Chance me (ED)??

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

<p>I'm applying ED to the engineering school and this has been my dream school since my sophomore year. I really want to get in! My friends and family say I will, but sometimes I think they say that just to be nice, which is why I'm turning to you all.</p>

<p>GPA: 4.1 (unweighted on a 4.33 scale; my school just started weighting GPAs so I'm not sure what mine is)
ACT with writing: 31, I'm taking it for the second time tomorrow in hopes of a 32
I took the SAT and two subject tests, but I don't think they'd help my application</p>

<p>Clubs (just the major ones):
Math club (9,10,11,12); co-president 11th and 12th
GSA (9,10,11,12)
Writing Center (11,12)
Peer counseling (11), now senior mentor (12)
Science Olympiad team member (11,12); regional champions and 4th at states
Congres (French State Competition) team member (10,11,12); first place in individual competition in 10th, high scorer individually and in a play in 11th
French Club (9,10,11,12)
VEX Robotics team member (12)</p>

<p>Honor Societies:
National Honor Society (10,11,12)
Cum Laude (top 10%, 11)
National French Honor Society (10,11,12)
Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society) (11,12)
National Art Honor society (9,10,11,12)</p>

<p>Awards:
10th: Algebra II award, French III award
11th: Faculty award (given to a student in each grade who "best exemplifies the moral and academic morals of the school"), AP French award, college book award (I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say the college; I saw someone else star out a college's name) that is given to someone who demonstrates intellectual curiosity, a passion for learning, and a desire to make a difference</p>

<p>Sports:
Varsity tennis player (10,11,12) regional runner-up 11th; team captain 12th</p>

<p>AP scores: AP French (5), AP biology (4), AP English Comp. (3)</p>

<p>Senior Classes: Modeling physics/computer applications in physics in engineering, AP Stats, honors US history, AP Calc AB, Francophone studies/advanced conversation through cinema, AP English Lit.</p>

<p>Is my application geared (no pun intended) enough towards engineering, and good enough in general? I know I only have one AP science, but we're only allowed to take them as juniors and seniors, and they take up two class periods so they cause a lot of scheduling conflicts. I took pre AP chemistry and did okay (B+ sem1, B sem2) and honors physics I (A+ both semesters), so I have a solid foundation of all of the sciences. </p>

<p>Any input helps! Thanks for taking the time to read this.</p>

2

<p>Are you male or female? Race? Where are you from geographically? How competitive is your high school? How many kids from your school does tufts generally take?</p>

3

<p>@momworried: I’m a female with a background from Europe (France) and North Africa (Algeria). I’m from Florida, and I attend a college preparatory school that has very rigorous courses. If it’s any help, there are ~100 people in the class of '13. I checked Naviance and Tufts has only accepted one person from my school since 2009 (whom I know; she is very bright and was really involved at school), but not many people from my school have applied since then!</p>

4

<p>Your stats are average. ACT is on the low side. But being a female applying for engineering should definately help. Do you know what kind of engineering you are interested in? The lack of AP science classes is a concern. But if it’s a scheduling issue have your counselor explain it in his letter. Was calc BC an option? Which subject tests did you take and how did you do on them? I’m only asking because engineering is one of the most difficult majors you can pick and very science oriented You need to be really good at science and math or you’ll be miserable. I was an engineering major so speaking from experience.<br>
Applying ED should definately help. Make sure your essays are really good and reflect how much you love tufts.<br>
The bottom line is its definately not a sure thing Do the best you can on your app and hope for the best. But have good backup schools ready that you’d be happy with.</p>

5

<p>@momworried: Thank you for your input! BC Calculus is offered, but only to those who have completed AB. I took the French SAT II (730) and Biology (650). I have a really strong passion for math (plus, being president of the club and being in the honor society helps), and I’m not bad at science. AP Biology and Pre AP Chemistry/Chem II are notorious for being two of the hardest classes at my school, so I am challenging myself. I’m not sure what kind of engineering I’m interested in yet, but I’m leaning towards chemical, biomedical, etc. I visited the school last month and the speaker at the info session basically told us what they’re looking for in an essay, so I think I’ll have solid essays. I’m applying to a few safety schools and some that are on the same level as Tufts, so I know I have stuff to fall back on.</p>

6

<p>If you love math you could take the SAT II subject test. I’m too lazy to look up what your ACT score means. Your GPA is better than my son’s, your AP scores are a little less. (He had a World History 5 from sophomore year, and 5’s in Bio and US History from junior year.) He had at least one state medal from Science Olympiad, but I fully understand that’s out of your hand, the whole team has to qualify. I think you have a pretty good chance, but you aren’t a shoe-in either.</p>

7

<p>@mathmom: They accept a 30-33, and I was considering taking the math II subject test, but I didn’t think it would do much justice to my application. I’ll bring it up with my counselor and see what she thinks, but I don’t think it’ll be super necessary since I’m doing the ACT with writing. I don’t want to send in “fluff,” just really meaningful stuff. I hope I’ll still have time to take it if my counselor advises me to/: Thank you so much for your input!</p>