columbia transfer app. short-answer question

nuveen
Fri, 09 Mar 2007 01:55:37 +0000

I guess I’ll clarify a little:
-Try keeping the focus of the discussion on your needs, with the reasons why your school is deficient for those needs secondary. This transforms what could just be a bunch of negatives into something that tells them not only more about you, but that you actually know what you want.
-When discussing how your school is deficient, use as many concrete and specific details as you can fit. This may seem obvious, but it is especially important because it shows first, that you’ve probably made a genuine attempt to appreciate your school if you demonstrate knowledge about what it has to offer, and consequentially, second, that your decision to transfer is not solely in the pursuit of prestige.
-Make absolutely certain that your criticisms of your own school cannot apply to Columbia as well. This goes hand in hand with concreteness. A negative person can find fault everywhere.

Hope this helps. I could be completely wrong. Best of luck.