Undergraduate / "When you get to college and still have as much interest as you do now, contact me". Transfer Essay [4]

Two summers ago, on a homebound train from a Chicago Cubs day game, I was forced to sit with random commuters because of a lack of open seats. Separated from friends, I knew it would be better to try and make small talk than suffer through an awkward forty-minute ride home. We blabbed on about school and sports until I asked about their work. They explained to me that they all worked together at the Chicago Board of Trade. I spent the rest of the ride questioning them about their jobs there, stocks, commodities, and the markets. It was so fascinating to me and I needed to know more. They acknowledged my interest, handed me their business cards, and said "when you get to college and still have as much interest as you do now, contact me".

From that day on, my outlook on education, my career and future only got clearer. I began to become extremely passionate about business. I began to read more, work better, and research more diligently. By becoming involved with business, I was able to create a sense of sophistication, competence, and a passion for knowledge. This rubbed off on my academic studies and extracurriculars. Senior year, I formed an investment club with surrounding schools. I arranged tours at local stock exchanges and organized information sessions with speakers for the club. I even started my own blog to share ideas about stocks and the markets. I finally felt like I was accomplishing something and I loved the feeling. This wake-up call showed me the need of a strong educational background and work ethic to be successful. You have to work for what you want in life. Nothing is handed to you so challenge yourself.

This ultimately lead me to what I thought was the perfect school for me. After weighing my options, I thought: "A highly ranked business school, exciting social life, and a fantastic sports program, what else could I want?". Truth be told, my current school does have those things, but just isn't fitting for what I want out of my college education. I completely understand that there might not be a college that fits every single want and need for someone to be happy, but there are some things that I feel are imperative to my success in college.

By transferring, I am seeking a more sophisticated student body to help nurture my education and endeavors both inside and outside of the classroom. As Oprah once said, "Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher." You might've read that and thought to yourself, "Wow, how cliche was that?", but it is truly a quote I can relate to. I always have found that when pushed or in a more competitive environment, my habits and output are exponentially better. By transferring to a more demanding school academically, I will be pushed to work harder and more diligently.

Additionally, I am seeking a school that is more diverse academically and culturally. My current school seemed to be a 'no brainer' for me because of the strong business school reputation, but I couldn't help but feel like a drop in the ocean of undergraduates studying business. While I, myself, am a part of this mass of business students, I am still interested in the studies of other subjects and with the people studying them. With a business-saturated student body, it's tougher to stick out and tougher to get strong teacher interactions. By transferring, I will be able to explore my passions in depth among others who share a similar interest. I will have the opportunity to take a variety of classes within my major while also getting internships and conducting research within the field. Transferring will open me up to a new world; a new place to call home, a new curriculum, and new people to meet. I have no doubts that I will thrive at a new college that can accommodate my academic interests. I'm ready and enthusiastic for a change of scenery and an academic challenge.