Tufts Offers Extra Essay Option

To Gauge Desired Non-Academic Traits of Applicants

Angela Januzzi

July 11, 2007

This past year Tufts University has initiated an unorthodox approach to determining undergraduate acceptance into the school. While high school curriculum, grades, and SAT scores are still all the primary areas of evaluation for admissions, the university has begun to offer the option of writing an additional essay as a gauge of non-academic traits in potential students.

The new optional essays, of which there are eight possible prompts, vary from questions such as this past year’s question, “What do you think are more interesting: Gorillas or guerillas?” through non-verbal choices—such as creating whatever the student can imagine making from an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. The school implemented the option in hopes of identifying students whose dedication, creativity, or interest in working towards the common good may not be reflected by their academic record. A student is not guaranteed admission if he or she is “tagged” due to an impressive optional essay, but it does increase that student’s chances.

Though the new process attracted some criticism at first for its holistic qualities, but about 55% of those who were “tagged” after choosing to write the extra optional essays were ultimately admitted. The new extra essay option has also promoted—inadvertently—a higher rate of diversity in admissions at Tufts, resulting in a 3% increase of minority admissions up from last year’s enrollment.

As the new essay option has increased acceptance from areas and schools in Boston not usually admitted, experts are taking notice that the process may indeed yield a crop of successful college students who would not otherwise have been considered. “In education, imagination is extremely important and the current process does not encourage creativity, imagination, courage, wondering, or civic-mindedness,” said Lloyd Thacker, Education Conservancy founder. “It encourages gamesmanship, competition, managing your high school career to please a dean.Tufts seems to be sending different messages. I like that.”

Source: L Jaschik, Scott. “New View of Admissions.” www.insidehighered.com. Posted: July 11, 2007.