<p>So I thought about everything generic that I could write about, and decided to do the opposite. But I am worried that it maybe too ridiculous, that my true point is lost or vague. So please, all comments will help!</p>
<p>I could say that Tufts is the choice for me because of its academic prestige and its extensive assortment of course offerings that encourages the complete understanding of the increasingly global world that we live in. But Im applying to Tufts because I like bad art. There is something indescribable, unexpected, and wonderful about it, somehow invoking a smile in me a feeling of happiness. The Museum of Bad Art is highly reflective of Tufts, the unassuming and cheerful school in an unexpected location. One that does not take itself too seriously, but yet excels at what it does. Its all about the bad art.</p>
<p>There is no such thing as too ridiculous. I sent Tufts a letter that had a “Top 10 Random Facts About Me List” (with 11 facts), written in scented, glitter markers and decorated with Disney princess stickers. Also I said that the number 1 reason I wanted to go to Tufts was that we get to play with puppies during finals. They still accepted me. Seriously, I know this sounds clich</p>
<p>Also, but yet is redundant. Cutting down the word count!</p>
<p>For better or for worst, it seems like the tufts admissions dept likes silly/goofy things. If you can say something important/profound then go for it.</p>
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I don’t know if I’d say that. The preference that I most acutely see is towards students who write and talk about the intellectual facets of their life, and who do so in an honest way. Goofiness that isn’t cut with an intellectual current isn’t going to go far. </p>
<p>As a group, I think we (the admissions officers) can often be silly/goofy, like the day we wore fake mustaches in committee, but we’re serious about building a class of thinkers. </p>
<p>If you see a willingness for us to expose that goofiness to you, and to be excited about people geeking out about Glee or Sherlock Holmes or whatever, it’s because we know that you (the applicants) don’t always feel comfortable doing that. No joke, on the Facebook page there are a couple of students lamenting how their teachers told them they shouldn’t use contractions in their admissions essays because it’s “unprofessional.” And I know that’s not uncommon advice - I was stunned at the complete BS that my own cousin was hearing from her English teacher about her college essays. </p>
<p>We expect you to be 17, or 18, or whatever age you are. We expect that you’ll occasionally express naivety, or silliness, or an unexpected obsession with Kate Beaton (that last one is mine, I’ll admit). But we also expect you to be smart. I, for one, do not believe those qualities are mutually exclusive, and often I find that the best examples of a candidates smartness comes when they are paying the least attention to how they are “supposed” to sound.</p>
<p>Edit: Eek. That was a longer response that I’d have guessed I’d write. Hope it helps.</p>
<p>My son wrote that he liked Tufts because of the chalk (advertising events on sidewalks). But he did show a more serious side elsewhere! </p>
<p>I wouldn’t write what you’ve written to be goofy, but the reasons you’ve given here sound fine (and similar to what my son felt all that chalk meant).</p>