Why Tufts? The Rewrite

WE ASK CURRENT STUDENTS TO TACKLE THE NEW TUFTS SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

JOSHUA COHEN ’24 COMMUNITY HEALTH MAJOR FROM SARASOTA, FL

When not indulging in his preferred espresso drinks at The Sink, Josh can be found socializing with peers and brainstorming in the Science and Engineering Complex. During his free time, he enjoys exploring the neighboring areas of Somerville and Medford, and relishes fall picnics on Pres Lawn. Josh, much like other Tufts students, harbors diverse interests spanning various fields and topics, including community and population health, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and rights-based approaches to health. Hailing from a small independent school in Florida, Josh is excited by the opportunities available at Tufts and the sunny (pun intended!), welcoming community that has embraced him here.

Complete the following sentence in 100 words or less: “I am applying to Tufts because…”

It’s not often that astrophysicists, cheese connoisseurs (yes, we are a college campus with a cheese club), sketch comedians, and textile artists can find a middle ground, but at Tufts, we throw convention out of the window. Although my academic interests vary from biochemistry to the phonology of whistling languages and psychodynamic theory, Tufts provides a space where students don’t feel as though they must be pigeonholed into a particular area of study. Jumbos are genuinely invested in the success of their peers, openly collaborate across disciplines, and actively seek out opportunities to lift each other up. These characteristics not only resonate with me—they define the kind of person I intend to become.

It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity (200–250 words).

I have a confession: I love reality television. Often when I share my appreciation for reality TV, people shrug off its value and relegate the entire genre to the lowly rank of “guilty pleasure.” More recently, I have come to challenge this commonly held assumption. While many dismiss the value that reality TV offers, I have grown to appreciate the complexity in our relationship with escapist entertainment. As a student with specific interests in the underlying mechanisms of human behavior and conceptions of self, it has become increasingly clear to me how reality TV functions as a unique lens through which we can explore human self-interest, structures of capitalism, and our own uncertainties about social capital and power. Even though we may at times feel disempowered and vulnerable in our own lives, reality TV and other popular media may equip us with empowering psychological tools, such as self-awareness and empathy.

Ultimately, I am fascinated by our shared preoccupation with what is called “guilty pleasure media” and its reflection of our very innate human need to hear and share stories—to bear witness to the existence of others and hope that others acknowledge us, too. I am driven to challenge myself to think deeper about what may first appear one-dimensional and continue to curiously observe the human condition.