You're embarking on a process that can be quite exciting. It gives you a chance to reflect on your high school experiences and imagine what will come next. You have the opportunity to pursue campuses and communities that feel like great fits for you, but first you have to apply! Our team is here to help you in that process, so if you gravitate towards advice in the form of Buzzfeed articles, this is for you. We asked several admissions officers to give you their most condensed words of wisdom.
It's best to be intentional about when you're working on college applications...and when you're not! Don't let senior year pass you by while you're stressing about college. Yes, set aside time for your apps, but also set aside time to hang out with your friends, go out for a run, bake a new recipe, spend time with family, and enjoy the things that you love! Don't let college applications consume your life!
-Rachel Brown, Associate Director of Admissions
While most students spend quite some time on their Common App Essay, we urge you to not lose sight of the importance of the school-specific short answers. In fact, don’t leave those responses until the last minute because they carry a lot of weight in your application! Admission Counselors can see when you have dedicated a lot of your time to your short-answers. It also helps us see what kind of community member you will be and just how excited you are about Tufts!
-Paz Pitarque, Assistant Director of Admissions
Put your best effort into your applications and know that when it comes time to hit “send,” you’ve taken control of everything you can. So, hit that button, breathe, and enjoy the rest of your senior year!
-Aaron Watts '18, Assistant Director of Admissions
Make sure to take the time to truly look over your extracurricular and awards section to add in any additional details or activities that you have been involved with. Tufts and many other schools (not all, but many) will not evaluate your resume as a part of your application. Instead, we use the application's extracurricular section to understand your activities and passions outside of traditional classroom settings.
-Gracie Marshall '15, Associate Director of Admissions
Be yourself and trust the process! You've put so much effort into crafting your application so remember to take a deep breath after you hit the submit button and treat yourself for all the hard work you've done.
-Bridget Moore, Associate Director of Admissions
For students applying to the SMFA at Tufts, make sure you spend a couple minutes (or more...) thinking about the order of your portfolio. Is your strongest work first? Are you happy with the overall flow of the portfolio as you scroll through it?
-Thomas Radovich, Assistant Director of Admissions, SMFA at Tufts
Use your applications to share your story, your accomplishments, and your aspirations with us. Once you hit submit on your applications, congratulate yourself on completing an important step in the process. And then turn your full focus back to the fun of being a high school senior. Spend time with friends and family, contribute to your community, immerse yourself in your academic interests, and enjoy your last few months of high school.
-JT Duck, Dean of Admissions
When thinking about your list of activities for your application, it’s totally appropriate to include something that may not be a school-sponsored club or organization. Do you have a job that you work shifts for each week? Do you have family responsibilities and spend a lot of time providing care for someone in your household? These are noteworthy parts of your schedule, so feel free to let us know about them!