katiek777
Jan 17, 2011
Undergraduate / Common App - 'I lived in Shanghai; it wasn't a question of if, but when.' [3]
This is is my Common Application Transfer Essay and please forgive the commas. Of all the things i've learned, how to properly use them wasn't one of them. Please review for whatever, content may need some work...it is a first draft. Happy Reading!
I can honestly say it was never my intention to attend ____. While living in Shanghai, I had formulated a plan to attend UBC in Vancouver to study Museum management; it was a great school in a beautiful area that not only offered my major but Chinese language as well. Then I suddenly encountered the reality of my situation. I was 18 and facing starting college in a new country alone, with no family or friends for miles. I had never lived alone and was none too sure about my career choice, I couldn't even drive. While I was hesitant about abandoning my plans, when my mother suggest attending ____ for a while I found that this school offered me the opportunity to continue my education but also a more comfortable assimilation into the sudden adulthood that is college life. I have come to view Harper as a pit-stop in my life, a time for repair and readjustment, in both my life and education before continuing on to more lucrative prospects. So there was never a question of if I would leave ____, but when.
I can't imagine I could have continued my journey with quite as much confidence without the lessons I've learned at Harper. Although I am living with extended family, having to do this college thing mostly on my own has fostered an increased responsibility in areas that were hitherto handled by my parents; areas like money and health. I got a job, learned to cook and pay bills; all the skills needed to live life independently. But besides these practical skills this pit-stop has allowed for a tuning back into the American educational system, which is surprisingly different from its European counterparts, and the rigors of a normal college course load. My experiences here also led me to my chosen career path; post-secondary education specifically Asian History with a concentration on Modern China. Despite the occasionally questioning that comes along with any major life choice I feel more solidified on this path than any other.
All of this being said, my reasons for transferring are relatively simple. _____ is a two year institution, and although I have enjoyed my time here, it will never allow me to complete the Bachelors and Masters degrees I wish to and am practically required to complete. Any college level teaching position would probably require at least a Masters, if not a PhD. ____ also lacks a Mandarin department and sincerely desire to continue the language studies I began in China as it will only help in the future research I plan to conduct. It also seems silly to have spent all this time learning how to live on my own and then deciding to continue living with my grandparents; I need to put these skill to use. I am ready to move on to new challenges, in my life and education that I feel ready to face thanks to _____.
This is is my Common Application Transfer Essay and please forgive the commas. Of all the things i've learned, how to properly use them wasn't one of them. Please review for whatever, content may need some work...it is a first draft. Happy Reading!
I can honestly say it was never my intention to attend ____. While living in Shanghai, I had formulated a plan to attend UBC in Vancouver to study Museum management; it was a great school in a beautiful area that not only offered my major but Chinese language as well. Then I suddenly encountered the reality of my situation. I was 18 and facing starting college in a new country alone, with no family or friends for miles. I had never lived alone and was none too sure about my career choice, I couldn't even drive. While I was hesitant about abandoning my plans, when my mother suggest attending ____ for a while I found that this school offered me the opportunity to continue my education but also a more comfortable assimilation into the sudden adulthood that is college life. I have come to view Harper as a pit-stop in my life, a time for repair and readjustment, in both my life and education before continuing on to more lucrative prospects. So there was never a question of if I would leave ____, but when.
I can't imagine I could have continued my journey with quite as much confidence without the lessons I've learned at Harper. Although I am living with extended family, having to do this college thing mostly on my own has fostered an increased responsibility in areas that were hitherto handled by my parents; areas like money and health. I got a job, learned to cook and pay bills; all the skills needed to live life independently. But besides these practical skills this pit-stop has allowed for a tuning back into the American educational system, which is surprisingly different from its European counterparts, and the rigors of a normal college course load. My experiences here also led me to my chosen career path; post-secondary education specifically Asian History with a concentration on Modern China. Despite the occasionally questioning that comes along with any major life choice I feel more solidified on this path than any other.
All of this being said, my reasons for transferring are relatively simple. _____ is a two year institution, and although I have enjoyed my time here, it will never allow me to complete the Bachelors and Masters degrees I wish to and am practically required to complete. Any college level teaching position would probably require at least a Masters, if not a PhD. ____ also lacks a Mandarin department and sincerely desire to continue the language studies I began in China as it will only help in the future research I plan to conduct. It also seems silly to have spent all this time learning how to live on my own and then deciding to continue living with my grandparents; I need to put these skill to use. I am ready to move on to new challenges, in my life and education that I feel ready to face thanks to _____.