Do I have a chance for Tufts?

I am not sure if I am qualified as a candidate for Tufts. I have a low gpa and that is what really worries me.
My grades from freshman to sophomore years are pretty good with mostly As and Bs, but due to a personal trouble my junior year grades got messed up which made my gpa to drop alot. Do you think if I explain to Tufts about what happened to me in junior year, they will consider my situation?
Also, I am planning to ED to Tufts!!
These are my stats:
SAT: 1540 (770 M, 770 English)
Gpa: 3.54
SAT Subject Tests: 800 math
School Clubs:

  • National Honors Society
  • Math honor society
  • Model United Nations
    Awards
  • Georgetown academic award
  • George Washington credit course award
    Volunteering:
  • Hospital volunteering for over two years
  • National Air and Space Museum volunteer
    Outside activities:
  • Church praise team leader
  • Summer program at Georgetown
  • Summer pre-college program at George Washington
  • Governor’s School

Please chance me!

Selective schools do give a bit of extra consideration to those who have had hardships and setback in their lives, and excelled DESPITE them. A lot of stories, reasons, rationalizations for not doing well, often much justified. Doesn’t matter.

Tufts only accepted 15% of their applicants. Less than that for RD applicants. For you, getting another full semester of grades is imperative, due to your slump, so ED is not favorable to you.

These schools with low accept rates are lottery tickets. If you feel that you need to buy some, go right on ahead. I suggest pairing the application with some rolling or EA schools that are certain or at least very likely to accept you so that you can hit the RD season without the stress, pressure and anxiety of having to start from scratch if the ED option does not work out. Finding those schools is the most difficult part of college search.

Why do you want Tufts? For Tufts, FIT is very important. You have to show in your essay that you are the right fit for Tufts and that Tufts is the right fit for you.