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I transferred because (on top of the obvious jump in rankings and access to firms at OCI) the national recognition of my new school can help me get back to my home state. But because my home market is tough to break into, I also bid on firms where my old and new school is. Now I have a screener with a firm in my school's city and with someone who graduated from the school I just transferred out of.

How should I field the "Why did you transfer" question, if it comes up? Also, the interview comes from a job fair in my school's city - not from my new school's OCI - so I can't exactly say, "I transferred to get a shot at interviewing in front of you."

I've been fielding this question with "obviously, prestige is a factor, but my old school is really geared towards public service and new school seems more interested in corporate practice rather than public interest, and I have very corporate interests." I think just cutting off the "obviously prestige..." part would be a good answer that doesn't offend. If there's an identifiable professor in your interest that you're really excited about, that would also be a good response.

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I don't think I would say that your old school was too "public interest oriented." That doesn't really mean anything unless you're transferring from, say, CUNY or Northeastern. And the interviewer will know it's bullshit if he went there.