Application Checklist and Deadlines

A complete application includes the following items, which are required:

1. Completed Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application
2. Responses to the Tufts Short-Answer Questions
3. Official High School Transcript(s): Applicants that have attended multiple secondary schools must ensure submission of official transcripts from all secondary schools attended. Applicants that have enrolled in college or university courses may also be asked to submit official transcripts from those institutions.
4. Senior-Year Grades
5. Counselor/School Official Recommendation
6. Teacher Recommendation from a core academic teacher 
7. English Proficiency Test Scores
8. Visual Art Portfolio: Required for applicants to the BFA or Combined Degree BFA+BA/BS programs at SMFA at Tufts. This portfolio is submitted via the Digital Portfolio tab in the online Applicant Status Page, available after an application has been received/processed. 
9. $75 USD Application Fee or Fee Waiver: Applicants automatically receive an application fee waiver based on responses to prompts in the application, or may choose from a select set of fee waiver criteria specific to Tufts University in the application.  

Optional Application Components:  

• Standardized Testing
• Optional Alumni Interview
• Arts or Maker Portfolio: All applicants have the opportunity to submit a portfolio (it is required of BFA applicants) that may contain anything from the performing arts to engineering schematics.

Please also note that applying for financial aid is a separate process, with its own required documents.

We reserve the right to evaluate an application and make a final decision, even if all parts of the application have not been received.

Application Deadlines

Please also note the separate financial aid deadlines. 

Materials Submission Deadlines

Applicants can use their applicant status portal to check on the completeness of their admissions file.