Your Guide to the Tufts App (2011)
My Facebook status update this morning: OMG, it's just a week until the RD deadline passes. >:O
As I watch the incredible tide of mail wash into our admissions building, the realization that I'll end up reading hundreds of these applications is becoming impossible to ignore. My work begins when your work ends. I know that an intrepid group has already submitted their applications, a few of you doing so as early as October. I'll be honest, I'm conflicted about that. Part of me thinks, "damn, that's impressive." Another, larger, part of me thinks, "Damn, that's bananas."
I doubt my first visit to the Common Application website came before December 30th, and I know that none of my apps were submitted until the hours - nay, the minutes - before the deadlines. Innumerable people - friends, teachers, parents - told me I'd pay for procrastinating that long. Our very own Dean of Admissions has implied as much in past blog entries. With respect, he and all the others were wrong. I was fine. I got into a great school (Tufts, woo!), and as near I can tell, suffered no ill effects by spending most of the first half of my winter break watching the first season of Scrubs.
To all of you procrastinators, let's make sure history repeats itself. This week, we're dedicating the admissions website to you and your still-incomplete application. We're going to fill the site with advice, perspective, and tips from our current students and from our admissions officers to help you put together the best application you can.
Below is a roundup of our application-relevant resources. If there's something you want/need that isn't included, leave a note in the comments and I'll try to get it up before the deadline.
Why Tufts - By special request, we've built a page just to help guide you through one 50 word question: Why Tufts?
Essays we Loved - Looking for examples of successful essays that aren't for the other supplemental questions? We put up a few of the supplemental essays that mattered last year.
Committee Posts - If you've ever been curious about what it's like to be in the room when decisions get made, we've got a series lifting the veil on committee so you can get a sense of what the people who read your applications feel and think when your file comes up.
Advice from the Dean - The head of Tufts Admissions, Lee Coffin, busts myths, offers voice lessons (of a metaphoric variety), and explains why the admissions office does what it does.
Our Facebook Page - If you've got a sudden question and you don't know who to ask, drop it onto our Facebook page where I, or another Tufts admissions officer, can provide answers and insight.
My email, Daniel.Grayson@tufts.edu - If Facebook isn't your thing (I think the only person to whom this applies is my grandfather), send me an email with your question. Yes, me. I am a real human being with flesh and blood and hair and bile (if you are a Greek humorist) and I will help you.
An interview with an admissions officer about what matters - Our current freshmen sat down with admissions officers to ask how the whole thing works.
Our YouTube series on what current Tufts students did to get in - Nine current Tufts students created a video series to let current students share what they did in their applications. Click the link above to see the full series.
Below is one of the series focused on what current students did to get in and the admissions interview.