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First-year applicants to Tufts University are asked to respond to two required short answer prompts. Responses offer the Admissions Committee insight into the interests and qualities that make you you and help us better understand your interest in Tufts.

Short Answer Prompt #1: Please describe how you have learned about and engaged with Tufts during your college search process (75-150 words).

Rather than write an overview of Tufts that draws on broad language from websites, reflect on the following in your response:

• What actions have you taken to learn about Tufts so far? 
• What did you learn that made you eager to apply for admission to Tufts?

Whether virtual or in-person, formal or informal, on-campus or off-campus, if there was an event, video, blog post, or other piece of content or conversation that made Tufts stick with you, describe it to us in this response. 

Short Answer Prompt #2 is specific to your intended school/program at Tufts:

Please identify a specific assignment, project, or artwork and reflect on the following in your response:

• What was it about this assignment that motivated you to think critically or creatively?
• What made this project fun, stimulating, challenging, and/or inspiring to work on?

The assignment you choose should offer a glimpse into how you learn and what excites you about learning.

An important note

Tufts Admissions strongly discourages the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) for writing college admissions essays and short answer responses. 

Our observations are that generative AI often produces formulaic responses that are less creative, distinctive, and persuasive than an applicant’s own writing. The Admissions Committee expects to read an applicant’s original ideas presented in their own words.

Beginning August 1, visit the Common Application site or the Coalition Application by Scoir site when you’re ready to apply online. 

We look forward to learning more about you through your application. Go Jumbos!