<p>Has anyone had the interview yet? Can you tell me what to expect? I'm really nervous that I'll mess up and eff up my chances at Tufts. Thanks!</p>
<p>I had my interview last week - it went really well and was very relaxed. I met my interviewer at a Friendly’s, and we just talked over ice cream. The interview lasted about 45 minutes and was very conversation-driven, rather than “ok, here’s a list of questions that you’re going to answer.” They focused A LOT on why Tufts was right for me and vice versa, much more so than other schools I’ve interviewed at, although that might have just been my interviewer. He also asked me why I was interested in my chosen major, what my favorite course had been in high school, what my favorite activity outside of school had been, if there was anything I was proud of, etc. It’s not stressful, so I wouldn’t worry. As long as you have a fair idea of why you want to attend the school and are prepared to talk about your favorite aspects/what you learned from high school, you’ll be fine. Good luck!</p>
<p>DO NOT WORRY about your interview.
It is NOT a test.
It is a pleasant conversation, usually with a very nice, enthusiastic alum who is happy to talk to you about you, your interests and Tufts.</p>
<p>Did you guys have to schedule one or did Tufts contact you about it?</p>
<p>In theory, they should contact you, according to this. [Alumni</a> Interview - Office of Undergraduate Admissions - Tufts University](<a href=“Tufts University”>Tufts University)
But if you haven’t heard anything, there’s no harm in checking with the Admissions Office and asking.</p>
<p>I called yesterday. They are working their way through EDII interviews and in three to four weeks will be contacting RD applicants for interviews.</p>
<p>I had my interview yesterday, and it was really relaxed. It was at her house. She asked a lot about the courses I was taking, my extracurriculars, and how I found out about Tufts. She told me a lot about herself, and like leilapasko focused on why Tufts was a good fit for me. All of my friends have had easy going conversations as well.</p>
<p>S1’s interviewer asked him what other top schools he’s applying to and if he has received any acceptances. Is this normal? I’m really concerned about the spectre of Tufts Syndrome.</p>
<p>Tufts Syndrome…? What does that mean?</p>
<p>PCP- I think that’s out of the norm, but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>Sorry, PaperChaserPop. I interview for Tufts, and our directions are specifically NOT to go into what other schools students are applying to. But we are all volunteers, and for some people, the topic is just to interesting to avoid. </p>
<p>As for the mythical Tufts Syndrome (the idea that Tufts rejects students that will opt instead to go down the street to Harvard or MIT), do not worry. I’ve seen plenty of data, and it does not exist.</p>
<p>Seashore, thanks for the post. I now feel much better now. I guess this is just an isolated instance particular to the interviewer. Still, I’m still surprised because this interviewer has been conducting interviews for many years.</p>
<p>Also (and perhaps Dan@Admiss could chime in on this) I seriously doubt the interview matters greatly for your admissions chances. I did not have an interview at all (too remote and rural a location, no Tufts alum volunteers lived within 100 miles of me, apparently) and I was admitted.</p>
<p>Did anyone else’s interviewer ask about what other colleges they applied to? Mine did…and it was sort of awkward to answer his questions. I told him I wanted to apply EDII to Tufts, but I’m not sure he caught the message that this is one of my first choices…</p>
<p>syc652, as I said above (post #11), Tufts specifically asks us not to ask about other schools, but it’s just so interesting that some interviewers just can’t help themselves. Do not worry, the admissions office knows how to filter out our volunteer-type mistakes.</p>
<p>Oh im so nervous! My interviewer contacted me and we’re meeting on the 1st! ahaha ill let you guys know how it goes!</p>
<p>my own interview went well. my interviewer spent some effort assuring me that his intent was not to promote tufts over any other institution and he stayed true to his assurance. my prospective majors at tufts (economics and international relations) incidentally happened to be the same majors he had done in his own time there, so we had some basis to discuss my interest in those subjects and in general my willingness to opt for a liberal arts curriculum. </p>
<p>during my columbia interview (for ED) the interviewer seemed intent on grilling me about what i hoped to achieve out of going to columbia, interrupting my responses to see if i’d stumble upon my own comments. at no point during my columbia interview did i feel truly at ease and the fact that we were in a law firm setting didn’t really help either. </p>
<p>for tufts on the other hand, beyond the obligatory why tufts (which didn’t really have to be asked as a question since in the process of telling my interviewer my high school history, he pretty much got to understand why i wanted to attend tufts) it was a very relaxed discussion about what i ,as an international student, could hope to achieve out of going to tufts, how tufts would serve as a bridge between my undergraduate aims and my career/graduate school expectations. we even talked about how as an undergrad you can attend events at the fletcher school and so on. </p>
<p>if you stay relaxed (the coffee shop setting helped here), and if you have an idea of why tufts would suit you, i think your interview will be just fine. having said that, leave your encyclopedic knowledge of tufts at the door and opt for honesty. if the prospect of having lunch with daniel dennett is really the reason you’re applying, share that but if it isn’t don’t try extra hard to come up with something unique when all you really need to be is sincere. </p>
<p>anyway, i shall stop rambling on and on here. again, good luck.</p>
<p>Mine was 3 hours long. I’m not sure whether that is a yay or nay.</p>
<p>Three hours! Not to worry, your interviewer liked you.</p>
<p>^Indeed. </p>
<p>Human Conversations 101: People don’t stick around a couple hours extra talking to an applicant they don’t like.</p>