<p>Tufts happens to be the one and only school that remains un-submitted on my commonapp account, (I've got Georgetown left but all I've got to do is simply print it out and send it via mail) and oh my god how I hate to write the essays!
These essays for Tufts are so "unique" that I couldn't even recycle even one of my "so many" essays I have written for the other schools.
Anyways, I'm writing the Why Tufts and the 2 short answers (mandatory-_-!!!) but I'm kinda not feeling like writing the optional.</p>
<p>Does Tufts really need so many essays for admission for god's sake?
we have 2 essays (1 long and 1 short) in commonapp, 2 short answers and 1 why Tufts -> which sums up to a total of 5!</p>
<p>so let me keep this brief and clear.
is the optional truly optional? or do we "have" to write it if we want in?</p>
<p>If you feel that you've put yourself together in that application, then don't do it if it's not necessary. If you find that your application doesn't completely represent you, do it. It's a matter of pragmatism.</p>
<p>My D completed her app yesterday and chose not to do an optional essay. She decided to take them at their word & considered "optional" just that. Good idea? Who knows. Guess she'll know come April.</p>
<p>Well, I was told always do everything that they offer. I.E. interviews, extra essays, going beyond simply waht is "required" for SATs. In no way does it hurt you, but i was told it is a better way for schools to gauge what type of student/person you are; and based on the Tufts essays, it seems the individual himself or herself is an important aspect of admission so it can only help -shrug-. Anyway, the optional essays were actually fun and had great topics I dunno why you guys wouldnt want to take an extra 30 minutes to fill it out.</p>
<p>I think an application is sort of like a sculpture or a painting. In no way is a sculpture better if it has more clay, or a painting better with more paint. Obviously you want to show off your strengths as much as possible, but my personal opinion is that if you think it will add to do the optional, then go for it. If you do it just to do it, you might actually be detracting. Haven't you ever read something or seen something where you go, They should have quit while the were ahead, because the person added too much. For instance, just about every 3 hour movie I see, I think, Boy, they sure should have cut an hour out, and the movie would have been better. I think you just have to use your judgement. If you can write and awesome essay in 30 minutes, my hat goes off to you. </p>
<p>Also, I noticed they cut down the essays this year from I think 500 words to 200 words in the supplement. Obviously they don't want to read 1,000s of words, unless they are awesome/entertaining/necessary. My 2 cents.</p>
<p>well, it is obviously going to help and show that you have interest, I wrote a short story, I thought it showed my writing skills even though I don't study in English. I like to think of it this way, if there were 2 exactly identical students and only one has written the optional essay which is amazingly well written, who would tufts admit over the other?</p>