Tufts is a private research university just outside of Boston. While this blog is part of a series we are doing about getting into the schools of the New England Small Collegiate Athletic Conference (NESCAC), Tufts is kind of an outlier. While they are in the league… they aren’t that small of a school. They have just under 7k undergrads. While the other schools of the NESCAC are liberal arts schools, Tufts is very much a research university. They take a lot of pride in this as well.
So like, yeah, Tufts isn’t really small, but it is very New England. It’s campus is quintessentially Massachusetts suburban. They love their traditions, such as Tuftonia’s Day and the Cannon. Tufts is popular for its Econ, Bio, and IR majors, but they offer over 150 majors and minors.
Tufts has been getting more competitive to get into over recent years. Last year, their acceptance rate was 10.1%. That’s low. So, if you are serious about Tufts, you should ensure you are the best candidate you can be. But how? We are glad you asked.
What is Tufts looking for?
Tufts publishes a document called the Common Data Set every year. This document is a full slay for people who care too much about admissions data. In this set, they break down what factors they care about in an applicant.
Pay close attention to the columns marked “very important” and “important…” because they are well…. Important. Let’s look a little more closely.
One note about Tufts (Derogatory)
So maybe you have heard “Tufts Syndrome.” We apologize because we are about to sound like a drama YouTuber and start every sentence with “Allegedly.” Sorry if that makes Tufts sound like Ethan and Trisha getting exposed, but we aren’t trying to get sued. But, yeah, allegedly Tufts has had a problem, allegedly, with rejecting qualified candidates in the past.
Tufts Syndrome refers to a practice where schools reject students they see as overqualified and are likely not to attend if accepted. Pretty much if a school thinks that you are using them as a safety and more likely to go to Harvard, they are going to reject you to protect their ‘yield rate.’ They aren’t supposed to do this.
We can’t prove they are doing this or still do this…. But like the syndrome is named after them. So, how do you avoid this alleged practice? Demonstrate interest. Make it clear that Tufts isn’t a backup and you would go there if accepted.
Applying early gets around this. In 2021, the ED acceptance rate was 19%, as opposed to the overall acceptance rate of 11.4%. Applying early is usually a bump, but it might be extra worth it at Tufts.
If you aren’t up for going all in, you should at least show interest in other ways. Level of interest is considered for every candidate. Talk to your admissions rep or sign up for a tour/visit/info session. You want to establish these types of official communications to show your interest.
GPA, Class Rank, and Rigor
So, the first “very important” factors are all academic. Yes, academics are big at college. We hope that isn’t shocking. Tufts looks at your educational history in a couple of ways. Tufts have a list of required and recommended credits. The first step to being a good candidate is ensuring you have these credits. But it’s more than that.
You should also take these credits at a high level when possible. This looks different from high school to high school, but it just means taking AP, Honors, IB, or Dual Enrollment courses when possible. Challenge yourself by taking accelerated classes, and you will show rigor in your record.
If your school ranks, you should shoot for being in the top quarter of your class and, ideally, in the top 10%. If yours doesn’t, don’t worry about it. But you should still challenge yourself like you are gunning for a top-class spot.
Tufts also looks at your GPA but doesn’t track accepted GPA data. “Average accepted GPA” seems like a useful data point, but it really isn’t. Some high schools just grade harder than others. Plus, it depends on the classes you take. Not all 4.0s are equal. You should push yourself to get the best GPA you can. But don’t get hung up on GPA data overall because it doesn’t exist.
What about test scores?
Tufts is test optional. Only about 50% of admitted students submitted scores. But should you? Tufts considers scores if you submit them. However, you should only submit them if they are above or align with the average admitted scores.
We sometimes refer to the range that you should be in (or ideally better than) when it comes to scores as the middle 50%. It’s just the middle range of scores. For Tufts, that means from 34-35 on the ACT, 720-770 on SAT-ERW, and 750-790 on SAT-MATH. These scores are HIGH. If yours aren’t around the top end of this range, you can most likely skip submitting scores. If you are still unsure, reach out to us. We are happy to talk it over.
Recommendations, Essays, and Character/Personal Qualities
Ok, so no cap. There isn’t a section of the Tufts application called Character/Personal Qualities. However, showing off your character is very important. The main two places you can do that are in your recs and essays. While you can’t control what your teachers say about you, you can control your essays.
We write a lot about how to write a great common app essay. Like soooo many blogs. But if you just read one, we think it should be this one. However, if you need a crash course, all you really need to do is tell a good story that showcases some of your positive characteristics in a creative way. Ok, maybe that is a tall order for 650 words, but try your best and give yourself time to brainstorm, edit, and really make it shine.
Tufts also has a writing supplement. We have a blog dedicated to it, but again, if that is a bit too TLDR, they ask you to prove 2 things: You have a good reason for applying to the school (it should be well researched and mostly academics) and have interesting academic interests. They aren’t hard questions, but you want your answers to show you are serious about the school and about learning.
Extracurriculars and Talent/Ability
These factors are important but a step behind the others we discussed. Still, you should strive to show off your talents through an impressive extracurricular resume. The biggest tip for building a great resume is committing to your passions. Colleges are not impressed by students who do a club or even 10 clubs for one hour a week. They want to see you grow in your interests, take on responsibilities, and commit to doing what they love. See how far you can take your passions, whatever they are.
Plus, if you have volunteer or work experience on that resume, they love to see that. However, same as before, volunteering for an hour once a month won’t impress anyone. You want to commit to your jobs or volunteer positions.
Getting into Tufts is hard, but we can help. If you need us, reach out here.