Transfer Addendum? Forum

[wjp4cz]

Lurker, 1st post.


Not sure if this is the best place to put this, but hopefully someone can direct me elsewhere if it is not. I was unable to find an analogous situation to mine from searching the forum, but if this has already been discussed, you may feel free to direct me there.

I transferred from Penn after my first year of college (due to a variety of reasons: personal (long distance relationship), incompatibility with hyper-competitive student attitude, dislike of the Northeast). My grades were good (LSAC GPA: 4.06), hard science/math courses

I transferred to U.Va. largely because of the environment, the presence of my sig other here, and collegiality of the atmosphere. I have prepared a brief transfer addendum, but I'm not sure if I should use it or not. I have omitted the personal aspects of my transfer, not sure if that is the proper decision or not. I have excelled here as well( LSAC GPA: 4.19, BS in Chemistry) and I really have enjoyed the people and the environment here.

I am wondering if law schools will want to see an explanation of why I transferred out of the Ivy League (my instinct would be to say yes). Additionally, I am not sure if I should include the personal (relationship) aspect of my transfer or not. I feel that that may come off as unprofessional even though it was an important factor (but not the only factor) in my transfer decision.

Thanks for any help/advice you can offer.

[CanadianWolf]

Why call attention to an insignificant matter ?

[wjp4cz]

That's the heart of my question, I suppose. Is this transfer insignificant?

[dakatz]

Absolutely no reason at all to write an addendum. They wont care in the slightest why you transferred. Your grades are good and that's all they care about.

[wjp4cz]

That's encouraging. Is that general consensus? I went to the Penn/Chicago/Mich admission presentation, one of their mock "candidates" had transferred, and I recall them saying something like, "It would have been nice if he had explained the transfer." They didn't say that it was absolutely critical though.

[CanadianWolf]

In your case, the transfer is not that important for purposes of law school admissions. If you transferred from Princeton to a community college, then an addendum might help.

Most adcomms understand that both Penn & Virginia are outstanding undergraduate schools with different environments.

[wjp4cz]

Thanks for the advice. I was probably over thinking things given my proximity to the situation and appreciate input from your less biased perspectives.