How hard is it to get in?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

<p>In the past few days I've really been starting to fall for Tufts. </p>

<p>I have high test scores, in my opinion great ECs with awards, but my grades aren't up to par. I have a cumulative GPA of about 3.65 right now. This consists of an average of my indexed, scholastic, and two other gpas. That basically means that It is an average of academic unweighted GPA, complete unweighted GPA, academic weighted GPA, complete weighted GPA. This year my grades are substantially higher. I'm hoping to get at least a 3.75 by getting As in all my classes except math (which is a killer for me, Bs all of high school). That is the GPA my school uses.</p>

<p>The reason my GPA is so low is because freshman/beginning of sophomore year my parents were getting divorced and I became so responsible for my little brother that I was acting like his mom. I had to do his homework with him all the time (he was on the brink of failing) and I had to pick up from school and take him places if I was capable of it. He was have psychological issues related to the divorce and so he constantly had to be watched. So if I wasn't at yearbook I was with him. So it wasn't my test scores, it was sometimes my homework wasn't as well done as it should have been. I don't regret it. I have priorities and my brother is my top one and always will be. </p>

<p>However, it has hurt my GPA. Is there a way of explaining this? Or does it not matter? I really love Tufts, but they are wildly selective. Our they the type of school who values numbers slightly more (Berkeley, Princeton, Harvard) or value that 'unique individual factor' (Stanford, Reed) slightly more?</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post. :)</p>

2

<p>Profile of the Class of 2012
Application Information
Applications
15,642
Acceptances
3,988
Acceptance Rate
25.5%</p>

<p>Academic Profile of Accepted Students
Mean Rank in Class (when available)
Top 6%
Percent Ranked in Top 10% of class
85%</p>

<p>Mean SAT I Critical Reading
Overall
719
Liberal Arts
722
Engineering
705
Mid-50% Range for SAT I Critical Reading
690-760</p>

<p>Mean SAT I Math</p>

<p>Overall
722
Liberal Arts
716
Engineering
752
Mid-50% Range for SAT I Math
690-770</p>

<p>Mean SAT I Writing</p>

<p>Overall
723
Liberal Arts
725
Engineering
708
Mid-50% Range for SAT I Writing
690-770</p>

<p>Mean ACT Composite </p>

<p>31</p>

<p>Demographic Profile of Enrolling Students
Overall
1,303
Liberal Arts
1,111
Engineering
192
Percent Enrolled Via Early Decision
33%
Students of Color
27.5%
Foreign Citizens, Permanent Residents & U.S. Citizens Living Overseas
13% </p>

<p>Representation by High School Type
Public High School
62%
Independent School
31%</p>

<p>Religious/Parochial School
7%</p>

<p>Geographic Distribution by State and US Territory
Alabama (1), Arizona (9), California (91), Colorado (12), Connecticut (80), Delaware (2), DC (9), Florida (34), Georgia (5), Hawaii (7), Idaho (5), Illinois (39), Indiana (1), Iowa (4), Kansas (1), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Maine (28), Maryland (43), Massachusetts (286), Michigan (3), Minnesota (9), Mississippi (1), Missouri (7), Montana (1), Nevada (1), New Hampshire (27), New Jersey (101), New Mexico (8), New York (198), North Carolina (9), Ohio (18), Oklahoma (3), Oregon (12), Pennsylvania (36), Puerto Rico (3), Rhode Island (14), South Carolina (3), Tennessee (3), Texas (42), Vermont (8), Virginia (19), Washington (11), Wisconsin (3) </p>

<p>Being that most applicants fall within the top 6-10 percent of their class i'd say that your GPA may be out of range. However, compare your stats to the ones above and see where you fall. Also remember that you are more that a number, they may see something in you that strikes them as appealing. Never discourage yourself from applying based on scores alone.</p>

3

<p>marie03-
You haven't provided enough information, and frankly I am confused by your description of your GPA. What is your unweighted GPA (forget about things like PhysEd, if that's graded)? How hard have your courses been relative to the hardest in your school? Where do your board scores fall relative to Tufts' middle 50%?
Your GPA certainly makes you competitive, depending upon what sort of a curriculum it represents, but that just doesn't tell enough of the whole story. As for whether you can/should explain your personal situation - yes, you can and should. Tufts will be interested in learning about you as a person, the decisions you make and which formed you, where your priorities lie, what makes you tick, etc.</p>

4

<p>I have all honors and AP classes, so one of the most rigorous course loads at my school. They don't provide a purely unweighted GPA without PE and the sorts. The thing that is somewhat-equivalent to that (as a listed before) is about a 3.5 but will be raised to most likely a 3.65/7 at the end of this year I think.</p>

5

<p>Tufts says that they look at the student as a whole, more like Standford and Reed if you say that's what they do.</p>

<p>I was in the same situation this year with my parents and their divorce, I handled it horribly and I ended up needing to do therapy. </p>

<p>I just made sure my guidance counselor mentioned this in her letter and i have made my second quarter grades MUCH better. Hopefully Tufts will look at the whole picture, which I believe they do.</p>

<p>The thing is, is that it is a highly competitive school, with brilliant kids applying, so good luck!</p>

6

<p>marie03-
Look, you are definitely in this. A 3.5 will not impress, but it is nothing to sneeze at. Also, very strong first half senior grades will help.
How strong are your boards, and did you take any AP exams last year? If so, how did you do? Which APs are you taking (and have taken)?</p>

7

<p>I got a four on my first AP test last year (euro). I am taking AP Chem, AP US History, and Ap English Lang. this year. Most likely high scores in chem (most people get fives from my school) and I'm confident I will pass the other two with some work.
Next year I am planning on taking AP Econ, Ap Math (deciding whether I will do calc, stats, or both), AP Physics (with a possibility of bio), AP English Lit., and AP Studio Art 2d most likely. (Those are just my APs).</p>

<p>What are boards? Like SATs and stuff. If that is what you mean, in January I'm taking the SAT so I'm expecting to do decent.... I'll wait till then to update on that. I got a 201 or 211 on the PSAT this year. I need to check, I did okay but I didn't study.</p>

8

<p>So you're a junior? If so, it is frankly too soon to assess the strength of your candidacy for admission, although you are definitely competitive and should clearly apply.
Let's put off figuring what your odds are until you've got your year end junior year grades, your SATs, ACTs (if taken); SAT2s; leadership roles in your ECs, etc.</p>