We have written a lot about the transfer process and the importance of writing stellar supplements. And if you come across a transfer school that doesn’t have one, you might feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. Well, you haven’t. We know that transfer acceptance rates are low, and we also know how easy it is to apply to schools that don’t have supplements. So how do you make yourself stand out to their admissions teams? You write one anyway.
The goal is to write an email that explains why you want to go to X school. It should look a lot like a “Why X School” supplement, except that it’s addressed to a person and not copied and pasted into a dialogue box on a website. By the end of the email, the person reading it should be able to easily discern what you’re interested in, what you’re looking for, and why X school is the best place for you.
Start by telling them what you’re interested in academically. If you’ve known what you want to study for a while, which we call an origin story, you should share that. Think back to the beginning and ask yourself if, when looking back, if you can point to something that explains why you’re an English major. After, it’s equally important that you bring them up to speed. No one goes from reading one book to being an 18-year-old English major. It’s important that you fill in the gaps because the next thing you’ll do is tell them what you want to major in, and the email won’t flow if you go from infant bookworm to aspiring English professor.
At some point, you’ll need to explain why you want to transfer. It does not need to be a standalone paragraph in your email, but it must appear somewhere. You could frame it by writing about opportunities and resources that you’re looking for at X school, and then state that you don’t currently have access to them where you are now. Whatever you do, don’t be dramatic about why you don’t like your current school. Nothing about the weather, nothing about bad professors, nothing about your weird roommate. Simply explain and what isn’t working and move on.
We’re going to assume that because you want to transfer to X school, you’re majorly impressed by their academic programs and have decided that it truly is the best place for you to grow, learn, and study. If that’s the case, this next part should be easy. Go to the department homepage of your desired major and find 1-2 upper-level classes that you want to take. Introductory courses are a no-go because they are not specific to the college and you’ve probably already taken them. Look for classes that align with your interests, and the more niche the better. There could be a specific track or a concentration that you’ve been trying to create for yourself at your current school. For example, you might have been scouring the catalog at your current school looking for comparative politics courses to piece together, and now you want to transfer to X school because it is formally offered as a concentration.
Next up, it’s time to find a professor that you would like to learn from, collaborate with, and do research with. Also on the homepage of your major, you should be able to find a list of professors. If you can’t, there’s always Google. The best way to streamline your research is to figure out exactly what you’re interested in, and then find a professor that is an expert in something similar. It’s crucial to get specific here. Writing that you want to research environmental science is vague and unfocused. Writing that you want to study sustainable agriculture and rooftop farming practices is a step in the right direction, but make sure that you explain why you’re qualified to assist them with their research. This is best done by telling the reader what you’ve done to familiarize yourself with the subject, and thoroughly researching their resume.
Now that you’ve covered what you plan to do in the classroom, it’s time to address how you plan to spend your time outside of it. You should look for something that is an extension of what you did in high school or college. Don’t pick something random! The student organization that you choose doesn’t have to be related to your major, but it should make sense within the context of the rest of your application.
If you have any other reasons for wanting to transfer, like a special program, that is highly specific to X school, you can include that here as well. But make sure what you’re writing about can’t also be found at the school down the block. If not, sign your name, thank them for their time, and send away.
Contact us here if you’re overwhelmed by the transfer process. We’d love to help.