<p>Parent here. Gotta say I love this thread! And the email my son got a few weeks ago with the supplement assistance was great! He felt sorta special! It was a pleasant change from this rough time of senior year with the first semester of classes wrapping up, winter activities hitting their stride, and so many apps due at the end of the year. I’m wishing he enjoyed the application process a bit more, and I personally am thrilled that Tufts has made the “nightmare” as he calls it, more dreamy. ;)</p>
<p>My question is probably trivial - on the “rules” essay prompt, are the kids supposed to “pick one” of the mentioned rules, or just any rule?</p>
<p>@Wyanokie - Personally, I think the notion of “demonstrated interest” (in the way I think you’re asking) is unfair to applicants. Not everyone has the opportunity or the means to visit, and sometimes (when we visit your schools) you’ve got a physics test and can’t come. Holding that against a student feels… inappropriate to me. There should be more ways to show interest than jumping through a set of highly circumscribed hoops. </p>
<p>What we look for is a thoughtful college search. You can never visit campus in any capacity and still be able to demonstrate you’ve been thoughtful in your decision to apply. I still believe that visiting is perhaps the strongest way to get a feel for a place, but I didn’t visit Tufts before applying, and you can conduct a strong college search without visiting any campuses, it’s just harder. (And, even if you visit when we’re closed, you can still fill out a card and leave it in the box). </p>
<p>@Ekim - That’s a good question. And a well-thought through point. My earlier comment was about picking one over the other. Don’t do <em>that</em> - send us both, but the timeline for when you do that can be up to you.</p>
<p>@my3gr8boyz - Like all our essay questions, that rule question on the writing supplement is meant to be <em>very</em> open eneded. Pick whatever law he wants in whatever way he wants to define a rule or a law and give it meaning. </p>
<p>(Final aside, for any of you who click that link above - I think my essay could have just as easily answered questions A, B, or D, and wouldn’t have required any editing at all to do so. I say this only to make the point about how flexible those questions really are)</p>
<p>If I am sending SAT II scores, can I send my score from the U.S. History test now, and send the other scores directly from the upcoming January test date? And if I were to send history now, and math II and literature from January, would the best scores would be used?</p>
<p>My D comes from a small Parochial school in Ohio. Her GC has not been super helpful with her applying out of state and barely knows where Tufts is. What can my D do to help her application when our GC has no relationship with Tufts and vice versa? The GC really likes her and I am sure will give her a great rec, but is used to writing recs for state schools who know our school. </p>
<p>I have a list of diverse extracurriculars, and a lot of people tell me to create a portfolio of those and send them directly to the school. Do you read those? I know you guys already have a lot of stuff to do.</p>
<p>I’ve been trying to finish up essays, and something about them has been worrying me just maybe a teeny bit: I’m worried that I might sound like a pseudo-pedantic. For the 2nd supplemental essay question, I chose to express my interests through iterating conversations with my dad… and I realize that it could sound overly intellectual and too show-offish. I hate coming off as a smart-alec (that’s one of the reasons why I love Tufts; it feels like a place where I can discuss my passions with fellow students without being afraid of judged in a negative way.) Is this just a last minute frenzy that I really shouldn’t be worrying about?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for all the work you do for us applicants!</p>
<p>Also, if I’m an international applicant (no citizenship, no green card) applying from a high school in Eastern Connecticut, who will be the first reader of my application?</p>
<p>@Broomom - It really doesn’t matter if your school or your counselor has a “relationship” with us. I’m not even sure what it would mean to be a guidance counselor with a “relationship” with Tufts. </p>
<p>We’re used to students applying from schools where very few (if any) students go out of state. I know it can feel like you’re in a tiny minority by applying from a school like that, but you aren’t. Really. And we’re sensitive to how overwhelming and challenging that can be when your teachers/counselor/parents/whatever don’t have any experience helping navigate a most selective private university admissions process. This is one of the reasons we have so much up on the admissions website right now offering perspective on how our process works. We’re trying to democratize the information, to the extent we can. </p>
<p>What I think you’re asking, however, is about if your child will be at a disadvantage because she won’t have fancy three-page-long rec letters. To be honest with you, this can change the dynamic of an application a bit. If we have less information (or less relevant information) in recommendations, that heightens the importance of the essays to flesh out a sense of character and intellect. But, a counselor doesn’t need to have experience writing letters to places like Tufts in order to pen one filled with admiration and praise. </p>
<p>@mmm270 - We really don’t need portfolios or additional resumes. I’ve been at Tufts for a while, and I’m struggling to think of even a single instance where a resume or supplemental portfolio swayed a decision. The common application gives us a lot of info on what you do with your time. </p>
<p>@Realfruitjuice - Generally, I’d say you’re overthinking your piece when you start second guessing yourself like that. But… you could always show the essay to people who don’t know you (without telling them that it’s yours) and ask for their opinion on what the person who wrote it might be like. If they started telling you that this person sounds like a pedantic obnoxious know-it-all, then you know you’ve got to rework it. Most likely, I think, is that you’re getting snagged in last minute frenzy. It’s ok to be bold.</p>
<p>You’ll get read by the person who reads our applications from CT, since that’s where your school is.</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply! Btw, your email of the Procrastinator’s Guide said that you would be doing an AMA again on reddit tomorrow! If this is 4 realizies, I’m totes excited. #yolo</p>
<p>I am a parent here and have had this question for a while not just about Tufts, but college apps in general. We had been told that our kids should ask the teachers who know them best for recommendations, not necessarily teachers in certain subjects. My son had the same German teacher for 3 years and the same English teacher for 2 years. But he is interested in science, physics, and astronomy (no teacher for astronomy - he has learned on his own and physics was intro physics freshman year, or the AP Physics course he is taking this, his senior, year. I read in the SAT blog about recommendations showing more than SATs. Could the opposite be true? That his recommendations of his non-science teachers show a certain side to him, and his abilities as a learner, and his excellent SAT 1 math score and SATII Math and Science scores show his ability in those fields? I feel like this is such a “paranoid CC mom” question and I realize it is all part of the “unchangeable” part at this point, but I’ve always been curious. </p>
<p>Thanks so much for this thread and all the great stuff over at the Tufts admissions website!</p>
<p>@my3gr8boyz: since your question was not Tufts-specific, I feel free to throw my 2 cents in, but Dan’s opinion should trump mine. My sense, with my son at least, was that it was important to have a humanities recommendation and a science/math recommendation even though his science/math chops could be proven by his SAT 2 scores. It is important to describe not just the achievement level (i.e., the scores) but also how they came about (what is the student’s learning style). </p>
<p>Conversely, even though he is a STEM student, he took the US History SAT 2 (in addition to Physics and Math 2). The more data points you give the Adcoms, the more accurately they can make their decision.</p>
<p>As a STEM student, I sent in my history score. I think it helps you look well rounded, which is important. Also, most places (not just Tufts) like to see one math/science and one humanities teacher.</p>
<p>Hmmm… he doesn’t have that third rec. We have been told by GCs and adcoms at a few different colleges (I don’t believe Tufts was one) that the readers have so many apps to read, that the applicants should stick to the required materials. Some schools seem to really frown on more recs than the GC and the two teachers from the academic side. </p>
<p>I wonder if we could send one as an extra after the application due date? </p>
<p>Ixnay, were you told that by someone, or is it just a sense? It makes sense to me that it would be good to have a science math rec, but we were following advice of admissions officers.</p>
<p>Lol I’m a student. And a girl STEM is a pretty common term where I’m from, actually.</p>
<p>But yeah, I didn’t realize tufts only asked for one teacher rec? I sent in two, plus my guidance counselor rec, and I was fine and accepted. So either they considered both or just ignored one.</p>
<p>@my3gr8boyz: I wasn’t suggesting a third rec, which is generally not called for. It sounds as though you have sent in 2 humanities LORs. 1 LOR is an information quantum, 2 LORs from similar teachers (e.g., 2 humanities teachers) are a bit more information, and 2 LORs from different teachers (e.g., 1 humanities and 1 science/math) are probably even more informative. IMO, you want the most possible information to help the adcoms select your student. Fwiw, we got the humanities and math/science LORs because that is what MIT quite explicitly requires and we didn’t change LORs for other schools.</p>
<p>I would not send in a third LOR from a teacher after the due date, except perhaps if your student has been deferred. In that case I would discuss the possibility with a trusted GC. </p>
<p>As it happened, we sent in a third LOR (a supplemental LOR) from someone who supervised our son’s summer-long internship, and we did so because it provided a view of his work ethic outside of school and his level of subject matter knowledge when measured against older and more experienced co-researchers. I think the adcoms viewed it as worth the time it took to read (it was one page). If you have one of those kinds of LORs handy, I would consider sending it in.</p>
<p>In any case, if your student has already sent in the application, please don’t second guess yourself based on the opinion of a rank amateur. I have loads of opinions, and like a stopped clock, I’m right twice a day. You most likely sent in the LORs you and your student felt most comfortable sending, and that’s no small potatoes. The best of luck to you.</p>
<p>PS I don’t think Dasher is my son, unless he’s been keeping his username secret.</p>
<p>PPS Edited to add: My post crossed with Dasher’s, so clearly Dasher is not my son :-)</p>
<p>Thanks for the reply, Dan. Mightly helpful! The Tufts Admission website is also so helpful (and humorous too…takes alot of the stress out of it). My D loves Tufts and hopefully with some kick butt essays will show her love!</p>
<p>I swear two days ago on the common app the wording for tufts supplements was “suggested length” and anytime i went over it was fine. However, now it says “required length” and it won’t let me submit because I’m over the limit. Please help!</p>
<p>grenville, how frustrating, but I think you have no choice, some editing is called for. The good news is that despite what you may think it will probably be better when it is shorter. I know everything I’ve helped my son edit for length has ended up stronger.</p>
<p>I am re-thinking my decision plan. A victim of procrastination, I missed the early decision 1 deadline and thus settled into the regular decision mind-set - not a bad thing, however, having now thoroughly researched Tufts - finding what a good fit it is for me, I would like to apply early decision 2. Application ready-to-go, but I have one duck missing from my row… I do not have access to my high school guidance counselor (until our school re-opens January 6) - for her notification and completion of the early decision agreement contract/form. Any thoughts? I enjoy your Admissions Blog and CC replies. Thanks!</p>
<p>I came to know about Tufts just a few days ago and since then I fell in love with the university. So, even if I am “very” late I’ll still try to send you the best application (and the most glowing one) that I can create…
I really want to apply for ED 2 so can you please tell me how do I send the International Student Financial Aid Application? If I get accepted to Tufts and receive financial aid, the what percent of the total cost gets covered?
Thank you!</p>
(STEM, history)</p>
STEM is a pretty common term where I’m from, actually.</p>