Transfer Request Letter — School
Letter requesting school or program transfer — between institutions, programs, or campuses.
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Ellis Taylor
Student ID (current): STU-2024-018432
Date: May 4, 2026
To: Office of Undergraduate Admissions — Transfer Admissions
Stanford University
Re: Transfer Application
Applicant: Ellis Taylor
Target term: Fall Quarter 2026
Target program: BS in Biology with Marine Science focus
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Dear Transfer Admissions Committee,
I am applying to transfer from Oregon State University (BS in Biology, sophomore year) to Stanford University (BS in Biology with Marine Science focus) for Fall Quarter 2026.
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REASON FOR TRANSFER
I am applying to transfer to Stanford to pursue marine science research that requires resources not available at my current institution. Specifically, Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station and the Earth System Science Department offer research opportunities directly aligned with my career goals in freshwater and marine ecosystem monitoring using eDNA techniques.
My current institution has provided a strong foundation in core biology, but the absence of a coastal field station and the limited eDNA-research infrastructure constrain the depth of upper-division research I can pursue. Stanford's combination of faculty (Drs. Kim and Porter, whose work I have followed), facilities, and the surrounding research community is the right environment to complete my undergraduate research training.
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ACADEMIC PROGRESS AT CURRENT INSTITUTION
Credits completed: 67 quarter units (45 semester equivalent), GPA 3.91
Major prerequisites completed:
BIO 101 — General Biology I (A)
BIO 102 — General Biology II (A)
CHEM 121 — General Chemistry I (A)
CHEM 122 — General Chemistry II (A-)
CHEM 233 — Organic Chemistry I (B+, retake planned)
MATH 251 — Calculus I (A)
MATH 252 — Calculus II (A-)
PHYS 211 — General Physics I (B+)
WRT 121 — College Composition (A)
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OTHER SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Honors Society membership; Dean's List both terms.
Two terms of undergraduate research with Dr. Anna Chen on freshwater eDNA — abstract attached.
Volunteer at OSU Marine Science Center summer 2025 (250 hours).
Letters of recommendation: Dr. Anna Chen (research advisor); Dr. Maria Sanchez (former AP Biology teacher, now at Stanford Lab).
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ENCLOSED MATERIALS
Common App / Coalition transfer application (online)
Official transcripts: high school + Oregon State (sealed, sent via Parchment to Stanford)
Mid-year college transcript (in-progress 2026 spring quarter grades)
Letters of recommendation (2)
Personal statement / essay (1,000 words)
List of completed and in-progress courses
This cover letter
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I am committed to the application process and to the academic and research community at Stanford University. Please contact me at the email below if additional materials or information would strengthen the application.
Sincerely,
_______________________________ Date: May 4, 2026
Ellis Taylor
About this template
Transfer applications differ from first-year admissions in several important ways. Transfer applicants are evaluated more on college performance than high school record (though the high school transcript is still required for sub-junior transfers). Major-specific prerequisites become highly material — admissions wants to see that the applicant can succeed in their target major from day one of the new institution. The "why this institution and program" essay is more weighted than for first-year applicants because the transfer is a deliberate choice, often involving sacrifice (lost credits, time-to-degree extension). The strongest transfer applications demonstrate (1) consistent strong academic performance at the current institution (typically 3.5+ GPA for selective targets), (2) clear, specific reasons for transferring that aren't generic ("better resources" without specifics is weak; "Hopkins Marine Station for marine biology" is strong), (3) major-prerequisite completion or near-completion, (4) evidence of engagement beyond classes (research, leadership, work). Common pitfalls: vague transfer reasons ("looking for a better fit"), excessive criticism of current institution (signals difficulty rather than ambition), unrealistic articulation timelines (community college students transferring to highly selective universities often need 2 years rather than 1 to complete prerequisites). Articulation agreements between specific institutions can dramatically simplify credit transfer — California has the ASSIST.org system; many state systems publish similar tools. NACAC (National Association for College Admission Counseling) and individual institutions publish transfer-specific application timelines (different from first-year deadlines). Financial aid for transfers can be more limited than for first-years; some scholarships are explicitly first-year only.
When to use it
- Transferring from community college to 4-year institution.
- Transferring between 4-year institutions (better fit, family relocation, financial).
- Transferring within the same institution (campus change, program change).
- Re-applying after time off for medical, family, or financial reasons.
- International student transferring between U.S. institutions.
What to include
- Student identification and current school.
- Target school, program, and term.
- Specific reason for transfer (2 paragraphs).
- Credits and GPA at current school.
- Major prerequisites completed.
- Other engagement evidence (research, leadership, work).
- Document checklist.