Tufts Blogs

It’s December 2025, and I find myself buried under a mountain of graduate school applications and finals in my senior year at Tufts. The process takes me right back to senior year of high school—that same knot of stress, the same nagging uncertainty about what admissions committees actually want to hear and what details matter less than I think they do. I remember submitting my college applications at the last possible moment, watching deadlines slip by as procrastination got the better of me. Somehow, here I am again, racing to finalize my statements and writing samples. But I’ve learned a few things along the way that might help you get your applications across the finish line. 

1. Don’t procrastinate, and give yourself more time than you think you need. I know this sounds obvious—trust me, I’m currently wishing I hadn’t waited until the last minute to tackle everything. I started researching schools over the summer, but I didn’t actually begin writing my statements until a few weeks ago, prioritizing coursework and other commitments instead. I assumed the mechanical parts of the applications—selecting programs, filling out basic information, answering standard questions, would be quick and painless. I was wrong. The wording is surprisingly particular, and every section requires careful attention and close reading.
2. Have someone read your essays, preferably someone who knows what they’re doing. I’ve been fortunate to have an academic advisor who has supported me through every step of this process. She’s provided detailed feedback on all of my statements, and we’ve been going back and forth with drafts and revisions since I first started writing. This has been invaluable because I struggle with word limits. I tend to exceed them by miles, giving far too much detail about each and every experience. She’s helped me trim the excess and, more importantly, taught me to emphasize what admissions committees actually care about: the experiences that make you stand out and what makes you the right fit for their program. In high school, I had a teacher who guided me through this same process, and having that support made all the difference then, just as it does now. So reach out to them: a counselor, a teacher, or someone else you trust, and have them review your writing.
3. Reach out to professors and current students to answer your questions. When I was applying to colleges in high school, I didn’t really have a process for selecting schools. I knew exactly one person who went to Tufts, my best friend’s older sister, and I thought Jumbo was adorable. So when my advisor told me to apply to reach schools, I started researching Tufts. But I didn’t know much about what it was actually like to be a student there or what daily life looked like. In retrospect, I should've done more research before making such a major decision (though I’m beyond happy I chose Tufts). This time around, I’ve reached out to professors and current students at the schools I’m interested in, which has been incredibly helpful in answering the very specific questions I care about. 
4. Apply to reach schools! In high school, I assumed I was heading to a state school like most of my classmates. But one teacher pushed me to apply to at least one school I thought was completely out of reach—so I did, and here I am. I’ve been given the same advice now, and who knows? I still don’t think I'll get into some of these programs, but I’m applying anyway. It’s worth taking the shot. Don’t underestimate yourself or discount your experiences before an admissions committee even gets the chance to see them.
5. Find and apply for resources wherever you can. I was advised to apply to a program that provides fee waivers for a selection of schools in a graduate consortium, and I was accepted, which means I’m saving hundreds of dollars in application fees. Some schools charge $150 just to apply, so these waivers add up fast. For high school students, you can reach out to schools to see if they can offer you a fee waiver. Also, attend open houses or take campus tours. You can even apply to a fly-in program like Voices of Tufts, where a school will fly you out to visit for free! This is one of the best ways to get a genuine feel for a school and see if it's actually the right fit for you, beyond what any brochure or website can convey.
6. Stay positive and take breaks! I thought I was going to end with five suggestions, but I’m realizing the most important piece of advice I can give is to find ways to balance the stress of applications with things that bring you joy. There have been moments when I’ve felt so overwhelmed that I just had to close my laptop and step away. Hanging out with friends, laughing, making art, going on long walks with music blasting in my ears—these things have been essential for clearing my mind. I’ve noticed that when I'm in a negative headspace, it seeps into my writing, so taking breaks isn’t just helpful but necessary. And remember, not getting accepted to a school isn’t the end of the world. The right opportunities will find you when the time is right!

Applying to schools is messy, stressful, and for me, full of last-minute scrambling. But you’ll get through it. Whether you’re applying from your high school bedroom or your college dorm room, the process feels intense, but it doesn’t have to consume you. Take it one step at a time, lean on the people who want to help you, and remember that wherever you end up, it’s just the beginning of the next chapter. You’ve got this. And if you want other guidance, the admissions officers here at Tufts have lots of other advice blogs for you to read! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a statement of purpose I have to finish.

Photo Credit: Sam Jonas