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College Essays

If you're applying to Tufts University, you should already have an answer to "Why Tufts?" But answering the "Why Tufts?" essay question as part of your application requires more than acknowledgement that it's a good school.

This guide to the "Why Tufts" essay prompts will guide you through the requirements, expectations, and strategies you need to write an exemplary essay.

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What's the Purpose of a "Why This School?" Essay?

To craft a good "Why Tufts?" essay, you need to understand the prompt. It's not about listing a school's qualifications or discussing how beautiful the campus is—a good essay will explain not just why the school is good, but why the school is good for you .

This essay is a common one at many schools. Colleges want to know what brings you to them specifically, including what interests you and how you'll contribute to the student body. Though the question of "why" may feel simple, it's a lot more complex than it appears at first glance .

First of all, the college admissions office wants to know what sets their school apart from others. In Tufts' case, that could be their history as a research university , which puts undergrads in closer contact with graduate students and encourages more communication between people in different fields of study. It could also be their emphasis on interdisciplinary studies , or a positive experience you had while touring the campus .

Use the question of "why" as a starting point . Don't stop at, "because I like that I can study engineering and English." Develop that idea further—What does that mean to you? Why does it matter?

The "Why This College?" essay also invites students to think about how they'll fit into the academic environment. Schools want to know that you're a good fit—it's to their benefit to recruit students who are passionate and committed to getting the most out of their college education.

If it wasn't, Tufts wouldn't have an acceptance rate of around 11 percent . They want students who will contribute to the learning environment and bring creativity, innovation, and curiosity to the classroom. Read and understand Tufts' mission statement before writing your essay so you're informed about what these traits mean, and how you can contribute to realizing their vision as a student .

But it's not just about whether you'll fit in—it's also important that Tufts is a good fit for you. That doesn't mean having your major or whatever clubs you might want to join, but also that your goals align with theirs. The interdisciplinary approach isn't right for every student, and others may prefer the more classic separation of undergrads and graduate students. Having a clear idea about your goals as well as theirs will help you excel, and Tufts will appreciate the clarity .

Your "Why Tufts?" essay isn't just good for the school, it's good for you, too. When you think deeply about why you want to attend a particular school, it makes you even more excited to attend, and that passion is precisely what schools want to see.

Thinking in-depth about your college choices also makes you learn more about schools and how they support your goals, which is instrumental for choosing the right school.

As you're thinking about your Tufts essay, you might learn things about the school that may not be a good fit, and it's better to learn that now than six months after you've moved onto campus. Though one or two missed checkboxes in your dream school criteria isn't necessarily a reason to pull your application, having realistic expectations for your college experience will set you up for a more positive time at the school of your choice.

What Is the "Why Tufts?" Essay Really Asking?

"Why Us?" essays may look as if they're asking a simple question—why do you want to attend this school—but there's more to it than that. These essays are also often asking one of two questions: "why us?" or "why you?"

In essence, these essays want you to describe why they're the right school for you, or why you're the right student for them . Paying attention to how the question is framed will give you a better sense of what kind of answer they're looking for, which will help you shape your essay.

Tufts actually has two versions of the "Why Us?" essay, depending on which department you're applying to. Each one asks a different version of the question, with one version emphasizing your role as a student in a community ("Why You?") and what appeals to you about the school ("Why Us?").

To figure out which one you'll be responding to, use Tufts' Majors and Minors page . This tool allows you to select which programs you're interested in and displays the school department beneath.

If You're Applying to the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, or 5-Year Tufts/NEC Combined Degree:

This prompt has a 100 to 150 word limit. The prompt asks:

Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short, "Why Tufts?" (100-150 words)

This prompt is a pretty standard "Why X School?" style of essay. Notice that the prompt is asking you to discuss certain aspects of your undergraduate experience. That means the prompt expects you to talk about one or two elements of attending Tufts in detail, not write a laundry list of the things you love about the school.

Put another way: this essay wants you to be specific about why you want to go to Tufts and prove to the admissions committee that it's the right school for you!

If You're Applying to the BFA or 5-Year BFA+BA/BS Combined Degree at the SMFA:

This prompt, also 100 to 150 words, applies to students who are on one of the above listed fine arts tracks. This prompt reads:

Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? Why SMFA at Tufts? (100-150 words)

This question still asks about your application, but pay attention to the focus—it's more interested in why you want to be part of the SMFA program in particular. In answering this question, stay away from blanket statements about the university as a whole, like the robust number of extracurricular programs or Tuft's other undergraduate degree offerings.

Your answer should discuss what draws you to this program, not the school in general. Look through their mission statement, the experiences of other applicants, and preferably visit the campus for a tour to help you better explain why this school draws you in over others .

Because you're applying to the SMFA, you need to know what that is and how it differs from the rest of Tufts University. Why this program specifically? What will the SMFA add to your experience that education at a different school would not?

How to Write your "Why Tufts?" Essay, Step by Step

With only 100 to 150 words to answer these prompts, you'll likely need to go through multiple essay drafts to get your response into prime shape. Not only do you have a low word count, but these are also complex topics. Though planning might feel like more work in the short term, it'll help you write a stronger essay from beginning to end .

Step 1: Brainstorming

Start by reading the question. Not just reading the words that are there, but really striving to understand the question beyond the prompt.

Spend some time writing down different potential angles, then sort through them to find the one that works best for you. Your essay should be clear and specific to Tufts— if you can substitute in the name of another school and have it make sense, your essay isn't specific enough .

During brainstorming, come up with as many ideas as you can. Set a timer for five to ten minutes, and think of lots of different answers to the prompt. Don't worry if they're kind of out there or undeveloped; you can always cut them or expand later !

The General Prompt

For the first prompt, consider how which aspects of going to Tufts make it the best school for you. To do this, it helps to reframe the question like this: "What can Tufts do for me that no other school can?" It's also worth thinking about how you can contribute to the school in ways that are...well, uniquely you!

Maybe you're interested in tackling issues related to climate change, and you want to be part of Tufts's research on water purification because you know clean water will become a scarce resource. Or maybe you want a career in museum curation and education, so Tufts's Museum Education combined degree is perfect for you.

The point is that you need to be specific and clear about how Tufts is the only school that can help you achieve your goals.

Along with researching programs and professors, it's also a good idea to cite specific moments from tours, if you've taken them. If you haven't taken a tour, you could refer to alumni who inspire you, courses you find on the website, or other features unique to Tufts. "Unique" is key—whatever you say, Tufts' curriculum, mission, or other specific features should support it .

For example, you could mention the school's emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Does it matter to you that your education at Tufts will be inclusive of other disciplines rather than focused entirely on your field? Why or why not?

The SMFA Prompt

For the prompt that's SMFA focused, consider the program and what makes you want to be part of it. Why an art degree? Why an art degree at Tufts? Why an art degree at Tufts in the SMFA program, specifically?

These might seem like redundant questions, but considering every angle of "Why SMFA?" will lead to a stronger essay . Look through the course catalog and see what it has to offer—courses like "Creative Futures: Business Essentials for Artists" are unique to this program, and it's worth understanding what they offer that other programs don't. Tying that into your essay along with why you want an art degree proves that you're serious about your discipline and understand what exactly Tufts will add to your education.

Also consider how the SMFA and Tufts University intersect. SMFA is a school within a school, and it's important to understand how it differs from the School of Arts and Sciences.

Again, cite moments from a tour if you can, or be specific about particular artists, artworks, or other features of Tufts that inspire you to attend there. The more you can tie your response specifically to Tufts rather than any other school, the better .

Step 2: Avoid Generalities

When writing, avoid being too general. Again, if you can substitute in the name of another school and have your essay still make sense, you need to make it more specific . The question is, "Why Tufts?" so be sure that you answer that as thoroughly as possible—and stay within your word count, of course.

Some students default to talking about sports or campus appearance to set the stage. Avoid that, if you can. Tufts already knows about their sports teams and how pretty the campus is, and if other people are doing it, you don't want to follow suit. Your essay should be uniquely you !

"Why Tufts?" may be the question, but avoid being too shallow. Think beyond academics and reputation; your essay should consider how Tufts will help you, and how you'll help Tufts .

Step 3: Write Efficiently

The essay is short, so you're really going to have to hone in on one particular feature or event . Be prepared to edit and revise multiple times—have people you trust look over it and give you feedback, and do your best to follow it.

Eliminate extra words; in the first sentence in the previous paragraph, I could easily change "you're really going to have to hone," into "you'll have to hone" and save myself three words. It's a small change, but three words means a lot when you only have 150!

Summarize any experience you want to draw on quickly so you have time to talk about why it matters. Be brief; you want to expand where it matters rather than spending a lot of time on scenic details ("The sun was rising as I first arrived in Medford, my hands trembling from nervousness and too much coffee on an empty stomach," is great detail, but if it's not telling the school "Why Tufts?" then it has to go!).

In short, every word should be pulling weight in your argument rather than taking up space .

"Why Tufts?" Essay Writing Checklist

As you progress through each draft, run through this checklist to be sure you're on target.

Are You Being Specific?

Can you rewrite the essay with the name of another college? If you can, be more specific.

Have You Mentioned Real-Life Experiences?

Tying your essay to a specific, real-life experience (such as a tour of the college) or a person (a representative of Tufts that you've spoken with, someone who's graduated, or similar) gives it more specificity. Concrete detail will make your essay feel more solid.

Have You Answered What Makes the School Special?

Think beyond academics, sports, or prestige. What makes Tufts the right school for you above all others? Why not Columbia , UC Berkeley , or the University of Minnesota ? You don't have to answer "why not?" in your essay, but you should know the answer when you're writing.

Have You Connected What Makes the School Special to Your Interests?

Readers should be able to draw a clear line from the answer to "Why Tufts?" to you as a student. Okay, so you met an adviser who not only got your love of botany, but who understood exactly how a love for grass-type Pokemon led you to pursue gardening and eventually botany. What does this mean to you, and how does it contribute to your desire to attend Tufts?

Have You Demonstrated an Understanding of School Culture?

Tufts is quite clear about their campus culture—intellectual curiosity, research, and interdisciplinary learning are all core parts of their mission. If you can demonstrate this in your essay, you'll be set to impress!

What Does a Great "Why Tufts?" Essay Look Like?

One of the best ways to understand what Tufts is looking for in responses to their "Why Tufts?" prompts is to see what people who have gotten in have written. Thankfully, Tufts makes this easy, putting several essays that worked online for you to read . Keep in mind that the prompts for these essays may have been phrased slightly differently, but at their heart, they're all "Why Tufts" essays...which means good essays in this category all share the same characteristics!

Here's an example of a successful "Why Tufts?" essay:

As a girl interested in computer science it's common when visiting university websites to utter "you go, girl" to the lone female faculty member smiling proudly amidst a male-dominated CS department. However, Tufts is a unique community that not only encourages minorities in STEM, but actively recruits female faculty like the spunky and inspirational activist/engineer/professor/entrepreneur Dr. Laney Strange, who I met at Girls Who Code. With my passions ranging from multimedia art to Latin American culture to CS, Tufts excites me since it's where diverse interests are celebrated and where I can have stimulating conversations with anyone I meet on campus.

Let's go through this essay using our checklist to understand exactly why it worked.

Notice how this essay uses specific faculty (and a specific experience with that faculty member) to discuss what appeals to the writer about Tufts. Substituting the name of another school in for Tufts wouldn't work, because this essay goes out of its way to be clear that this is something Tufts offers that other colleges don't.

Participating in Girls Who Code not only demonstrates the writer's interest in computer science, but also gives her a connection to the school beyond its reputation. That tie to Tufts gives her some additional insight into campus culture.

This writer frames her essay around empowering women in computer sciences, but, more importantly, how Tufts excels in a way that many schools do not.

As a female computer sciences student, prominent female faculty in the CS department is clearly important to the writer—something that comes through because of how neatly she ties her field to her specific experience and again to Tufts.

The writer not only cites female faculty in the CS department, but also the school's interdisciplinary education. She clearly has a familiarity with Tufts educational goals, making this essay an excellent example of not just, "Why Tufts?" but also "Why You?"

As you can see, this writer ticked all the checkboxes for a great "Why Tufts?" essay ...which is the goal!

Let's take a look at an SMFA-specific essay that worked. Another writer answered the "Why SMFA?" prompt like this:

As an artist, I believe that one's work should reflect the world beyond it. Thus, I'm most attracted to Tufts SMFA's combination of rigorous artistic study with a challenging liberal arts curriculum at the School of Arts and Sciences. I want to inform my art-making with in-depth exploration of sociology, justice, and international relations, creating works that comment on global issues--a prospect uniquely possible at Tufts SMFA. With numerous opportunities for combining art and community work on campus and in Boston, the SMFA program shows art isn't only meant for the classroom; it's meant for the world.

This student shows familiarity with the specifics of SMFA, the kind of works the organization produces and showcases, and also how the program is also part of the larger Massachusetts community. While many schools have great art programs, the specificity here ties it uniquely to Tufts.

The previous essay mentioned faculty the student had met with, which isn't always possible. This student may not have had the opportunity to tour campus or meet with representatives, but they still go out of their way to situation Tufts within a place—the wider area of Massachusetts. The more specific you can get, especially mentioning a community, as this writer did, the better.

The last line is particularly good, as it starts out quite specific and balloons out to a wider statement about art's place in the world. The mentions of SFMA's "rigorous artistic study" in conjunction with the "challenging liberal arts curriculum" show that the student has a good understanding of what this program entails, and how it will help them reach their goals.

This essay doesn't mention a particular field, but it does begin with a statement—"I believe that one's work should reflect the world beyond it"—and then goes on to demonstrate how that's true of Tufts. This short essay reads a bit like a condensed five-paragraph essay: thesis, supporting details, and conclusion that tie the whole theme together.

References to SFMA and the School of Arts and Sciences curricula show that the student knows the difference between the two and how they feed into one another. They've clearly done their homework, and it shows in a polished, well thought-out essay that got them into Tufts!

Once again, this writer hit all the important parts of the "Why Tufts?" essay, which ultimately showed admissions counselors that Tufts is the perfect school for them.

What's Next?

The "Why Tufts?" essay is just one of the essays you'll be writing for your application. It pays to understand them ahead of time, so check out this handy guide to the Tufts supplement !

If you need help writing essays for other colleges, this compilation of tips and tricks will help get your writing on track.

Tufts University uses the Common Application, so you'll also be writing essays in response to those prompts as well. This guide will help walk you through the Common Application prompts as well as best practices for answering them!

Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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Tufts University Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

Tufts supplemental essays 2022-2023.

If you’ve already started researching how to get into Tufts , stats like the The Tufts acceptance rate may make the Tufts application seem daunting. Getting familiar with each part of the Tufts application, including the Tufts supplemental essays ahead of the deadline can help you feel confident as you prepare for the admissions process. 

In your Tufts essays, you’ll highlight what makes you unique and why Tufts is the right place for you. Additionally, the Tufts essay prompts will intentionally push you to explore what Tufts provides its students. So, the more you know about the school, the stronger your Tufts essays will be. Also, the stronger your Tufts supplemental essays, the better your admissions odds will be.

Given the low Tufts acceptance rate, Tufts admissions can be incredibly competitive. This means you should do your homework so that your personality, passions , and goals shine through in each of your Tufts supplemental essays.

Tufts Essay: Quick Facts

• 1 (~150 word) essay: Why Tufts essay
• 1 (~250 word) essay: Choose from 3 prompts essay
• 1 (150 word) essay: Why SMFA at Tufts essay
• 1 (~250 word) essay: What ideas would you like to explore essay
• Tufts University Application: Students can submit their Tufts University application through the Common Application or the Coalition Application .
• Early Decision: November 1
• Early Decision 2: January 4
• Regular Decision: January 4
• Tufts Supplemental Essay Tip: Both essays are required by Tufts admissions, so we recommend answering all Tufts supplemental essays comprehensively and thoughtfully.

How many supplemental essays does Tufts require?

Tufts University requires a personal statement that you’ll write for the Common App or Coalition App as well as two school-specific essays .

This makes the Tufts supplemental essays are one of few opportunities to make your application stand out. Like any supplemental essay, your Tufts supplemental essays should demonstrate why the university is a good fit for your goals while also sharing your personal experiences.

When it comes to the Why Tufts essay, you’ll want to be as specific as possible in sharing why Tufts is the school for you. A popular rule of thumb is that if you can replace the name of the university in the essay and it still makes sense, your essay may not be specific enough. 

What are the Tufts Supplemental Essay requirements?

Tufts has two school-specific essays in the Common App. As you consider the Tufts supplemental essays, you’ll notice that while the Tufts essay prompts are different, both essentially ask you to introduce yourself to the Tufts admissions team.

Why Tufts essay

In the Why Tufts essay, you should highlight the research you’ve done on Tufts and the reasons why you’d hope to attend. Your essays should also highlight how your experiences and goals tie into what Tufts offers.

Schools like Tufts that require a why school essay look for students who are specifically passionate about attending Tufts. That means you should include specific details about Tufts, like their academic curriculum, campus culture, student extracurriculars , or research opportunities. Rather than just listing them, you’ll want to articulate why these features excite you. You should also discuss how you imagine them helping you reach your goals.

More about you essay

In the second Tufts supplement, you’ll share more about your interests, passions, and community. While there are multiple ways to approach each of the Tufts supplemental essays, remember to cover new information in each of your responses. The exception to this rule, however, is if you are covering a new aspect of a previously mentioned experience/activity.

Unlike the why Tufts essay, you’ll have your choice of three different prompts to respond to. Each prompt covers a slightly different area of your life and interests , so you’ll have to select a prompt and narrow down your topic before you can begin writing the second of your two Tufts supplemental essays.

Tufts Supplemental Essays #1 – Why Tufts Essay?

Which aspects of the tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application in short, “why tufts” (150 words).

Before you start approaching this Tufts essay, you should make sure you understand the key features of the school. Chartered in 1852, Tufts University is a research university with a low student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. They also offer nearly 150 majors and minors . Tufts is located in Medford, Massachusetts and has a unique mascot— Jumbo the elephant. Unique traditions abound that make life at Tufts all the more exciting.

Famous Tufts alumni include Nobel Prize winner Roderick MacKinnon, singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, and the former prime minister of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis. It could be beneficial for your Tufts supplemental essays, especially the Why Tufts essay, to reflect on the university’s rich history and expansive offerings.

Highlight what makes Tufts right for you

The Tufts essay prompts let you channel your personality and reflect on the research you have done. Hopefully, when you put your list of colleges together, you asked yourself, Why Tufts? If not, now is the time to take a moment to seriously consider this question. In fact, to answer this prompt well, take a moment to consider why you want to attend college. Do you know what you want to study ? Do you have clear personal and professional goals that tie into your college education? Are there activities that you hope to continue or try during your undergraduate career?

Once you’ve thought about your answers to these questions, think about how they specifically translate to a school like Tufts. What does Tufts offer that no other school does? Why do you see yourself attending Tufts? Are there specific opportunities you hope to take advantage of during your time at Tufts? Or are there certain faculty or alumni whose work has inspired you?

There are many ways you might choose to answer the question “why Tufts,” and we understand that writing a why school essay is no easy task. Here are some tips to use and questions to ask yourself as you tackle your why Tufts essay.

Leverage your word count

To help your Tufts supplemental essays shine, be sure to leverage your word limit to your advantage. 150 words doesn’t give you a ton of space to be wordy or expansive in your why Tufts essay. So, one of your challenges will be to concisely explain why Tufts is the place for you.

Rather than listing every single reason you’re interested in Tufts, focus on just one or two things in your why Tufts essay.  If you’re having trouble pinning your ideas down, it can be helpful to start your brainstorm with two lists. Title one, “Why college?” and the other “Why Tufts?” 

Under the “college” list, write general goals for your college experience. This might include what you want to study, the experiences you hope to have, and the professional goals that you’d like to achieve after college. Under the “Why Tufts” list, write the specific things that drew you to Tufts. Stay away from general attributes like prestige and reputation, as you can find these things at many other schools.

Find overlap

Once your “Why Tufts” list is complete, look at both lists for parallels you can touch on in your why Tufts essay. For example, if you’re excited to find new friends and community in college and one of your personal goals is to advocate for civil rights, you can talk about how excited you are to join the student organization ACTION (Advancing Civic Thought In Our Nation) and help in their after school programs. You might also consider some unique opportunities, classes, or faculty that connect with your educational goals. For example, a student planning to study engineering might discuss Tufts’ focus on socially-conscious engineering in their why Tufts essay.

Consider the future

The best why Tufts essay will also consider a student’s future beyond Tufts. The student interested in socially-conscious engineering, for instance, may want to discuss how they hope to channel what they will learn to solve a problem in the world or contribute to a new field of study.

While you have to stick to a singular prompt for your why Tufts essay, this Tufts supplement still  gives you some flexibility. Perhaps you have been a leader in one of your extracurricular activities . How do you see yourself applying these experiences to a specific organization or opportunity at Tufts?

As the shorter of the two Tufts supplemental essays, your why Tufts essay is relatively brief. Don’t waste words when establishing the “why” in your “Why Tufts” essay. This is not the time to share your love of Medford or Boston at large—unless you can tie in a specific connection with Tufts. Instead, channel your excitement for Tufts’ location into a description of how you’d like to get involved in the local community through Tufts’ own offerings.

Resources from Tufts Admissions

If you’re still not sure how to craft your why Tufts essay, take a look at admissions ’ Tufts essays that worked. These examples can be valuable resources. Each of the nine Tufts essays that worked showcase student’s with different goals, academic interests, and approaches to the why Tufts essay. As you read each example, try to consider what aspects of their why Tufts essay really helps you imagine each student as part of Tufts’ campus community.

You can also check out why school essay examples from other top colleges, include Y ale and Barnard , for more inspiration.

Tufts Essay Reflection Questions:

• Do you share experiences or interests that you hope to explore further in college?
• Does your why Tufts essay provide information that enriches the rest of your application?
• Do you provide college-specific examples that address why Tufts?
• Is it clear that Tufts fits your ideal college experience?

Tufts Supplemental Essays #2- Choose One

Now we’d like to know a little more about you. please respond to one of the following three questions. (250 words):, a. it’s cool to love learning. what excites your intellectual curiosity, b. how have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today, c. where are you on your journey of engaging with or fighting for social justice .

Here, you have multiple Tufts supplemental essay prompts to choose from. But which essay prompt is the best choice? While no individual topic is automatically better than another, consider what you have already shared apart from your why Tufts essay. Also, keep in mind that your Tufts supplemental essays show your audience your writing ability and overall readiness for college.

Highlight new details

Try not to repeat material you have already shared elsewhere in your Tufts supplemental essays. However, there is an exception to this rule—you can share something new with your readers within a topic that you’ve already discussed.

For example, in our why Tufts essay overview, we described a student hoping to study engineering through the lens of social consciousness at Tufts. If they felt really passionately about this topic, they could expand what they wrote about in their why Tufts essay in the second of their Tufts supplemental essays.

That student could talk about how their understanding of social justice (the third Tufts supplement) has led them to ask bigger questions about engineering—specifically, why do some individuals have access to resources and others don’t? They may talk about how in learning about social justice, they have learned the importance of representation and diversity in fields like engineering .

Now that we’ve given you an idea of how your Tufts supplemental essays might play off of one another, it’s time to focus on your second Tufts essay. Let’s dive into the three prompts for the Tufts supplemental essays!

Tufts Essay: Option A

Let’s look at Option A for the Tufts supplemental essays. While you could use this prompt to describe your potential major, you could also reflect on another intellectual interest. No matter the topic, ask yourself how have you explored this subject in the classroom and beyond? With over 150 majors and minors available at Tufts along with many student organizations, you have plenty of options to explore different interests. You might tie your intellectual curiosity to a class, or even an organization or activity that you hope to experience at Tufts.

Not sure what you want to major in? Check out our article . In it, we walk through how to choose a major and how your choice can affect your college applications.

Avoid writing about generic interests

You may find your most passionate intellectual curiosity may not be related to your major, and that’s okay! However, you should avoid stating generic interests like reading or the news. Instead, you want to be as specific as possible in your Tufts supplemental essays. 

For example, you may discuss how you stumbled upon an old Dutch-to-English translation of your favorite children’s book, which sparked your interest in the Dutch language. Just like you did in your why Tufts essay, use this space to share how your passions evolved and why they matter to you. When reading your Tufts supplemental essays, admissions officers want to see that you’re a self-motivated learner who will bring your diverse interests and passions to the Tufts community.

Tufts Essay: Option B

Considering Option B for your second Tufts essay? Remember that your Tufts supplemental essays are for you to share where you have been, where you are, and where you hope to be.

To start your brainstorm , we recommend getting your ideas flowing with another set of lists. Similar to the why Tufts essay, create four lists—family, home, neighborhood, and community—and write big events and people that have shaped you in each.

While “family” and “home” may seem identical, they’re not. For example, you may want to talk about how your family’s immigration story has shaped who you are today. This is completely different from someone who wants to talk about how living in many different types of homes (apartments, single-family houses, and townhomes) shaped how they live with and interact with others. In other words, you’ll want to think outside of the box and share something personal to you and your story.

In each list, try to zoom in on one or two examples and expand on them. Think about how they have made an impact on you, how you think, or how you approach new situations. While it may seem intuitive to share gratitude towards people or places that have been most impactful on you, remember that you are the protagonist of your Tufts supplemental essays. You wouldn’t want the admissions team to learn more about your hero or community than they do about you!

Tufts Essay: Option C

Option C is probably the toughest of the Tufts essay prompts. Done incorrectly, this Tufts essay can be preachy or veer into vague, philosophical musings on social justice. To answer this Tufts prompt well, you should be specific.

In general, Tufts supplemental essays give you plenty of leeway to be creative. However, you should still give concrete examples wherever possible. For this essay, think about ways that you engaged with social justice in your community. Perhaps you have participated in discussions or events near you. Or, maybe you have educated yourself and others through books, articles, or conversations.

Whatever experiences you choose to highlight, make sure that your essay stays away from performative social justice. In other words, avoid mentioning how many likes your social justice-themed posts garnered, name-dropping prominent activists that you’ve met, and/or co-opting the stories of others.

• Do you focus on your own experiences instead of those of others?
• Does your response share what distinguishes you from other applicants?
• Does your draft use active voice instead of passive language?
• Do you focus on one or two experiences instead of sharing a laundry list?

Tufts Supplemental Essays – BFA & 5 year BFA + BA Applicants

Applicants to the BFA or 5-year combination BFA/BA program will complete a different set of Tufts supplemental essays . These essay prompts are similar to the why Tufts essay and option A of the Tufts supplemental essay prompts.

SMFA essay #1: Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? Why SMFA at Tufts? (100-150 words)

Smfa essay #2: art has the power to disrupt our preconceptions, shape public discourse, and imagine new ways of being in the world. what are the ideas you’d like to explore in your work (200-250 words).

As you can see, the prompts have similar word counts and topics they want applicants to cover in each essay. That means the tips and questions outlined above will still be helpful as you consider how to approach these prompts.

For the first BFA program Tufts essay, highlight why this program is the right fit for you. Like the first general Tufts supplemental essay, you’ll want to remain as specific as possible. Share details about why the Tufts BFA program is the right fit for you. 

In the second essay, highlight who you are as an artist and individual. Why do you want to make art? How do you see your art helping make the world a better place? What inspires and motivates you? Once again, the more specific you can be, the better. 

How to write Tufts Supplemental Essays: Five Easy Steps

Five steps for writing a tufts essay, #1- research.

Doing your own research will help you get familiar with Tufts and their application process (while hopefully getting you excited about the possibility of attending Tufts)! We recommend exploring the Discover Tufts page, where you’ll find information on Tufts academic schools, curriculum, and opportunities as well as campus life and student organizations. You’ll also find helpful links, like Tips for a Virtual Visit and tips for writing your essays . 

#2- Brainstorm

Even if you’re eager to jump into your first draft, remember brainstorming is one of the most helpful steps in the writing process. Use our suggested exercises to make lists, focus your ideas, and choose what to write about.

If you’re feeling stuck with writer’s block, that’s totally normal! Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be a work of art. Focus on just getting your ideas down in sentences so you have material to draw from for your final draft.

While getting your first draft down is an accomplishment, the editing process is where your essay will really start to take shape. Especially since you are working within such tight word limits, you’ll probably need to edit out portions of your first draft. Every sentence (and every word) should string together to tell your story, so make sure you edit for conciseness and clarity.

#5- Proofread

No essay draft can be finalized without a comprehensive spelling and grammar check. Before you submit your essay, try to finish your draft at least a week before the deadline. Then, you can take some time away from your essay before your final proofread . Better yet, ask a mentor or peer to take a second look at your essay to check for clarity and any errors you might have missed.

How important is my Tufts essay?

Your Tufts supplemental essays are a crucial part of your overall application. With over 31,000 students applying to Tufts University this past year, you should be sure to put your best foot forward in your Tufts supplemental essays. Even if you have outstanding grades and test scores, many of the other students applying will, too. Your Tufts essays are your opportunity to stand out from the crowd and make an impression on the admissions team.

That being said, try to stand out while also remaining true to yourself. Don’t feel pressured into feeling like you need to embellish your experiences or make them seem more important than they are. If they are truly important and valuable to you, they’ll be just as important and valuable to admissions. This application advice can get you started on your Tufts essays and help you figure out Why Tufts is the place for you. 

Wondering how you can find opportunities that are unique to Tufts University? Fortunately, Tufts also offers online open houses to help you get a glimpse of the greater community. Additionally, check out resources such as the Tufts YouTube channel . These resources can give you insider insight to make your Tufts supplemental essays shine. 

Tufts Admissions Requirements

Now that we’ve discussed the Tufts supplemental essay prompts, let’s look at the rest of your Tufts application. In order for your essays to be considered, you need to make sure you’ve successfully completed all of Tufts’ admissions requirements.

All Tufts applicants must submit:

• A completed Common Application or Coalition Application
• Completed Tufts supplemental essays
• High school transcript(s)
• Senior grades

No matter which application platform you choose to apply through, you’ll need to submit your Personal Statement, two letters of recommendation, and your extracurricular activities. If you’re not sure how your extracurriculars will be considered as part of your application, check out Tufts’ application checklist for more context on how extracurriculars are evaluated.

Tufts Portfolio

Students who are applying to the School of Arts and Sciences of the School of Engineering may choose to submit a Tufts portfolio, but this is optional. However, students applying to either the BFA or 5-year combination BFA/BA program are required to submit a Tufts portfolio along with their Tufts supplemental essays.

Make sure you check the requirements for your Tufts portfolio to ensure you submit everything necessary. Students can also request a personal portfolio review prior to officially submitting, which is a great opportunity to discuss any questions you have about your Tufts portfolio and the overall application process.

As a reminder, Tufts is a test-optional school, meaning applicants have the choice of whether to include SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Also, Tufts admissions reviews applications holistically, so your scores will be considered within the context of your entire application.

Tufts Supplemental Essays—Final Thoughts

Your Tufts supplemental essays are an essential piece of your plan for how to get into Tufts. Both of your required essays, especially the Why Tufts essay, can help you stand out in the admissions process. Overall, your Tufts essays can be the difference between a good application and a great one.

Remember, grades and test scores are only two pieces of the application equation. Your Tufts supplemental essays should help your reader learn about what really makes you tick.  If you’re ever feeling stuck in the writing process, remind yourself that the Tufts essay prompts are not trying to stump you. Instead, each Tufts supplement can shed light on the passion and potential that you would bring to the Tufts community.

Start early

To submit the best Tufts supplemental essays you can, you should start drafting your Tufts essays early—a few months before applications are due. The Tufts supplemental essays are not especially long, but you will need time to revise and get another pair of eyes (or two) on each Tufts supplement.

Make sure to pay special attention to the why Tufts essay. Clearly articulating why Tufts is the place for you will form the foundation of a strong application. Then, use the second set of Tufts essay prompts to share your passions and experiences with the admissions team. Use strong, dynamic language to draw your reader into your Tufts supplement.

Tufts alumni interview

In addition to the Tufts supplemental essays, be sure to request your alumni interview once you have submitted your application. Although they are optional, interviews can add value to your overall candidate profile.

Wondering where to start? Check out some of these Tufts YouTube videos on Tufts supplemental essays .

Also, the Tufts Associate Director of Admissions, Lauren Wilkes, helps give students some tips on how to succeed in your interview. A strong interview and well-crafted Tufts supplemental essays can help you submit the best possible application to this great research university. Good luck!

This Guide to the 2022-2023 Tufts Supplemental Essays was written by Stefanie Tedards. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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How to Write the Tufts University Supplement Essays 2017-2018

Tufts is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Located only 5 miles from the city hub of Boston, Tufts has the appeal of being a suburban campus with close urban proximity. With a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,290 and an acceptance rate of 14%, Tufts stands as one of the more selective universities. Tufts ranked #29 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2017 edition of Best National Universities and maintains a freshman retention rate of 97%, an indicator of student satisfaction at the school.

Although Tufts is known for its Engineering, Biological and Biomedical Sciences departments, students can choose from over 70 undergraduate majors. Tufts has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1, and 67.5% of its classes have fewer than 20 students.

Tufts operations are supported by a $1.6 billion endowment, which helps it maintain an excellent array of study-abroad programs. It also offers a variety of campus services such as the Women’s Center (an institution that offers counseling and information on intersectional feminism, gender identity, and other gender-related issues), academic tutoring (on subject, writing, time-management, and oral communication), and health services (an on-campus health care site that offers walk-in appointments).

Read on to learn how to tackle the Tufts 2017-18 writing supplement.

Tufts University Supplemental Essay Prompts

The Tufts writing supplement consists of 3 required short-response questions. These questions are the perfect opportunity to show off your creative side and write an unconventional essay that conveys your personality through the tone of the writing. So let’s dive right in!

Which aspects of Tufts’ curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short: ‘Why Tufts?’ (50–100 words)

In order to write an effective response, it is important to understand why Tufts University is asking this. Students typically apply to several colleges, so this question is meant to see how serious the applicant is about attending the school. When answering this question, you should be asking yourself, why would I rather attend Tufts as opposed to any other college ?

This mindset will help you discover unique reasons that make Tufts stand out from other universities. It is very important to be specific with this response. If you can replace the word Tufts with the name of another school, then it needs to be refined further to include Tufts-exclusive details.

For example, if there is a specific program that Tufts specializes in, such as the International Relations program, definitely mention that. The nature of the program itself does not have to be unique, but the descriptions about it have to provide unique insight that is not applicable to any other school. For instance, International Relations itself is not an exclusive course of study; in fact, Stanford, the University of California-Davis, and the University of Southern California all offer such a major in their undergraduate program.

However, only Tufts requires a capstone component which can be fulfilled through intensive seminars in one’s chosen concentration or directed research mentored by one of the professors. Therefore, when citing the International Relations program as one of Tuft’s allures, it is insufficient to mention its prestige; instead, discuss how the capstone project will allow you to develop your perspective on the tensions between world superpowers under the seasoned guidance of Professor Hitchner.

Because of the restrictive word limit, choose one aspect and describe it in an in-depth manner. The most important thing is to demonstrate how your personal strengths can contribute to that unique facet of Tufts . Doing so allows the admissions officers to understand that you are a good fit for the school, not just the other way around.

There is a Quaker saying: ‘Let your life speak.’ Describe the environment in which you were raised — your family, home, neighborhood, or community — and how it influenced the person you are today. (200–250 words)

College essays are designed to reveal aspects of your personality that the admissions committee would have no other way of knowing. This question is the perfect opportunity to tell the importance of your life story.

Note the distinction: You are telling the importance of your life story, not your actual life story! With a question like this, it is very easy to fall victim to a “tell all” approach and overwhelm the admissions committee with too much (and often irrelevant) information about your life.

In order to avoid this, follow these rules:

• Choose only one aspect of your life – Whether it’s your family or high school, make sure you only describe one element. This makes the essay more cohesive and easy-to-follow, hence allowing that one factor to be more memorable in the admissions officers’ mind.
• Connect your environment to how it influenced your future self – While your past environment may be interesting, it is not nearly as interesting as your future. Avoid describing your environment too much so that you do not have space to talk about how your present and future actions are a result of your surroundings’ nurture. The recommended distribution is to use 50-100 words to introduce your environment, and 150-200 to analyze how it influenced you today.
• Avoid clichés – Another common pitfall is to use cliché sentiments such as how you have become more mature because you have seen how hard your parents have worked. Though these sentiments may be true, admissions officers typically read a lot of essays centered around these “go-to” topics, and hence writing about them will not make you stand out. In order to answer this question successfully, the way you were influenced should be very specific. In other words, make sure the “I” in your response cannot be replaced with the name of another person and still makes sense.
• Show, Don’t Tell – The goal of this response is to see whether Tuft’s resources and community will have a positive impact on your attitude and approach towards work and life. The admissions officers will also use your analysis of how your chosen experience has impacted you to judge whether you as a person will learn and take advantage of Tufts social and academic opportunities. Remember, show, don’t tell. This means if you are claiming to have become a more self-aware citizen, mindful of your civic duty, show this by explaining your food-drive initiative at the local orphanage and your volunteer work with the 2016 presidential election. Illustrating by example is much more effective than simply stating that you take your civic duty seriously.

Now we’d like to know a little bit more about you. Please respond to one of the following six questions (200-250 words). Students applying to the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering should select from prompts A-E. Students applying to the SMFA at Tufts’ BFA program or the Five-Year BFA + BA/BS Combined Degree program must answer prompt F:

A) it’s cool to be smart. tell us about the subjects or ideas that excite your intellectual curiosity..

With this prompt, Tufts wants to know what motivates you to learn and whether that drive will enable you to further your knowledge at the school. Admissions officers also seek to understand which classes, professors, and co-curricular activities pique your interest. Avoid anecdotes that imply a desire to study the subject because of the associated external rewards, such as fame, prestige, or wealth. Try and think of a specific instance in which your intrinsic motivation to study the subject drove you to exceed a project’s standard criteria and perform extra work.

Perhaps you marveled at the idea that every molecule in our air, water, and body is governed by the intermolecular and intramolecular forces that we cannot feel. Hence, you wrote an addendum to your chemistry research paper specifically discussing the strength and importance of those forces in maintaining our daily life.

Or perhaps your grandparents recount the incessant lines of people who lined up to try to find work during the Great Depression every Christmas when you visit, and hence you are determined to study Economics to minimize the likelihood of such a catastrophe reoccurring. With your response, make sure to connect how you want to pursue this interest at Tufts and how your expertise in the subject would enhance other students’ academic experience.

B) In a time when we’re always plugged in (and sometimes tuned out), tell us about a time when you listened, truly listened, to a person or a cause. How did that moment change you?

This question can be particularly difficult because it is rare to experience a life-changing event from a single moment. This is why it is important not to focus on a single moment, but rather the lasting effect that it had on you and how your approach toward people, school, and your personal endeavors changed as a result of this encounter. Again, you don’t need to have witnessed a dramatic event.

Life-changing encounters can be subtle, and you may not even realize it was one when you experienced it. Perhaps it was a quote in Swann’s Way , or maybe it was a word of advice from your favorite teacher. You did not know when you read and heard those words that they would carry you through numerous trials. However, whenever you faced a challenge, those words reminded you of the infinite mental strength you possess, and thus enabled your ultimate success.

C) Celebrate the role of sports in your life.

Here, “sports” can have many meanings. You can take “sports” literally and talk about how your passion for basketball built you into a people-oriented, charismatic team leader. If you are a non-athlete, take a different approach. The prompt never dictated that you needed to have played the sport, so you can write about the miraculous recovery of an inspiring swimmer whom you saw in an interview on 60 Minutes , or how watching the Superbowl together with your dad has been an indelible bonding experience.

Whether you are assuming the perspective of a player or spectator, remember to narrate one memorable anecdote about your chosen sport in detail before elaborating on how witnessing/experiencing that incident has changed your outlook on life. The phrasing of “sports in your life” implies that the impact should be lasting, and it would be most suitable if you have had contact with sports for a long period prior to penning this essay. Do not choose this prompt if you have never given sports any thought or if you have absolutely no interest in it.

D) Whether you’ve built blanket forts or circuit boards, produced community theater or mixed-media art installations, tell us: What have you invented, engineered, created, or designed? Or what do you hope to?

Get creative with this prompt. Below are a couple of approaches you can take:

Talk About Your Future Career Plans

If you have a concrete idea of what you want to pursue in college and beyond, write down what exactly it is that you want to do, and some of your career goals. Just make sure to connect your plans to Tufts and explain how the classes, professors, mentors, connections, and organizations at Tufts will help you achieve your goal.

Talk About Your Past

This is a great chance to write about your past accomplishments, but make sure that they are focused around the central theme of innovation and convey a message about your ability to create. Try to reveal something about yourself through discussing the invention. For instance, if you built an indestructible robot that demolished all of its opponents in the statewide robot sumo-wrestling competition, emphasize how you troubleshooted its weaknesses, tried different materials, and positioned parts at different angles to ultimately construct the final successful model.

Do not spend all your time describing the specifics of the robot. You are not trying to sell them your invention; instead, you are selling yourself. In order to do so, ask yourself: What challenges or obstacles did you have to overcome? Did it involve teamwork? How did you guide your team when your team members started arguing and lost focus? What skills (hard or soft) did you employ to perfect your creation?

E) What makes you happy? Why?

This prompt provides the most intimate glimpse into an applicant. While there are many things that might make you happy, it is important to choose wisely. The most important thing to note is that the admissions committee is using this question to get a glimpse of your personality and see how you will change the Tufts atmosphere.

In order to answer this question, you need to understand the campus culture at Tufts. For example, what do Tufts students talk about in their conversations outside of the classrooms? At night, will you find more Tufts students in the library researching or chilling in their dorm rooms? What do Tufts students like to do in their spare time on the weekends? It is advantageous for you to reach out to current Tufts students through your contacts to gather their responses to the aforementioned types of questions.

While Tufts students take their work very seriously, they don’t take themselves too seriously. Therefore, feel free to crack an intellectual joke in your essay. Humor is important; if you are able to make an admissions officer in the middle of reading her 100th essay that day laugh (in a good way), then the writing will certainly work in your favor.

Still, remember to connect what makes you happy to yourself. While you might love your dog, the admissions committee wants to learn about YOU, not your dog’s favorite pastimes. So if reading makes you happy, explain how it relaxes your mind with stories of a plethora of fortunate and unfortunate human experiences without having to physically experience those extremes.

F) Artist Bruce Nauman once said: “One of the factors that still keeps me in the studio is that every so often, I have to more or less start all over.” Everyone deals with failure differently; for most artists, failure is an opportunity to start something new. Tell us about a time when you have failed and how that has influenced your art practice.

This is a very typical type of essay found on many college applications: the “response to failure.” The admissions committee asks this question to see how you recovered and used the incident as fuel to exponentially improve in your future/other ventures. The best approach to this essay is once again the anecdotal one. Choose a time in your life when you failed and spice up the story by narrating it with dialogue, onomatopoeia, and reasonable hyperbole, if applicable.

For example:

On my first day in the lab, I broke the entire set of beakers we were going to use.

The sentence above can be re-written as:

Five pairs of eyes behind safety goggles turned to glare at the pile of shattered glass at my feet. Realizing that I had single-handedly destroyed all the beakers we needed to use for today’s experiment, I sheepishly ducked my head and attempted to clean up the mess.

Of course, not every part of the story can be recounted with that level of detail given the word count. However, doing so at critical points makes the story more realistic and memorable to the admissions officers.

Ultimately, make sure to connect the failure to your later successes. Questions to consider include:

• How did destroying all the equipment on your first day as intern change the way you approach research in the lab?
• How has this change in attitude affected the results of your study?

The Bottom Line

As you write your Tufts supplemental essays, keep in mind that each question is designed so that a different aspect about yourself can be shared with the applications committee. If you get stuck, ask your friends and family what the most unique things about you are and then connect these memories or characteristics to your past accomplishments, future goals, and of course, future at Tufts University.

Best of luck, and happy writing!

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Tufts University 2018-19 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Regular Decision: 

Psssst! Hello to all you early birds checking out last year’s prompts! Since Tufts released new prompts in late July last year, we are expecting to have this page updated around the same time this year. We’ll keep you posted!

In the meantime, feel free to familiarize yourselves with last year’s prompts. There’s a good chance they’ll stay the same for the 2019-20 admissions season.

Tufts University 2018-19 Application Essay Question Explanations

The Requirements: Answer two essay prompts of roughly 250 words each.

Supplemental Essay Type: Why , Oddball

Think outside the box as you answer the following questions. Take a risk and go somewhere unexpected. Be serious if the moment calls for it, but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too.

Applicants to the school of arts and sciences, school of engineering, and 5-year tufts/nec combined degree answer the following two questions:, 1. what excites you about tufts’ intellectually playful community in short, “why tufts” (200-250 words).

This is a why essay with a twist. The admissions department doesn’t just want to know why you want to attend Tufts University, they’ve actually given you a hint about the qualities they expect to see in your essay. What does “intellectual playful” mean to you? What makes learning fun, and where do you see opportunities at Tufts? To nail this essay, you’re going to want to explore what Tufts means by this and how you see yourself fitting in. Start by browsing the Tufts website and reminding yourself why this school is on your list to begin with! Does Tufts offer a major that’s hard to find at other institutions? Is there a professor you’d really like to work with or club you want to join? And how will you fit into Tufts’ community? This could even be an opportunity to work in a brief anecdote to illustrate how your own personal qualities align with the ones in the Tufts community. Maybe your favorite classes are the ones in which you and your classmates discuss literature and debate symbolism. Perhaps you are the punniest person you know and think this core part of your character will help you assimilate into Tufts’ playful culture smoothly.

2. Now we’d like to know a little more about you. Please respond to one of the following two questions. (200-250 words)

       a) whether you’ve built blanket forts or circuit boards, created slam poetry or mixed media installations, tell us: what have you invented, engineered, produced, or designed or what do you hope to.

Do not be overwhelmed by this prompt! You don’t have to have curated an art gallery in Chelsea to impress admissions with your response here. The prompt even says itself, your invention could be as seemingly unimportant as a blanket fort, admissions just wants to know how you think. What kinds of things do you make and what motivates you to make them? This prompt is as much about ingenuity and problem-solving as it is about creativity. Did you build a lemonade stand when you were in third grade that allowed for customers to select their own plastic cup without contaminating any others? Did it increase sales or make your mom proud?

       B) Our Experimental College encourages current students to develop and teach a class for the Tufts community. Previous classes have included those based on personal interests, current events, and more. What would you teach and why?

What are your special skills? What could you talk about for hours? This prompt allows you to showcase your greatest passions while also demonstrating your fit. Neat! A savvy applicant will think not just about the content of the course, but also the resources available at Tufts. Your why essay research will continue to serve you well on this prompt, but make sure you have a feel for how the program works. Presenting a course that uses the right terminology and follows the basic structure of other student-led courses will demonstrate your attention to detail and commitment to the school without you ever having to say it outright. In other words, geek out but be informed! Once you’ve got the basic structure down, the sky is the limit! Have fun and don’t overthink it. Writing up your dream course will show admissions a lot about the way your mind works. Nothing is too silly or out there. Maybe you’d want to spend a semester unpacking the nature of fame in the digital age: from influencers to trolls. Perhaps you grew up on a dairy farm and you’d want to teach a practical on the chemistry of cheese-making. This is a great way to reveal something new about yourself, show what you know about your major, and/or demonstrate how well-rounded your interests actually are.

Applicants to the BFA or 5-Year BFA+BA/BS Combined Degree at the SMFA at Tufts answer the following two questions:

      1. which aspects of the tufts curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application why smfa at tufts (200-250 words).

This question is extremely similar to the first prompt of the School of Arts and Sciences application, and the same advice applies here. So scroll up for the nitty gritty. But keep in mind that Tufts want to know why you have specifically chosen the SMFA program, so go beyond the basic school details and drill into the details about the arts education you expect to receive. Why get a BFA rather than a BA? What goals will this degree help you achieve?

      2. Art has the power to disrupt our preconceptions, shape public discourse, and imagine new ways of being in the world. Whether you think of Ai Weiwei’s work reframing the refugee crisis, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald’s portraits of the Obamas reimagining portrait painting on a national scale, or Yayoi Kusama’s fanciful Infinity Mirrors rekindling our sense of wonder, it is clear that contemporary art is driven by ideas. What are the ideas you’d like to explore in your work? (200-250 words)     

This is it! Your mission statement as an artist. We couldn’t possibly assume what issues you’d like to tackle or how, but we’d advise you to pay close attention to the way the prompt frames the three examples of Ai Weiwei, the Obamas’ portraits, and Yayoi Kusama. Each example goes beyond the question of craft or material to the purpose of their work. So: what matters to you? Where does your inspiration come from? What change or impact would you like to inspire in your audience? While this is an inherently philosophical question, try to anchor your response with concrete details from your personal experience. Explain how you came to care so deeply about a particular issue and how it found a way into your art.

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08 November 2016

Essays that Worked (Tufts Edition)

Posted in Class of 2021 , Essays , Perspectives

This blog post includes successful responses for all of the essay prompts included by Tufts, as well as some video commentary on why each one proved compelling to the admissions team.

Click here  for the essays.

• Tags: Class of 2021 , College Admissions , Essays , Tufts
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Short Answer Questions

When you visit the Common Application or the Coalition Application by Scoir platform to fill out and submit your application to Tufts, you'll notice that the application includes Tufts-specific questions. There are two required short-answer questions, which vary depending on the program to which you are applying (read carefully below). We’ve created this page to allow you to peruse the questions without having to leave this site. Visit the Common Application site or the Coalition Application by Scoir site when you’re ready to apply online.

Updated Short Responses for the Class of 2028

Think outside the box as you answer the following questions. Take a risk and go somewhere unexpected. Be serious if the moment calls for it, but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too. 

Applicants to the School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering:

Please respond to one of the following three prompts in 200-250 words:

• It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity and why?
• How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?
• Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.

Applicants to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts:

Please respond to the following prompt in 200-250 words:

• Art has the power to disrupt our preconceptions, shape public discourse, and imagine new ways of being in the world. What are the ideas you’d like to explore in your work?   

In addition, we will ask all applicants to complete this sentence in 100 words or less:

“I am applying to Tufts because…” 

As you begin to plan for the upcoming application cycle, know that we are here to help! We encourage you to learn more about the Tufts admissions process by exploring the admissions website, reading Jumbo Magazine or our student blogs , and following us on Instagram .

Tufts Supplemental Essays 2023-24 – Prompts and Advice

July 13, 2023

Tufts University has long been a highly-selective school. Yet, the Class of 2027 was the second time the acceptance rate dipped into the single-digits at 9.5%. As at any college that rejects more than 9 of every 10 applicants who apply (the overwhelming majority of whom are supremely qualified), aspiring Jumbos need every single component of their application to shine brightly. The Tufts supplemental essays are one such area of focus.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Tufts? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Tufts University: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Given this unprecedented level of selectivity, Tufts University’s supplemental section offers applicants a crucial opportunity to showcase their writing ability by generating powerful and detail-rich essays that will stand out to an admissions officer.

Tufts Supplemental Essay Question #1

Which aspects of the tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application in short, “why tufts” (100-150 words).

Tufts University is getting right down to business with this prompt. View this essay as akin to ending up in an elevator with a potential investor with 20 seconds to sell your million-dollar idea. In this “elevator pitch” essay, you only have 150 words to communicate why Tufts is a perfect match for you. As such, this one is going to require a fair amount of school-specific research. Further, plan on a good deal of editing in order to tighten up your essay enough to stay under the word limit.

How to write a winning “Why Tufts?” essay

• How will you take advantage of the university’s vast resources both inside and outside of the classroom?
• How will you become an active, contributing member of the student body?
• Show evidence of how your past/current endeavors will carry over onto the Tufts campus.
• Address a) why Tufts is the perfect fit for you and  b) why you are the perfect fit for Tufts.
• Cite specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities, internship/externship programs, study abroad programs, student-run organizations, etc. (as in the examples below).

Tufts Supplemental Essays (Continued)

Below are some examples of unique facts about Tufts University that you may find helpful as you brainstorm your response:

• There are 41 arts and performance groups on campus for the artistically-inclined.
• There are 300 total student organizations in which you can participate—pick one or two to elaborate on.
• Students are able to double major across colleges.
• With a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, two-thirds of undergraduate sections are kept under 20 students.
• There are numerous undergraduate research programs and scholarships at Tufts. Which one appeals to you and what would you research?
• 40% of juniors study abroad and Tufts boasts a number of notable programs in Beijing, Chile, Ghana, London, and more.
• There are more than 70 undergraduate majors to choose from.
• The Experimental College is a one-of-kind program.
• Tufts offers internship grants to a number of non-profit and government posts.
• An annual Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium presents an exciting opportunity to present your original work to faculty.

Of course, these are just 10 out of the countless features that could be part of a successful essay. As you enter the prewriting stage, you’ll want to decide which elements will provide the most needle-moving value.

One last note on this essay—Tufts is nice enough to actually provide examples of their favorite “Why Tufts?” essays from the last admissions cycle.

Tufts University Supplemental Essay Question #2

Now we’d like to know a little more about you. please respond to one of the following three questions. (200-250 words):, a) it’s cool to love learning. what excites your intellectual curiosity.

In our experience, this is the prompt that applicants tend to select most often, primarily because the “Why Tufts?” essay is so short, students don’t feel they have enough space to talk about the academic discipline they hope to study at the university.

Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or a specific interest in aerospace engineering or 19th century French novels, use this opportunity to share what makes you tick, the ideas that keep you up at night, and what subject inspires you to dream big. What topic makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed? Share the manner in which you relentlessly pursue knowledge. Whether it’s falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time or consuming thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you are an obsessive learner with an endless thirst for information.

The admissions reader should emerge with the sense that you are a sincerely curious person with a strong intellectual drive. If that curiosity can be tied into your intended area of study, all the better!

B) How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?

This essay encourages you to describe how your environment/community has shaped you into the present version of yourself. Community can be a “community” in any form: an ethnic, religious, family, or neighborhood community, or a group of individuals who gather for a club, sport, or service project. You are the captain of a team, the editor-in-chief of your school paper, the president of a club… but don’t just rest on those laurels—instead, bring your involvement to life. Use your writing ability to show the admissions officer the impact your community has had on your dreams rather than merely telling them. If your family/home (parent, grandparent, sibling) was a powerful force in your growth and development, that can be the sole focus of a successful composition here as well.

C) Where are you on your journey of engaging with or fighting for social justice?

Some students may have more direct experience with social justice than others, but—no matter your background—this is an opportunity to demonstrate that you care about justice and fairness in your local community as well as the global community. If applicable, you can speak about a time when you spoke up for a peer in a moment of need. Or, alternatively, share an instance when you got involved in a larger cause or movement (politics, activism, volunteer work, etc.). If you don’t have a deeply personal story to tell in this realm, you’ll want to select a different prompt. While there’s nothing wrong with simply articulating your basic beliefs in the values of inclusion, equity, tolerance, and diversity, it doesn’t necessarily make for the most compelling essay.

If you do choose this essay prompt, draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in your community and speculate how that is likely to manifest on Tufts’ campus. Research and cite Tufts’ student-run organizations, local nonprofit groups, or anything else you are drawn to. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

How important are the Tufts supplemental essays?

Tufts views six factors as being “very important” to their applicant evaluation process. These are: the rigor of one’s coursework, the GPA earned, class rank, recommendations, character/personal qualities, and—most relevant for our purposes here—the essays.

For all essays, we recommend heeding the advice of one Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Tufts University who stated: “Be yourself. When writing your essays, you don’t have to sound like you already have your PhD (spoiler: we know you don’t—you’re applying for an undergraduate program). Instead, employ a voice in your writing that feels authentically you, exploring the topics you actually care about. That’s the voice that will help you stand out in our process.”

Tufts Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Tufts supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

• College Essay

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Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, tufts essays that worked: what made them successful.

Hi all! I'm applying to Tufts and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on what qualities successful essays to this university had. What were the standout factors that made these essays unique and appealing to the admissions officers? Thanks in advance for any advice!

Hey there! It's great to hear you're applying to Tufts. I can share some insights on what makes a successful essay for their application. Firstly, you want to make sure your essay has a strong personal voice that reflects who you are as an individual. Don't be afraid to let your personality show.

Then, successful Tufts essays tend to demonstrate intellectual curiosity and engagement with the world around you. If you can showcase how you're intrigued by a particular subject and how you strive for deeper understanding, that will be highly valued by Tufts' admissions officers. It's important to be detailed and use storytelling techniques like anecdotes to convey your passion for learning and the opportunities at Tufts.

Lastly, make sure you're answering the specific essay prompts in a tailored way. For instance, if you're asked about an aspect of your identity, really dig deep into your personal experiences and demonstrate how it influences your life and worldviews. Personal reflection will go a long way and reveal more about yourself than just describing surface-level character traits.

Remember, there's no fool-proof formula for a successful essay, but these general tips can guide you to create a strong, unique, and engaging application essay for Tufts. Good luck with your application, and I hope this helps!

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.

First-Year Writing

The First-Year Writing Program prepares students for writing at the college level in all disciplines. Comprised of English 1, 2, 3, and 4, the curriculum teaches students to develop a clear thesis; a well-organized and developed argument; well-illustrated points; and thoughtful, lively prose. Small classes offer the opportunity for close, personal attention and an atmosphere of collaborative learning. For more information, please consult our Program Handbook . 

Required Courses

Liberal Arts students must take English 1 and 2 or English 3 and 4 or equivalent . Engineering students must take English 1 or 3 or equivalent . 

For English 2, students may choose among several seminar topics . Liberal arts students seeking to fulfill the second half of the writing requirement may take Philosophy 2: Introduction to Philosophy or an English 2 alternative  in place of English 2.

Amount of Writing

Each student is required to turn in about 25 pages of graded writing per semester, figuring at 250 words per page. Thus, we should all think in terms of students writing 6,250 words during the semester, divided into 5-6 papers.  One of these will be a research paper.

Research Requirement

A research paper is a requirement of English 1, 2, 3, and 4. The First-Year Writing Program aims to provide the following critical research skills:

• Strategies for thinking critically about information-seeking, information resources, and reflecting on the research process
• Strategies for searching and retrieving information
• An understanding of how to evaluate information resources

Attendance Policy

Students are required to attend the first two class meetings of English 1 and 2 to retain their seat in the class. In case of an emergency, students must contact the instructor beforehand for permission to miss class. If they fail to do so, they and their advisor will be notified and their places will be filled from the waiting list. The attendance policy for the rest of the semester can be found in the syllabus handed out in class.

General Policies

• For additional information about the writing requirement, please see  The Tufts Bulletin .
• English 1, 2, and 4 must be taken for a letter grade in order to fulfill the writing requirement. English 3 is pass-fail.

Director of First-Year Writing Program