<p>Hi, I'm applying to Tufts University this year and I wasn't sure if I was going to make it in. I considered doing Early Decision. I heard that I shouldn't apply, if I was heavily depending on financial aid. (My family is low income and we need lots of financial aid.)
It's my top school and I'm around the Boston area (not directly in the city), so not sure if that'll influence the decision. I really love the school and wanna go there!! I wanna study Biology and go under the pre-vet program.</p>
<p>GPA: 4.4307 weighted on the 4 scale
Ranked: 15/330
SAT: 1850 (CR: 620 M:690 W:540) I will be retaking this October
Will be taking ACT's this October
I also took Chemistry (540) and Math 2 (640)'s subject tests. </p>
<p>Activities: NHS, NFLHS, VP of Asian Culture Club, MFA Docent, JV Tennis Team
Awards: Top 15 of Schoolwide Science Fair, attended regional science fair, 1st place photography award, magna cum laude on the National Latin Exam for 3 years.
AP classes: US History (4), Language and Composition (4), Psychology, Biology, Literature and Composition, Calculus and Latin</p>
<p>Please let me know whether I have a good chance and if I should apply early decision!! Thanks so much everybody. </p>
<p>(Also, applying to BU and UMass Amherst, any other suggestions to apply to in the area?)</p>
<p>Your GPA looks good but your SAT score and subject test scores are a bit low for Tufts standards. Definitely try to raise those scores when you retake them to improve your chance.</p>
<p>I agree with APsooof-- talk to admissions or do some research before you apply ED to make sure you can definitely afford it.</p>
<p>Your standardized scores are actually quite more than “a bit low” for Tufts. Just look at the average SAT scores for the incoming freshman class, as posted in USNWR. As you can see, the mean SAT range is higher than a good dozen schools above it in the ranks, including JHU, CMU, UVA, Georgetown, UC Berkeley, Emory, and Cornell.</p>
<p>Applying ED may help. The adcoms will be looking hard at the rigor of your classes, and will look at your GPA and ranking in the context of your classmates and the rigor of courses offered at your school. You can improve your chances by hitting your essays out of the park, but it will be tough to overcome low test scores and, possibly, financial need, which could be the tipping point against you, as Tufts is not need-blind.</p>
<p>Have you researched the plethora of Boston area school that might be more of a match?</p>
<p>I’m retaking my SAT’s and taking my ACT’s this October! So hopefully I’ll be able to boost them up. I’ve looked around Boston for schools and just really like tufts in particular. I was looking into Brandeis and maybe Northeastern too, along with BU and UMass Amherst. Tufts is just my number one.</p>