<p>After weeks of reading articles and stats on transfering, I have continually felt dumbfounded by the fact that Tufts' transfer acceptance rate dips into the single digits. What do the lucky ones do right in their application? </p>
<p>I'm a freshman unsatisfied by my tiny ME liberal arts college and I see Tufts (for many reasons) as a more fitting place. Can anyone shed light on what I can do to find the "transfer magic" and earn myself a spot at Tufts next fall? I have a lot to offer as an individual and a student; how can I best convey that to such a selective transfer admissions team? Any thoughts on something I can focus on to help make myself stand out as the desired applicant? </p>
<p>I appreciate all input, gracias!</p>
<p>No big insights anyone on this board can give you, just guesses. Dan is the only exception, and something tells me he will stay silent :-) </p>
<p>The most important thing is a stellar transcript. The second most important factor is recommendations. Pull down spectacular grades, get the professors who write your recommendations to rave about your in-class performance (that means being active, asking insightful and relevant questions, coming prepared doing more than expected, not just doing well on tests), and you have given yourself the best chance you possibly can. Despite all the hoopla about essays and ECs, after watching a couple of rounds of EDs at other schools, I am more or less convinced that they are used as reasons NOT to admit applicants, at least when it comes to freshmen. You can pour your heart out into describing how Tufts will change your life and how you will use the education to change other people's lives, back it up with factual evidence, and it will still do you no good if you are not near the top of your class and your recommendations do not say so.</p>
<p>Of course, this is just my opinion, and at the margin there are always exceptions. However, do you want to bet your future on being the exception?</p>
<p>Theater: Take a look at past Tufts transfer threads. Sometimes it's actually more useful to search CC threads through Google because it'll look up archived threads no longer available on the site.</p>
<p>The above poster gave you good advice. Good luck.</p>
<p>theater,</p>
<p>I believe that one of the biggest problems you'll face as a transfer is the fact that lately, Tufts' classes have been too big. Too many accepted students decided to matriculate, and the class of 2011 is something like 200 students over capacity. Because of this, you're not just applying to Tufts - you're applying to a class that's so big that there wasn't going to be room for everyone on campus. In which case, you shouldn't take it personally if it doesn't work out for you. If the deciding factor on your application ends up being "sorry, there's just no room," the only thing I can suggest is that you take a year off and apply for the class of 2012 or something, but I know that for me that wouldn't be an option, so why should it be for you?</p>
<p>So I guess the point is, you have to make yourself stand out enough that they'll take you into an already-more-than-full class.</p>
<p>Anyway, I'm sorry to be a downer, but I wish you the best of luck and am glad to hear that someone feels Tufts is the right place for them!</p>
<p>Silence! I laugh at silence!</p>
<p>Though, actually, I won't be able to be that helpful on this one... </p>
<p>The transfer process requires hair splitting. Last year we have 750 applicants for 20 spaces. The one piece of advice I have is to make you to address the academic change you would like to have. You want us to understand that your transfer desire is about more than just moving closer to Boston (hopefully a true thing).</p>
<p>^^^^
How obvious (great insight usually is, at least when examined after the fact :-). I can easily see Tufts getting 100 stellar transcripts and glowing recommendations each year. A clearly articulated "Why Tufts" then becomes extremely important. Hopefully transfer applicants are not asked to answer that question in 50 words or less.</p>
<p>Dan's answer is one more example how most posters on these boards, present company included, really do not have much of a clue what goes on during committee meetings.</p>
<p>Wow, only 20 spaces!</p>
<p>As difficult as it is to read stats like "20 out of 750 are accepted", I am satisfied now knowing more information about the transfer process at Tufts than before non-silent Dan and others replied :). I appreciate everyone's insightful comments and I'm excited to gear up for the application process! All we can do is our best, and I'm prepared to do just that. Thank you all!</p>