Legacy at Tufts?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

I just applied to Tufts early decision and am pretty nervous about my chances getting in. I’m definitely underqualified as far as GPA and ACT score go, but I do have some interesting extracurriculars and interesting essays. I’m wondering how much legacy would help? I know that it only helps qualified students, so I was wondering if I was deemed qualified and what my chances might be.

GPA- 3.7 unweighted, 4.0 weighted
ACT- 30, except I’m taking it again in October so hopefully that goes up
Rank - school doesn’t rank
Classes - IB English HL, IB Biology HL, AP Calculus (junior year), AP Statistics (senior year), IB Psychology SL, IB History HL, French SL
Extracurriculars - Founder of my school’s first Relay for Life, planned and organized the entire event. Co-author of a published research paper, Vice President of GirlUP Club, Vice President of model Congress, spent the past two summers assisting in Microbiology research, Peer Leader, organized GoPINK cancer fashion shows, volunteered at a center for the disabled, tutor younger students every week, worked at a golf course, babysitting

My junior year grade in my AP Calc class was a 74. This was because in the first half of the year, I was actually in an even more accelerated AP Calc (SUPA) class before I dropped down to just regular AP Calc. The school is supposed to curve those first two quarter grades, hopefully raising my GPA in that class to at least an 80. But if not, does having a 74 in a class ruin my chances?

My dad and brother both went to Tufts (brother is a current senior)

2

Legacy definitely helps. So a slightly “lower” ACT score than the median may be acceptable. Last year for accepted students the mid 50% for math+critical reading at Tufts was 1370. An ACT 30 is about 1340 M+R. So you’re at the lower 25th percentile or so of accepted students as far as standard tests are concerned. Your ECs, and coursework are competitive. Did you take the AP exam for the calculus class? If so how did you do? A 4 or a 5 would mitigate the “lower” grade. In any case you have a chance.

3

Legacy will help. You’ve got a rigorous schedule with one major bump. Any idea if your GC can address the Calculus issue? My son got into Tufts with an A- average, no grade better than a B+ in Latin, and was int the top 25% CR for the SAT and bottom 25% for math. His activities were less impressive than yours, but he wrote amusingly about them, and had a lot of fun with an optional essay topic they had his year. (Imagine US history if we had lost the Battle of Lexington.) I certainly don’t think your chances are hopeless. If you get deferred don’t despair, in cases like yours, they often want to see what the senior year grades look like, but t means their reaction to your application was generally positive.

4

Hey I am in a similar situation and I was wondering if you got in?