Jumbo Magazine - Fall 2023

OPTIONAL REALLY DOES MEAN OPTIONAL

A few years ago, when the global pandemic first started, many colleges and universities took that time to reevaluate what was requested from applicants in order to keep them safe while still accurately assessing their academic qualifications. But as the years progressed, different institutions have made a wide variety of decisions regarding what is considered optional from applicants and what they require from everyone who applies. Below, I lay out what is optional and what is required from an applicant to Tufts this fall, and hopefully make the college search process a little easier to move through.

BY SAM NICOL, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS

BUT FIRST: IS IT REALLY OPTIONAL?

This is the question I am asked most often. In short, yes. If we say something is optional for your application to be considered competitive for admission, we really do mean that. At Tufts, we have had training for years now on how to evaluate applications with and without optional materials. We read all applications holistically, meaning we have no GPA or test score minimums and no one factor will “make-or-break” your application. The admissions committee reads and evaluates everything that is sent to us, and everything that we see is included in our conversations. If something is optional, that means we feel confident we can accurately evaluate your application for admission whether that piece is present or not. Now, let’s review all of the parts of the application that are considered optional and provide some context.

OPTIONAL PIECES

Standardized test scores

Probably the most confusing part of the college application process, at Tufts the SAT and ACT are both optional. There is no pressure to take them or send in your scores. Tufts has also extended our original test optional policy for the next three application cycles. That means that all students applying to Tufts for the fall of 2024, 2025, and 2026 are included. IMPORTANT NOTE: This policy is only for the SAT and ACT. English proficiency test scores ARE required for all students whose primary language is not English, unless they have been enrolled in a school where English is the language of instruction for at least the past three years.

Portfolios

Students applying to the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering at Tufts are welcome to send us an optional arts or maker portfolio. The portfolio is broadly inclusive. Many students will send us clips of music performances, theater shows, dance routines, studio art projects, or engineering creations that showcase their achievements and talents. IMPORTANT NOTE: All students applying to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) BFA program or the SMFA/Arts & Sciences Combined Degree program ARE required to send a fine art portfolio, the guidelines for which may be found online.

Alumni Interview

After submitting your application, there is an option to sign up for an evaluative interview with an alumnus or one of our senior student interviewers. You may request an interview on your Applicant Status Portal after your application has been received by our office. As there are more students who request an interview than we have the capacity to meet with, we do not hold it against any student who does not request an interview, or who requests one but is unable to receive an interview.

AND THAT IS IT FOR OPTIONAL PIECES!

Not too bad, right? You may be wondering if you should include any of the above pieces in your application this fall. I would recommend asking yourself this: “does this piece accurately reflect my abilities as a student/artist/engineer/person?” If yes, then consider submitting that piece. If no, then it is perfectly okay to not do so instead. I hope this article can help you set yourself up for success and lessen anxiety in the college admissions process. And if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Undergraduate Admissions Office. We’re here to help!