DISCLAIMER: Below, I’ve included and reflected upon the essay of an applicant to last year’s class who became a Tufts student. His name is John. This is not what your essay should look like. You are all unique snowflakes, and this is not a “one size fits all” process. But I’ve pulled out aspects of this essay that worked for John. These same aspects (in concept, not in exact execution), could work for you too if you make them your own.
And now, John the 2018 Jumbo celebrates his nerdy side:
A few months ago I bought a new collection of Chopin’s greatest hits, and the next day, I eagerly inserted it into my car’s CD player and drove to school. What I did not know, however, was that as I sat in my school’s morning traffic, Chopin’s Polonaise in A-flat major escaped through the glass of the windows and into the street. The “piano music,” as a friend/witness described, drew the attention of about half-a-dozen pedestrians, who glimpsed me gesticulating wildly to the airy melodies with one hand and furiously beating the steering wheel of my ancient minivan with the other. Personally, I don’t see my display of nerdiness as being particularly unusual. Listening to one of Bach’s preludes, or Debussy’s Arabesques is like reading literature; the first time through, you grasp the general ideas, but rereading once or twice gives you insight into the minute details. You notice how the instrumentation, articulation, tempo, and dynamics combine to create a mood, tone, and narrative. Analyzing the composer’s score is like putting together a puzzle, assembling the array of notes into a cohesive progression of chords and revealing the piece’s message. The most vivid connection occurs when I translate the black and white symbols on the page into positions on a piano keyboard or trombone slide and recreate the music through my own unique lens, adding my own personality to a timeless story that so many others have embarked upon.
Nearly a year later, I still like this essay. Here’s why:
Again, it is unlikely that your strongest application will look like John’s. But keep the core strengths of his essay in mind as you pen yours. Is the tone authentic to you? Is the message genuine to you? Is it Tuftsy in a way that is true to you? (Note: if you are applying thoughtfully and felt that sense of “fit,” being “Tuftsy” should come naturally.) You’ve got this, guys. Keep up the hustle, and let me know if you have questions.
(Photo cred: Chris Christodoulou, Gustavo Dudamel at the London 2012 Festival, Featured in LA Times)