<p>^^^ No truer words ever said (:</p>
<p>It was the optional essay, IMO, that really allowed my son to shine, so I am a fan of it. :)</p>
<p>It is OPTIONAL.</p>
<p>Even without the optional essay, there are many opportunities to talk about yourself and why you love Tufts. I think people who apply early are generally okay with the optional essay and welcome the chance to strengthen their applications but the issue is for people who are applying to several schools and end up skipping Tufts because its all too much. It’s not easy for most applicants to pass on an optional prompt so I have problems with the optional concept. I think both sides of this debate have good points to make. But it seems like there would be a happy medium between gaming the stats by having no supplement and requiring a push of a button–something several of peer schools do-- and requiring more essays than any other school.</p>
<p>Wow - interesting thread. And civil too boot. Nice to see some really good back and forth here on CC. I hope this reaches some ears in campus admin.</p>
<p>My oldest graduated from Tufts this past spring, so my opinions will soon be outdated – but with three younger children, college will be on my radar for a long time to come. I have to agree with some of the comments I’ve read here. </p>
<p>S1 had one of those inexplicable love-at-first-sight reactions on his first visit to Tufts. Within 10 minutes he knew it was where he wanted to go. But - what brought him to campus in the first place was the strength of the IR program, and the outward, global focus – probably similar to what impressed smartgrad in post #76. He himself may even have been considered a bit nerdy/bookish in HS, but even so, when he arrived freshman year he was relieved to find a much more balanced atmosphere than he felt had been ‘advertised’ (for lack of a better word) by Tufts. </p>
<p>I recall reading with him the applicant essays that Tufts had chosen to publish online. Almost all the writers seemed to be bending over backward to convince the reader how out-of-the-mainstream (or quirky) they were - to the point that some came off as a bit precious. I think the same goes for some of the videos published online. Admissions staff should remind themselves that future potential applicants and their parents do not have the benefit of seeing those (in most cases, probably excellent) students’ transcripts or resumes, and may be forming an opinion of Tufts based largely on those videos or essays. </p>
<p>The school has so much to offer, but not sure substance always comes through in the advertising.</p>
<p>Sorry if I’m repeating myself, but I just want to emphasize the optional essay is truly optional. With her heavy academic workload, sports schedules, volunteering, other ECs, summer study abroad and some medical issues, my daughter just couldn’t find time to do anything optional. She applied RD and was accepted anyway. Luckily, I think she showed her personality through the Tufts essays she did write. She clearly wanted to be at Tufts and I think that showed.</p>
<p>From what I can tell, Tufts adcoms choose friendly, approachable, nonjudgemental, intelligent students who show enthusiasm for academics and life in general. They have a curiousity for the world around them and will bring something unique to the student body and get involved in all kinds of activities on campus just as they did in HS.</p>
<p>Despite the perceived marketing approach, perhaps Tufts isn’t (or shouldn’t be) actively seeking quirky kids but rather doesn’t hold being quirky against them. I suspect Tufts recognizes that interest in non mainstream activities are just as valid as the traditional clubs and sports. I don’t think Tufts kids are looking for clones of themselves, but rather fascinating classmates who enjoy thought-provoking discussions, cultural activities, political banter, and also the typical college experiences like hanging out, pulling all nighters, late night munchy indulging, sleeping in, and yes, even partying. </p>
<p>It makes me want to go back to college, choosing Tufts this time.</p>
<p>Latest adcom blog…“Celebrating My Nerdy Playlist.” My fellow posters, we are never going to win this particular battle. haha.</p>
<p>^ Lmfaooo…true…we’re defeated!</p>
<p>Smartgrad…
Maybe they will be listening to the,“nerdy” playlist while shopping at Saks!</p>
<p>Right after a Quidditch tournament and before going to a trekkie convention…</p>
<p>But now that it’s swinging the other way, I have to add… there’s nought wrong with Quidditch or Star Trek Conventions!</p>
<p>But yes, just wishing there was a bit more balance in ‘marketing.’ There’s nothing wrong with quirky, but it’s a shame if it comes at the expense of losing kids who’d be more interested in the amazing education Tufts has to offer.</p>
<p>lspf72: As the parent of a Tufts ‘16 (admitted ED1), I’m on the other end of the trajectory from you --but I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments and those of smartgrad et al. I do hope Dean Coffin will pay attention and rethink the relentless branding of Tufts’ kids as quirky/nerdy. It does a great disservice to all Tufts students, past, present and incoming.</p>
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<p>That made me LOL.</p>
<p>I agree with you all about this quirky thing. Mainly because at my school the quirky/nerdy kids are the idiots who cant think for themselves, live on facebook/tumblr/twitter, and makeup the most annoying and especially loud/obnoxious part of the school. “Oh my goshhh harry potter taught me everyttthingg i knoww in lifee and fun. is the new beatles”. I know tufts isnt like this but branding it this way doesnt appeal to the majority of people seeking a great education… ateast from my experience.</p>
<p>My Lord, are they really marketing a college costing $50k (or whatever it is now) a year as “quirky?” Would you pay $50k for a “quirky” automobile? No wonder our country is bankrupt.</p>
<p>This is such a great thread.</p>
<p>I forgot…it is Repunzel who is shopping at Saks. Sorry!</p>
<p>A quick search of the Internet reveals that the applicant pool at Columbia, Brown, Penn, Harvard and Princeton are all down between 2% and 9%. One of the reasons being put forth is the re-introduction of the EA programs at Harvard, Princeton, and UVA.</p>
<p>Given the known overlap in applicant pools Harvard and Tufts, this would be a plausible reason for the drop at Tufts as well.</p>
<p>If this is at least part of the explanation, then the impact on acceptance rate gets tricky to predict, because there will probably be a change in yield.</p>