Tufts is a private research university in Medford, Massachusetts, and you can read more about their transfer requirements here. We’re breaking down the prompt that is required of every Tufts transfer applicant below. However, additional questions will populate after you’ve chosen what school and program you’re applying to. Because we don’t know your life and/or what program our blog readers are interested in, we’re only going over the question that everyone will be asked. Don’t forget to check for the other questions once you’ve written this one.
Please provide a statement that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve. 250-650 words
Despite their repeated mention of the word “quirky” in their regular application, Tufts goes the traditional route with their transfer student supplement. To respond to their by the book question, there are a few key points that you need to hit, detailed below:
You want to start by telling Tufts your origin story, which is a brief story about how your academic interests started. This is a great way for the admissions team to get to know you and to soften things up a bit before you start writing about your strong desire to take COMPSCI347. A lot of students that we work with initially try to overwrite their origin story, but that’s not necessary. Something as simple as keeping a diary about your favorite books as a child, and ranking them in order of preference, is a good way to explain to your interest in majoring in English. Keep it simple, set the scene, and then explicitly state that you want to major in (insert major here) at Tufts.
At some point in your essay, and we say some point because you’ll still need to restructure things after you gather these facts, you need to address your reasons for wanting to transfer. We initially choose colleges for countless reasons, and it is okay to say that you made the wrong decision. Just make sure that you explain exactly why you want to transfer to Tufts, and not just transfer in general. Write about what your school is lacking, and in the sections that follow, you’ll dive into how Tufts meets those needs.
Next up is academics. You should declare your major and pick two upper-level classes that you want to take. It’s crucial that the classes you choose will advance your academic goals, and that you’re “qualified” in some way to take the class. This means that you should choose classes that will elevate what you’re currently learning about, but focus on subject matter that you’re already pursuing. If you’re hoping to major in History, you might choose classes from a specific time period or region. If Political Science is your thing, is it foreign policy or global politics that you’re hoping to specialize in? Set aside a lot of time for research and get specific. While you’re in the throes of your deep dive, you should also find a professor who you’d like to work with. Tufts has a lot of research opportunities, and by relying on the courses that you’ve taken, the projects that you’ve done, and the internships and jobs that you’ve had, you should explain why you’d be an ideal fit to research with X professor.
Tufts has an insanely high number of student organizations, and a vast majority of students are involved. They’re looking for people who are passionate about their outside of the classroom pursuits, so you should find a club or group that aligns with your resume, and tell them why you want to join. Options are aplenty, and if nothing catches your eye, that means that you’re either not looking hard enough, or Tufts is not the place to you.
After you’ve gathered all of the information, take a look at what you have. How can you transform the facts into a story about you? Think about narrative structure, flip it on its head, and try different ideas out until you’re happy with the final product. Ultimately, your essay should read as a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
If you’re not sure where to start, contact us here.