How to Respond to the Common App’s “Changed High Schools” Question
Many students find themselves attending more than one high school. A move, better opportunities, rezoning, a new school opening closer to you, disciplinary reasons — the reasons are many. But whatever the reason, if you’ve changed high schools at some point in your academic career, the Common App wants to know why.
But don’t panic — this isn’t a trick question, and it’s also definitely not an invitation to vent about that one terrible teacher or the lack of opportunities at your former school. The key to your response here is to be brief, factual, and professional. You have just 250 words, and you probably won’t need all of them, so let’s make the ones you do use count.
About the Question
When you’re filling out the Common App, you’ll come across this required question if you’ve indicated you’ve changed high schools at any time during your high school career. If you indicate that you’ve attended more than one high school, a text box with a required short-answer response like the one below will display.
As you see here, the Common App gives you 250 words to respond. You may feel like you want more (sorry, they’ll cut you off at 250), or you might feel like you don’t have more than a sentence or two to say (totally cool — don’t belabor the point if you don’t have to).
It’s important to remember that changing high schools isn’t necessarily a black mark on your record — it’s just a way for the schools to better understand this side of you.
So let’s dive in on how to answer this in a way that accurately reflects the reasons for the move and to best position you and your application.
1. Stick to the Facts
Colleges understand that students transfer for all kinds of reasons — family moves, school closures, academic opportunities, health concerns, personal circumstances, and more. They’re simply looking for context, not a play-by-play of every challenge you faced.
Example:
“I transferred from Lincoln High School to Westwood Academy after my freshman year because my family relocated to California for my mother’s job. At Westwood, I continued my AP coursework and participated in their journalism program, which deepened my interest in media studies.”
Example:
“Junior year, I transferred from Miller High School to Lake Charles High School, the new high school in my district that opened the fall of my junior year. All students in the zone to attend Lake Charles were required to do so. I enjoyed starting new traditions at my high school and took on a leadership role at the yearbook and became the first junior to be named as Senior Editor.”
2. Keep It Positive (or at Least Neutral)
Even if your previous school wasn’t a great fit, avoid negative language. Instead of saying, “The curriculum was outdated, and I wasn’t being challenged,” try to phrase it a little more positively
Example:
“I transferred to Pacific West High School after sophomore year to take advantage of a curriculum that better aligned with my academic goals, including more AP science courses.”
3. Be Clear and Concise
Admissions officers don’t need an essay like you’ll be writing for your personal statement — no catchy opening hook, no sensory imagery or detailed dialogue. Just a straightforward explanation. Most of the time, you won’t need the full 250 words to provide an explanation. If you attended multiple schools, list them chronologically with a simple reason for each move.
Example:
“Freshman year, I attended Eastview High, but we moved from Nebraska to Florida, and I enrolled at Ridgewood High at the beginning of my sophomore year. My junior year, I transferred to Maple Academy to participate in their IB program and take advantage of their STEM-focused curriculum.”
Final Thoughts
One more reminder: This isn’t the place to overshare or add unnecessary details. Keep the reasons you changed high schools factual, polished, and to the point. Then, move on to the essays that truly showcase who you are.
Need help refining your response? Drop a comment below.
