<p>My daughter who is going into her senior year of High School is interested in Tufts. She loved the school when we visted and is interested in engineering. She loved the fact that the school seemed to have a think out of the box vibe to it. Could you chance her? Here is her info: weighted GPA 103% unweighted about 98% . Our school doesnt use a 4.00 gpa but both grades are a 4.00 at least. ACT composite was 33. Our school doesnt rank but she is somewhere between the top 5 to 10 % of her class according to our guidance dept. She scored low on her SAT-1990 but plans on retaking. Should she just send ACt score if her SAT doesnt go up? Also should she retake ACT? She has taken all AP glasses offered by our school and honors when school didnt offer AP. Has a passion for robotics and has been in club since 9th grade. She created a manual and constitution for the club and hopes it will be added to after she graduates. She has travelled all over East coast with the club to various competitions where they have won many awards. She has held a leadership role in that club as well as in The National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, English Honor Society, Science Honor Society(all service and academic based clubs) She is also in the international Club and the School Newspaper. She is a Girl Scout and is just finishing up her Gold Award( equal to the Boys Scouts eagle award). Her project is a concert to raise money for the local food bank. She has a part time job in a local ice cream store and she also tutors kids. She is an active member of our church and has been an altar server for nine years. She plays the piano an has partcipated in NYSSMA for the past 6 years and has scored outstanding on all of her performances. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>If she took the ACT with writing, just have her send that. Don’t bother with sending or even retaking the SAT or SAT subject tests.</p>
<p>The essays are important for Tufts.</p>
<p>Thanks I will tell her.</p>
<p>It is interesting the disparity between a student’s ACT and SAT score. My child got a 31 or 32 on the ACT but over 2300 on the SAT. Therefore, she only submitted her SATs, and it seemed to be enough, then, to submit the SAT rather than toil at a better ACT score, because she was accepted. </p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter–she sounds like a great candidate.</p>
<p>Your daughter is a strong candidate for Tufts, especially in engineering which, like all engineering schools, has far fewer applications from women than men and is looking to get the ratio closer to even.<br>
I would always recommend taking the ACT twice; there’s simply no downside and lots of potential upside. I would also forget about the SAT. The 33 ACT is fine even if she doesn’t improve, and i doubt that she’ll get an SAT score that’s more impressive than the 33 ACT.
Good luck to her!</p>
<p>Thanks so much to everyone for your input. I will tell my daughter</p>
<p>I would not spend time on improving SAT or ACT scores when she has a 33 ACT. Just make sure that if Engineering requires SAT-II scores, that she has those under her belt. </p>
<p>Her time would be far better spent making her essays sing and making an activities resume (which she can include as an attachment). Tufts’ essays are quirky and provoke more introspection that the Common App questions. It tends to make the applicant pool and accepted students a bit more self-selecting.</p>
<p>If she feels Tufts would be her first choice and your family can live with whatever FA package you get, EDI or II might be a consideration.</p>
<p>SWHarbor – my niece had a score disparity going the other direction. ACT was far better suited to her than SAT.</p>
<p>Have you considered having your daughter attend the Women in Engineering Open House this fall? (see [Women</a> in Engineering at Tufts (WIE) - Office of Undergraduate Admissions - Tufts University](<a href=“Tufts University”>Tufts University))</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for their useful advice. I will have her focus on her essays and she does plan on taking the ACT again in Sept. Does anyone know if you are applying for engineering and are just going to send ACT scores with writing do you still have to send SAT II scores? As far as i can see you dont. She has taken 3 SAT II’s but just did okay high 600’s - if we dont have to send them she would rather not.</p>
<p>Just the ACT with writing is fine: [Requirements</a> - First Year Applicants - Office of Undergraduate Admissions - Tufts University](<a href=“Tufts University”>Tufts University)</p>
<p>My philosophy is to take whatever you can take without killing yourself over it. I took the SAT two times and the ACT three times (improved each time). I sent a combined SAT score, and I sent the latter two of my ACT scores (Tufts actually superscores ACT scores as well!). So, if it’s not a waste of time, I say retake them. You never know. You can even get lucky! Don’t take it if you’re just going to wing it though…</p>
<p>Thanks Penguinmaster93 for the advice. She actually took an online ACT prep class that she still has access to- so she will review before ACT. She took SAT twice and did ok both times- but not great. She will probably take the ACT 2 more times- the break down of her ACT scores was English-32, Math-35, Reading 31, Science 33, and combined English and Writing-29. for a composite Score of 33. Does any one have suggestions- on what part- she should focus on to raise her composite score- that Tufts would be most interested in? Thanks again for everyones help and and advice.</p>
<p>D looks great on paper. If she writes an interesting essay or 2 “why Tufts” was a topic I recall, that should clinch it for her. don’t take anything for granted however as there are far more admissible candidates than there are seats in class!!! EVERY EDGE (test scores etc) helps.</p>
<p>Engineering school is very tough and the student body works very hard and is committed to their craft. Most profs are excellent as well. </p>
<p>Tufts has a SWE (society of women engineers) chapter that is active as well.</p>
<p>Thanks. She is working on her essays now. Tufts and Brown are her two top choices but Tufts seems to be her top choice. The competition out there is so great and she knows that any of the ivys as well as schools like Tufts are not a done deal no matter what your scores, grades, or ec’s. We have made sure that she will apply to some schools which although are not as highly regarded or viewed as her top choices are good colleges with strong engineering programs and where she will get in and be happy. Thanks to all for their advice</p>