<p>so first question: my supplement short essays are 200-250 words, but they are both less than 2000 characters, (about 1,500-1,600) with spaces. so which guideline is more important, or is this okay?</p>
<p>and a second question: the richness of your life question, i googled the topic because I remembered reading something on the Tuft's website about this particular essay, and I found a different version of the question, which included what it is now, plus examples, like "the buttons on your backpack, are you the umpire or the pitcher, etc." does anyone know if this still applies, can you pick one unique fact about yourself and write about it as the "richness" in your life?</p>
<p>I was wondering this too... for the "Who are you?" one, I wrote about a specific thing that I do - basically an idiosyncratic attribute of my character.</p>
<p>just to respond to the first question - I think the words guideline in more important, because the character limit is the absolute maximum. The commonapp won't let you write more than 2000 characters. I would go by words, not by characters.</p>
<p>I would say that talking about one of very many idiosyncrasies is perfectly acceptable and fine, but you have to keep in mind who your reader will be. You want to get a point across that is a reflection of who you are, and what message do you want to leave the reader with? Is one insight into who you are, one thing that you do, sufficient? Im not saying that it cannot be, but I would suggest that making sure that it is sufficient. I hope that made sense. You have options for Tufts essays, and you want them to know who you are. Just make sure you get across what is most important about you and what you think that they should know.</p>
<p>Thanks Dan! Another question for you (or others): How do you feel about people who take a similar approach with the "Quaker saying" short answer? As in, can I focus on a specific aspect of my upbringing and how that affected or me, or are most answers more general? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think that's a great way to answer the question because it will represent your individuality and uniqueness. How you were brought up makes for an interestingly great short answer. </p>
<p>Taking the route you think that many will take is okay, too, as long as you put "you" into your essay, as well. Because all that matters is that you are yourself in your essay.</p>
<p>Personally, I think narrow and deep always beats shallow and wide (read: general). But the question is meant to be open-ended because we want a variety of different answers and different styles of answers. </p>
<p>Length:<br>
250 words is the goal. A little bit more is ok. A lot more is not. My guideline is, "Can you eyeball it and tell?" As in, could someone take a cursory, 2 second glance at your writing and immediately know that its longer than 250 words? </p>
<p>If you're at 275, the answer is no. 325, maybe. 500, absolutely. </p>
<p>We're not big on hard and fast rules at Tufts - the essays we give you, and the answer we hope you'll give us, reflect that.</p>
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We're not big on hard and fast rules at Tufts - the essays we give you, and the answer we hope you'll give us, reflect that.
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<p>Except when it comes to foundation and Distribution requirements. :) While a little severe, especially comparatively, I personally think it probably results in a very rich liberal arts education.</p>
<p>Actually, even the requirements aren't hard and fast. I mean, it's hard and fast that you must do them, but how you do them isn't. </p>
<p>I took classes that weren't on the 'approved' list and petitioned to get them added - a process that was startlingly easy. And I took classes that fulfilled multiple sets of requiremens, including a couple that fulfilled major requirements, distribution requirements, and foundation requirements at the same time.</p>
<p>I, too, thought the requirements were a bit heavy and confusing!! So, when my D asked for help with figuring out how all of her AP credits from high school factored into classes she should take first semester, I emailed Tufts. Imagine my surprise when I get a return email from the DEAN of Undergraduate Education! Not only did he spend the time to carefully answer every question we had, he emailed us my D's AP's credits as they appear on her Tufts transcript and invited her to come speak with him directly if she had further questions. Every time we have had questions/concerns, Tufts has been so friendly and helpful, no matter what the area-Health Services, Education, Res Life.</p>
<p>Oh, and the food, especially at Dewick, is EXCELLENT!</p>