Mentioning that it would save me money to go to this school?

College Essays
1

<p>I am currently working on the USC transfer application and was wondering whether or not I should mention that my mother works at USC and that it would save me a lot of money because I would get free tuition. </p>

<p>Looking back that doesn’t sound very good, but should I incorporate that into my essay in a better way or just not use it at all? Honestly it IS a primary reason I want to transfer to USC, just not sure if mentioning that would hurt my chances of getting in.</p>

2

<p>You can mention that your mother works at USC, but don’t go as far as “free tuition”.</p>

3

<p>I talked about free tuition on my app for another school and I got in…
I think it depends on the way you phrase it.</p>

4

<p>Hmm thanks for the responses so far. YuhikoJay if you don’t mind me asking what was the school you were applying to?</p>

5

<p>Cooper Union.</p>

6

<p>I think it’s okay to mention financial considerations in your application if you bear in mind two things:</p>

<p>1) While it’s okay to write about your financial situation, that alone may not be compelling enough to make you worthy of a transfer admit. As a transfer to USC, you will be compared to students with incredible lifestories and/or great achievements. Your strategy should include more than just convincing the adcom that you want free tuition. What have you accomplished in life before that would likely make you an excellent student at USC?</p>

<p>2) If your main inspiration is indeed to pay lower/no tuition, talk about how paying tuition has affected you. Has it left you and your mother in a very rough financial house, affecting your studies in a way you didn’t anticipate?</p>

<p>I’m only trying to raise the bar on the expectations you should have for your essay. You may very well make do citing financial reasons, but bear in mind that you’ve stones left unturned in what citing what your goals in life are overall, from an admissions point of view.</p>

7

<p>Wow… thank you so much dsus444, that truly does help me a lot. I have a better notion of what I want to write about now… thank you so much again!</p>