Tufts is a private research university in the suburbs of Boston, and it wants to be your quirky aunt. By that we mean it has academics on par with top-tier schools and flaunts an intentionally eccentric school spirit. Case in point: Tuftonians also go by the nickname “Jumbos,” a reference to the school’s mascot (P. T. Barnum’s famous circus elephant). With a class size typical of a New England liberal arts school, Tufts has gotten increasingly selective. The incoming class of 2026 includes 1,695 enrolled students and has an admission rate of 9.7%.
The Tufts supplement is pretty manageable — just 2 questions — but they’re looking for a specific type of student, so we’ll dive into how you should tackle these responses to have the best shot at acceptance.
Question #1
Complete this sentence in 100 words or less: “I am applying to Tufts because…”
At first glance, this prompt is deceptively simple. 100 words? Or LESS? Ca-ching, some might say. But, alas, they would ca-ching in error. 100 words is on the shorter end of a devastating Azealia Banks roast delivered via Instagram comment reply. It is the bare minimum for a notes app apology.
The cut-and-dry of it is that Tufts wants to be sure applicants really want to go to Tufts. It’s like a failed promposal — if your date finds out they were the back-up plan, they aren’t gonna go with you. (And then what was the stretch Hummer limo rental all for?!)
In this case, you don’t have a ton of space, but try to hit the major points we recommend in our “why this college” blog. To demonstrate that Tufts specifically enables you to achieve your goals in your field of study, you should reference programs specific to Tufts (like the Tufts Civic Semester), upper-level course offerings, research done by notable faculty, and opportunities outside of the classroom. We suggest you try to fit at least one academic and one extracurricular reference.
Question #2
The format of this question is new this year, so pay close attention. Tufts has three undergraduate colleges — the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts, the School of Arts & Sciences, and the School of Engineering — and prospective SMFA students answer a different question than other applicants.
In 200-250 words, applicants to the SMFA program must answer the following:
Art has the power to disrupt our preconceptions, shape public discourse, and imagine new ways of being in the world. What are the ideas you’d like to explore in your work?
The SMFA offers a Bachelor in Fine Arts, meaning it blends a liberal arts foundation with a dedication to the generative practice of a fine art. As you can tell, this question aims to get at the intersection of the theoretical and the creative to make sure that prospective students have a passion for artistic production as well as a conceptual framework for that artistry.
In responding to this question, you should communicate that you share their mission of supporting “art that makes a difference.” What is it you hope to learn through a formal study, and what do you want your art to do? This is where you elaborate on your own project, connect it to the field at large, and tie it in with the artistic philosophy at Tufts.
Question #2 But Different
Applicants to either the School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering have a different second supplement, but they have three different questions to choose from when answering (again with 200-250 words). We’ll review your options here so you can pick the one best suited to you.
It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity?
We think this question is pretty fun, and it’s a great example of Tufts’ general mood and what they’re going for.
You can talk about a topic related to your intended major, but it’s also a great place to reveal another interest or show a different side of your personality. The only real caveat is to actually be yourself — if you sound formal, like you’re trying to impress a reader and knotted your tie so tight you can’t breath right, you’re getting the vibe wrong. Think of this as less of a handshake and more of a high-five.
If, gun to our head, we had to nerd out, we might tell you about the time we stayed up until 4 in the morning on a school night reading about the immortal jellyfish (Turritopsis dohrnii) and Shin Kubota, the researcher who has devoted his life to researching the species, writing albums about these marine wonders, and singing his own songs at karaoke every day after work (why aren’t we all talking about this???? can we get these bangers charting???). Anyway, that’s an example of what we might do. Just, you know, hypothetically speaking.
How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?
If that first option is out of your comfort zone, this question might feel more approachable. Growing up in the hill country in Texas two miles down the road from multiple generations of extended family is radically different from being an only child in Chicago and getting to know your neighbors working at your parents’ Persian restaurant.
Tell us a story to help us inhabit your personal world — the images, the distinctive scents, the people, the unpredictable overheards. Once you’ve set the scene, tell us what you’ve learned from this place or community. Whatever you talk about, it should leave the reader feeling like they’ve just had a real conversation and gotten to know somebody new.
Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.
This question points more broadly toward the vital pillars of diversity, equity, and inclusion and the shared social values that Tufts upholds, as well as its commitment to continual collective and self-improvement.
This is a great question, but only for someone who has done a lot of conscious community building, justice work, or antiracist activism. Remember that the point of supplements is to stand out. If you haven’t substantively engaged with community work, you’ll be wasting limited space on an answer where you don’t have much to contribute.
The Long-Short of It All
These supplemental questions are, truly, short, but your answers should be well-considered responses that fit into your overall strategy of showing you understand Tufts’ energy and consider it one of your top choices. Choose the prompt that fits you best, and you’ll be good to go!
Still not sure where to start? We’re here to help! Contact us here.