Voices of Tufts Diversity Experience FAQs
On this page, you will find frequently asked questions about the Voices of Tufts Diversity Experience. We hope you find these responses helpful. If you have any additional questions, please email voices@tufts.edu.
Voices FAQs
- What is Voices?
- What happens during Voices?
- When is Voices?
- Who attends Voices?
- Is the program open to international students?
- How many students apply each year?
- What kind of information does the application ask for?
- When is the Voices application due?
- Will my application be reviewed before you receive my transcript?
- Do I have to submit an official high school transcript?
- When will I find out if I have been invited to attend Voices?
- Is it true that any student who applies to Voices can apply to Tufts for free?
- Do my parents or guardians need to do anything for Voices?
- I want to participate in Voices, but I have a conflict. What do I do?
- Do I have to miss school for in-person Voices?
- What should I bring to campus?
- What if Tufts has already purchased my transportation and I am unable to attend?
- I’m applying to Tufts through the QuestBridge National College Match. Am I still eligible for Voices?
- Who should I contact for additional information?
What is Voices?
The Voices of Tufts Diversity Experience is our signature fly-in program, designed to provide high school seniors with a firsthand sense of “life on the hill” and an opportunity to learn more about diversity and community at Tufts University. We call the Voices of Tufts Diversity Experience “Voices” for short!
Back to topWhat happens during Voices?
Students will spend some time getting to know Tufts and the members of our community, and hopefully leave the program with a better understanding of whether Tufts is somewhere they would want to attend college! The program includes a variety of programs and activities, including interactive student panels, candid conversations from representatives of our identity-based resource centers, social programming, overviews of the admissions process, and more (rumor has it, there may even be some swag in store for students who participate!).
Back to topWhen is Voices?
For 2023, Voices will take place both virtually and in-person this October. Our in-person Voices programming will take place October 1 and October 2, and our virtual Voices programming will take place October 14 and October 15.
Back to topWho attends Voices?
Any high school senior attending high school in the United States is eligible to apply for Voices. While Voices has traditionally attracted participants from underrepresented backgrounds – including but not limited to students of color, first generation college-bound students, LGBTQIA+ students, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and students from rural communities – any student interested in learning about diversity on the Tufts campus is welcome to apply. We seek primarily to invite students who are kind, collaborative, civically-engaged, and interested in creating a more inclusive world.
Back to topIs the program open to international students?
Due to the timing of the program, only students residing in the United States will be selected. Non-U.S. citizens living and studying in the U.S. are welcome to apply.
Back to topHow many students apply each year?
We typically receive over 1,000 applications for approximately 280 spaces in the program. Because of the high volume of applications we receive, we are unfortunately unable to offer a space in the program to many students who may be qualified for admission to Tufts.
Back to topWhat kind of information does the application ask for?
The application is like a shorter, Tufts-specific version of a college application – it will ask for information about you, about the academic experiences you’ve had so far, and about the academic experiences you hope to have in college.
We will ask you to tell us about the courses you plan to take during your senior year, and we will also ask you to upload your full high school transcript (or to have your counselor send us a copy on your behalf).
We will also ask you to thoughtfully respond, in 200 words or less, to two short-answer questions:
- Why are you interested in Tufts University?
- How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?
The application will also ask what size t-shirt you wear (yay Tufts swag!).
Back to topWhen is the Voices application due?
The deadline to apply for Voices is Monday, July 17, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time.
Back to topWill my application be reviewed before you receive my transcript?
No – we will only review and invite students who have fully completed the application requirements (including the online application and the high school transcript).
Back to topDo I have to submit an official high school transcript?
No. We accept official and unofficial transcripts, submitted by students, counselors, or school administrators.
Back to topWhen will I find out if I have been invited to attend Voices?
All students who apply for Voices will receive their program decision by early September 2023.
Back to topIs it true that any student who applies to Voices can apply to Tufts for free?
It’s true! Every student who applies to Voices (whether or not they are invited to participate in the program), can have their Tufts application fee waived. You’ll receive instructions after you submit your Voices application.
Back to topDo my parents or guardians need to do anything for Voices?
While we do not require any parent/guardian forms for participate in Voices, we expect students to communicate with their families regarding the program and program timing. We will require emergency contact information in case of an unexpected event or situation during the program.
Back to topI want to participate in Voices, but I have a conflict. What do I do?
Depending on the nature of your conflict, you may still be able to participate, but the Voices team is going to prioritize applications from students who can commit to the full program.
There is a space in the application where you can share information with us about any conflicts you may have.
Back to topDo I have to miss school for in-person Voices?
Students that are selected for the in-person program that will take place on Sunday, October 1 and Monday, October 2 will miss one day of school. Students that are selected for the virtual program that will take place on Saturday, October 14 and Sunday, October 15 will not miss any school. If you are selected for the in-person program, our team will produce a letter that you can share with your school, so that they know you were visiting a college campus.
Back to topWhat should I bring to campus?
In order to make your stay more comfortable, please bring:
- Change of clothes
- Pillow and sleeping bag or blanket
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Light jacket
- Spending money (you will not need to pay for any meals or events, but you may want to purchase a Tufts souvenir at the book store)
- Any homework you may need to complete for school
- Cell phone and charger
What if Tufts has already purchased my transportation and I am unable to attend?
Students who cancel their participation after their airfare and/or train tickets have been purchased must reimburse the full cost of the ticket to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
Back to topI’m applying to Tufts through the QuestBridge National College Match. Am I still eligible for Voices?
Yes, absolutely! Tufts University is proud to be one of the QuestBridge partner colleges. Many students who attend Voices also apply through QuestBridge. QuestBridge applicants submit their list of college rankings (up to 12 partner institutions) through the National College Match; these rankings are due in early October. Please be aware that you may not add any additional colleges to your list after the due date.
Once Finalist decisions are released in late October, Match Finalists are allowed to re-rank their lists until early November. As Voices takes place in early and mid October, students who become Finalists for the National College Match will have the opportunity to consider re-ranking Tufts on their ordered Match lists, but will not be able to add Tufts or any other school that was not part of their original rankings.
All QuestBridge finalists who rank Tufts, but do not match with Tufts or another binding institution, will be automatically rolled into our Regular Decision applicant pool and required to respond to two short answer questions. They may also elect to apply under Early Decision I or Early Decision II.
Please visit www.questbridge.org for additional information on the National College Match application process and timeline.
Back to topWho should I contact for additional information?
You can email voices@tufts.edu or call our office at 617-627-3170. Our incredible team of undergraduate students that make up the Diversity Admissions Team also works on planning Voices. You're welcome to reach out to them with any questions about Voices or Tufts! We're happy to help.
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