my internalized racism, partly triggered by enduring racial slurs at school. However, the hilarity fizzled out once I realized how counterproductive it was. Now, rather than reposting footage of global tragedies or joking about them, I promote new bills, pro-cause literature, and nonprofits, celebrating the proactivity of our nation.

To begin my conversation, I would address my own desensitization, urging my audience to examine theirs as well. Through my talk, I want individuals to undergo a transformative examination of social media consumption and the role of humor in the face of tragedy. Hopefully, my talk leads them to consider how they can work to alleviate social issues, rather than laughing at them.

What the Essay Did Well

This prompt is incredibly open, which can be both a blessing and a curse: you can write about anything you want, but with that much freedom, will you be able to focus on something specific? For this student, the answer to that question is unquestionably yes, as they do a phenomenal job writing about a creative, nuanced topic, in a way that is clear and easy to understand.

The topic they choose is also personal, which is important. The purpose of any college essay is to teach your readers something about who you are, and if you write about a topic that you know a lot about, but aren’t emotionally invested in (like, say, the different kinds of screwdrivers you learned about while helping your dad with a summer project), your personality won’t shine through.

This student, however, focuses not on racism in general, which is far too broad a topic for an essay this short, but on the problematic ways Gen Z copes with racism. That unique perspective shows that the student both has strong critical thinking skills and can reflect on their own experiences. And to take things a step further, they are also willing to get vulnerable, and acknowledge their own role in perpetuating the very issue they are highlighting, with the section:

“Dark humor was how I grappled with my internalized racism, partly triggered by enduring racial slurs at school. However, the hilarity fizzled out once I realized how counterproductive it was. Now, rather than reposting footage of global tragedies or joking about them, I promote new bills, pro-cause literature, and nonprofits, celebrating the proactivity of our nation.”

In this part of the essay, the student shows a remarkable level of humility, and an ability to work on themselves. While getting vulnerable with a bunch of strangers thousands of miles away is not easy, this especially deep self-reflection is what takes this essay from good to great.

In addition to zooming in on their own character, the student also zooms out from their own experience, to arrive at thoughtful, compelling takeaways that assuredly would hold the attention of a million people. Lines such as “Humor is a valid coping mechanism, but it’s now a crutch for a generation that needs to start walking on its own” and “Given the numbing nature of dark humor, youth prefer it over justice. Rape culture is palatable once it’s a punchline. Laughter is more socially acceptable than tears” show that this student is not only personally invested in this issue, but ready to start taking steps towards solving it.

Lastly, this essay is incredibly well-written and easy to follow. The passionate yet conversational tone stays true to the goal of the prompt (start a conversation!), and because of the writer’s varied sentence structure, we never get bored or want to stop reading.

What Could Be Improved 

The main problem with this essay comes in its last paragraph: 

“To begin my conversation, I would address my own desensitization, urging my audience to examine theirs as well. Through my talk, I want individuals to undergo a transformative examination of social media consumption and the role of humor in the face of tragedy. Hopefully, my talk leads them to consider how they can work to alleviate social issues, rather than laughing at them.”

Unfortunately, this paragraph doesn’t tell us anything we don’t already know, which unfortunately means the student has essentially wasted 63 words in a 250 word essay. If you write a strong essay (which this student does), you do not need to wrap things up or connect your answer back to the prompt explicitly. Those things will just happen naturally.

Instead of this paraphrased, overly tidy conclusion, the student could have painted a picture of what their talk would look like. For example:

“Hopefully, I can inspire my audience to reflect on their own desensitization, as I did, by describing the time I retweeted ten Trump memes in an hour, and how that did absolutely nothing to help me feel better about the state of the country. Turning away from band-aid solutions and committing to sucking the poison out of the wound is challenging, but I hope that through my talk and conversations my listeners have with each other afterwards, more of us will feel ready to take on that challenge.”

This version doesn’t just summarize points the student has already made, but rather presents us with tangible ways (reflecting on their own low moments; conversations after their talk) they hope to continue fighting back against desensitization.

Essay Example #2 – The Power of Debate

Prompt:   What is something about yourself that is essential to understanding you? (250 words)

“Chill. Out.”

Surely my classmates felt annoyed that I had transformed a simple English debate about the existence of the American Dream into a full-on tirade, hands revolving in furious circles, voice emphatically piercing throughout the room. But for me, the slightest mention of a debate, even a minor discussion on the best team in the NFL (Patriots!), unleashes my passionate, borderline bombastic self, determined to conquer the war of words.

Of course, when discussing the merits of pharmaceutical price controls at a debate tournament, my assertive speaking style and quick-thinking become valuable assets. But other times, I find those tendencies to hinder what would otherwise be productive, civilized conversations. Often, a simple discussion about the merits of pineapple on pizza would quickly devolve into a redundant, unproductive squabble. I have to constantly remind myself that not everything needs to be debated endlessly, no matter how much I vehemently disagree (Pineapple on pizza, however, is a TERRIBLE idea).

Yet it is this desire to seek truth and conclusion, to vouch for my beliefs, that drives me to my life endeavors. Whether it be interning at an immigration law firm and fighting for clients’ prosperity or volunteering for a local Board of Education candidate, I strive to focus my love for reasoning and dialogue into avenues that benefit those around me. Pointless debates lead nowhere, but insightful, genuine conversations are essential to addressing the key issues that affect our community. And honestly, pineapple on pizza doesn’t really matter that much anyway.

Not only does this essay start with a one-line paragraph, it starts with two sentence fragments. This is a great way to begin a college app essay, because let’s face it: admissions readers have to plow through hundreds of essays per day. They don’t want to pick apart drawn-out introductions. They want something that’s going to pique their interest, and “ Chill. Out. ” meets this requirement. It immediately creates a drive to read more: what is the conflict here? Who’s saying “chill out,” and why? 

Throughout this essay, the writer uses physical and powerful verbs to describe their passion for debating. If you went through the essay with red pen, you’d underline a lot of dynamic action: “ vehemently disagree ,”  “ drive ,” “ conquer the wa r,” “ voice piercing through the room .”  Words like these involve the reader physically in the action of debate in a way that drier words, like “respond” or “address” would not. As a result, the applicant comes across as enthusiastic and passionate.  And, as the icing on the cake, the violent words make the author’s personal growth – their stoic mastery over their passions – resonate as more truthful by the end of the essay. We can appreciate their calm, because we’ve experienced their storm. 

By far, the most important element of this essay is its focus on a personal transformation . This applicant could have relished in their success on debate team or the Board of Education, but they don’t – instead, they involve these occurrences in a narrative about their fatal flaw . 

Why is this attractive to an admissions reader? Well, because it demonstrates that the applicant is introspective and interested in improving themself in deeply personal ways. For example, it takes humility to insert yourself into the perspectives of others (“ surely my classmates felt annoyed ”). And it takes honesty to 1) identify a problem with yourself and 2) correct your behavior (“ I have to constantly remind myself that not everything needs to be debated ”). 

What Could Be Improved

There is honestly very little this student needs to do to strengthen this essay as it already is captivating, passionate, and illuminating. However, a word of caution is to make sure the mood of your essay matches your personality. This essay works because as far as we can tell from what this student tells us about themselves and the activities they engage in, they are outspoken, quick-thinking, and love to exchange ideas. These qualities all lend themselves to a fast-paced, dynamic essay. But if that isn’t you, don’t try and inject powerful language into your essay to have the same impact as this student. Make sure your essay reflects you and the story you are trying to tell.

Essay Example #3 – Admitting You Were Wrong

This essay covers the difficult topics of eating disorders and mental health. If you’re thinking about covering similar topics in your essay, we recommend reading our post Should You Talk About Mental Health in College Essays?

Prompt: USC believes that one learns best when interacting with people of different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Tell us about a time you were exposed to a new idea or when your beliefs were challenged by another point of view. Please discuss the significance of the experience and its effect on you. (250 words)

“You barely have lunch, and I’m worried that you’re not eating enough.”

My face burnt bright red. They know.

It was true, of course. Throughout sophomore year, my daily food intake slowly inched below 1,500 calories, barely enough to sustain a toddler. Six months in, my period halted its monthly cycle – hormonal amenorrhea. Tired, anxious, scared. Yet, nothing deterred the voice in my head from telling me that I would never be small enough.

With an already petite stature, my health was never questioned; people seldom criticized my diet or the amount of space I occupied in a room. Skinny was healthy, and I bought into that myth. Until I started to listen. I listened as my friend confronted me with her concerns. For the first time, I was exposed to a new definition of health detached from fear foods and aesthetics. Not immediately convinced but willing to change, her perspective encouraged me to do the research and reflect on my health subjectively. In the following week, dietetic research papers and videos filled my search history; the verdict was glaringly clear. I was wrong.

Today, I exercise for adrenaline. I eat for fuel. I recognize my worth beyond the number on the scale. Listening to a different perspective was all it took for me to unravel the flaws of my own, and that, as I currently eat the rest of the holiday toffee pretzels unabashedly, is something that I am forever thankful for.

This student opened up about a deeply personal topic in a that really allowed the reader to see the mental and physical effect her eating disorder had on her. We aren’t just told she had an eating disorder and when she was confronted by a friend it changed her perspective; we are shown  what she suffered through and what her original perspective was. 

Admitting to thoughts about the “ amount of space [she] occupied in a room ” and how “ Skinny was healthy”  demonstrates very clearly her mental stance on her body. That contrasts with her admission of her physical health: “ my daily food intake slowly inched below 1,500 calories, barely enough to sustain a toddler ” and “ my period halted its monthly cycle. ” Describing both the mental and physical aspects help us to understand the depth of the struggle she went through and how deeply engrained she was in her current way of thinking.

This essay has a triumphant ending that warms our heart for the student because she was able to find help and conquer her eating disorder. The last paragraph nicely reflects on the effect this new idea had on the student by showing us her new mental approach to food and her weight: “ Today, I exercise for adrenaline. I eat for fuel. I recognize my worth beyond the number on the scale. ” Finishing the essay with her giving thanks for eating “ holiday toffee pretzels unabashedly ” brings a light-hearted conclusion to a serious essay and leaves the reader with a smile on their face for how far this student has come. 

While the narrative this student tells is very good, it reads more like an “Overcoming Challenges” essay than a “New Beliefs” essay. This could be fixed with more attention to the encounter with her friend and her subsequent research on eating healthy.

We are simply told, “ I listened as my friend confronted me with her concerns, ” and that through that experience she was “ exposed to a new definition of health detached from fear foods and aesthetics. ” However, what we want to see is how this student grappled with the confrontation and what her mental and emotional response was to learning new information that contradicted her previous assumptions.

Like in the beginning, a quote from her friend would be a nice way to place the reader in the action. This student also provided us with a lot of introspection about her eating disorder, so the essay should pay the same amount of attention to her overcoming it. For example, she might write something like this:

“ ‘We are all concerned for you.’ The sad eyes of my friend roamed over my thinning body, and I heard my heart shatter. I wasn’t just hurting myself, I was causing all my friends and family to worry. ‘I think you’ll like this article.’ Turning her computer around, big bold letters ran across the screen: YOU ARE MORE THAN A NUMBER. I hesitated in the moment, terrified of letting go of the societal message to be skinny that had become my mantra. But as my sunken, tired eyes looked back at me in the mirror that night, I opened up the article and learned just how wrong I had been. ” 

Where to Get Your USC Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your USC essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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University of Southern California | USC’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Additional info short response.

Starting with the beginning of high school/secondary school, if you have had a gap where you were not enrolled in school during a fall or spring term, please address this gap in your educational history. You do not need to address a summer break.

Dornsife Short Response

Many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about — a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. If you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about?

Select-A-Prompt Essay

Respond to the following:

Describe yourself in three words.

What is your favorite snack?

Best movie of all time:

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

Dream trip:

What TV show will you binge watch next?

Which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate?

Favorite book:

If you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be?

Why This Major Short Response

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests and why you want to explore them at USC specifically. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections.

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

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?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that 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?

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.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

Common App Transfer Essay Examples

Common app transfer essay — introduction.

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

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

Additionally, we’ll go over:

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

Understanding the College Transfer Essay

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

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

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

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

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

What is a college transfer essay?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Common App Transfer Essay Requirements

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

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

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

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

Understanding Transfer Application Requirements

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

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

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

Staying Engaged on Campus

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

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

Common App Transfer Essay Prompts

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

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

Comparing Some Common App Transfer Essay Prompts

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

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

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

Notre Dame transfer essay prompt

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

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

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

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

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

Clarifying your academic goals.

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

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

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

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

College Transfer Essay — Emory Essay Examples

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

Here’s our Emory transfer essay example: 

Emory Transfer Essay Example

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why This Essay Worked

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

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

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

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

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

Wesleyan Essay — Transfer Essays That Worked

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

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

Wesleyan Transfer Essay Example

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why this essay worked

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

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

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

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

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

USC Transfer Essay Examples

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

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

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

USC Transfer Essay Examples — Long Answer

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

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

Let’s start with the main USC transfer essay: 

USC Transfer Essay Example

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

USC Transfer Essay Examples — Short Answer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why these essays worked

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

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

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

UMiami Essay Examples — College Transfer Essay

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

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

UMiami Transfer Essay Example

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

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

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

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

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

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

Understanding the UMiami Transfer Acceptance Rate

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

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

How is a college transfer essay different?

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

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

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

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

College Transfer Essay Format

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

As you approach this type of prompt, think about:

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

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

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

Additional Transfer Essay Tips

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

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

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

Other CollegeAdvisor Essay Resources to Explore

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

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

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

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

College Transfer Essay — Final Thoughts

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

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

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

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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.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, over 1.2 million students are enrolled in college as a transfer student. Students may transfer for a variety of reasons ranging from academics to athletics to geography.

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

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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Read 2 Transfer Student Essays That Worked

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

Read 2 Transfer Essays That Worked

Getty Images

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

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

Colleges With the Most Transfer Students

Josh Moody Jan. 28, 2020

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

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

Know What Colleges Are Looking For In a Transfer Essay

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

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

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

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

Transfer Essay Examples

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

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

Searching for a college? Get our complete rankings of Best Colleges.

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University of Southern California (USC) 2023-24 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 15

You Have: 

University of Southern California 2023-24 Application Essay Questions Explained 

The Requirements: 2 or 3 essays (depending on major selection) of up to 250 words; 2 short-answer lists.

Supplemental Essay Type(s): Why , Oddball , Short Answer , Community

Describe how you plan to pursue your academic interests at USC. Please feel free to address your first- and second-choice major selections. (250 word limit)

This is USC’s take on the classic Why essay. In asking how you plan to pursue your interests, admissions is really trying to suss out your core reasons for choosing USC. While college will offer you a wealth of social and professional opportunities, its primary function is academic — and your primary role is as a student. So, what kind of student do you hope to be? Where do you hope your studies will take you? What resources and opportunities does USC offer that will meet your needs and guide you towards your goals?

To answer these questions, set aside an hour or two to pore over the USC website (there’s no hack, you’ve just got to put in the time). Beyond the basic departmental listings, look up information about news and research coming out of your department, the kinds of courses available, the opportunities that other undergrads have had studying in your area of choice. Even if you have a wide array of interests, consider explaining how two to three departments might complement each other or foster your interest in a larger idea or theme. Your ultimate goal is to show that your interest in USC (just like your intellectual curiosity) runs deep!

Describe yourself in three words (25 characters).

Your answers do not need to be so outlandish that admissions needs a thesaurus to look them up, but they should avoid the generalities that so often populate these questions: loyal, kind, smart… you get the idea. We’re sure you are all of these things — and they are lovely qualities to showcase in the stories you tell elsewhere in your other written responses — but these sorts of terms can ring hollow. Think about how different people in your life would describe you. Though this assignment is short, you may need to spend some time wordsmithing different combinations. When the prescribed format is a list, order matters just as much as content, so use every element of the assignment to your advantage!

The following prompts have a 100 character limit:

What is your favorite snack, best movie of all time:, if your life had a theme song, what would it be, dream trip:, what tv show will you binge watch next, which well-known person or fictional character would be your ideal roommate, favorite book:, if you could teach a class on any topic, what would it be.

Behold! USC’s attempt at being quirky! You’ve been limited to less than the length of a tweet for each answer, so you’d better make every word (and character) count! These prompts don’t have time for generalities or gentle introductions, so you’ll have to cut straight to the point. The more specific your words are, the more memorable your answers will be. Favorite snack? Don’t just say, “popcorn and Junior Mints.” How about, “A box of junior mints melting over hot popcorn as I watch a horror movie” (72 characters). If you can paint a funny picture or display a knack for wit, take this chance, but don’t force it. You also don’t exactly have to think of this as filling in the blanks, but more as filling in any blanks in your application. Anything that doesn’t feel like it merits a full essay can go here as a tweet, hot take, punchline, or elegantly-worded sentence.

USC Dornsife Applicants: Please provide an essay of no more than 250 words on the topic below. In your response, we encourage you to write about something that you haven’t already discussed elsewhere in your application.

For more information, please click here ., many of us have at least one issue or passion that we care deeply about – a topic on which we would love to share our opinions and insights in hopes of sparking intense interest and continued conversation. if you had ten minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your talk be about (250 words).

We at CEA love this question because it’s a unique way of asking applicants: what do you care about and why? What’s important to you? What information do you wish other scholarly minds had access to? Start by making a list. Maybe you’d like to use your ten minutes to speak about media literacy and how we can and should consider what we see online through the lens of the powers that dictate how and when we receive information. Perhaps you’d want to spread the word about the dangers of climate change and the irreversible impact it will have on the planet if we don’t take action swiftly. What keeps you up at night? What kind of positive effect do you want to have on the world? These are the questions you should be asking yourself when brainstorming for this prompt. Bonus points if you can speak to how a USC Dornsife education will prepare you to address this issue head-on in the future! 

USC Viterbi Applicants:

The student body at the usc viterbi school of engineering is a diverse group of unique engineers and computer scientists who work together to engineer a better world for all humanity. describe how your contributions to the usc viterbi student body may be distinct from others. please feel free to touch on any part of your background, traits, skills, experiences, challenges, and/or personality in helping us better understand you. (250 words).

USC Viterbi School of Engineering wants to accept students who will contribute to diversity on campus. When considering an aspect of your identity or background to expand upon, we recommend choosing one that has had the biggest impact on the way you experience and interact with the world. Ideally, the unique aspect you select should come with a couple anecdotes. Maybe you want to write about your experience as a person living with a disability and how this has shaped your interest in engineering, design, and accessibility. Perhaps you embody #BlackGirlMagic and will bring a fresh perspective to a field in which women of color are underrepresented. Regardless of the part of your identity you choose to address, be specific about how it impacts your worldview and how it will add a distinct perspective to USC Viterbi.

The Engineering Grand Challenges (for USC Viterbi Applicants):

The national academy of engineering (nae) and their 14 grand challenges go hand-in-hand with our vision to engineer a better world for all humanity. engineers and computer scientists are challenged to solve these problems in order to improve life on the planet. learn more about the nae grand challenges at http://engineeringchallenges.org and tell us which challenge is most important to you, and why. (250 words).

Strong responses to this prompt will showcase self-reflection, care for the greater good, and ambition. Review the fourteen Grand Challenges and see which you connect with the most. Maybe you’re passionate about providing access to clean water, since you know firsthand what it’s like to not have that access in your hometown in Michigan. Perhaps you hope to engineer better medicines in honor of a loved one you lost to illness prematurely. Maybe you’ve always been fascinated with outer space and would jump at the opportunity to engineer new tools of scientific discovery. Make sure to relate your own life experiences and/or interests to the challenges the world is facing and emphasize how you’d like to be part of the solution.

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Advertisement

In response to protests, Brandeis invited students to transfer to its campus.

The university’s president, Ronald D. Liebowitz, promised in an open letter that Brandeis would provide an environment “free of harassment and Jew-hatred.”

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By Dana Goldstein

• April 24, 2024

In response to pro-Palestinian protests on campuses across the country, Brandeis, a historically Jewish university in Massachusetts, announced it would extend its deadline for transfer applications to May 31, and that it was prepared to accept a larger-than-typical number of transfer students.

In an open letter on Monday, the university’s president, Ronald D. Liebowitz, wrote that “Jewish students are being targeted and attacked physically and verbally, preventing them from pursuing their studies and activities outside of class, just because they are Jewish or support Israel.”

He promised that in contrast to other colleges, Brandeis would provide an environment “free of harassment and Jew-hatred.”

In a Tuesday phone interview, Dr. Liebowitz said that Brandeis students — about one-third of whom are Jewish — have a broad range of opinions on the Israel-Hamas war, noting that many are critical of the Israeli government and in favor of Palestinian rights.

But he also said Brandeis would take action in response to speech that he characterized as “gratuitous” and crossing a “red line,” such as that which argued that Israel did not have the right to exist or that the Hamas attack of Oct. 7 was a legitimate form of resistance.

In November, the university cut ties with its chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, preventing it from using the Brandeis name, receiving university funds or hosting events in campus facilities.

This week, as protest has convulsed some other campuses, Brandeis students have been on spring break, to coincide with the Passover holiday.

Dana Goldstein covers education and families for The Times.  More about Dana Goldstein

Frustrated Kings have no answer for high-scoring Oilers in Game 3 blowout loss

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Zach Hyman , Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid were three of the most dangerous scorers during the NHL regular season, combining for 127 goals and 315 points for the Edmonton Oilers. Stopping one of them is a challenge, stopping all three is pretty much impossible.

The Kings certainly haven’t found a way to do it, with Hyman, Draisaitl and McDavid combining for five goals and three assists Friday in a 6-1 Oilers win in Game 3 of their Western Conference playoff series that gave Edmonton a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup the trio have dominated.

The loss was just the fifth in the Kings’ last 19 games at Crypto.com Arena, but it might prove to be the most costly since it swung the momentum of the series back to Edmonton and neutralized home-ice advantage should the series go seven games.

For Kings (and Lakers and Clippers), home is where the playoff action is

As the Kings head back to L.A. after exhilarating Game 2 OT win, they’ll find Crypto.com Arena to be very busy as three tenants host multiple playoff games this week.

April 25, 2024

The way Hyman, Draisaitl and McDavid have been playing, that seems unlikely.

“They’re good players. They’ve done it for a long time,” Kings interim coach Jim Hiller said. “They’re executing pretty well. They’re executing at a high level.”

Executing so well, Edmonton has outscored the Kings 17-10 in the series.

“It’s two for them, one for us. And you need to win four in the series,” Hiller said. “We’ll have to play better than we did tonight.”

The Edmonton trio has combined for 10 goals and 13 assists in the series. Three of the goals came in the first period Friday, burying the Kings in a hole they could never climb out of.

Hyman scored less than seven minutes into the game after a giveaway by defensemen Drew Doughty made it possible. After a faceoff, Edmonton’s Mattias Ekholm jumped on a lazy backhand pass from Doughty near the Kings’ blueline, then fed Hyman alone in the slot.

The Oilers’ forward took a couple of whacks at the puck, with Kings goalie Cam Talbot stopping both tries, before Hyman finally stuffed it inside the post on Talbot’s stick side for his league-leading fifth goal of the playoffs. He would get his sixth two periods later, giving him goals in all three games of the series.

Draisaitl doubled the lead late in the first period, gathering a pass that Evander Kane bounced off the side of the Kings’ net, then beating Talbot cleanly with a shot from a sharp angle near the bottom of the left circle for his 82nd career playoff point.

Three minutes later, McDavid scored on a power play, knocking in a rebound of his own shot for his first goal of these playoffs. Evan Bouchard picked up his fifth assist and Draisaitl his fourth on the play.

Doughty got the Kings on the board 5:32 into the second period, one-timing a cross pass from Quinton Byfield into the net. For Byfield, the assist was his third in two games, pushing his playoff point streak to five games. But Kane got the goal back for Edmonton two minutes later, deflecting in a shot by defenseman Cody Ceci from the blue line off his leg past Talbot.

The game degenerated early in the third period with the Kings, who have been eliminated by Edmonton in the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons, showing their frustration. Three Kings players were sent off the ice: defenseman Andreas Englund for fighting and an illegal check to the head, captain Anze Kopitar for roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct and leading scorer Adrian Kempe for roughing.

Three Oilers also went off after the skirmish, but the double penalites on Kopitar and Englund left Edmonton with a five-on-three advantage and Hyman needed less than 80 seconds to take advantage, scoring his sixth goal of the series to give Edmonton a 5-1 lead.

That was the second of three power-play goals — on seven opportunities — by the Oilers. The Kings were scoreless in five chances with the man advantage and have yet to produce a power-play goal in the series.

“I don’t know how they had so many power plays, to be honest. The calls were ...” Kings forward Kevin Fiala said before he was cut off by a team employee.

McDavid got his playoff-high seventh assist on Hyman’s second goal, but the Oilers’ Big Three weren’t done, with Draisaitl tacking on another power-play goal at 12:38. McDavid got an assist on that one as well.

The one-sided score line could be a bad omen for the Kings, who were routed 8-2 by the Oilers in Game 3 in Los Angeles two years ago and went on to lose the series in seven games.

The challenge for the Kings is to slow the Oilers’ offense enough to get back in the series.

“They’re not impossible to stop. We stopped them last game,” Fiala said. “Obviously they’re very good players. But we have to do a better job.”

More to Read

‘We’re not out of it’: Kings look to even Oilers series in Game 4

April 27, 2024

Anze Kopitar’s overtime goal lifts Kings past Oilers in Game 2 thriller

April 24, 2024

Kings’ penalty kill, a strength all year, becomes weakness in deflating loss to Oilers

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Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and other things for the Los Angeles Times, where he has worked for 27 years. He has covered seven World Cups, four Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.

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