Applying to college in the United States is an objectively hectic situation. There are so many different colleges (literally, thousands), and they each come with their own lists of requirements, expectations, likes, and dislikes. Then add on the testing requirements or suggestions, and it’s all really a big mess. If you’re looking at applying to U.S. colleges as an international student, this already chaotic system can feel positively daunting. We’re experts at making applying to U.S. colleges simple, and in this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know if you’re an international student considering Tufts University.
Tufts University is a top-tier research university in Medford, Massachusetts, just northwest of Boston. While Tufts is home to globally-renowned graduate and professional programs, its foundation is an outstanding undergraduate community made up of 6,800 students across three schools and four local campuses. Tufts is international at its core. There are 80 countries represented across the undergrad student body, and international students make up about 12% of the undergraduate population.
One of the things that attracts students from around the world to Tufts is that it offers the benefits of a large research university in a collaborative setting more akin, culturally, to a liberal arts school. There are deep research opportunities, and they foster a passion for exploration. About 45% of students study abroad. There is also a strong athletic tradition, and a passionate on-campus community. All of this makes Tufts highly sought-after, and the acceptance rate is only 9.7%.
If you’re excited about the idea of attending Tufts, send us an email. We specialize in helping outstanding students from around the world get into their dream schools.
What is Tufts looking for in International Students?
At Tufts, international students go through the same application process as all other first-year students, and students are evaluated “within the context of their national academic system.” There are still some things, though, that you’ll need to keep in mind as you apply that may be different from the school system you’re coming from. Below we’ll break down the most important factors in admission to Tufts and how you can make them work in your favor as you prepare to apply.
Courses + Grades
At Tufts, the admissions officials are trained to understand the educational systems and “evaluating credentials” used in countries around the world — so they won’t be confused by your application. That said, there are foundations that they expect all students to have that not all school systems automatically fulfill. It’s important that you keep these expectations in mind as you select courses.
Not all U.S. colleges have required course distribution minimums, but Tufts does. They require that all applicants take a minimum of the following to even be considered for admission:
English/Lit: 4 years
Math: 3 years
Science: 3 years
Foreign language: 3 years
Social Studies: 3 years
It is really important to the Tufts admissions team that you strive to exceed these minimums in at least some of the subject areas, and especially the areas related to your prospective major. They care deeply about seeing evidence of intellectual inquiry and academic curiosity that goes beyond the minimum, and they want to see top grades in those classes. As you pick courses, aim to take the hardest classes you can perform well in, as Tufts expects to see nearly all As, especially in subjects connected to what you want to study in college. Taking the hardest classes you have access to also shows something else Tufts prioritizes: intellectual inquiry and academic curiosity. They want students who strive, so show them that you’re naturally inclined to explore and seek understanding. If you feel your school doesn’t offer courses that fit the bill, consider supplementing with summer programs or courses at a local college that allows high school or non-degree-seeking students.
Extracurriculars
Tufts looks for students who are “Intellectually Playful. Kind. Collaborative. Civically Engaged. Globally Minded.” So, how should you address these in your application? The best way to exhibit them is in your essays and through your extracurriculars.
The admissions team knows that not all students will have the same opportunities available to them, and that’s especially true for international students who may attend a school or live in a community where the range of opportunities outside of the classroom is narrower. That doesn’t exempt you from their expectations entirely though, and it is actually more important for international students than any other applicants that you show that you embody the Tufts principles at your core. Let’s take it piece-by-piece.
Intellectually Playful: Show that you are intellectually playful in how you engage with subjects you are passionate about not simply during school hours, but outside of the classroom as well. This may be through a student group or program, but it’s just as good (or even better) if it’s independent exploration. If you love engineering, maybe you built a bridge over a stream. If you are passionate about story, maybe you intern at a local literary magazine.
Kind: Kindness can be shown in how you support others. Instead of focusing solely on the places where you are a leader and instead of emphasizing how you are in charge, focus instead on individual, meaningful relationships, and interactions. Writing about a relationship with a sibling, a child you watch, or a mentee can be a great way to do this.
Collaborative: Applying to college is inherently all about you — you’ll be the one going there, after all — but this shouldn’t be the ‘you’ show. Instead, you should aim to frame ‘you’ within a community of peers, classmates, community members, and teammates who you lean on and support in kind.
Civically Engaged: Tufts wants students who care about others and who are doing something to support their community. Long-term volunteering with a local organization is a great way to show this. Pick up a weekly shift at a local food pantry, coach a developmental sports league, rally friends together to raise money or collect goods for a cause you care about, or do something else that builds connection within your community while supporting people in need.
Globally Minded: Simply living outside of the United States doesn’t fulfill the requirement for a student to be globally-minded, or at least it doesn’t for Tufts. To show that you have a broad worldview, seek out an activity, something like writing for a school newspaper, that shows care for areas and issues outside of your daily lived experience. Something we do not recommend here, and that we see on a lot of international student applications, is volunteering abroad. While many students are attracted to short-term volunteering trips to other countries or far-off communities, pay-to-play opportunities do little to reflect who you are. Instead, focus on engaging with global issues through education, service, and advocacy at home.
Standardized Tests
Tufts is test optional in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, so you can choose whether to have your SAT or ACT scores considered as part of your application. Most recently, 56% of recently accepted and enrolled students chose to have their scores considered, and that number is likely to go up as more students go back to pre-COVID testing plans. If you are going to submit scores, there are minimum scores you should shoot for — these would place you in the middle 50% of accepted applicants, which would mean your scores are helping your application rather than potentially undermining it.
In addition, you’ll be required to submit proof of English proficiency if English is not your first language and you’ve not been “enrolled in an English instruction school for at least three years.” You can choose to take the TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or Duolingo test, and there is no minimum score, but students who are admitted generally receive a minimum of the following:
TOEFL (internet-based): 100+
IELTS: 7+
PTE: 68+
Duolingo: 130+
There are some versions of the TOEFL and IELTS that do not fulfill the testing requirement, so be sure to check that you are meeting the requirement before submitting.
Final Thoughts
There are a few last things we want to be sure to hit on to help you put together the strongest application you can. First, Tufts meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for every admitted undergraduate student, regardless of citizenship, but you will be expected by Tufts, and as part of the student visa process, to be able to show that you are able to finance your cost of education after any support Tufts determines you are eligible for.
They also seek to support the Tufts international population with everything from adjusting to living in the U.S. to building community to navigating the legal and financial process of studying in the US through the International Center (I-Center), which was founded in 1952.
The Global Orientation program is another unique Tufts offering that potential international students should know about! This pre-orientation program introduces international and globally-minded students to the Boston area and to each other, so they can “form intercultural connections and lifelong friendships.”
At Tufts, you can pursue excellence in academics and in community in a supportive, tight-knit environment that seeks out the best students — domestic and international — from around the world to come together outside of Boston to work to change the world.
As you prepare to apply to Tufts, it’s important to recognize that simply being from somewhere else isn’t interesting on its own. Tufts wants students who stand out regardless of geographic location, and who are informed by their experiences and who seek out opportunities proactively no matter their resources.
Showing that you fit the bill requires storytelling, and it just so happens that we’re experts in helping students like you tell their stories. So, send us an email.