<p>how much weight do ur essay scores have on ur chances compared to other selective schools? what are some things the tufts adcom is looking for?</p>
<p>well i think essays are always read especially at a school like Tufts. It gives the admissions committee a chance to flesh out the individual from the standardized test scores, gpa, and ECs. you have to realize almost every1 who applies to a school of high caliber has a litany of ECs, pretty good gpa, and a high sat/act score. the essay's importance, i think depends on how well the applicant's profile already is. Don't get me wrong, you should never overlook your personal statement if you're a perfect student; I just believe you have more leverage. But then again, the infamous Tufts Syndrome can get you screwed as well. Bottom line is, show some kind of passion and interest, and especially creativity considering the major revamp of the personal statements for the class of '11. Work hard, be imaginative, and most importantly, be yourself. Best of luck.</p>
<p>What's the "infamous Tufts Syndrome"?</p>
<p>it's the idea that really qualified kids use Tufts as a safety school, so the argument is that admissions people will NOT accept them, because they don't expect the student to matriculate at Tufts, which lowers their yield rate and reflects poorly on them. It's not particular to Tufts, though, we just got stuck with the name. And also, I've met tons of kids that are just about as qualified as it gets.</p>