<p>I've meant to post this after my D was accepted ED II, but now's as good a time as any. I have been saving my Dan story for this post.</p>
<p>First, good luck to all today. Modadunn and Neethus 1 - fingers crossed for you both.</p>
<p>My D first saw Tufts last April. Her tour guide was so amazing that she wrote her "Why Tufts" essay about it. We came back to see the campus one more time in early November, to make sure my D really did want to apply ED II. We walked around a bit and ended up in the Admissions Office (it was a Sat.) We talked to an admissions counselor and some of the other staff members and our questions were answered. We walked out of Bendetson, and I literally went right back in, because I realized that the admissions counselor, Dan, was the Dan my friends had been RAVING about since their info session, also last April. They said his presentation was the most unique they had seen at any school, which I related to Dan (and the other staff members), causing Dan to blush (sorry Dan). After seeing his posts on this site, and being there for everyone with his humor and insight, I wanted to thank him for all of his assistance through this difficult process. So thank you Dan. Tufts is lucky to have you.</p>
<p>A few more thoughts...</p>
<p>Parents should trust their kids and should realize that fit is more important than USNWR's rankings. It took me a little longer to realize that than it did my D, who was accepted EA to a higher ranked school and who was a triple legacy at an Ivy. She didn't care, and she was right. She will be going to a school which is academically challenging and where students care about the world. It is the perfect place for her. </p>
<p>The essays may seem daunting but with a lot of thought, they can reveal things that more straightforward essays do not. My D's essays were all original ones written for Tufts. She could not recycle any of her other essays and did not even mention what subject she is interested in studying or what sport she plays. That information just did not fit into the questions. They were by far the hardest essays to write because she really had to dig deep to answer them. She had no hook and no difficulties or tragedies to write about. But her passion and compassion as a human being came through. </p>
<p>Chance threads are meaningless. They can be upsetting and discouraging. The people who respond to them are not the adcoms, so there is no point to them. I learned this the hard way. </p>
<p>First time poster, long time “lurker” (in Dan’s words). I just had to echo the sentiments of stny.</p>
<p>We also had an amazing tour guide—by far the best— and, while we probably shouldn’t put too much stock in guides/info sessions, one can’t help but judge the school by the representatives it chooses to put out there. And, Dan, while you had no bearing on her decision, I agree that you are a real asset to the school, and this forum—for your articulation and humor.</p>
<p>My D also could have aimed at a more highly ranked school but she was convinced that the Tufts was it and applied ED1. We were thrilled with her choice and with her acceptance. From what we can glean, it is a school filled with very bright, motivated, unpretentious and diverse group of students. And, its relatively new President came over from MIT with the intention of making Tufts a university on a par with the likes of MIT, and is doing just that—no resting on laurels here. While the application could have been daunting, she saw it as an opportunity to reveal who she is and threw herself at it with a vengeance, even though her essays simply reflected a normal highschooler who has had nothing major to overcome, no big revelatory moment in life, etc.</p>
<p>Good luck today for all those for whom Tufts is your # 1 choice. And remember—it’s all about fit, fit, fit.</p>
<p>^^Two cents? I’d give you a whole $1.00 for that post, stny. Nicely done!</p>
<p>I’ve been a lurker on here for probably 6 months, and only recently started posting. I agree wholeheartedly that having someone like Dan@Admiss@Tufts here gives balance and insight into a process that is fraught with fear, drama, rumors, innuendo, over-planning, under-planning, and just plain wrong-headedness. Dan’s postings are a consistent beacon of fact-based views into the process which, as you said, he does with humor and an even-handed delivery that speaks well of the people at Tufts. I second your accolades for Dan. </p>
<p>Your second set of thoughts should be required TOS reading for all new CC members. I agree with you that Tufts (and UPenn, to give credit) both have done a superb job of designing their applications to REALLY learn what makes the hamster run so fast and so well on the Habitrail™ wheel inside our brains. This site (CC) benefits from postings like yours and Dan’s. It needs, like a hole in the head, more threads wherein one 11th grader tells another 11th grader that he needs more community service hours on his resume.</p>
<p>Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go feed my hamster in 10 mins. I’ve got AP Calc BC… </p>
<p>I’ll be back on in a few hours once I know my fate in Medford.</p>
<p>I like you guys, too. It’s an honor to be mentioned alongside college searches that progressed with healthy values and an enthusiastic energy, must less to contribute to my alma mater and help preserve the community that I loved so much during my undergraduate years. I want, so badly, for the process to be an exciting one instead of an anxious one, and believe wholeheartedly in that as an achievable goal despite daunting admit rates. Thank you so much for your kind words, and for sharing your stories so that others can see that navigation of the application waters is achievable with spirit and sanity intact.</p>