so... right now i am going to community college. after this semester, i will have atleast 14 credits for college. i am applying for spring semester at umd-college park. in high school i maintained a 3.8 gpa and got a 1280 on my SAT, and a 24 on my ACT. my question is, should i write an essay?for transfer students it isa an optional thing. how much would they look at the essay?

 

I would write a brief essay. Don't put hours and hours of thought into it, but it couldn't hurt to have one. Just something really quick. I doubt they will look at it. Think of how many applications they have to go through. At most, it would probably be something used as a deciding factor among a few students.

I don't think you have much to worry about. I got a 23 on my ACT and graduated with a 3.2 GPA and was able to get into the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Check into the percentage of people who are accepted vs. those applying. I don't think you have much to worry about. Just make sure the credits will transfer. I know people who spent 2 years at a community college and most of their credits wouldn't transfer, which made them spend an extra 3 semesters in college making them up.

 

yeah there is some program on the web that i used to make sure they tranfered. it also had suggested courses and other things for my major. i know that last year 88% of transfer students were accepted.

 

In all cases in academia.. it cannot hurt to have a small essay.