Perhaps you've been following our tips on Instagram, but if not, here are our #tipsTuesdays from this fall!
On the Admissions Process
- When you start your college process, try not to focus on one particular school. Be willing to see/learn about new colleges and universities. But, if you do start the process thinking that one school seems to have it all – give yourself permission to change your mind as the process moves along. --Susan Ardizzoni, Senior Director of Admissions
- From day one, stay as organized as possible during your college search. Create a spreadsheet or word document that you can easily access and use it to jot down notes on each school you consider. Whether you visit in person or just take some time to check out an institution’s website (hint: our blogs are super helpful and informative!), take a few minutes to write specific things that stick out to you. A certain study abroad program you’d love to take part in? A unique course listing that speaks to you? A campus tradition you think is hilarious? Focus on your feelings and impressions as you learn more about a school. These details will help as you figure out what is important to you in your college experience! -- Lauren Wilkes, Associate Director of Admissions
- Read student stories! Yes, the statistics matter (number of students, student to faculty ratios, graduation rate, etc), but the students stories will give you a sense of the campus vibe. At Tufts, we take pride in our open-minded, intellectually playful, kind, and engaging student body. --Rachel Brown, Associate Director of Admissions
- Find ways to talk with current or former students studying what you’re curious about and at the colleges you’re serious about. If you’re visiting campus, make sure you give yourself time to chat with a tour guide - they often have friends who might share your interests! You can ask them about their favorite classes or anything they’d change about their experience. Ask your school counselor if there are any people who graduated from your high school at a certain college. These conversations should help you get a better feel for a college and give you confidence in your choices!" -- Sayaka Smith, Assistant Director of Admissions
- For many families, visiting a college campus is a luxury. Please do not feel discouraged if you are unable to visit our campus on the hill. Tufts understands this - we measure demonstrated interest in a variety of ways! Check out our website where you can go on an online tour of our campus, get an inside look at our residence halls, and read current students’ blogs. Importantly, join our mailing list! This is how we know that you’ve done your homework in researching us. As a reward, we will mail you a copy of our Jumbo Magazine! --Pamela Toscano, Admissions Counselor
- One of the greatest things you can gain from your time in college is a handful of mentors, advocates, and champions who will support you during your education and beyond. As you develop your college list, consider the nature of the relationships that are formed on the campuses you are researching. How do current students describe their interactions with faculty and staff? Will you find a network of adults and peers who offer encouragement, inspiration, and care when obstacles arise? In my book, an education that is relational rather than transactional is the more powerful one. -- Sean Ashburn, Assistant Director of Admissions
- If you are interested in playing a sport at Tufts, the first thing you should do is reach out to the coaching staff via email to introduce yourself. Always remember to copy assistant coaches on these emails as they are often the ones going out and recruiting! --Gracie Marshall, Senior Assistant Director of Tufts Admissions
On the Essays/Application
- Read your essays out loud! As weird as this sounds, reading an essay out loud to yourself will help you know if you are writing in your own voice. If you find yourself stumbling over your own words or feeling super uncomfortable with what you’ve just written, change it around until it feels right. -- Aaron Watts, Admissions Counselor
- Use any opportunity you can to let your voice come through in your college application! Here’s an example: when describing your extracurricular involvements, tell the “why” in addition to the “what.” Instead of simply writing “first chair, violin” for the description of your orchestra involvement, why not use the remaining characters to write a sentence-long mini-essay about why this activity is meaningful to you, how you’ve grown through it, or how it influences your perspective? You don’t get much space, and it’ll take a little extra effort, but treat it like a tweet and have fun with it! --Aidan O'Shea, Admissions Counselor
- If you ask someone to review your essays (and it’s a good idea to have someone check at least for spelling and grammar), instead of asking them, “Is this a good essay?”, which is subjective, ask, “What did you learn about me?” Have them create a list of things they learned about you. When that list feels authentic and representative of what you want to share with our office, that’s how you know you’re ready to hit the submit button. --Jason Rathman, Admissions Counselor
On the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts
- If you’re thinking of applying to a studio art program, get out to one of the National Portfolio Day events in your area. Talk to as many schools as you can and really pay attention to the questions they ask you. Those questions can be great indicators of the culture and curriculum of a school. Do they only ask technical questions? Are they interested in the ideas that drive your process? The same major can vary greatly from school to school! Talking to a lot of schools will help you find the right fit for you. -- SMFA at Tufts Admissions Team