tufts essays 2024

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Tufts Supplemental Essays 2024-25 – Prompts and Advice

July 26, 2024

Tufts University has long been a highly selective school. Yet, the acceptance rate has been hovering around 10% for three years now. As at any college that rejects more than 9 of every 10 applicants who apply (the overwhelming majority of whom are supremely qualified), aspiring Jumbos need every single component of their application to shine brightly. The Tufts supplemental essays are one such area of focus.

(Want to learn more about How to Get Into Tufts? Visit our blog entitled:  How to Get Into Tufts University: Admissions Data and Strategies  for all of the most recent admissions data as well as tips for gaining acceptance.)

Given this unprecedented level of selectivity, Tufts University’s supplemental section offers applicants a crucial opportunity to showcase their writing ability by generating powerful and detail-rich essays that will stand out to an admissions officer.

Tufts Supplemental Essay Question #1

We will ask all applicants to complete this sentence in 100 words or less:

“I am applying to Tufts because…”

Tufts University is getting right down to business with this prompt. View this essay as akin to ending up in an elevator with a potential investor with 20 seconds to sell your million-dollar idea. In this “elevator pitch” essay, you only have 100 words to communicate why Tufts is a perfect match for you. As such, this one is going to require a fair amount of school-specific research. Further, plan on a good deal of editing in order to tighten up your essay enough to stay under the word limit.

How to write a winning “Why Tufts?” essay

• What appeals to you about Tufts’ mission, curriculum structure, or academic offerings?
• How will you take advantage of the university’s vast resources both inside and outside of the classroom?
• How will you become an active, contributing member of the student body?
• Cite specific academic programs, professors, research opportunities, internship/externship programs, study abroad programs, student-run organizations, etc. (as in the examples below).

Tufts Supplemental Essays (Continued)

Below are some examples of unique facts about tufts university that you may find helpful as you brainstorm your response:.

• There are 41 arts and performance groups on campus for the artistically-inclined.
• There are 300 total student organizations in which you can participate—pick one or two to elaborate on.
• Students are able to double major across colleges.
• With a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, two-thirds of undergraduate sections are kept under 20 students.
• There are numerous undergraduate research programs and scholarships at Tufts. Which one appeals to you and what would you research?
• 40% of juniors study abroad and Tufts boasts a number of notable programs in Beijing, Chile, Ghana, London, and more.
• Tufts has a flexible curriculum structure.
• The Experimental College is a one-of-kind program.
• Tufts offers internship grants to a number of non-profit and government posts.
• An annual Undergraduate Research and Scholarship Symposium presents an exciting opportunity to present your original work to faculty.

Of course, these are just 10 out of the countless features that could be part of a successful essay. As you enter the prewriting stage, you’ll want to decide which elements will provide the most needle-moving value.

Tufts University Supplemental Essay Question #2

For applicants to the School of Arts & Sciences or School of Engineering:

Choose 1 of 3 (250 words):

A) It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity?

In our experience, this is the prompt that applicants tend to select most often, primarily because the “Why Tufts?” essay is so short, students don’t feel they have enough space to talk about the academic discipline they hope to study at the university.

Whether it’s a general love for math/science or literature or a specific interest in aerospace engineering or 19th century French novels, use this opportunity to share what makes you tick, the ideas that keep you up at night, and what subject inspires you to dream big. What topic makes you read books and online content until your eyes bleed? Share the manner in which you relentlessly pursue knowledge. Whether it’s falling down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about the nature of time or consuming thousands of hours of podcasts on game theory, this is a chance to illustrate the ways in which you are an obsessive learner with an endless thirst for information.

The admissions reader should emerge with the sense that you are a sincerely curious person with a strong intellectual drive. If that curiosity can be tied into your intended area of study, all the better!

B) How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?

This essay encourages you to describe how your environment/experiences have shaped you into the present version of yourself. Perhaps your family/home (parent, grandparent, sibling) was a powerful force in your growth and development, or a specific community—be it ethnic, religious, neighborhood, or sports-related, among many others—was particularly impactful. Alternatively, an experience you had or a challenge you faced could have been quite formative. Whatever you choose, use your writing ability to show the admissions officer how your environment and/or experiences contributed to the person you are now. How did it impact your perspective and the way you engage with others?

C) Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.

Some students may have more direct experience with social justice than others, but—no matter your background—this is an opportunity to demonstrate that you care about justice and fairness in your local community as well as the global community. If applicable, you can speak about a time when you spoke up for a peer in a moment of need. Or, alternatively, share an instance when you got involved in a larger cause or movement (politics, activism, volunteer work, etc.). If you don’t have a deeply personal story to tell in this realm, you’ll want to select a different prompt. While there’s nothing wrong with simply articulating your basic beliefs in the values of inclusion, equity, tolerance, and diversity, it doesn’t necessarily make for the most compelling essay.

If you do choose this essay prompt, draw on past evidence of your commitment to being a positive force in your community and speculate how that is likely to manifest on Tufts’ campus. Research and cite Tufts’ student-run organizations, local nonprofit groups, or anything else you are drawn to. Drawing the link between your past efforts and future aims is critical here.

How important are the supplemental essays?

Tufts views six factors as being “very important” to their applicant evaluation process. These are: the rigor of one’s coursework, the GPA earned, class rank, recommendations, character/personal qualities, and—most relevant for our purposes here—the essays.

For all essays, we recommend heeding the advice of one Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Tufts University who stated: “Be yourself. When writing your essays, you don’t have to sound like you already have your PhD (spoiler: we know you don’t—you’re applying for an undergraduate program). Instead, employ a voice in your writing that feels authentically you, exploring the topics you actually care about. That’s the voice that will help you stand out in our process.”

Tufts Supplemental Essays – Want Personalized Assistance?

If you are interested in working with one of College Transitions’ experienced and knowledgeable essay coaches as you craft your Tufts supplemental essays, we encourage you to get a quote  today.

Need additional writing resources? Check out the following blogs:

• Common App Essay Prompts
• 10 Instructive Common App Essay Examples
• College Application Essay Topics to Avoid
• How to Quickly Format Your Common App Essay
• Should I Complete Optional College Essays?
• How to Brainstorm a College Essay
• 25 Inspiring College Essay Topics
• “Why This College?” Essay Examples
• How to Write the Community Essay
• College Essay

Dave Bergman

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).

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Tufts University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Early Decision: Nov 4

Regular Decision Deadline: Jan 6

Tufts University 2024-25 Application Essay Question Explanations 

The Requirements: 1 essay of 100 words; 1 essay of 200-250 words.

Supplemental Essay Type: Why , Oddball , Community

Think outside the box as you answer the following questions. Take a risk and go somewhere unexpected. Be serious if the moment calls for it, but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too. 

Applicants to the school of arts & sciences or the school of engineering:, please respond to one of the following three prompts in 200-250 words:, it’s cool to love learning. what excites your intellectual curiosity and why.

Tufts wants to accept intellectually curious applicants, so why not use this opportunity to rant and rave about your current obsession? Maybe you find marine life to be absolutely fascinating, and you’ve been reading up on the most dangerous creatures in the deep dark sea (and their preferred prey, of course). Or maybe you are super interested in Greek mythology and have been voraciously reading every book you can find on Poseidon and his many adventures. When was the last time you went down an internet rabbit hole trying to research something? When were you extremely motivated to solve a problem or create something new? What was the last fact or skill you learned outside of school that truly captured your imagination? The bottom line here is to discuss examples of what truly fascinates you, while also reflecting on what these examples say about your personality traits, interests, or learning style.

How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?

This is a classic community essay, through and through. Admissions wants to know what or who has made you into the person you are today. Where do you come from? What has shaped you as a person, and how has that made your perspective unique? What you focus on here can be reflective of larger cultural constructs or specific to you and only you. Tufts is looking to add diverse perspectives to the melting pot that is their student body. Is there anything you can teach your classmates about your hometown, traditions, culture, cuisine, orientation, identity, race, or ethnicity that they might not already know? Were you raised in a Muslim family in a small southern town? Do you identify as trans or queer? Were you adopted as a child? What has influenced your identity? What do you believe and how will your worldview bring something of value to the community at Tufts?

Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.

First of all, let us remind you that your “community” can be just about anything, from your neighborhood to your family to your comedy troupe. Pick a community that means something to you and the diversity narrative will fall into place. Maybe your progressive church welcomes people of all sexualities and gender identities, and you developed a brand new youth group for queer and questioning teens. Perhaps your school is incredibly homogenous and isolated, and you helped your Spanish class organize Skype chats with a school in Guatemala to learn more about different parts of the world while developing your Spanish skills. No matter your starting point, be sure you tell a clear story with a beginning, middle, and end that demonstrates your commitment to creating inclusive environments. It might be tempting to pen a vivid description of your community and leave it at that, but the point of an essay like this is to tell a story about you and your contributions.

Applicants to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts:

Please respond to the following prompt in 200-250 words:, 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   .

Tufts wants to know what kinds of ideas keep you up at night. Your response doesn’t need to have static answers that will stay with you, of course; your ideas will change over your evolving life as an artist, but now is the time to try to pin down a basic explanation of what your art means to you, what it addresses, and for bonus points: why you want to spend the rest of your life immersed in it. Ultimately, like with all written components of your application, it’s integral to be highly specific and use personal details to bring your essay to life. This isn’t the place to be modest or undersell yourself; present your work proudly and succinctly, and admissions is sure to be impressed. Inspiration can be infectious, so be passionate and take them on a journey into your mind.

In addition, we will ask all applicants to complete this sentence in 100 words or less:

“i am applying to tufts because…” .

Well, well, well… the admissions department wants to know why you hope to attend Tufts University next fall. What a surprise. Start by browsing the Tufts website and reminding yourself why this school is on your list to begin with! Does Tufts offer a specific major that’s hard to find at other institutions? Is there a professor you’d really like to learn from or a club you want to join? What do you have to offer Tufts’ community? Maybe your favorite classes are the ones in which you and your peers discuss literature and debate symbolism. Perhaps you are the punniest person you know and think this core part of your character will help you assimilate into Tufts’ playful culture smoothly. Whatever your reasoning may be, share it with admissions—and be concise! 

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How to write the tufts university essays, updated for 2024-2025, short responses:.

Think outside the box as you answer the following questions. Take a risk and go somewhere unexpected. Be serious if the moment calls for it, but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too.

Applicants to the School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering:

Please respond to one of the following three prompts in 200-250 words:

• It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity and why?
• How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?
• Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.

Applicants to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts:

Please respond to the following prompt in 200-250 words:

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?

Required Prompt:

Please complete the following statement: “I am applying to Tufts because…” (50-100 words)

Explanation:

This short essay is a classic “Why this school?” essay. It should highlight your knowledge of the unique opportunities at Tufts and your own special interests and perspectives. Start by conducting some in-depth research on Tufts’ website in order to find academic programs, research opportunities, extracurricular activities and student groups, and unique aspects of student life that interest you. Focus on linking your past experiences and passions to your plans for making the most of your potential time at Tufts.

For example, if you’re a high school senior who is interested in global politics, involved in Model UN, and aspires to become a diplomat, you should refer to these specific aspects of your profile and write about the resources at Tufts that will help you reach your professional goals. You might mention how Tufts’ 1+4 Bridge Year Program will broaden your perspectives on global issues and service learning, or discuss how you could complement your International Relations major with Tufts’ Peace and Justice Studies minor. If you have any other special connections to Tufts—whether a campus visit and tour or a friend or sibling who attended Tufts and raved about any special features of its academic or student culture–these details may also find their way into your essay.

I am applying to Tufts because I flourish when surrounded by inspiration. John Wong, David Kaplan, Andrew Levey—all world-renowned professors in medicinal practice who could serve as my instructors or mentors. The Centers for Cognitive Studies and STEM Diversity, which will ground my studies in practical research. Clubs like Doctors Without Borders, TEMS, and Project SHARE, where I can make life-long friends while still working to improve the lives of others. At Tufts, I barely have to turn my head to find a community of driven, collaborative minds who will help propel my academic and personal journey forward.

School of Arts & Sciences and School of Engineering Prompts:

Option A: It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity and why?

With this prompt, Tufts’ admissions committee is inviting you to “nerd out.” More specifically, this essay should allow the reader to actually sense your excitement for a specific subject or to understand a foundational academic experience that provided the spark for your continued studies in college. For the former, try to hone in on a particular unique interest within your intended field(s) of study. Instead of writing about how much you enjoy reading, for example, you can distinguish yourself from other prospective English majors by writing about your love of the 17th-century Metaphysical poets, the short story that turned you into an aspiring novelist, or how you noticed that the TV series Dickinson’s cinematography parallels the mood of some of Emily Dickinson’s poems. Alternatively, if you’ve had an educational experience that was particularly powerful, such as an immersive Mock Trial program, attending an intensive academic summer camp, or conducting research in a lab, you could write about how the experience influenced you and shaped your passions and goals.

Since I was little, I always dreamed of being a mermaid. The tail, the salt-blown hair, the limitless number of marine friends; could life get any better? In fact, I was so committed to this career path that by the age of eight, I was already conducting my own experiments to showcase my aquatic abilities. At the beach, I’d dig my hands into the smooth, wet sand and furrow my brows as I manipulated incoming waves with my mind. At the pool, I diligently trained my lung capacity to prepare for life beneath the waves. (I could hold my breath for more than two minutes!)

Flash-forward nine years, and I still long to be one with the water. However, the experiments on sandy shoals have since relocated to muddy estuaries, where I spend my weekends collecting brackish water samples and shipping them off for testing in a local lab. I may not have a tail, but my work uniform does include a pretty snazzy fishing bib. I even found my long-lost marine friends in the form of fish, frogs, and crabs. Some may consider this a downgrade from my previous aspiration, but I feel at home wading along the silty shores. Not just hearing about nature, but touching it, smelling it, tasting it; these are the moments that tell me I’m headed down the right path. So despite the minor adjustments, I can confidently say that I’m living up to my childhood dreams.

Option B: How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?

This prompt asks you to reflect on the world you come from and how your background has shaped your worldview. Rather than listing communities that you are a part of, hone in on one and illustrate its impact through a specific anecdote. As you share how this environment or experience shaped you, it is important to think about and clearly express your unique perspective and what you can bring to campus that no one else can. This may be related to a geographic identity, a religious community, a unique intersection of identities that you occupy, a family background, a place of work, a school you attend or have attended, or any other environment that has been meaningful to you. What are the life lessons you’ve gleaned from growing up in your particular neighborhood, or in your particular family? What are the most important communities you are a part of, and how have they shaped your values? What will you contribute to Tufts’ campus community as a result?

Option C: Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.

The job of the Tufts admissions committee is to build an academic community, and in this example of what we call the “community” essay, they want to understand what kind of value-add you would be to that community. Because they are asking you for specific examples, this essay should take the form of an anecdote where you specifically describe a time when you helped bring people together for a common goal and/or found ways to unite people who were previously divided. A successful essay would demonstrate not only your ability to work well with others but also shed some light on what you believe the value of collaboration or inclusivity to be. In brainstorming your essay, start by thinking through an instance in which you were working towards something and reliant on the work of others to get it done—you can’t collaborate or be inclusive if you’re all by yourself! What did that experience teach you about finding common ground with others or about the perspective of another individual or group of people?

School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) Prompt:

Here, the admissions committee is trying to get a better understanding of what motivates you as a creator. Specifically, they want to see you to go beyond mere style and technique and instead focus on the themes and issues that inspire you the most. This question can be challenging because a single artist can be inspired by countless ideas. But rather than rattling off all the topics that you’re interested in, pick one to focus on and explain why it motivates you to create. For example, a student who enjoys both cartoon sketches and politics could discuss their desire to explore visual art as a form of satire, allowing them to bring a light-hearted tone to controversial issues while still being informative. Alternatively, a film student might explain their interest in neurological behavior and how they want to explore filmmakers’ use of scoring and lighting to influence viewers’ physiological responses to a movie. The most critical element here is to demonstrate enthusiasm for a complex idea and then link that idea to your current and future artwork.

The word turns in my head as I squint at the mounted rectangle before me.

My monosyllabic thoughts are cut short by my teacher, who shoos our class away to another section of the exhibit. We had spent the past ten minutes staring at a blank canvas. A canvas covered in white paint—yes. But it was still bare, and somehow, we were expected to interpret this empty void.

The exercise stemmed from one of our assigned readings: Yasmina Reza’s L’Art, a comedic play about in-fighting amongst friends after one purchases a white painting. It was certainly entertaining, but I still couldn’t understand: how could a blank painting have inspired this internationally-acclaimed piece of theater?

That question has since become the foundation of my artistic inspiration. I now recognize that the white painting was never meant to be understood in isolation. It was a challenge to the art community to explore its meaning through alternative mediums. L’Art did exactly that, offering context to the painting by redefining it through literature and performance. Since I came to this realization, I’ve begun photographing people’s reactions to different art forms, including paintings, architecture, and live shows. With each photo, the added human element forces our interpretation of art to be more empathetic, more collaborative. Indeed, it expands artistic consumption to include the thoughts and feelings of our communities. Capturing art through another perspective strikes the balance between transformation and novel creation, a process I hope to continue exploring in my future pieces.

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Tufts University’s 2023-24 Essay Prompts

Why this college short response.

Please complete the following statement: "I am applying to Tufts because..."

SMFA Short Response 1

Please complete the following statement: "I am applying to SMFA at Tufts because..."

Select-A-Prompt Short Response

Please use one of the short-answer prompts below to tell us more about yourself, your interests, and your experiences. We care about the ways in which your interests and experiences and will contribute to the Tufts community. Pick one of the following.

It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity, and why?

How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?

Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.

SMFA Short Response 2

Please answer the following question – we encourage you to think outside the box. Be serious if the moment calls for it but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too. Your response must be between 200-250 words.

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?

Common App Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don‘t feel obligated to do so.

Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you‘ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

What will first-time readers think of your college essay?

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Tufts Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

By Eric Eng

Are you setting your sights on Tufts University for the 2023-2024 academic year? Crafting a standout application is key, and a crucial part of this journey includes mastering the Tufts supplemental essays. These essays are more than just a formality; they’re your chance to show the admissions committee the unique person behind the grades and test scores. 

In this blog, we’ll dive into what makes these essays tick and how you can approach them to present the best version of yourself. Whether you’re a wordsmith or just starting to find your writing groove, our insights will help you create essays that resonate with Tufts ‘ admissions team. So, grab your pen, open your mind, and let’s get started on turning your dream of attending Tufts into a reality!

How Many Supplemental Essay Prompts Does Tufts Have?

For the 2023-2024 academic year, Tufts University has set up some engaging essay prompts for its applicants . These prompts vary slightly based on the program you’re applying to .

If you’re aiming for the School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering at Tufts , you’ll choose one out of three essay topics, each requiring a response of 200-250 words. These topics explore your love for learning, the impact of your background, or your role in creating inclusive communities.

Applicants to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts have one specific 200-250 word essay prompt about the role of art in societal change and personal expression.

In addition to these, all applicants, regardless of their chosen school, need to complete a short statement of 100 words or less, starting with “I am applying to Tufts because…”

In total, a student will answer two prompts : one main essay (choosing from three options for Arts & Sciences/Engineering applicants or the specific one for SMFA applicants) and the short statement common to all applicants.

What are the 2023-2024 Tufts Supplemental Essay Prompts?

For applicants to the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering , one of these three prompts must be answered in 200-250 words:

“It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity and why?”

“How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?”

“Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.”

For applicants to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) at Tufts, this prompt must be answered in 200-250 words:

“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?”

Additionally, all applicants must complete this sentence in 100 words or less:

“I am applying to Tufts because…”

These prompts are designed to give insights into the applicant’s experiences, thoughts, and contributions, helping the admissions committee at Tufts University understand each student’s potential for adding value to their community.

How to Write the 2023-2024 Tufts Supplemental Essays

2023-2024 Tufts Supplemental Essay Prompts for the School of Arts & Sciences and the School of Engineering 

1. It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity and why?

Understanding the prompt.

The prompt is essentially asking students to delve into their passion for learning. It’s about identifying a specific area or topic that deeply interests them and exploring why this subject captivates their attention. The goal is to showcase not just what they love to learn about, but also to provide insights into their character, thinking process, and how this passion shapes their educational pursuits.

Crafting Your Response

1. Identifying a Specific Interest or Topic: When responding to this prompt, it’s crucial to pinpoint a specific area of interest that genuinely captivates you. This could be anything from the intricacies of quantum physics to the rich tapestry of ancient history, or from the complexities of environmental science to the evolving patterns of language in the digital age. The key lies in the specificity of your choice.

Avoid general statements like “I love science” and instead, focus on particular aspects such as “the mechanics of renewable energy technologies” or “the evolution of language in digital communication.” Reflect on those moments when your interest in this topic became particularly evident or grew significantly. This could be an inspiring project, an influential article, a captivating book, or a thought-provoking lecture that sparked or deepened your interest.

2. Personal Connection to the Topic: Explaining why a particular subject intrigues you is essential in this essay. This is where you can delve into any personal story or experiences that connect you to your chosen topic. For instance, your interest in medical research might stem from a family member’s health condition, or your fascination with cultural studies might be rooted in your experiences growing up in a multicultural neighborhood.

Share a specific incident or experience that vividly illustrates this connection. This narrative approach will make your essay more engaging and relatable, as it provides a personal lens through which the admissions committee can view your intellectual curiosity.

3. Impact on Academic or Career Goals: Discuss how your chosen interest has influenced your academic decisions, including the electives you’ve selected, the clubs you’ve joined, or any research you’ve engaged in. This section should also tie into your future aspirations, showing how your passion aligns with your long-term goals. For example, if your interest in environmental science led you to initiate a recycling program at your school, explain how this not only deepened your understanding of the field but also shaped your ambition to contribute to sustainable development.

4. Active Engagement with the Interest: In this part of the essay, describe how you actively engage with your topic of interest. This could involve personal projects, extensive reading, participating in online courses, or getting involved in community initiatives. The aim is to demonstrate that your interest is not just a passive pursuit but an active exploration and expansion. For instance, if you are fascinated by artificial intelligence, you might discuss how you built a small AI model or regularly participate in online forums that debate the ethical implications of AI advancements.

5. The Bigger Picture: Why This Interest Matters: Finally, reflect on the importance of your interest beyond personal fascination. Consider how it addresses global challenges, provides solutions to community issues, or offers insights into societal trends. For example, if you are interested in urban planning, you could discuss how this field can lead to the development of more sustainable and livable cities, thereby connecting your personal interests to a broader societal impact.

2. How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?

The prompt is an invitation for introspection and storytelling. It aims to understand how a student’s background has influenc ed their development, values, and aspirations. This question delves into the impact of one’s immediate surroundings and relationships on one’s personal growth and identity formation.

1. Family Influence: Start by reflecting on your family dynamics and traditions. Your family is often the first and most influential environment in your life. Think about specific ways your family members and their values, beliefs, and habits have impacted you. It could be the work ethic instilled in you by your parents, the cultural traditions that are an integral part of your family life, or lessons learned from family challenges. Describe these influences with vivid, personal anecdotes that reveal your family’s unique characteristics and how they have contributed to shaping your personality, goals, or interests.

2. Home and Neighborhood Environment: Your immediate physical environment, like your home or neighborhood, can significantly influence your outlook and experiences. This might include the cultural diversity of your neighborhood, the socioeconomic conditions, or even the geographical features of your area. For instance, growing up in a multicultural neighborhood might have given you a deep appreciation for different cultures, or living in a rural area could have fostered a strong connection to nature. Draw connections between these environmental aspects and the development of your interests, hobbies, or perspectives.

3. Community Experiences: Community experiences, whether through schools, religious institutions, local clubs, or social groups, play a crucial role in shaping your social skills and values. Reflect on your involvement in community activities and how these experiences have contributed to your understanding of teamwork, empathy, or civic responsibility. You might discuss a community service project that opened your eyes to societal issues, a cultural festival that made you appreciate your heritage, or a school event where you learned the importance of collaboration.

4. Personal Growth and Learning: Finally, tie these reflections back to your personal growth. Think about how these diverse aspects of your upbringing have collectively contributed to the person you are today. Maybe your family’s emphasis on education motivated you to excel academically, or your community’s challenges inspired you to pursue a career in social work. This part of your response should connect the dots between your upbringing and your current aspirations, interests, and character traits.

By focusing on these aspects, a student can craft a response that not only provides a glimpse into their background but also demonstrates self-awareness and a deep understanding of how their experiences have shaped their identity and aspirations. Remember, the key is to be authentic and reflective, using specific examples to illustrate your points.

3. Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.

The prompt delves into several critical aspects of a student’s character and skills. It’s designed to gauge not just the applicant’s ability to work in a team, but also their capacity to enhance the dynamics of that team in a positive way. This question probes deeper than mere participation; it seeks to understand how the applicant actively shapes and improves their community.

Firstly, the emphasis on collaboration highlights the value of teamwork. It’s not just about being a part of a group, but about playing a role in making that group function effectively. This could involve leading, coordinating, mediating, or even playing a supportive role that ensures every voice is heard and valued. The prompt is looking for evidence of how the applicant can work harmoniously with others, resolve conflicts, and contribute to achieving a common goal.

Secondly, the inclusion of “inclusive” speaks volumes about the kind of community engagement valued by the institution. Inclusivity here means more than just diversity; it’s about creating spaces where differences are not just tolerated but celebrated, where every member feels welcomed and valued. This part of the prompt asks the applicant to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to equity, an ability to engage with people from various backgrounds, and a drive to ensure that everyone has a place and a voice in the community.

Moreover, this prompt is an opportunity for the applicant to showcase their leadership and empathy. Leadership, in this conte xt, is not limited to being in charge; it can also mean taking initiative, providing support, or being a bridge between differing perspectives. Empathy is crucial in understanding and valuing the diverse experiences and needs of community members. The prompt is an invitation to demonstrate how the applicant has used these skills to create a positive impact.

1. Identify a Meaningful Experience: Start by recalling a specific instance where you played a key role in a group or community setting. This could be a school project, a club or organization, a sports team, a volunteer group, or any other scenario where you worked with others. The experience should highlight your ability to bring people together, encourage participation, and create an environment where everyone feels valued.

2. Describe Your Role: Elaborate on what you did in this situation. Were you a leader, a mediator, an organizer, or a supportive team member? Explain your responsibilities and actions. For example, if you organized a cultural fair at your school, describe how you coordinated with students from different backgrounds, gathered resources, and planned events that represented diverse cultures.

3. Highlight Challenges and Solutions: Discuss any challenges you faced in this role. Maybe there were conflicts within the team, logistical issues, or barriers to inclusivity. Then, describe how you addressed these challenges. For instance, if you encountered differing opinions in a group project, explain how you facilitated a discussion to find a common ground or a creative solution that incorporated everyone’s views.

4. Reflect on the Impact: Detail the outcome of your efforts. How did your contribution help build a more collaborative or inclusive community? This could be in terms of tangible results (like the success of an event) or intangible impacts (like improved team cohesion or increased awareness of inclusivity issues). For example, if your initiative led to more inclusive practices in your school club, discuss how this change was received and the lasting effects it had on the club’s dynamics.

5. Connect to Your Personal Growth: Finally, reflect on what you learned from this experience and how it has shaped your understanding of collaboration and inclusivity. Discuss how these lessons will influence your approach to community and teamwork in the future, especially in a diverse university setting like Tufts.

2023-2024 Tufts Supplemental Essay Prompt for the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) 

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 prompt from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts ( SMFA ) at Tufts University offers students a profound opportunity to delve into the essence of what art means to them and how they aspire to harness its transformative power. It’s an invitation for introspection and projection, where students are encouraged to not only reflect on their personal connection with art but also to articulate the specific ideas and themes they are eager to explore in their own creative endeavors. 

This inquiry goes beyond mere artistic preference or style; it probes into the student’s intellectual and emotional engagement with art as a dynamic medium of expression and influence. By asking students to consider how they intend to use art to disrupt, shape, and reimagine, the prompt is effectively gauging their depth of thought, their creativity, and, critically, their perception of art’s significant role in society. 

It’s a challenge for students to envision how their work can contribute to the ongoing dialogue of art as a catalyst for change, a mirror for society, and a vehicle for exploring new possibilities. This prompt is not just about what students want to create, but why they want to create it, and how they see their artistic vision resonating within the larger tapestry of human experience and societal discourse.

1. Identifying Personal Themes and Passions: When approaching this prompt, students should start by diving deep into their personal reservoir of themes and subjects that stir their passion. This could encompass anything from intimate personal experiences to wider issues such as social, cultural, or environmental concerns.

The essence here is to choose themes that not only resonate on a deep, personal level but also reflect a true interest or concern of the student. For example, a student with a fervent interest in environmental conservation might think about ways their art could underscore the splendor of the natural world or bring to light the impacts of human activities on our planet’s ecosystems.

2. Considering the Impact of Art on Society: Students should also ponder the influential role art can play in shifting societal perceptions and behaviors. This reflection involves viewing art not just as a medium of personal expression but as a potent tool for communication, education, and societal change. For instance, a student who is deeply engaged in social justice issues might explore how their art can be a medium to amplify awareness about inequality, or even serve as a form of peaceful protest, thereby leveraging art’s potential to instigate social change.

3. Drawing Inspiration from Influential Artists or Movements: Researching and drawing inspiration from artists or art movements that align with their interests can be a valuable exercise for students. Understanding how these artists or movements have historically conveyed powerful messages or instigated change can provide both inspiration and a contextual framework for their own artistic endeavors. For example, a student fascinated by the surrealist movement might investigate how it challenged traditional perceptions of reality, pondering how to apply similar disruptive concepts to contemporary societal issues through their art.

4. Linking Personal Experiences to Artistic Expression: Personal experiences are often a rich wellspring of inspiration for artists. Students should reflect on how their unique life experiences have molded their worldview and consider how these perspectives can be translated into their art. For instance, a student who has experienced the richness of cultural diversity might produce art that celebrates various cultural viewpoints or addresses the complexities and challenges of cultural integration in a globalized world.

5. Envisioning Future Projects or Concepts: Finally, students should endeavor to conceptualize potential future projects or artworks that embody their chosen themes. This exercise is not just about showcasing creativity and foresight but also demonstrating a genuine commitment to exploring these themes in depth.

For instance, a student intrigued by the exploration of human emotions might describe a future art project involving interactive installations designed to evoke and capture a spectrum of emotional responses from its audience, thereby creating a tangible and engaging exploration of human sentimentality.

By elaborating on these points in a detailed and thoughtful manner, students can craft a compelling response to the SMFA prompt, showcasing their understanding of art’s transformative power and articulating their vision for contributing to the artistic dialogue.

2023-2024 Tufts Supplemental Essay Prompt for All Applicants

The prompt serves as a crucial opportunity for prospective students to convey their motivations for choosing Tufts University, offering a window into their personal aspirations and how they align with the university’s ethos and offerings. This question is not merely about stating a preference for Tufts; it’s an exploratory task for students to introspect and articulate why Tufts, among all other institutions, stands out as their ideal choice. 

It encourages applicants to delve deep into what specifically draws them to Tufts—be it its distinguished academic programs, the vibrant campus culture, the unique opportunities for research and innovation, or the community engagement and extracurricular activities it offers. 

By responding to this prompt, students demonstrate to the admissions committee not only their understanding of Tufts’ unique position in the higher education landscape but also how their personal, academic, and possibly career trajectories are intertwined with the opportunities that Tufts uniquely provides. 

This re sponse is a narrative that bridges the student’s past experiences, current interests, and future ambitions with the multifaceted aspects of Tufts University, thereby painting a picture of mutual benefit and compatibility. It’s a chance for applicants to showcase how their journey thus far aligns with what they anticipate to be an enriching and transformative experience at Tufts, making it an essential component of their path to personal and professional fulfillment.

1. Alignment with Academic Programs: When considering Tufts, it’s essential to delve into how the university’s academic programs align with your interests. For example, if you are drawn to International Relations, you could highlight the specific appeal of Tufts’ prestigious Fletcher School. Discuss how the unique curriculum, specialized courses, or notable faculty in this school align with your academic ambitions. Elaborating on how these programs mesh with your career goals, such as pursuing diplomacy or international law, showcases your understanding of Tufts’ academic strengths and how they directly relate to your future plans.

2. Campus Culture and Community: Reflecting on Tufts’ campus culture and community involves identifying the specific aspects of the university’s ethos that resonate with you. This could range from its commitment to diversity, its robust community engagement programs, or the vibrancy of student life. Articulate how you envision yourself contributing to and thriving in this environment. For instance, if community service forms a core part of your identity, you could discuss how Tufts’ focus on active citizenship aligns with your values and how you plan to engage with service opportunities on campus.

3. Extracurricular Opportunities: Exploring extracurricular activities at Tufts should go beyond a mere listing of interests. If you are passionate about the arts, delve into specific art societies or groups available at Tufts and how engaging with these communities would enrich your college experience. Discussing how these extracurriculars align with your hobbies or career aspirations demonstrates a clear vision of how you plan to use these opportunities for personal and skill development.

4. Location and Resources: The location of Tufts University offers a wealth of opportunities, and reflecting on this aspect involves considering how the proximity to Boston and the resources available there align with your academic and professional growth. If you’re interested in fields that benefit from urban settings, like politics or finance, articulate how access to a major city like Boston provides you with cultural, academic, and professional opportunities that are integral to your educational journey. It’s about connecting the geographical advantage with your learning and career objectives.

5. Personal Growth and Future Goals: In contemplating how Tufts can foster your personal and professional development, think about your long-term goals and how the university’s offerings can help you achieve them. For instance, if your ambition lies in environmental policy, discuss how Tufts’ commitment to sustainability and its relevant resources would be instrumental in helping you reach your career objectives. This approach not only shows your awareness of what Tufts offers bu t also your vision of how the university fits into your broader life plan.

Essential Materials to Read Before Writing Your Supplemental Essays

As you prepare to write your 2023-2024 Tufts supplemental essays, it’s crucial for you to do thorough reading and research to ensure your essays are well-informed and tailored to what Tufts University is looking for. Here are some key resources you should consider exploring:

1. Tufts University’s Official Website: Delve into the website to understand Tufts’ philosophy, its academic environment, and student life. Pay close attention to the university’s history, its vision for the future, and any unique programs or initiatives that stand out. This could include special interdisciplinary programs, leadership opportunities, or community service projects. Understanding these elements can help you articulate why Tufts is the right fit for you.

2. Course Catalog: The course catalog is a goldmine of information about the classes offered at Tufts. Look for courses that align with your interests and consider how they might help you achieve your academic goals. Pay attention to any unique course offerings, special seminars, or hands-on learning opportunities. Mentioning specific courses in your essay shows that you have a clear and informed interest in what Tufts can offer academically.

3. Student Blogs and University Publications: Student blogs and publications offer a glimpse into the everyday life of Tufts students. They can provide insights into campus traditions, student-led initiatives, and what it’s like to be part of the Tufts community. Look for stories that resonate with your own interests and experiences. These resources can help you connect your personal story to the student experience at Tufts.

4. News about Tufts: Keeping up with recent news about Tufts, such as groundbreaking research, community initiatives, or notable achievements by students or faculty, can provide timely and relevant content for your essay. This shows that you’re not only interested in Tufts as an institution but are also engaged with its ongoing activities and achievements.

5. Tufts Admissions Blog and Resources: The Tufts admissions blog often offers a behind-the-scenes look at the admissions process. It can provide tips directly from the admissions officers, insights into what makes a strong application, and sometimes, specific guidance on approaching the 2023-2024 Tufts supplemental essays. Utilizing these resources can give you an edge in understanding what Tufts is looking for in prospective students.

6. Sample Essays: Reading essays from students who successfully gained admission to Tufts can provide a sense of what the university values in its applicants. Analyze these essays to understand how they effectively communicated their unique stories and connected their experiences and aspirations with Tufts. Remember, the goal is not to copy these essays but to learn from their structure, tone, and content.

7. Guidance from School Counselors or Teachers: Experienced educators can offer personalized advice and feedback on your essays. They can help you brainstorm ideas, refine your narrative, and ensure that your essay is clear, cohesive, and grammatically correct. They may also provide insights into how to tailor your essay to reflect Tufts’ values and expectations.

8. Tufts’ Mission and Values: Understanding Tufts’ mission and core values is crucial in aligning your essay with the university’s ethos. Explore how Tufts commits to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environment. Reflect on how these values resonate with your own beliefs and experiences, and incorporate this alignment into your essay.

How to Structure Your Tufts Supplemental Essays

Understanding the importance of structure in your 2023-2024 Tufts supplemental essays is crucial. A well-structured essay will not only convey your information effectively but also showcase your ability to organize thoughts and communicate clearly. As you prepare your supplemental essays, here are three key points to guide you in structuring them effectively:

1. Thematic Introduction and Conclusion: Start with an engaging introduction that introduces the theme or central idea of the essay. This could be a personal anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a unique perspective related to the essay prompt. The conclusion should circle back to this theme, providing a sense of closure and reflection on the essay’s content. This approach creates a coherent narrative flow, making the essay memorable and impactful.

2. Clear and Logical Progression of Ideas: Organize the body of the essay in a logical manner. Each paragraph should focus on a specific point or example that supports the overall argument or story. This could involve a chronological narrative, a cause-and-effect structure, or a problem-solution approach, depending on the essay prompt. Ensure each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next, maintaining a clear thread of thought throughout the essay.

3. Integration of Personal Insights and Relevance to Tufts: Throughout the essay, weave in personal insights and reflections that reveal your character, values, and aspirations. Connect these insights to what you know about Tufts and how you see yourself contributing to and benefiting from the Tufts community. This not only personalizes the essay but also shows that you have done your research and are genuinely interested in Tufts.

Remember, the key to a successful supplemental essay is not just in what you say but how you say it. A structured approach helps in presenting your ideas in a compelling and organized manner, making a strong impression on the admissions co mmittee.

How to Effectively Revise and Proofread

Revising and proofread ing are critical steps in crafting your 2023-2024 Tufts supplemental essays. Here’s how you can approach this process to enhance the quality and impact of your essays:

1. Step Away, Then Re-Read: After your initial draft, take a break before revising. A fresh perspective helps in identifying areas that need improvement. When you return, read your essay aloud. This practice can highlight awkward phrasing, repetitive language, and clarity issues that might be overlooked when reading silently.

2. Focus on Structure and Flow: Evaluate the structure of your essay. Each paragraph should serve a clear purpose and logically flow into the next. Ensure that your introduction grabs attention and that your conclusion effectively ties together your main points. For the Tufts essays, make sure each section directly addresses the prompt and reflects how you align with Tufts’ values and academic culture.

3. Seek Feedback and Incorporate Diverse Perspectives: Share your essay with teachers, mentors, or peers. They can provide valuable feedback from different viewpoints. Pay attention to consistent feedback you receive, as it’s likely an area that genuinely needs refinement. However, remember to maintain your unique voice and perspective; the essay should still sound like you.

4. Refine Content for Depth and Authenticity: In your revisions, focus on deepening the content. Are your examples vivid and specific? Do your anecdotes reflect your personality, aspirations, and motivations? For the supplemental essays in the 2023-2024 application cycle, it’s crucial to demonstrate why you are a good fit for Tufts specifically. Infuse your essays with insights that reveal your genuine interest in and compatibility with Tufts.

5. Meticulous Proofreading for Grammar and Accuracy: Finally, proofread meticulously for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. Small mistakes can distract from the content and may give an impression of carelessness. Utilize tools like spell checkers, but don’t rely on them completely. A manual check is essential to catch subtle errors that automated tools might miss.

Remember, effective revision and proofreading are about refining your ideas and expressions to convey your message in the most compelling and clear way possible. These steps are crucial in ensuring your 2023-2024 Tufts supplemental essays stand out and effectively showcase your strengths and fit for the university.

Reasons to Study at Tufts University

Choosing to study at Tufts University is a decision that can significantly shape your academic and professional future. Tufts University is renowned for its diverse range of strong academic programs, particularly standing out in specific areas. It has been ranked as one of the best colleges for International Relations , Public Health, and Film and Photography in the United States. These rankings reflect the university’s commitment to providing high-quality education across various disciplines.

As a research-intensive institution, Tufts offers ample opportunities for undergraduate and graduate research. This not only enhances learning but also prepares students for future careers in academia, industry, or public service. The university’s focus on research fosters a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment, ideal for students who are eager to explore and contribute to their fields of study.

Tufts University also has a strong focus on internationalism, evident from its high ranking in International Trade. This global perspective is integral to its curriculum and campus life, providing students with a broader understanding of the world and preparing them for success in an increasingly interconnected global society. Despite recent changes in its rankings, where it stands at 40th on the US News and World Report’s list and 287th on the Wall Street Journal’s 2024 Best Colleges list, Tufts University maintains its reputation for offering a comprehensive education. The university fosters a community where intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a commitment to lifelong learning are highly valued. This environment nurtures not only academic growth but also personal development.

Located in Medford, Massachusetts, Tufts University offers the perfect blend of a suburban campus with easy access to the vibrant city of Boston. This strategic location provides students with numerous cultural, professional, and recreational opp ortunities. The campus life at Tufts is rich and varied, offering a wide array of activities, clubs, and organizations that cater to a diverse range of interests and passions.

Overall, Tufts University presents a unique combination of strong academic programs, research opportunities, a global perspective, a rich campus life, and a supportive community. These factors make Tufts an ideal choice for students seeking a well-rounded and enriching college experience. As you work on your 2023-2024 Tufts supplemental essays, consider these aspects to articulate why Tufts is the right fit for you.

Acceptance Rate and Application Deadlines

As you consider applying to Tufts University, it’s essential to understand its competitive landscape and the quality of education it offers. Tufts University’s acceptance rate for 2023 hovers around 10%, with some variations reported as low as 9.5% and as high as 11%. This range reflects the uni versity’s selective admissions process, indicating its commitment to maintaining a high standard of student body.

In terms of application deadlines, Tufts has set specific dates for various admission categories. Early Decision I applications are due by November 1, with notifications by mid-December. Both Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications must be submitted by January 4. Early Decision II applicants will receive their notifications in early February, while Regular Decision applicants will be notified by April 1. Transfer applicants have a deadline of March 18, with notifications occurring from May through mid-June.

Furthermore, Tufts University demonstrates strong performance in terms of student retention and graduation rates. The freshmen retention rate stands at 92%, a sign of student satisfaction and a supportive academic environment. The university also boasts impressive graduation rates, with 87% of students graduating in four years, and 93% in six years, and this rate remains consistent through the eight-year mark.

These statistics are vital for prospective students crafting their 2023-2024 Tufts supplemental essays. Understanding Tufts’ competitive acceptance rate is key to tailoring your application effectively. Being aware of the application deadlines ensures that you submit your materials on time. Additionally, the high graduation and retention rates at Tufts speak to the supportive and effective educational environment that the university provides, a point you might want to highlight in your essays as part of your motivation for choosing this prestigious institution.

How Important are Supplemental Essays in the College Admissions Process?

Supplemental essays, particularly for the 2023-2024 Tufts admissions cycle, play an indispensable role in the college admissions process. These essays serve as a vital platform for showcasing personal fit, allowing applicants to demonstrate how they align with the school’s culture, values, and academic ethos. For a school like Tufts, this means illustrating your intellectual curiosity, commitment to active citizenship, and how you can contribute to and benefit from the unique experiences Tufts offers. These essays enable applicants to present aspects of their personality and aspirations that go beyond grades and test scores.

One of the key strengths of supplemental essays is their ability to highlight the unique attributes of an applicant. While academic achievements are important, these essays provide a chance to showcase what makes you stand out as an individual. Life experiences, personal challenges, diverse backgrounds, or specific talents are aspects that can help differentiate you in a pool of similarly qualified applicants, especially at a school like Tufts that values diverse perspectives and experiences.

Moreover, well-crafted supplemental essays can demonstrate an applicant’s genuine interest in and research about the school. By specifically addressing why Tufts is the right fit, you show that you have thoroughly explored what the university has to offer. This might involve mentioning specific programs, faculty members, research opportunities, or campus organizations that align with your goals and interests. Additionally, supplemental essays enhance your narrative within the application. They provide an opportunity to discuss experiences or achievements that didn’t find a place in other parts of your application, giving a more comprehensive picture of who you are.

The essays also serve as a showcase for your writing abilities. Effective communication is a crucial skill in college, and these essays offer a chance to display your ability to construct coherent, compelling, and well-argued pieces. This is particularly significant for institutions like Tufts, where strong communication skills are highly valued across various disciplines. Finally, supplemental essays can help overcome other application weaknesses. If certain aspects of your application, like grades or test scores, are not as strong, a compelling essay can highlight your strengths, resilience, and potential to succeed in a college environment.

Final Thoughts

As we wrap up our explorat ion of the 2023-2024 Tufts supplemental essays, remember that these essays are your opportunity to shine. They allow you to share your story, your perspectives, and what makes you unique. Approach them with honesty, creativity, and confidence. Your journey to Tufts is not just about showcasing your academic prowess but also about revealing your individuality and passion. Use these essays to let the admissions committee see the real you and how you can contribute to the vibrant Tufts community. Keep these tips in mind, give your essays the attention they deserve, and you’ll be well on your way to crafting compelling narratives that stand out. Best of luck as you take this exciting step towards your educational and personal growth at Tufts University!

It is important to have all the necessary information before making any decision. AdmissionSight is always here to help you with any questions or concerns. We have over ten years of experience helping students successfully navigate the challenging admissions process.

Consult with AdmissionSight and find out how we can help you get into the school of your choice by ensuring that you are fully informed and prepared for the application process. We will work with you to develop a personalized plan that meets your specific needs and goals. We will also provide you with access to our team of experts who can help you with everything from choosing the right schools to writing your essays .

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3 Key Tips for Writing Successful Tufts Supplemental Essays

College Essays

Tufts University has a selective acceptance rate— less than 10% in 2022 . You'll need a strong application to stand out from other applicants, including stellar essays. Luckily, this guide is here to help you out!

In this blog post, we'll cover everything you need to know about the writing portion of Tufts University's application, including what prompts are available and how to answer them.

Feature Image: Jellymuffin40 /Wikimedia Commons

If you want to study at Tufts' Ginn Library, you'll need strong essays. Nurcamp /Wikimedia Commons.

What Should You Know About the Tufts University Essays?

Tufts University uses either the Common or Coalition Application, so choose the one that works best for you . Each one has unique essays, so be sure you follow the correct prompt for whichever application you're using.

Both applications have their own writing sections that you'll need to respond to. These essays are more general than the Tufts essays, but it's still important to follow guidelines and aim to impress with them . They're part of your application, and deserve your best effort! The Common Application has one set of prompts to choose from and the Coalition Application has another , so do some reading ahead of time to plan for which one you'll answer if you need to fill out both applications for different schools.

What Prompts Does the Tufts University Application Have?

Tufts University requires you to apply to a specific school within the university during your application. This shouldn't be a problem if you already know what major you'll be applying to, and Tufts recommends not applying as undecided .

The application should give you the correct set of prompts for whichever school you apply to, but you can also check on Tuft's website .

If you're applying to the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, or 5-year Tufts/NEC combined degree, you'll have two essays. One is a classic "Why Tufts?" essay with a Tufts-specific twist, and the second prompt allows you to make your choice of two options.

For applicants to the BFA or 5-year BFA+BA/BS combined degree program, you'll also have two prompts. The first is, again, a classic "Why Tufts?" essay question, while the other asks you to to respond to one of three questions. 

What Are the Tufts University Prompts?

Because the prompts vary between different schools, there's a lot of information to cover for how to write the ideal Tufts essay. But Tufts does provide some helpful advice —"Think outside the box as you answer the following questions. Take a risk and go somewhere unexpected. Be serious if the moment calls for it, but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too."

In short, be yourself . Tufts doesn't just want to hear your academic qualifications, nor do they want to hear their qualifications as a good school recited to them—they already know!

For School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, and Tufts/NEC Degree Applicants:

You have two essays to write for this section. Both are required, but the second prompt offers you three potential choices.

Prompt #1: The "Why Tufts?" Essay

The first prompt, which you have 100 to 150 words to answer, reads:

Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short, "Why Tufts?"

This is a pretty straightforward question—it's a version of the popular "Why This College?" essay . You wouldn't be applying to Tufts if you didn't already know that you wanted to go there, right? But always be aware that every other student applying to Tufts also knows that it's a good school. You can't just list qualifications back them; you have to dive a little deeper than that.

Tufts wants to know here is not just what attracts you to the college, but also what you'll bring to it . Let your enthusiasm and fresh ideas shine!

Having said that, a great essay is going to show admissions counselors that you've done your research. Be sure you point to specific parts of the "Tufts undergraduate experience" in your writing! For example, maybe there's a specific professor you want to work with, or a unique program that only Tufts offers that's a great fit for you. The more specific you are, the more you'll show admissions counselors that you're serious about becoming a student at Tufts.

Prompt #2: The Free Choice Essay

The second prompt is a little more complex. It also has a word count of 200 to 250, but includes three options you must choose from:

Now we'd like to know a little more about you. Please respond to one of the following three questions.

A) It's cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity?

B) How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?

C) Where are you on your journey of engaging with or fighting for social justice?

These three prompts are a great way to tell the admissions office more about yourself, particularly if you have extracurricular interests that you haven't had the opportunity to discuss yet.

Any of these prompts is a great choice, but you can only choose one. Here's a breakdown of who each prompt is a good fit for:

• Prompt A: If you're an intellectually curious person, this is a great fit for you. People that fit this mold will engage in learning opportunities outside the classroom and constantly be on the hunt for knowledge. If you're the type that reads news before school or watches documentaries for fun, this is a good prompt for you!
• Prompt B: This is a good all-around prompt! Generally speaking, most people will have some experience that helps them answer this prompt well. Having said that, this prompt requires you to be thoughtful and introspective. You'll need to understand how your experiences and background have shaped the person you are today.
• Prompt C: Social justice is an important topic in 2021, and Tufts admissions officers are interested in students who fit with the university's mission of an "inclusive and collaborative" environment. If you have been part of the social justice movement, this would be a great prompt for you.

Keep in mind these are just suggestions. If one of these prompts jumps out to you as a perfect fit, run with it.

If you can't find this key on your keyboard, you'll have to invent it!

How to Answer Prompt A

In this prompt, Tufts wants to hear about your curiosity and interests. There are two ways you can approach this essay, each of which has its benefits and drawbacks.

First, you can choose an intellectual interest you have that relates to your future major. For example, say you're majoring in biology because you want to be in drug development. If that's the case, you can talk about a specific aspect of drug development that gets you excited. Maybe it's developing new vaccine production methods that use plants instead of animals, or maybe you want to develop new drugs to treat chronic illnesses like multiple sclerosis.

The trick here is being specific and letting your passion shine through, then tying all of that back to your future studies at Tufts. Don't be afraid to talk about a class you can't wait to take, or a project you hope to explore while you're in school. Just make sure that you're balancing talking about why you're curious with your academic plans. You don't want this to sound exactly like your "Why Tufts?" essay!

The second way you can approach this topic is by choosing something you're curious about that's a passion of yours, even if it isn't related to your major. This has the benefit of showing you're curious about more than just your major field, which is something admissions counselors are looking for.

For example, maybe you want to major in kinesiology, but you love social media and you're curious about how it impacts the ways we behave. You don't have to be majoring in psychology or computer science to write about this topic if you're passionate about it! The trick — and drawback — to going this route is making sure you're still connecting this passion back to your plans as a potential Tufts student. Maybe this curiosity has made you want to join the Tufts Psychology Society so you can learn more about how you can use human behavior and social media to help motivate people in your future career as a physical therapist.

How to Answer Prompt B

This prompt is asking you to write about how your background has shaped your character. Admissions counselors are looking for essays that showcase your thoughtfulness, especially in terms of how your experiences impact you as a person. This is a chance for you to highlight parts of your personality and identity that might not otherwise come across in your admissions materials.

If you choose this essay prompt, you'll want to spend some time figuring out which aspect of your background you want to focus on. Luckily, the prompt gives you a few ideas (family, home, neighborhood, and community) to start with, but you're not limited to those! Maybe you want to talk about an after school program you were a part of, or a sports team you played on for your entire childhood. As long as this experience or environment played a substantial part in your upbringing, it's fair game.

Whatever you choose, make sure you're choosing one thing . Don't talk about your family and your neighborhood and your community. This essay isn't long enough to cover all of that material! Instead, pick one thing and get specific. Explain why was this experience or environment important to you, and go into detail about how it impacted you as a person.

The best answers to this prompt are going to tell a story about your experience that helps readers connect with who you are. Perhaps one of the things that most shaped your character was growing up with five siblings. Tell a story about a specific moment that will help admissions counselors understand what that was like!

And finally, don't forget to connect this back to being a Tufts student by explaining how your character is a good fit for the university. For instance, let's go back to having lots of siblings. Maybe that's taught you to value everyone for their unique personalities because no matter how different you are, everyone brings something special to the table. Because of that, you're excited about making new friends and bringing people together as part of the Tufts community.

How to Answer Prompt C

This prompt is all about social justice. If you're not sure what social justice is, the National Association of Social Workers defines it as "the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities." Put another way, social justice is the fight for equality for everyone regardless of their race, class, or economic status.

To answer this prompt, you'll need to explain how you're learning about, involved in, or fighting for social justice. What steps are you taking to help further this cause in your own life? Note that the prompt uses the term "journey," here. That means admissions counselors aren't expecting you to have this whole "social justice" thing figured out! So don't worry if you haven't arranged a march in your community or taken up donations to help with the Black Lives Matter movement. Admissions counselors are more interested in how you're learning about the social justice movement and making changes in your life to support that cause.

Here's the thing: if you're not part of the social justice movement or aren't comfortable with the idea, do not write this Tufts essay. You're given essay options for a reason! Admissions counselors are trained to sniff out falsehoods, so the worst thing you could do is fib about your social justice work. It's okay if this isn't a good topic for you!

If you do choose this prompt, make sure you start with a story. Did you participate in a march? Have you volunteered with a social justice oriented organization? Telling a specific story about your experience will help readers connect with you as a person. It's also okay if your experience with social justice was talking with a friend about it and realizing that you can do more to support the cause. Like the old saying goes: it's not about the destination — it's about what you're learning in the process.

Also, be honest about what your journey so far. It's okay to say you're still learning, or that the journey has been tough. Admissions counselors value authenticity, and the truth is that fighting for social justice can be hard. Just make sure you're keeping your discussion as positive as you can! Focus on what you've learned and how hard you're trying to make a difference.

And of course, be sure you tie this all back to Tufts. Explain how your understanding of social justice will affect how you participate in your classes and on-campus events. Make it clear that you're going to bring a spirit of equity with you to campus since that's what admissions counselors want to see in future Tufts students.

For BFA, 5-Year BFA+BA/BS at SMFA Applicants:

This section has two required essays. You don't have any choice over which prompts you'll be answering, which eliminates some of the struggle to choose the best option for you.

Prompt #1: The "Why SMFA at Tufts?" Essay

The first prompt, which must be answered in 100 to 150 words, reads:

Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? Why SMFA at Tufts?

This prompt is similar to the "Why Tufts?" essay prompt, but with a slightly different focus. SMFA at Tufts is the School of the Museum of Fine arts program at Tufts , so it's definitely for those interested in the arts.

The admissions office wants to see you demonstrate what exactly draws you to this school over others, and what specifically drives you to seek an art degree . What will you get out of Tufts that you couldn't get elsewhere? How will an art degree enrich your life, and how will you use that degree in the future?

Colleges want to foster intellectual growth in their communities, which is why they ask for more than a standard "this is a good school" answer. They want to know why you want to attend, but they also want to know what you're bringing to the community .

Browsing Tufts and SMFA at Tufts galleries are a great way to get some inspiration. Can you see your artwork fitting in there? What will you offer that isn't already represented?

Think about art that you've created or art that you want to create . How will Tufts help you get there? What makes you want to pursue an art degree, rather than art as a supplement to another field? Clearly articulating your interest and commitment will demonstrate that you're a good fit for Tufts to the admissions office.

Prompt #2: The Art Prompt

The second prompt, also with a 200 to 250 word count, reads:

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?

This question dives a little bit deeper into your artistic mind. It's not enough to create art that is beautiful on a surface level—Tufts wants to know that you're thinking about your art meaningfully, too .

This prompt is essentially an artist's statement , though it's focused more on your artistic intent on a large scale rather than on an individual piece. Look through some of your favorite art you've created and think about common themes and recurring ideas, even if you didn't intend for them to be there . What concepts are you trying to explore, even subconsciously?

Consider not just what your art looks or sounds like, but also what it's made of and why you chose to make it that way. Think beyond availability or ease of use—always keep the question of "why" in your mind.

Themes are good, but try not to go too general or invent something that isn't there. Much of art is about capturing beauty, so try to think deeper than that. And if you're going to claim that your art critiques or represents something, you need to be able to demonstrate that— analyze what you've created to show how it connects to your themes, don't simply project something over the top and hope that admissions officers don't notice it wasn't really there .

What Do Tufts Essays That Worked Look Like?

Thankfully, Tufts University isn't shy about putting accepted essays online for applicants to browse. While some of these essays apply to older topics, they'll still help you get a sense of what admissions counselors are looking for in excellent students (and their essays).

"Why Tufts?" Essay That Worked

I vividly remember stepping onto the roof of Tisch Library and seeing a group of kids sitting in hammocks, overlooking the Boston skyline. I briefly tuned out my tour guide's presentation and began to eavesdrop. The students covered everything from physics to what they had for lunch that day. When they spoke about physics, they did not speak with pretension; instead they spoke with passion. Likewise, when they spoke about something as simple as lunch, they did so with witty intrigue. Tufts students are as interesting as they are interested. This description not only resonates with me, it defines me.

This essay does an excellent job of answering the questions at the core of the "Why Tufts?" essay. The writer channels an experience they had while at Tufts, detailing how listening in on other students solidified their desire to attend. They use words like "passion" to describe Tufts students, showing traits they also want to channel.

The ending really hits on something important: this student wanted to be part of the student body because the students they overheard were not only interesting people, but also interested . Remember the prompts mention of being "intellectually playful?" This is the perfect way to demonstrate curiosity, interest, and love of learning int he specific context of Tufts .

"What Have You Created?" Essay That Worked

This essay applies to an older prompt that asked students to talk about one of their creations. Here's what this student had to say:

When people talk about building something, creating it, they most often mean something physical. Engineers, architects, and laborers, these are the professions that I think of as making things. I've never been much of a builder, I lack that particular understanding of the world that is required to envision what you will build, and have never been coordinated enough to make much of anything with my hands, but I can create. What I have made is not something you can hold or touch, it spans no gaps and holds no weight, and I can't even claim to have laid a single finger on its construction. My creation is a poem, or rather, poems. Series of letters symbolic of sounds strung together to make words, which are in turn collected into lines and stanzas, pieces of a whole. My poems cannot be touched, but they can touch you; though they won't form a bridge, they can cross a divide; and while you'll never be able to weigh them on a scale, the weight of the ideas they hold can be felt the moment you read them. So I may not be an engineer or an architect or a laborer, but I am a creator. I craft words into meaning, forge lines into rhymes, and sculpt imaginations. So even if I can't hold what I make, I can watch it take shape and see its impact on the world.

This essay does an excellent job of answering the question not just by stating the answer, but by embodying it . It's clear that the student is a writer; their language is vivid, immediate, and playful, demonstrating how strong their grasp is on word meanings and sentence structure.

Importantly, this essay doesn't disparage other disciplines—it interprets poetry using language physical creators might use, such as "spans," "bridge," and "weight.

There's a great deal of creativity and intellectual play in this essay, which serve to set the writer apart from students who might have focused more on the existence of the thing they'd built (a souped-up car engine, for example) than the function of the thing they'd built (a souped-up car engine that reduces carbon emissions, for example).

When tackling this prompt, think about how you, too, can exemplify your creation in your essay .

Think like a dolphin: smart and playful!

Key Points for Your Tufts Essays

Best practices for Tufts essays are similar to other schools, but there are some special considerations to keep in mind.

Pay Attention to Tufts' Intellectual Bent

Tufts makes a point of using words like "playful" and "intellectual." These suggest a curiosity about the world that goes beyond wanting to attend a good school because it's a good school. Keep them in mind as you're writing— how can you demonstrate your own curiosity and interest in the world?

Remember That Tufts Is a Research University

You'll be interacting more with graduate students than you would in other settings . Not only will this give you a leg up in applying to grad school, but it will also grant you the opportunity to think more deeply than if you were only exposed to other undergrads.

Demonstrating an interest in learning from other students and participating in a learning community is a great way to show that you're interested in the unique experience of attending a research university.

Choose the Prompts That Are Right for You

Because Tufts has two different sets of prompts depending which school you'll be attending, be sure you select the right ones. Further, be sure you really maximize each prompt's potential— the rest of your application covers academics, so use your essay to showcase what really makes you stand out .

What's Next?

Before you get started on writing your essays, you'll want to know what kind of admission requirements Tufts has . Great essays are important, but you should also demonstrate academic success!

Plan to get the best scores possible on your standardized tests, too. Reading about ACT and GPA requirements ahead of time can help you plan your academic strategy, as can reading about SAT requirements . Use these guides to get a head start!

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Melissa Brinks graduated from the University of Washington in 2014 with a Bachelor's in English with a creative writing emphasis. She has spent several years tutoring K-12 students in many subjects, including in SAT prep, to help them prepare for their college education.

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How to Respond to the 2023/2024 Tufts University Supplemental Essay Prompts

Cece Gilmore is a Content Writer at Scholarships360. Cece earned her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University. While at ASU, she was the education editor as well as a published staff reporter at Downtown Devil. Cece was also the co-host of her own radio show on Blaze Radio ASU.

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Bill Jack has over a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. Since 2008, he has worked at Colby College, Wesleyan University, University of Maine at Farmington, and Bates College.

Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Tufts University is a selective university located in the greater Boston area. With a 11% acceptance rate , it is a selective university. To help increase your chances of admission, your Tufts supplemental essays need to stand out from other applicants. Keep on reading to learn how to best respond to the Tufts supplemental essays. 

Breaking down the Tufts supplemental essays

The Tufts supplemental essays ask for specific responses based on the school an applicant is applying to. 

All Tufts applicants will need to complete a sentence in 100 words or less. If you are applying to the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering you will have to respond to one of three prompts. If you are applying to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) you will need to respond to one required prompt. 

For all applicants

“i am applying to tufts because…” (100 words or less) , do your research on tufts beforehand.

Tufts wants their applicants to be well-informed about all that their university has to offer. Therefore, do your research! Find specific classes, extracurriculars, traditions, and aspects of Tufts campus that makes it stand out from all other universities. 

You should be spending as much time as possible researching the Tufts website and social media pages to get a good idea of what you are excited about when it comes to Tufts. 

Make each word count while revealing why you chose Tufts

This prompt is only 100 words max, which is not a lot of space or time to list everything you love about Tufts. Narrow down your list to a couple of things about Tufts that stand out to you. What you select should be unique and reveal your interests. For example, you can write about being interested in the class “Sociology of Sports” because you are curious about the tough questions facing athletes in modern days. 

Throughout your response, you should not be simply stating things. Rather, use an engaging narrative to respond. For example, instead of saying you “love the campus,” describe what it is that you admire. Remember, you can always cut back words to make each word count and meet the word count!

Questions to consider when answering this prompt

• Why is Tufts the perfect school for you? 
• How will you contribute to the campus community? 
• What does Tufts offer that other schools do not? 

Applicants to the School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering

There are three prompts given if you are applying to the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering and you have to select one to respond to.

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

To answer this prompt, think about one thing that absolutely makes you nerd out! 

Consider the following questions to help you choose what to write about: 

• What are you passionate about?
• Is there something you want to learn more about? 
• Why are you interested in this thing? 
• If you could teach a class what would it be about? 
• What do you want to major in at Tufts? 
• What is your biggest interest in life? 
• What subject is your favorite to learn about? 

Once you determine what interests you would like to discuss in this prompt, think about the “why.” Why are you intrigued by this subject? 

Throughout your response, you should be narrating a story. For example, instead of stating that you like biology, discuss a time when you were young and watched caterpillars turn into butterflies. Share how since that time, you have been intrigued by the circle of life in insects. 

Lastly, you should explain how you hope to further pique your interest while studying at Tufts. Be sure to mention specific classes and organizations that interest and excite you. 

How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood or community – shaped the person you are today? ( 200-250 words ) 

This prompt is perfect for you if your upbringing greatly influenced the person you are today. To begin this prompt, provide some background. Be sure to discuss what exactly your culture or environment was for context. 

Once you have established your background, then you should describe how your culture and environment influenced your upbringing. Describe what pieces of yourself were formed because of your unique background. 

Make sure that you reveal pieces of yourself that are not surface level. Rather, you want to make sure you are being deep and thoughtful in your response. 

Lastly, connect your culture to Tufts. What do you have to share at Tufts? Be sure to write about how you add to the Tufts’ community. In addition, you can discuss any cultural clubs or events that exist on the Tufts’ campus that you are excited to participate in.

Questions to consider

• What aspect of your background is most important to you? 
• How has your upbringing contributed to your current personality? 
• How will Tufts help you thrive? 

Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community ( 200-250 words ) 

To begin, define what community you are discussing in this prompt! Remember, a community can be anything big or small! For example, it can be a church, a club at school, a neighborhood or a sports team. 

Once you have described this community, detail how you have built a collaborative and/or inclusive community. Be sure you are telling a clear narrative, first beginning with how you became a part of this community and what the community is. Then, you should describe one or two specific examples of how you made this community inclusive or collaborative. 

For example, perhaps you joined a recycling club and you helped designate more roles in the club as most members were not a part of helping increase recycling in the school community. Or perhaps at your church you created a youth group to help more like-minded teenagers get more heavily involved in the church. 

Whatever your community or your actions to make it more collaborative and inclusive, tell your story! Make sure you are painting a vivid picture without forgetting to include your specific contributions to the community. 

To take it one step further, you should detail what you have learned from this experience and how you hope to take what you have learned with you to your new Tufts community. 

• What is a community you are involved with that is important to you? 
• How have you made this community more inclusive? 
• What will you bring to the Tufts community? How will you make it more inclusive or collaborative? 

Applicants to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA)

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 ( 200-250 words ) .

Since you are an aspiring SMFA, Tufts already knows you are a creative and artistic person. Therefore, you should describe what type of artist you are. Are you a painter, sculptor, or sketch artist? Those are just a few to start!

Identify which type of artist you are and what you typically create. If your art has a common theme throughout, share that.  If not, write about where you seek artistic inspiration from and/or what you want to artistically explore at Tufts.

No matter what you write, remember to bring it back to Tufts. Ask yourself how being  part of SMFA will help elevate your work and maybe even change the world!  

Final thoughts on the Tufts supplemental essays

Tufts is looking for unique and ambitious students to join their 11% . Therefore, the most important thing is that you are being authentic throughout your responses. Be sure to always reveal new pieces of information about your personality and interests throughout your responses, and try not to repeat yourself! Good luck during the college admissions process! 

Additional resources

Curious on the best way to write a 500 word essay ? Struggling to answer the Common App Essay Prompts ? Wondering how to write an essay about yourself ? Scholarships360 is here to help students navigate the tricky terrain of the college admissions process. Be sure to check out our guides to help! 

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Admissions Blog

Application tips: essays.

Over the next few weeks, our office will be sharing advice on the various requirements of our application process. First up: essays!

______________________

The essay, although just a single component of your application, holds immense significance. It offers you the best opportunity to provide the admissions committee with a compelling response to the “Why?” behind your journey to join the Fletcher community. What drives your interest in becoming a part of Fletcher? Why did you choose your specific program? And why now?

To briefly summarize, all applicants are expected to address at least two essay prompts. The first prompt, mandatory for all applicants, is as follows:

Kindly elucidate your objectives for graduate study at Fletcher and for your professional trajectory. Share the facets of your personal, professional, and/or academic background that have equipped you for your chosen career path. Why is The Fletcher School the ideal institution for pursuing your academic goals and preparing for your professional aspirations? Furthermore, please explain your choice of the degree program you are applying for.

Subsequently, all applicants must craft a second essay by selecting one of three prompts. However, applicants to the MGA and PhD programs, as well as those following the Map Your Future pathway, are also required to address a third prompt. For the purposes of this post today, our advice primarily centers on the first essay.

It is crucial that your essay directly addresses the prompt, leaving the admissions committee with minimal queries about your suitability for the Fletcher community. To achieve this, write with clarity, conciseness, and an absence of grammatical errors.

In line with this, ensure you proofread your essay thoroughly. Consider printing it and reading it aloud, or using a writing assistant tool. Collaborating with trusted colleagues for editing is also a viable option. Allow yourself ample time for multiple drafts, as most errors emerge when rushed. Your initial draft will require refinement, which is perfectly fine, as the essay benefits from ample time to evolve before submission. Embrace the concept of drafting and letting your ideas mature before the final polish.

Remember that your resume already outlines your professional and academic journey. Consequently, avoid excessive recapitulation of information already present in your resume. It’s acceptable to acknowledge your prior experiences, but the most impactful essays delve deeper into how those experiences have shaped your decision to pursue an education at Fletcher.

Lastly, be authentic and aim to infuse a touch of enjoyment into your essay. This is one of the rare opportunities in your application where the admissions committee glimpses your personality (besides optional interviews, of course!). Keep in mind that there is no definitive “right answer” for these essays. We want to understand what truly excites you about global affairs and the Fletcher community. Given our multidisciplinary focus, there’s no such thing as a “typical” Fletcher student – individuality abounds.

I trust that this advice proves beneficial. We eagerly anticipate reviewing your application, especially your essays!

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Tufts University Supplemental Essays 2022-2023

Tufts supplemental essays 2022-2023.

If you’ve already started researching how to get into Tufts , stats like the The Tufts acceptance rate may make the Tufts application seem daunting. Getting familiar with each part of the Tufts application, including the Tufts supplemental essays ahead of the deadline can help you feel confident as you prepare for the admissions process. 

In your Tufts essays, you’ll highlight what makes you unique and why Tufts is the right place for you. Additionally, the Tufts essay prompts will intentionally push you to explore what Tufts provides its students. So, the more you know about the school, the stronger your Tufts essays will be. Also, the stronger your Tufts supplemental essays, the better your admissions odds will be.

Given the low Tufts acceptance rate, Tufts admissions can be incredibly competitive. This means you should do your homework so that your personality, passions , and goals shine through in each of your Tufts supplemental essays.

Tufts Essay: Quick Facts

• 1 (~150 word) essay: Why Tufts essay
• 1 (~250 word) essay: Choose from 3 prompts essay
• 1 (150 word) essay: Why SMFA at Tufts essay
• 1 (~250 word) essay: What ideas would you like to explore essay
• Tufts University Application: Students can submit their Tufts University application through the Common Application or the Coalition Application .
• Early Decision: November 1
• Early Decision 2: January 4
• Regular Decision: January 4
• Tufts Supplemental Essay Tip: Both essays are required by Tufts admissions, so we recommend answering all Tufts supplemental essays comprehensively and thoughtfully.

How many supplemental essays does Tufts require?

Tufts University requires a personal statement that you’ll write for the Common App or Coalition App as well as two school-specific essays .

This makes the Tufts supplemental essays are one of few opportunities to make your application stand out. Like any supplemental essay, your Tufts supplemental essays should demonstrate why the university is a good fit for your goals while also sharing your personal experiences.

When it comes to the Why Tufts essay, you’ll want to be as specific as possible in sharing why Tufts is the school for you. A popular rule of thumb is that if you can replace the name of the university in the essay and it still makes sense, your essay may not be specific enough. 

What are the Tufts Supplemental Essay requirements?

Tufts has two school-specific essays in the Common App. As you consider the Tufts supplemental essays, you’ll notice that while the Tufts essay prompts are different, both essentially ask you to introduce yourself to the Tufts admissions team.

Why Tufts essay

In the Why Tufts essay, you should highlight the research you’ve done on Tufts and the reasons why you’d hope to attend. Your essays should also highlight how your experiences and goals tie into what Tufts offers.

Schools like Tufts that require a why school essay look for students who are specifically passionate about attending Tufts. That means you should include specific details about Tufts, like their academic curriculum, campus culture, student extracurriculars , or research opportunities. Rather than just listing them, you’ll want to articulate why these features excite you. You should also discuss how you imagine them helping you reach your goals.

More about you essay

In the second Tufts supplement, you’ll share more about your interests, passions, and community. While there are multiple ways to approach each of the Tufts supplemental essays, remember to cover new information in each of your responses. The exception to this rule, however, is if you are covering a new aspect of a previously mentioned experience/activity.

Unlike the why Tufts essay, you’ll have your choice of three different prompts to respond to. Each prompt covers a slightly different area of your life and interests , so you’ll have to select a prompt and narrow down your topic before you can begin writing the second of your two Tufts supplemental essays.

Tufts Supplemental Essays #1 – Why Tufts Essay?

Which aspects of the tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application in short, “why tufts” (150 words).

Before you start approaching this Tufts essay, you should make sure you understand the key features of the school. Chartered in 1852, Tufts University is a research university with a low student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. They also offer nearly 150 majors and minors . Tufts is located in Medford, Massachusetts and has a unique mascot— Jumbo the elephant. Unique traditions abound that make life at Tufts all the more exciting.

Famous Tufts alumni include Nobel Prize winner Roderick MacKinnon, singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan, and the former prime minister of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis. It could be beneficial for your Tufts supplemental essays, especially the Why Tufts essay, to reflect on the university’s rich history and expansive offerings.

Highlight what makes Tufts right for you

The Tufts essay prompts let you channel your personality and reflect on the research you have done. Hopefully, when you put your list of colleges together, you asked yourself, Why Tufts? If not, now is the time to take a moment to seriously consider this question. In fact, to answer this prompt well, take a moment to consider why you want to attend college. Do you know what you want to study ? Do you have clear personal and professional goals that tie into your college education? Are there activities that you hope to continue or try during your undergraduate career?

Once you’ve thought about your answers to these questions, think about how they specifically translate to a school like Tufts. What does Tufts offer that no other school does? Why do you see yourself attending Tufts? Are there specific opportunities you hope to take advantage of during your time at Tufts? Or are there certain faculty or alumni whose work has inspired you?

There are many ways you might choose to answer the question “why Tufts,” and we understand that writing a why school essay is no easy task. Here are some tips to use and questions to ask yourself as you tackle your why Tufts essay.

Leverage your word count

To help your Tufts supplemental essays shine, be sure to leverage your word limit to your advantage. 150 words doesn’t give you a ton of space to be wordy or expansive in your why Tufts essay. So, one of your challenges will be to concisely explain why Tufts is the place for you.

Rather than listing every single reason you’re interested in Tufts, focus on just one or two things in your why Tufts essay.  If you’re having trouble pinning your ideas down, it can be helpful to start your brainstorm with two lists. Title one, “Why college?” and the other “Why Tufts?” 

Under the “college” list, write general goals for your college experience. This might include what you want to study, the experiences you hope to have, and the professional goals that you’d like to achieve after college. Under the “Why Tufts” list, write the specific things that drew you to Tufts. Stay away from general attributes like prestige and reputation, as you can find these things at many other schools.

Find overlap

Once your “Why Tufts” list is complete, look at both lists for parallels you can touch on in your why Tufts essay. For example, if you’re excited to find new friends and community in college and one of your personal goals is to advocate for civil rights, you can talk about how excited you are to join the student organization ACTION (Advancing Civic Thought In Our Nation) and help in their after school programs. You might also consider some unique opportunities, classes, or faculty that connect with your educational goals. For example, a student planning to study engineering might discuss Tufts’ focus on socially-conscious engineering in their why Tufts essay.

Consider the future

The best why Tufts essay will also consider a student’s future beyond Tufts. The student interested in socially-conscious engineering, for instance, may want to discuss how they hope to channel what they will learn to solve a problem in the world or contribute to a new field of study.

While you have to stick to a singular prompt for your why Tufts essay, this Tufts supplement still  gives you some flexibility. Perhaps you have been a leader in one of your extracurricular activities . How do you see yourself applying these experiences to a specific organization or opportunity at Tufts?

As the shorter of the two Tufts supplemental essays, your why Tufts essay is relatively brief. Don’t waste words when establishing the “why” in your “Why Tufts” essay. This is not the time to share your love of Medford or Boston at large—unless you can tie in a specific connection with Tufts. Instead, channel your excitement for Tufts’ location into a description of how you’d like to get involved in the local community through Tufts’ own offerings.

Resources from Tufts Admissions

If you’re still not sure how to craft your why Tufts essay, take a look at admissions ’ Tufts essays that worked. These examples can be valuable resources. Each of the nine Tufts essays that worked showcase student’s with different goals, academic interests, and approaches to the why Tufts essay. As you read each example, try to consider what aspects of their why Tufts essay really helps you imagine each student as part of Tufts’ campus community.

You can also check out why school essay examples from other top colleges, include Y ale and Barnard , for more inspiration.

Tufts Essay Reflection Questions:

• Do you share experiences or interests that you hope to explore further in college?
• Does your why Tufts essay provide information that enriches the rest of your application?
• Do you provide college-specific examples that address why Tufts?
• Is it clear that Tufts fits your ideal college experience?

Tufts Supplemental Essays #2- Choose One

Now we’d like to know a little more about you. please respond to one of the following three questions. (250 words):, a. it’s cool to love learning. what excites your intellectual curiosity, b. how have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today, c. where are you on your journey of engaging with or fighting for social justice .

Here, you have multiple Tufts supplemental essay prompts to choose from. But which essay prompt is the best choice? While no individual topic is automatically better than another, consider what you have already shared apart from your why Tufts essay. Also, keep in mind that your Tufts supplemental essays show your audience your writing ability and overall readiness for college.

Highlight new details

Try not to repeat material you have already shared elsewhere in your Tufts supplemental essays. However, there is an exception to this rule—you can share something new with your readers within a topic that you’ve already discussed.

For example, in our why Tufts essay overview, we described a student hoping to study engineering through the lens of social consciousness at Tufts. If they felt really passionately about this topic, they could expand what they wrote about in their why Tufts essay in the second of their Tufts supplemental essays.

That student could talk about how their understanding of social justice (the third Tufts supplement) has led them to ask bigger questions about engineering—specifically, why do some individuals have access to resources and others don’t? They may talk about how in learning about social justice, they have learned the importance of representation and diversity in fields like engineering .

Now that we’ve given you an idea of how your Tufts supplemental essays might play off of one another, it’s time to focus on your second Tufts essay. Let’s dive into the three prompts for the Tufts supplemental essays!

Tufts Essay: Option A

Let’s look at Option A for the Tufts supplemental essays. While you could use this prompt to describe your potential major, you could also reflect on another intellectual interest. No matter the topic, ask yourself how have you explored this subject in the classroom and beyond? With over 150 majors and minors available at Tufts along with many student organizations, you have plenty of options to explore different interests. You might tie your intellectual curiosity to a class, or even an organization or activity that you hope to experience at Tufts.

Not sure what you want to major in? Check out our article . In it, we walk through how to choose a major and how your choice can affect your college applications.

Avoid writing about generic interests

You may find your most passionate intellectual curiosity may not be related to your major, and that’s okay! However, you should avoid stating generic interests like reading or the news. Instead, you want to be as specific as possible in your Tufts supplemental essays. 

For example, you may discuss how you stumbled upon an old Dutch-to-English translation of your favorite children’s book, which sparked your interest in the Dutch language. Just like you did in your why Tufts essay, use this space to share how your passions evolved and why they matter to you. When reading your Tufts supplemental essays, admissions officers want to see that you’re a self-motivated learner who will bring your diverse interests and passions to the Tufts community.

Tufts Essay: Option B

Considering Option B for your second Tufts essay? Remember that your Tufts supplemental essays are for you to share where you have been, where you are, and where you hope to be.

To start your brainstorm , we recommend getting your ideas flowing with another set of lists. Similar to the why Tufts essay, create four lists—family, home, neighborhood, and community—and write big events and people that have shaped you in each.

While “family” and “home” may seem identical, they’re not. For example, you may want to talk about how your family’s immigration story has shaped who you are today. This is completely different from someone who wants to talk about how living in many different types of homes (apartments, single-family houses, and townhomes) shaped how they live with and interact with others. In other words, you’ll want to think outside of the box and share something personal to you and your story.

In each list, try to zoom in on one or two examples and expand on them. Think about how they have made an impact on you, how you think, or how you approach new situations. While it may seem intuitive to share gratitude towards people or places that have been most impactful on you, remember that you are the protagonist of your Tufts supplemental essays. You wouldn’t want the admissions team to learn more about your hero or community than they do about you!

Tufts Essay: Option C

Option C is probably the toughest of the Tufts essay prompts. Done incorrectly, this Tufts essay can be preachy or veer into vague, philosophical musings on social justice. To answer this Tufts prompt well, you should be specific.

In general, Tufts supplemental essays give you plenty of leeway to be creative. However, you should still give concrete examples wherever possible. For this essay, think about ways that you engaged with social justice in your community. Perhaps you have participated in discussions or events near you. Or, maybe you have educated yourself and others through books, articles, or conversations.

Whatever experiences you choose to highlight, make sure that your essay stays away from performative social justice. In other words, avoid mentioning how many likes your social justice-themed posts garnered, name-dropping prominent activists that you’ve met, and/or co-opting the stories of others.

• Do you focus on your own experiences instead of those of others?
• Does your response share what distinguishes you from other applicants?
• Does your draft use active voice instead of passive language?
• Do you focus on one or two experiences instead of sharing a laundry list?

Tufts Supplemental Essays – BFA & 5 year BFA + BA Applicants

Applicants to the BFA or 5-year combination BFA/BA program will complete a different set of Tufts supplemental essays . These essay prompts are similar to the why Tufts essay and option A of the Tufts supplemental essay prompts.

SMFA essay #1: Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? Why SMFA at Tufts? (100-150 words)

Smfa essay #2: 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 (200-250 words).

As you can see, the prompts have similar word counts and topics they want applicants to cover in each essay. That means the tips and questions outlined above will still be helpful as you consider how to approach these prompts.

For the first BFA program Tufts essay, highlight why this program is the right fit for you. Like the first general Tufts supplemental essay, you’ll want to remain as specific as possible. Share details about why the Tufts BFA program is the right fit for you. 

In the second essay, highlight who you are as an artist and individual. Why do you want to make art? How do you see your art helping make the world a better place? What inspires and motivates you? Once again, the more specific you can be, the better. 

How to write Tufts Supplemental Essays: Five Easy Steps

Five steps for writing a tufts essay, #1- research.

Doing your own research will help you get familiar with Tufts and their application process (while hopefully getting you excited about the possibility of attending Tufts)! We recommend exploring the Discover Tufts page, where you’ll find information on Tufts academic schools, curriculum, and opportunities as well as campus life and student organizations. You’ll also find helpful links, like Tips for a Virtual Visit and tips for writing your essays . 

#2- Brainstorm

Even if you’re eager to jump into your first draft, remember brainstorming is one of the most helpful steps in the writing process. Use our suggested exercises to make lists, focus your ideas, and choose what to write about.

If you’re feeling stuck with writer’s block, that’s totally normal! Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be a work of art. Focus on just getting your ideas down in sentences so you have material to draw from for your final draft.

While getting your first draft down is an accomplishment, the editing process is where your essay will really start to take shape. Especially since you are working within such tight word limits, you’ll probably need to edit out portions of your first draft. Every sentence (and every word) should string together to tell your story, so make sure you edit for conciseness and clarity.

#5- Proofread

No essay draft can be finalized without a comprehensive spelling and grammar check. Before you submit your essay, try to finish your draft at least a week before the deadline. Then, you can take some time away from your essay before your final proofread . Better yet, ask a mentor or peer to take a second look at your essay to check for clarity and any errors you might have missed.

How important is my Tufts essay?

Your Tufts supplemental essays are a crucial part of your overall application. With over 31,000 students applying to Tufts University this past year, you should be sure to put your best foot forward in your Tufts supplemental essays. Even if you have outstanding grades and test scores, many of the other students applying will, too. Your Tufts essays are your opportunity to stand out from the crowd and make an impression on the admissions team.

That being said, try to stand out while also remaining true to yourself. Don’t feel pressured into feeling like you need to embellish your experiences or make them seem more important than they are. If they are truly important and valuable to you, they’ll be just as important and valuable to admissions. This application advice can get you started on your Tufts essays and help you figure out Why Tufts is the place for you. 

Wondering how you can find opportunities that are unique to Tufts University? Fortunately, Tufts also offers online open houses to help you get a glimpse of the greater community. Additionally, check out resources such as the Tufts YouTube channel . These resources can give you insider insight to make your Tufts supplemental essays shine. 

Tufts Admissions Requirements

Now that we’ve discussed the Tufts supplemental essay prompts, let’s look at the rest of your Tufts application. In order for your essays to be considered, you need to make sure you’ve successfully completed all of Tufts’ admissions requirements.

All Tufts applicants must submit:

• A completed Common Application or Coalition Application
• Completed Tufts supplemental essays
• High school transcript(s)
• Senior grades

No matter which application platform you choose to apply through, you’ll need to submit your Personal Statement, two letters of recommendation, and your extracurricular activities. If you’re not sure how your extracurriculars will be considered as part of your application, check out Tufts’ application checklist for more context on how extracurriculars are evaluated.

Tufts Portfolio

Students who are applying to the School of Arts and Sciences of the School of Engineering may choose to submit a Tufts portfolio, but this is optional. However, students applying to either the BFA or 5-year combination BFA/BA program are required to submit a Tufts portfolio along with their Tufts supplemental essays.

Make sure you check the requirements for your Tufts portfolio to ensure you submit everything necessary. Students can also request a personal portfolio review prior to officially submitting, which is a great opportunity to discuss any questions you have about your Tufts portfolio and the overall application process.

As a reminder, Tufts is a test-optional school, meaning applicants have the choice of whether to include SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Also, Tufts admissions reviews applications holistically, so your scores will be considered within the context of your entire application.

Tufts Supplemental Essays—Final Thoughts

Your Tufts supplemental essays are an essential piece of your plan for how to get into Tufts. Both of your required essays, especially the Why Tufts essay, can help you stand out in the admissions process. Overall, your Tufts essays can be the difference between a good application and a great one.

Remember, grades and test scores are only two pieces of the application equation. Your Tufts supplemental essays should help your reader learn about what really makes you tick.  If you’re ever feeling stuck in the writing process, remind yourself that the Tufts essay prompts are not trying to stump you. Instead, each Tufts supplement can shed light on the passion and potential that you would bring to the Tufts community.

Start early

To submit the best Tufts supplemental essays you can, you should start drafting your Tufts essays early—a few months before applications are due. The Tufts supplemental essays are not especially long, but you will need time to revise and get another pair of eyes (or two) on each Tufts supplement.

Make sure to pay special attention to the why Tufts essay. Clearly articulating why Tufts is the place for you will form the foundation of a strong application. Then, use the second set of Tufts essay prompts to share your passions and experiences with the admissions team. Use strong, dynamic language to draw your reader into your Tufts supplement.

Tufts alumni interview

In addition to the Tufts supplemental essays, be sure to request your alumni interview once you have submitted your application. Although they are optional, interviews can add value to your overall candidate profile.

Wondering where to start? Check out some of these Tufts YouTube videos on Tufts supplemental essays .

Also, the Tufts Associate Director of Admissions, Lauren Wilkes, helps give students some tips on how to succeed in your interview. A strong interview and well-crafted Tufts supplemental essays can help you submit the best possible application to this great research university. Good luck!

This Guide to the 2022-2023 Tufts Supplemental Essays was written by Stefanie Tedards. Looking for more admissions support? Click here to schedule a meeting with one of our Admissions Specialists. During your meeting, our team will discuss your profile and help you find targeted ways to increase your admissions odds at top schools. We’ll also answer any questions and discuss how CollegeAdvisor.com can support you in the college application process.

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Tufts sees drop in racial diversity for Class of 2028 after affirmative action ban

The share of first-year students of color declined by 6%, with the most prominent decreases amongst black students..

Bendetson Hall is pictured on Feb. 11, 2023.

Tufts reported a decline in the racial diversity of its incoming first-year class, who represent the first wave of students to be admitted after the Supreme Court’s ruling last year to overturn race-based affirmative action in college admissions. 44% of the Class of 2028 identify as students of color, down from 50% last year.

The announcement comes as several other universities,  including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Amherst College, have revealed similar declines in the diversity of their incoming class — at MIT, the percentage of incoming Black students dropped from 15% to just 5%. With data only beginning to trickle in from universities across the country, it remains unclear how much of this drop in diversity is tied to the court’s affirmative action ban versus other factors in the admissions process, such as a decrease in the number of students of color applying to certain schools. But Tufts’ data provides one of the nation’s earliest indications that the court’s decision has changed the racial composition of college campuses.

Breaking down the data

Black students experienced the heaviest drop in their share of the first-year class, dipping from 7.3% of the Class of 2027 to just 4.7% of the incoming class. Nearly all other racial and ethnic groups on campus experienced declines, with Asian American students dropping to 19.7% from an earlier 20.3% and multiracial students dropping from 11.4% to 8.0%. According to Tufts, there was also a decrease in the enrollment of Indigenous students, although the university did not disclose exact percentages in their original statement nor when asked by the Daily.  

By contrast, the number of white and Hispanic/Lati nx  students in the Class of 2028 has risen from last year. White students, who represented 46.8% of the Class of 2027, now compose 49.3% of the Class of 2028. For Hispanic/Latinx students, the increase was more modest: 11.6% of the Class of 2028 identifies as Hispanic/Latinx, up from an earlier 10.5%.

The number of students who   chose not to report their race or ethnicity  al so rose from 3.3% to 6.7%. Tufts’ Director of Admissi ons, JT Du ck, said that this increase could help explain recent shifts in racial demographics.

“ The actual size of the decline in certain groups is not as clear as the data might suggest because of this, and we would recommend resisting comparing one group’s increase against another group’s decrease given that context,” he wrote in a statement to the Daily.

In his statement, Duck wrote  that the national ban on affirmative action directly impacted his admissions team and contributed to them admitting a less racially diverse first-year class. He explained that admissions officers plan to increase their outreach to underrepresented, low-income and first-generation high-school students, as well as their recruitment in small towns and rural areas.

“As for why certain groups went up or down, we’re continuing to examine the data, which only became visible to us late in the summer after the entire admissions process had conclu ded,” Duck wrote.

Students react to drops in diversity at Tufts

In conversations with the Daily, students expressed concern about the ramifications of decreased racial diversity on campus. Most, however, said they were not surprised at the data.

“I think when the affirmative action decision was repealed by the Supreme Court last year, all of u s were just holding our breath, especially a lot of us in the Black community,” Rhoda Edwards,   TCU Africana Community Senator and the President of the Black Student Union,   said.

Edwards is also a coordinator for the pre-orientation program Students’ Quest for Unity in the African Diaspora, which introduces incoming first-year students to the history and community   of Black students at Tufts. According to Edwards, the percentage of students enrolled in the program dropped by nearly half this year, which  she said reflects the drop in Black first-year students.

To Edwards, drops in racial diversity should be understood as a threat to all students on Tufts’ campus, not just those from marginalized groups. She stressed that a diverse campus provides opportunities for people to  cultivate “cultural consciousness,” or the practice of learning how to accept and coexist with people from different cultural backgr ounds.

“But there has to be diversity for you to do t hat to begin with,” Edwards said.  “If there’s no longer a presence of any racial group, identity group, o n campus, there’s nothing to be culturally conscious of, because there’s only one culture.”

TCU Diversity Officer Donovan Sanders  stressed that as racial diversity declines on campus, students fro m marginalized groups begin to feel increasingly alienated.

“I’m not surprised [by the data], but it still impacts me as someone who’s a Black student and a m inority student here at Tufts … not being able to see students who look like me walking around me,” Sanders said.

But students  wer e wary of blaming recent demographic shifts entirely on the Supreme Court’s ban of affirmative action. Declining diversity amongst the student body is also a reflection of Tufts’ efforts to create a welcoming campus for marginalized groups, students argued.

“College access as a whole is a really large fie ld,” Nessren Ourdyl,  Vice President of the TCU Senate and a volunteer with the Tufts College Access Mentoring Initiative, said.  “I  think Tufts can play a better role in … promoting a better campus culture and campus experience for those who are already here, in order to ensure that students do feel like that they can apply and get in and attend a school like Tuft s — a nd graduate as well.”

Sanders and Ourdyl said that many students of color are d eterred by Tufts’  low social mobility ranking : on the Wall Street Journal’s 2023 social mobility index, Tufts ranked 391 out of 400 colleges.  Students of color are also discouraged from applying, they said, be cause of Tufts’ history of low retention rates for faculty of col or:  B etween fall 2022 and fall 2023, for instance, the percentage of Black full and part-time faculty in the School of Arts and Sciences dropped from 5.8% to 4.8%.

“If there are no faculty and staff [of color] here, students [of color] are probably not going to want t o be here, because they don’t see people that look like them represented in places of power,” Sanders said.

T he students expressed  hope  that, going forward, Tufts increases programming that caters to students of color, provides more support to identity centers on campus and hires and retains a more diverse slate of faculty members. Ourdyl stressed that as the university steps up its efforts to recruit applicant s from underrepresented communities, it should adopt a more personal, individualized approach . As a volunteer for the Tufts College Access Initiative,   Ourdyl works closely with students in underserved areas of Massachusetts to help encourage them to apply to Tufts and guide them through the college process.

“It’s really powerful that it’s coming from students and undergrads like us. Because when we talk to students, they see reflections of thems elves in us,”  Ourdyl said. “Som etimes the work and the responsibilities … lay on the people who are most deeply affected by those [demographic] changes, lik e students of color. I’m hopeful that in the future, the university can be a little bit more supportive of that, too.”

Self-reported racial identities of Tufts undergraduate first-year students for the classes of 2027 and 2028 are pictured.

Tufts professors, students reflect on 2024 election, recent spikes in youth involvement

Protests continue over Tufts’ use of contractors accused of wage theft

Carpenters' union protests against wage theft as first-year students check in

Rep. erika uyterhoeven to face off against challenger kathleen hornby during sept. 3 primary, mpox outbreak highlights the importance of information in medicine, breaking: kelly sims gallagher appointed as next dean of the fletcher school.

Faculty in the News - 2023-2024

Summer 2024.

Engagement in campus Jewish life spiked after Oct. 7 but has since dropped down somewhat, Tufts study finds  September 4, 2024 JTA Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh shares findings from his new study examining levels of Jewish campus engagement since the Hamas attack on Israel and the start of Israel’s war in Gaza. 

The power of disrespect: Introducing the Return2Respect movement September 2, 2024 The Fulcrum Professor Emeritus of Political Science Jeffrey Berry and Professor of Sociology Sarah Sobieraj are quoted from their 2014 book The Outrage Industry: Political Opinion Media and the New Incivility .

The Take: Lessons from the student anti-apartheid movement  September 2, 2024 Al Jazeera Professor of Political Science Pearl T. Robinson joins this episode of The Take to discuss the many facets of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement in the United States. 

Tufts University, Amherst College report freshman racial diversity dipped following SCOTUS decision August 31, 2024 The Boston Globe AS&E Dean of Admissions & Enrollment Management JT Duck and Lenore Stern Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo are quoted about data showing that the racial diversity of the Tufts incoming freshman class has decreased. 

Alabama Power cuts payments to third-party energy producers: Will it stamp out solar power? August 30, 2024 AL.com Associate Professor of Economics Steve Cicala comments in this article on Alabama Power’s recent changes that impact solar power providers and other third-party energy producers, noting that the company doesn't want competition.

So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast August 30, 2024 Hacker News Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh joins this episode of the So to Speak podcast to discuss challenges and opportunities of teaching conservative thought in a predominantly liberal academic environment. A link to a March Boston Magazine article about Hersh’s American Conservatism course is included.

Are you what you eat? Biggest-ever catalogue of food microbes finds out August 28, 2024 Nature Associate Professor of Biology Benjamin Wolfe comments on a new study that found a small portion of each person’s microbiome comes from the food they eat, based on the researchers’ catalogue of microorganisms from more than 2,500 cheeses, meats and other foods.

The Asantehene has spoken: Bring back the Treasures the British Army stole from Kumase in 1874 August 28, 2024 Modern Ghana This article notes that Professor and Chair of the Music Department Kwasi Ampene helped the effort to return looted objects at the Fowler Museum to Ghana’s Manhyia Palace.

The GLP-1 weight loss revolution August 28, 2024 Chemistry World Professor of Chemistry Krishna Kumar is quoted throughout this feature examining glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs and the science behind how they promote weight loss, production challenges, and broader therapeutic uses for these products.

A Minister Returns Home To A Temple – OpEd August 27, 2024 Eurasia Review This opinion piece references findings from Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh’s research examining whether and how Jewish college students are experiencing changes in Jewish identity and participation on campus. 

The Surprising Impact of Recessions on Human Health August 26, 2024 The MIT Press Reader Associate Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Mary Davis pens this article adapted from her book Jobs, Health, and the Meaning of Work .

For the first time, genealogists have identified a living descendant of Elizabeth Freeman, the first African American woman to win a lawsuit for her freedom in Massachusetts August 24, 2024 Berkshire Eagle Associate Professors of History Kendra Field and Kerri Greenidge helped facilitate the 10 Million Names project’s search and discovery of a descendant of Elizabeth Freeman, whose historic court case set the legal precedent to abolish slavery in Massachusetts.

No, the world isn’t heading toward a new Cold War – it’s closer to the grinding world order collapse of the 1930s Aug 23, 2024 SFGATE Professor of History David Ekbladh examines the historical parallels between the present and the 1930s, noting, ”Our future neither has to be a reprise of the ‘hot war’ that concluded the 1930s, nor the Cold War that followed.”

Study: Significant minority of college students hostile to Jews or Israel August 23, 2024 Israel National News - Arutz Sheva This JTA article cites findings from Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh’s research examining whether and how Jewish college students are experiencing changes in Jewish identity and participation on campus. 

Why am I symmetrical? August 23, 2024 BBC News Professor of Biology Michael Levin joins this episode of BBC’s CrowdScience to discuss the biological asymmetry inside the human body, from internal organ position to cell assembly. (His segment, which begins around the 25:00 mark, also aired on 10 NPR and 15 CBC stations.)

100 years ago, the ‘Big Listen’ tuned in to messages from Mars Aug 23, 2024 The Washington Post Senior Lecturer in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development Department Julie Dubrow comments on David Todd, whose wife played a role in preserving Emily Dickinson’s work. Dobrow is the author of After Emily: Two Remarkable Women and the Legacy of America’s Greatest Poet .

One-third of non-Jewish college students are hostile to Jews or Israel, Brandeis U study finds  Aug 23, 2024 JTA This article cites findings from Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh’s research examining whether and how Jewish college students are experiencing changes in Jewish identity and participation on campus. 

How do curve balls, cutters, sinkers and sweepers work? August 22, 2024 Phys.org Professor of Physics & Astronomy Roger Tobin examines how baseball pitchers use spin to throw different types of pitches in this reprinted Tufts Now news story.

MIT says ruling that struck down affirmative action has created a diversity dilemma Aug 22, 2024 NBC10 Boston Lenore Stern Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo comments on how the end of affirmative action in college admissions will impact the learning environment in this news segment, appearing at the 1:34 mark.

First identified living Elizabeth Freeman descendant makes pilgrimage to Berkshires Aug 21, 2024 WAMC Northeast Public Radio Associate Professor of History Kerri Greenidge comments on the significance of Elizabeth Freeman, who successfully sued for freedom from enslavement using the Massachusetts Constitution in 1781.

‘I didn’t have the words’: Genealogists link woman to Elizabeth Freeman, who helped end slavery in Mass. Aug 21, 2024 The Boston Globe Associate Professors of History Kendra Field and Kerri Greenidge helped facilitate the 10 Million Names Project’s search for descendants of Elizabeth Freeman, whose historic court case set the legal precedent to abolish slavery in Massachusetts. Field is quoted about the challenges of tracing African American genealogies saying, “It takes more work, it takes more investment, and it’s the work of repairing those erasures and voids.”

The China Hangover Is Here August 19, 2024 New York Times As the Chinese economy stagnates, Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley examines financial challenges facing countries who forged partnerships with China during its economic boom.

Harris has a plan to fix one of America’s biggest economic problems. Here’s what it means for you August 16, 2024 CNN Professor of Economics Jeffrey Zabel comments on Vice President Kamala Harris’s plan to make homes more affordable, noting, “While this is a step in the right direction, let’s wait and see what they can actually implement.”

Are Black voters really leaving Democrats in the dust? August 15, 2024  Good Authority Using data from the Cooperative Election Study, Professor of Political Science Brian Schaffner and rising fourth-year A&S student Caroline Soler analyze the support that Democrats have had from Black voters and Black nonvoters from 2008 to 2020.

77 years on, Pakistan's journey from green and white to grey August 13, 2024 GEO TV Ahead of Pakistan’s 78th Independence Day, Mary Richardson Professor of History Ayesha Jalal shares thoughts on the state of the country noting that while socioeconomic challenges are contributing to growing disillusionment among its youth, "There's nothing like your own country … Success requires hard work and dedication, and this is something our society needs to embrace.”

The Delta Smelt Controversy in Sociological Perspective August 11, 2024 California WaterBlog Assistant Professor of Sociology Caleb Scoville discusses his new article on the Delta Smelt controversy, saying that the dynamics and character of the issue “are better explained by national partisan divisions than as a regional struggle for access to water.”

Why Honoring Black Intellectual And Artistic Traditions Matters August 10, 2024 Forbes Associate Professors of History Kendra Field and Kerri Greenidge are quoted about the recent Du Bois Forum, a gathering for Black intellectuals, artists, and writers and honoring the important legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois.

What the Supreme Court's Affirmative Action Ban Means for College Admissions August 8, 2024  U.S. News & World Report Professor of Sociology Natasha Warikoo is quoted in this updated article on the Supreme Court’s ruling to strike down affirmative action in college admissions.

State budget makes strides in education efforts August 8, 2024  Bay State Boston Banner This article cites findings from Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren’s recent research that demonstrates positive outcomes for students in Boston’s METCO program.

Shortage of Black doctors is rooted in racist history − a $600M gift will help historically Black medical schools address the gap August 7, 2024 Yahoo News Assistant Professor of Community Health Benjamin Chrisinger examines the impact of a lack of Black doctors in America and the deep roots of the modern inequalities in medicine.

Anthropology and Algorithms August 6, 2024 Cultural Anthropology Associate Professor of Anthropology Nick Seaver joins the Anthro Pod to discuss the role of anthropology in debates around algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of anthropology.

Jewelry artist Tanya Crane mixes small scale with ‘Big Pimpin’’ August 5, 2024 The Boston Globe Professor of the Practice Tanya Crane is featured in this installment of the Boston Globe’s Working Artist profile series. 

Ukraine’s Allies Are Worried About the Power of Zelenskiy’s Top Aide August 2, 2024 BNN Bloomberg Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel says that “The head of the presidential administration informally has always had a great deal of power in Ukraine.”

When development creates conflict | CEPR August 2, 2024  cepr.org Assistant Professor of Economics Eoin McGuirk joins this episode of the VoxTalks Economics podcast to discuss the tensions that arise when economic development projects pose a threat to traditional farm practices, as with the pastoralists in rural African populations.

Trump’s absurd new attacks on Kamala Harris prove he has no idea what race is August 2, 2024 MSNBC Professor of Psychology Samuel R. Sommers co-authors this opinion piece examining how “acknowledging the existence of multiracial identities completely scrambles” Donald Trump’s perspective of identity.

Breaking Through the Presidential Glass Ceiling August 1, 2024  The Atlantic Professor of Political Science Brian Schaffner is quoted through this article examining how gender has evolved as a factor in presidential politics since Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016, drawing from his Cooperative Election Study research. 

A university prison programme creating hope and purpose July 30, 2024 University World News Senior Lecturer in Civic Studies and Founder and Executive Director of the Tufts University Prison Initiative (TUPIT) Hilary Binda discusses TUPIT in the context of America’s extraordinarily high level of incarceration.

Should Ukraine join Nato? July 27, 2024 The Guardian Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel is among the signatories of an open letter supporting Ukraine’s admittance to Nato and outlining evidence refuting “the claim that Russia is on a hair trigger about Nato drawing any closer.” 

Can Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump? July 26, 2024 Financial Times Professor of Political Science Brian Schaffner comments on the electoral strategy behind Kamala Harris’ selection of a vice presidential running mate. 

Countering Chinese Aggression in the South China Sea July 23, 2024  War on the Rocks Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley examines China’s excessive, unprovoked military aggression towards the Philippines in the South and East China Seas, exposing the vulnerability of US alliances in the region.

If Kamala Harris Is a D.E.I. Candidate, So Is JD Vance July 21, 2024 The New York Times Professor of Sociology Natasha Warikoo comments on the role of diversity in higher education noting, “We want a variety of perspectives and lived experiences” beyond race.

Eitan Hersh on the Perils of Political Hobbyism July 20, 2024 The Good Fight Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh joins this episode of The Good Fight podcast to discuss political hobbyism and how to engage with politics in ways likely to bring about meaningful change.

Anti-Russian politician shot dead outside home July 20, 2024 The Telegraph Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel comments on the murder of Ukrainian nationalist politician Iryna Farion.

Lawfare Daily: Michael Beckley and Arne Westad on the U.S.-China Relationship July 18, 2024  Lawfare Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley joins this episode of the Lawfare Daily podcast to discuss the best path forward for the U.S.-China strategic relationship.

B eyond green: The intersection of eco anxiety and Black youth July 18, 2024 afro.com Senior Lecturer of Education Erin Seaton , who researches the intersection between climate change and education, says “As far as I know very few people are planning for the climate future and really thinking about the impact on schools and students.” 

Salary History Bans Fall Short As Men Voluntarily Reveal Pay, Study Shows July 17, 2024  Forbes Associate Professor of Economics Laura Gee’s 2023 collaborative study that found mothers are 1.4 times more likely than fathers to be contacted by school officials when the choice of who to call appears neutral is referenced in this article.

Electricity prices get political in Trump’s world July 17, 2024 E&E News Associate Professor of Economics Steve Cicala comments on likely factors behind an increase in electricity prices.

Intensive livestock farming may contribute to emerging infectious disease risk July 17, 2024 News Medical Associate Professor of Anthropology Alex Blanchette is among the collaborators on a new study assessing the role industrialized farming may play in emerging infectious disease risk, highlighting the need to consider socio-economic and political factors in addition to microbiological and environmental factors.

In the Berkshires, where W.E.B. Du Bois was born, a gathering of Black intellectuals and artists July 17, 2024 The Boston Globe Associate Professors of History Kendra FIeld and Kerri Greenidge discuss The Du Bois Forum’s upcoming gathering for Black intellectuals, artists, and writers and honoring the important legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois.

Intensive farming a ticking time bomb for new pandemics July 16, 2024 Devon Live Associate Professor of Anthropology Alex Blanchette is among the collaborators on a new study assessing the role industrialized farming may play in emerging infectious disease risk, highlighting the need to consider socio-economic and political factors in addition to microbiological and environmental factors.

Trump's Defiance of an Assassin's Bullet Reaffirmed Populist Appeal July 15, 2024 Reason This article cites 2023 research co-authored by Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh that found the two major political parties are both experiencing shifts in their traditional supporters.

More Women Are Working Than Ever. But They’re Doing Two Jobs. July 13, 2024 The Wall Street Journal Associate Professor of Economics Laura Gee’s 2023 collaborative study that found mothers are 1.4 times more likely than fathers to be contacted by school officials when the choice of who to call appears neutral is referenced in this article.

Dubois Forum organizers say it is 'urgently needed' in 2024: See Troutbeck event details July 12, 2024 Times Herald-Record Associate Professor of History Kendra FIeld is quoted about Du Bois Forum’s third annual gathering in New York’s Hudson Valley. Associate Professor of History Kerri Greenidge is noted as Forum co-founder alongside Field.

BÁRBARA BRIZUELA July 12, 2024 Diverse: Issues In Higher Education On July 1, Professor of Education Bárbara Brizuela began her appointment as dean ad interim of the School of Arts and Science.

As Rich Backers Retreat, Biden Trumpets Small Donors July 9, 2024 The New York Times Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh predicts that President Biden’s campaign will experience “a retreat of big donors and therefore a relative gain in proportion of small donors,” who tend to donate more “from the heart.” 

Doctors try a controversial technique to reduce the transplant organ shortage July 8. 2024 NPR Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health Keren Ladin’s research on normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) is referenced in this piece on organ donation.

Panpsychism: What if consciousness is in plants, cells, even atoms? June 5, 2024  VOX This article highlights the work of Professor of Biology Michael Levin , whose experiments have led him to believe in panpsychism, the view that consciousness resides in everything at least to some degree. 

From toxic fungus to soy sauce superstar June 30, 2024 asbmb.org Associate Professor of Biology Benjamin Wolfe is quoted about the scent of the A. oryzae mold, and his Wolfe Lab team’s 2019 research on the P. camemberti mold is cited.

New intelligence model could upend biology, genetics, medicine and AI June 25, 2024  New Atlas Professor of Biology Michael Levin’s body of research on bioelectricity, cellular intelligence, and regeneration is featured in this article.

50 years later, schools are still unequal June 20, 2024 The Boston Globe This article cites findings from Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren’s new research that demonstrates positive outcomes for students in Boston’s METCO program.

Pictures from the Inside: Seeing Fascination Everywhere, with Chantal Zakari & Nigel Poor June 20, 2024 B&H Photo Video Professor of the Practice Chantal Zakari joins this episode of the "B&H Explora" podcast to discuss her work teaching photography to incarcerated men as part of TUPIT as well as her 2023 book Pictures from the Outside , a collaboration with 13 incarcerated men.

AI drone fighters; robot cells, cows combating climate change June 20, 2024 Morningstar This overview of innovative technologies of interest to investors includes Professor of Biology Michael Levin’s collaborative research with Anthrobots.

10 Million Names Project restores African American family histories June 19, 2024 ABC News Associate Professors of History Kendra Field and Kerri Greenidge appear in this news interview to discuss the collaborative 10 Million Names project with American Ancestors. Field is the project's chief historian and Greenidge is on its Scholar’s Council. 

Should you worry about your cortisol levels? June 19, 2024 Medical Xpress Professor of Biology Michael Romero and Research Professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Jeffrey Blumberg offer insight into the role of the hormone cortisol in the body, what happens when levels are off, and how to maintain healthy levels.

June 18, 2024 - Juneteenth and the Mars Symphony  June 18, 2024  WGBH Associate Professor of History Kerri Greenidge joins this episode of The Culture Show podcast to discuss Juneteenth and the reckoning of racism in 2024. 

From Code to Creature June 14, 2024 The Scientist  This article explores Professor of Biology Michael Levin’s long-standing interest in the collective intelligence of cells, tissues, organs, and artificial constructs within regenerative medicine 

Russia test: Will Pakistan attend the Ukraine peace summit? June 11, 2024 Al Jazeera Assistant Professor of Political Science Fahd Humayun comments on whether or not Pakistan will attend an upcoming international peace summit related to the Russo-Ukrainian War, noting there is an “opportunity for Pakistan to have a voice on an important regional issue and to signal that its attendance is not in any way tantamount to taking sides in the conflict.” 

India elections: Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP have another five years in power. What does it mean for the world? June 8, 2024 CNN Assistant Professor of Political Science Fahd Humayun comments on the strategy that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may use to rally domestic support.

El período colonial de América Latina fue mucho menos católico de lo que parece, a pesar de los intentos de la Inquisición de controlar la religión June 7, 2024 Los Angeles Times Assistant Professor of History Diego Javier Luis examines the spiritual life of colonial Latin America, where Spanish control “was far from absolute.”

Only 1.8% of US doctors were Black in 1906 – and the legacy of inequality in medical education has not yet been erased June 6, 2024 The Conversation Assistant Professor of Community Health Benjamin Chrisinger examines the history of racial disparities in medicine and how they have contributed to modern inequalities.

Christians more interested than Jews in location of Mount Sinai, at center of Shavuot holiday June 6, 2024 Jewish News Syndicate Assistant Professor in the History of Art and Architecture Department and Co-director of the Sinai Digital Archive Alice Sullivan comments on the significance of Mount Sinai to Christians.

500 years ago, Machiavelli warned the public not to get complacent in the face of self-interested charismatic figures June 5, 2024 The Conversation Professor of Political Science Vickie B. Sullivan explores why Niccolò Machiavelli’s 16th-century writings on ancient Rome and Renaissance Florence remain relevant in today’s political landscape.

Autistic People More Likely To Identify As LGBTQ June 3, 2024 Forbes In this brand contributor piece, Assistant Professor in the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development Eileen T. Crehan is quoted from two SPARK webinars on the topic of sexual orientation and gender identity in autism.

June 1: Killer whales ramming boats for fun, and more... June 1, 2024 CBC Professor of Biology Michael Levin joins CBC’s Quirks & Quarks to discuss how collective intelligence (problem solving) in groups of animals extends to biological systems, such as cells, and the potential implications for regenerative medicine and bioengineering.

Spring 2024

China not powerful enough to start a war, expert says May 31, 2024 Taipei Times Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley is quoted about China’s latest Joint Sword-2024A military exercises from a recent panel appearance at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta and the University of South Carolina Walker Institute of International and Area Studies’ conference.

“I spent my entire life learning what it means to be Japanese” May 31, 2024 Homepage - The Lexington Observer This Q&A with Professor of International Literary and Cultural Studies Charles Shiro Inouye is the final installment of a series celebrating AAPI Heritage Month.

The messy quest to replace drugs with electricity May 30, 2024 technologyreview.com This article highlights Professor of Biology Michael Levin’s work to repurpose already-approved drugs as a way to target the electrical communication between cells. 

Diego Luis, Tufts University – Catarina de San Juan May 30, 2024 The Academic Minute Assistant Professor of History Diego Javier Luis joins this podcast episode to discuss the history of Asian peoples in the Americas through the story of Catarina de San Juan.

Words matter, especially in politics May 28, 2024 thefulcrum.us In this piece examining Americans’ perceptions of political terminology, Professor of Political Science Deborah Schildkraut explains that “people’s attitudes about anything having to do with race have become more strongly associated with other political outcomes, such as vote choice. So words have partisan connotations because people of different parties feel differently (and strongly) about the issues that those words represent.”

What The Animal Kingdom’s Most Playful Adults Teach Us About Development May 28, 2024  Inverse Assistant Professor of Biology and Anthropology Zarin Machanda co-authors this The Conversation reprint about her research that shows mother chimpanzees play with their young even in times of food scarcity, underscoring the important role of such behavior for the physical and psychological development of young chimps.

Ukraine to allow some prisoners to enter army, as Kyiv focuses on finding needed recruits May 25, 2024 CBC Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel comments on the challenges that the Ukrainian government faces in deciding who to call up to the military in the fight against Russia.

"Reductionism is well-named. It reduces what you can do." May 24, 2024  sentientism.info A&S Professor of Biology Michael Levin joins this episode of the Sentientist Conversations podcast to address the questions of what is real and who and what matters.

Scientists create tiny robots from human cells that can heal neuron tissue May 24, 2024 ZME Science This article highlights Professor of Biology Michael Levin’s collaborative research with Anthrobots.

What happened when a Jewish professor created a right-wing curriculum for his liberal college students May 23, 2024 The Canadian Jewish News Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh joins this episode of the Bonjour Chai podcast to discuss his course on modern American political conservatism.

Composer Kareem Roustom's 'Songs From Home' to premiere at benefit at Mechanics Hall May 23, 2024 Worcester Magazine Professor of the Practice in Music Kareem Roustom is quoted about his commissioned "Songs From Home" for string quartet, which will be receiving its world premiere on June 6 at "A Joyful Noise: A Concert to Benefit Neighborhood Strings" in Worcester.

Studio Ghibli's Next Movie Teased at Cannes, Miyazaki Slates Modern Anime May 22, 2024 MovieWeb Professor of International Literary and Cultural Studies Susan Napier is quoted from a March 15 The Guardian article in which she commented on whether Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki will return from retirement.

Geplunderde ‘kroonjuwelen’ van de Ashanti’s eindelijk terug in Ghana – voor even May 21, 2024 NRC Professor and Chair of the Music Department Kwasi Ampene is quoted about Ashanti objects on loan from the British and the Victoria & Albert Museums to Ghana saying, “We are talking about objects that have been looted. The British themselves use that word. So how is it moral to say, 'okay, we looted these objects, but we're lending them to you'?”

Harassment of scientists is surging - institutions aren’t sure how to help May 20, 2024  Nature Professor and Chair of the Department of Sociology Sarah Sobieraj is among the experts quoted about the ongoing harassment and abuse of scientists worldwide, noting “The visibility that brings attention to you could come from any number of sources that are not of your own doing.” 

Why Do Humans Sing? Traditional Music in 55 Languages Reveals Patterns and Telling Similarities May 17, 2024 Smithsonian Magazine Professor of Psychology Aniruddh Patel is quoted from a New York Times article on research that identified universal features of songs across many cultures. 

Why Do People Make Music? May 15, 2024  The New York Times Professor of Psychology Aniruddh Patel comments on research that identified universal features of songs across many cultures, noting that these features may have a special role in communication that is separate from speech. 

Don’t blame the politicians; blame the voters May 14, 2024 Baltimore Sun This opinion piece cites Professor of Political Science Brian Schaffner’s collaborative research on how voter attitudes about racism and sexism influenced the 2016 election.

May 13, 2024 - Kerri Greenidge, the BSO, and LexSeeHer  May 13, 2024 WGBH Associate Professor in the Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Department Kerri Greenidge joins this episode of WGBH’s The Culture Show to discuss the 70th anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling by the Supreme Court, which ended legal segregation in education. 

4 Simple Interventions To Reduce Biases Against Women At Work May 10, 2024 Forbes Associate Professor of Economics Laura Gee is quoted about her research showing that when a job seeker sees the number of applicants for a job posting on a large job-posting website, the person is more likely to finish an application, including women looking for jobs dominated by men.

Is Hollywood’s New ‘Magical, Colorblind Past’ a Good Thing? | KQED May 9, 2024 KQED Professor of the Practice in the Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies Department Emmanuel Parent joins this Forum radio broadcast to discuss the benefits, drawbacks and "uncomfortable truths" related to colorblind and color-conscious casting in recent Hollywood films and TV shows.

Playing with the kids is important work for chimpanzee mothers May 8, 2024  The Conversation Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Biology  Zarin Machanda co-authors this piece about her research that shows mother chimpanzees play with their young even in times of food scarcity, underscoring the important role of such behavior for the physical and psychological development of young chimps. 

On its 125th anniversary, W.E.B. Du Bois’ ‘The Philadelphia Negro’ offers lasting lessons on gentrification in Philly’s historically Black neighborhoods May 3, 2024 The Conversation Associate Professor of Sociology Freeden Blume Oeur co-authors this piece examining the lasting impact of W.E.B Du Bois’ book The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study , published in 1899.

Is 'cultural Marxism' behind the college protests? May 3, 2024 Deseret News Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh is quoted from a December 2023 Washington Post article about some findings from his collaborative article “The Young American Left and Attitudes About Israel."

From toxic fungus to soy sauce superstar May 2, 2024 knowablemagazine.org Associate Professor of Biology Benjamin Wolfe comments on the scent of A. oryzae mold, and his team’s work domesticating the wild mold P. camemberti is referenced.

Q&A: What's behind the potential ban on TikTok? May 1, 2024  Tech Xplore Assistant Professor of Anthropology Nick Seaver discusses the potential TikTok ban and whether fears about the app’s addictiveness are warranted.

The Forum - Feeding the world and the Green Revolution  April 27, 2024 BBC News Professor of Economics Douglas Gollin joins BBC’s The Forum  to discuss the evolution of farming techniques and technology and the impact on farmers. 

How Abrupt U-Turns Are Defining U.S. Environmental Regulations New York Times April 26, 2024 The polarization of politics means that rules are imposed, gutted, and restored with each election. Experts, including Associate Professor of Economics Steve Cicala , say that’s bad for the economy.

Sending both bombs and bread to Gaza, Biden signs bill amid student protests April 26, 2024  CGTN Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh comments on how young people view the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, seeing Palestinians “rising against a White oppressor.”

‘Watching the Constitution Be Rewritten’ April 25, 2024 The New Civil Rights Movement Professor of the Practice in Political Science Matthew Segal is quoted from his X account about the Supreme Court hearing on Donald Trump’s immunity. 

I migrated to my ancestral homeland in a search for identity Apr 23, 2024 Aeon Magazine Associate Professor of Sociology Helen Marrow’s ongoing research on the migration of individuals from the Global North, inspired by lifestyle or economic reasons rather than forced migration due to factors like war or violence, is referenced in this essay.

Racist dog whistle: the right wing has weaponized ‘DEI’ April 21, 2024  The Guardian      Lenore Stern Professorship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo comments on "DEI" becoming part of the conservative attack on egalitarianism, saying “The far right has really taken these ideas to an extreme and are not really worried about seeming racist.” 

Women run 80% of US elections – but are targets of misogyny-laced threats April 20, 2024 The Guardian Professor of Sociology Sarah Sobieraj discusses the rise in threats to and harassment of women who run elections the U.S. since 2020 noting, “Even though the abuse and harassment really looks and feels like bullying or interpersonal backlash, it’s really a structural rage that’s based in hostility toward the voice and visibility of these speakers as representatives of groups of people.” 

The Space of Possible Minds April 17, 2024 NOEMA Magazine Professor of Biology Michael Levin’s authored this article on how current debates about artificial intelligence fail to grapple with deeper questions about who we are and what kind of future we want to build.

Finding Comfort in a Haircut April 13, 2024 The New York Times Associate Professor in the Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies Department Kareem Khubchandani says “When salons decide to be trans- and queer-affirming, I think that makes a lot of difference to people who often don’t feel safe bringing their bodies into public spaces.” 

Harvard reinstates testing requirement for admissions April 12, 2024 WGBH Lenore Stern Professorship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo comments on Harvard’s decision to reinstate its standardized test requirement for new applicants.

The higher price of oil is helping tank the price of natural gas April 12, 2024 Marketplace Associate Professor of Economics Steve Cicala joins this Marketplace segment to comment on why natural gas prices in West Texas have dropped while the price of oil is going up.

Impacts of interdistrict school choice in Boston April, 10, 2024 The Thomas B. Fordham Institute This commentary highlights Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren’s new research that demonstrates positive outcomes for students in Boston’s METCO program.

Eitan Hersh explains his Conservative Thought Experiment Class - Chicago's Morning  April 8, 2024 Chicago's Morning Answer Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh joins Chicago’s Morning Answer to discuss his course on modern American political conservatism.

Bechdel Test a screen gem in raising awareness of women in film April 7, 2024 The Boston Globe Professor of International Literary and Cultural Studies Susan Napier pens this letter to the editor in response to a March 31 article on the Bechdel Test, which measures the representation of women in film and other fiction, highlighting two Hayao Miyazaki films “that have fantastic and significant women characters who never talk about men.”

Most US Jewish parents say kids’ college choices affected by Oct. 7 - survey April 3, 2024 The Times Of Israel Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh is quoted about his new study examining campus antisemitism and perceptions of it since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. 

What you need to know about Louisville’s likely switch to nonpartisan elections April 3, 2024 Louisville Public Media Professor of Political Science Brian Schafner is quoted at length about how nonpartisan elections impact voters and candidates, noting it is a system where “politics becomes more driven by the most educated and wealthiest portions of the public.” Schaffner’s 2001 research on the effects of nonpartisan elections on voter decisionmaking is linked.

Most Jewish parents say Oct. 7 has affected their child’s college selection, Hillel survey finds April 3, 2024 JTA Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh is quoted about his new study examining campus antisemitism and perceptions of it since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. 

Are Neurons Required for Cognition and Memory?  April 1, 2024 Psychology Today Professor of Biology Michael Levin’s longtime research on planarian flatworm memory and regeneration is highlighted in this blog post.

Sacre bleu! Camembert and brie 'on the verge of extinction,' French scientists warn March 29, 2024 NBC News Associate Professor of Biology Benjamin Wolfe explains how the lab-grown version of the penicillium camemberti fungus, an important element of camembert cheesemaking, is impacting the fungus’ ability to reproduce naturally.

In a post-affirmative action world, Harvard admits its first class - discounting race March 29, 2024 WGBH Lenore Stern Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo comments on the known composition of Harvard’s incoming class, the first for which colleges could not consider applicants’ race. Warikoo is the author of the book  Is Affirmative Action Fair?

March of ‘terror’: Pakistan grapples with deadly attacks on China interests March 29, 2024 Al Jazeera Assistant Professor of Political Science Fahd Humayun explains why he believes that an attack on a Chinese-funded hydropower project in Pakistan near Besham was carried out by either a “TTP affiliate or ISKP” to target the Pakistan-China relationship.

The Joy And Chaos Of Aging As A Drag Queen March 28, 2024 HuffPost Associate Professor of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies Kareem Khubchandani comments on how expectations for drag queen performances can impact aging artists. Khubchandani is a drag performer and author of Decolonize Drag .

Blood, sweat, and water: New paper analytical devices easily track health and environment March 28, 2024  Phys.org Associate Professor of Chemistry Charlie Mace and Engineering’s Fiorenzo Omenetto and Sameer Sonkusale are quoted about their respective paper-based tests for monitoring personal health and environmental safety that can be used in the home and in the field. Engineering graduate student Elisabetta Ruggeri, who works with Omenetto in the Silklab, is also quoted in this reprinted Tufts Now news story.

New England Conservatory gears up to celebrate a New England composer March 27, 2024 WGBH Associate Professor of History Kerri Greenidge joins this episode of WGBH’s The Culture Show to discuss her book, The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family . 

Chimp moms play 'airplanes' with their kids, even when they're tired and hungry March 26, 2024 Discover Wildlife Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Biology Zarin Machanda is quoted about her research that shows mother chimpanzees play with their young even in times of food scarcity, underscoring the important role of such behavior for the physical and psychological development of young chimps.

How one class at Tufts taught liberal students to have an open mind March 26, 2024 The College Fix This article highlights the recent Boston Magazine feature on Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh’s course on modern American political conservatism.

Chemists forge paths to inaccessible sugars March 25, 2024 C&EN Professor of Chemistry Clay Bennett is quoted throughout this article exploring the challenges of synthesizing sugar molecules for research purposes and strategies being employed to speed up and improve this process.

On campus, Jewish and Muslim students fear for their safety March 22, 2024 The World from PRX This article cites a survey from Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh examining US college students' experiences being Jewish and supporting Israel on campus before and after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

A Boston-based group is trying to track down the names of everyone who was ever enslaved in the U.S. March 21, 2024 Boston.com Associate Professors of History Kendra Field and Kerri Greenidge are quoted about the collaborative "10 Million Names" project with American Ancestors. Field is the project's chief historian and Greenidge is on its Scholar’s Council.

On campus, Jewish and Muslim students fear their safety March 21, 2024 WGBH This article cites a survey from Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh that found an increase in the number of Jewish college students who felt the need to hide their Jewish identity to fit in following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Europe's Challenge: Avoiding a Repeat 2014-16 Migration Crisis March 21, 2024 Georgetown Journal of International Affairs Associate Professor of Political Science Kelly M. Greenhill co-authors this piece examining how Europe needs to enhance cooperation around migration management and border control, now that agreement was reached on a long-stalled asylum pact.

Tufts Prof. Elizabeth Setren on METCO’s Proven Results March 20, 2024 Pioneer Institute Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren joins this episode of The Learning Curve podcast to discuss her new research that found Boston students who attended suburban school districts as part of the voluntary racial integration METCO program outperformed their peers in Boston Public Schools on nearly every measure over the last three decades.

How are women faring in American politics? March 20, 2024 Connecticut Public Radio Professor of Sociology and Sociology Chair Sarah Sobieraj was on Connecticut Public Radio as part of a panel discussing "how women are faring in American politics." 

Prof. Eitan Hersh answers the $64,000 question: Are Jewish kids safe at US colleges? March 20, 2024 The Times Of Israel In this interview, Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh discusses his latest survey examining American Jewish college students' experiences, campus antisemitism, and perceptions of these social tensions before and after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. 

A Radical Experiment at Tufts  March 19, 2024 Boston Magazine  This feature explores Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh's course on modern American political conservatism, following the class throughout the fall semester. Hersh and a number of students are quoted.

Federally-funded study finds Chimp moms play with kids even if short on food March 19, 2024  The Center Square Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Biology Zarin Machanda and former Postdoctoral Associate in the Anthropology Department Kris Sabbi are quoted about their research that shows mother chimpanzees play with their young even in times of food scarcity, underscoring the important role of such behavior for the physical and psychological development of young chimps.

A Radical Experiment at Tufts March 19, 2024 Boston Magazine This feature explores Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh’s course on modern American political conservatism, following the class throughout the fall semester. Hersh and a number of students are quoted. 

Diversity: A catalyst for collective advancement March 18, 2024 The Himalayan Times Professor of Psychology Samuel Sommers’ 2006 research that explored the role of racial diversity in the jury decision-making process is referenced in this opinion piece.

De kinderen vermaken? Chimpanseemoeders stoppen er nooit mee March 18, 2024 National Geographic Nederland België This article highlights new research led by Assistant Professor of Anthropology Zarin Machanda that shows mother chimpanzees play with their young even in times of food scarcity, underscoring the important role of such behavior for the physical and psychological development of young chimps.

Chimpanzee moms play with their kids - even when they're hungry and tired  March 15, 2024 CBC Assistant Professor of Anthropology Zarin Machanda joins CBC’s "As It Happens" to discuss research she led that shows mother chimpanzees play with their young even in times of food scarcity, underscoring the important role of such behavior for the physical and psychological development of young chimps.

‘Irreplaceable’: will Hayao Miyazaki, Japan’s animation auteur, ever retire? March 15, 2024 The Guardian Professor of International Literary and Cultural Studies Susan Napier comments on whether Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki will return from retirement and how he is irreplaceable as a “genuine auteur.”

Chimp mothers play with their youngsters even when times are tough March 14, 2024  New Scientist Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Biology Zarin Machanda comments on research she led that shows mother chimpanzees play with their young even in times of food scarcity, underscoring the important role of such behavior for the physical and psychological development of young chimps.

Tanzania’s Richest Man Wants To Be Africa’s Biggest Farmer - If Everyone Gets Out Of His Way March 14, 2024 Forbes Professor of Economics Margaret McMillan comments on the potential impact that billionaire Mohammed “Mo” Dewji could have on the African economy. 

‘It’s hard to know from anecdotes’. New study tests ‘narrative’ of campus antisemitism March 12, 2024 The Boston Globe Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh is quoted about the first in a series of studies examining campus antisemitism and perceptions of it since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. Recent antisemitic incidents at local colleges, including Tufts, are mentioned. The university’s response is also noted.

Study: Jewish college students feel they must hide support for Israel; their non-Jewish peers agree March 11, 2024 eJewish Philanthropy This article highlights new collaborative research from Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh on how college students feel about their Jewish identity as well as on the social stigma associated with supporting Israel.

Fraud and corruption on rise at U.S. utilities, threatening energy transition March 11, 2024 The Florida Times-Union Associate Professor of Economics Steve Cicala comments on the issue of fraud and corruption in the utility sector, saying, “I think because of the importance of climate change, the stakes are much higher.”

N.C. man challenges death sentence through repealed Racial Justice Act March 10, 2024 Spectrum News Professor of Psychology Samuel Sommers was among the experts who testified at a North Carolina hearing looking into discrimination in jury selection.

Not All Bees Have a Queen. Two Bug Experts Explain Why. March 10, 2024 Inverse  As part of the Curious Kids series, Associate Professor of Biology Phil Starks co-authors this piece explaining the role of the queen in different bee species. 

Will brie and Camembert cheeses go extinct? Here’s what scientists say. March 9, 2024 The Washington Post Associate Professor of Biology Benjamin Wolfe explains the crucial role of the Penicillium camemberti fungus in the development of camembert and brie cheeses. The Wolfe Lab’s ongoing research domesticating wild mold for use in cheesemaking is also linked.

Xi Sticks to His Vision for China’s Rise Even as Growth Slows March 9, 2024 The New York Times Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley comments on China’s focus on the manufacturing and technology industries to help boost its slowing economy. Beckley’s 2023 International Security article on the implications of China’s peaking power is linked.

A local organization is tracing the lineage of enslaved Americans to their present-day ancestors March 9, 2024 WGBH Associate Professor of History Kendra Field joins WGBH’s Under the Radar to discuss the 10 Million Names project, of which she is chief historian. 

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2024: as GDP gap with US widens, will the ‘East wind’ prevail? March 5, 2024 South China Morning Post Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley is noted for coining the term “peak China,” indicating China’s waning economic power. 

Why do bees have queens? 2 biologists explain this insect’s social structure – and why some bees don’t have a queen at all March 4, 2024 MSN As part of the Curious Kids series, Associate Professor of Biology Phil Starks co-authors this piece explaining the role of the queen in different bee species. 

Historic Racial Justice Act hearing continues in Johnston County with first-of-its-kind evidence March 4, 2024  CBS 17 Professor of Psychology Sam Sommers is quoted from his testimony at a North Carolina court hearing where the defendant alleges that race heavily influenced his death sentence. 

Why do bees have queens? 2 biologists explain this insect’s social structure – and why some bees don’t have a queen at all March 4, 2024 The Conversation As part of the Curious Kids series, Associate Professor of Biology Phil Starks co-authors this piece explaining the role of the queen in different bee species.

Necromancy at SoEx: 'Moving Clouds' summons the once-thought-dead March 3, 2024 48 Hills SMFA Professor of the Practice Cathy Lu discusses the exhibition Moving Clouds , which she curated at San Francisco's Southern Exposure art space.

A Home on Mars, The First Home Scheme & Outdoor Saunas March 2, 2024 News Talk Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Justin Hollander , A’96, was interviewed about his recent research on Mars on the Irish national talk radio station Newstalk.

Utility Fraud and Corruption Are Threatening the Clean Energy Transition March 1, 2024 Mother Jones Associate Professor of Economics Steve Cicala comments on the issue of fraud and corruption in the utility sector, saying, “I think because of the importance of climate change, the stakes are much higher.”

Rare audio of formerly enslaved people connects history to the present February 29, 2024 ABC News Associate Professor of History Kendra Field , chief historian for the 10 Million Names project, appears in this news segment to discuss audiotape interviews with formerly enslaved individuals that are being used for research on enslaved people.

Meet the artist painting with porcupine quills and living in a sausage factory February 29, 2024 WGBH Associate Professor of History Kerri Greenidge joins this episode of The Culture Show to discuss how historic African American sites for the African American Trail Project, of which she is co-director, were mapped.

Matching Psychology Training to Job Market Realities February 27, 2024 Psychological Science Professor of Psychology Holly Taylor shares techniques for improving psychology graduate coursework to better accommodate diverse careers noting, “it’s not the courses that differ between our students who successfully move into industry and those who don’t. It’s the framing of ideas within the courses.”

Are standardized tests making a comeback in higher education? February 26, 2024 WBUR Professor of Sociology Natasha Warikoo joins this Radio Boston discussion about why some universities are bringing back requirements for the SAT and ACT for college applications.

Q&A: How misinformation and disinformation spread, the role of AI, and how we can guard against them February 26, 2024 Phys.org Associate Professor of Political Science Kelly Greenhill explains different types of non-truthful information, their role in American politics, and discusses concerns about AI-generated content. 

Chieppo & Gass: Perks only for the ‘right’ kind of public schools February 26, 2024 Boston Herald This opinion piece cites data from Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren’s new research that found Boston students who attended suburban school districts as part of the voluntary racial integration METCO program outperformed their peers in Boston Public Schools on nearly every measure over the last three decades.

Roots Recovered: Reclaiming Our Names February 23, 2024 13 NEWS NOW Associate Professor of History Kendra Field and Associate Professor in the Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Department Kerri Greenidge appear in this 13NewsNow documentary, Roots Recovered: Reclaiming Our Names , and are quoted in the accompanying article. The documentary highlights the collaborative 10 Million Names Project, of which Field is chief historian. An extended video interview with Field is also included. (Greenidge first appears at 15:45 and Field at 16:35.)

El período colonial de América Latina fue mucho menos católico de lo que parece February 23, 2024 historia.nationalgeographic.com.es In this translated The Conversation reprint, Assistant Professor of History Diego Javier Luis examines the spiritual life of colonial Latin America, where Spanish control “was far from absolute.”

Rethinking ancient Rome and its colonies in Africa February 22, 2024 Phys.org Professor of Classical Studies Bruce Hitchner is quoted about his work confronting the colonial legacy of archaeology in North Africa. Hitchner recently presented the talk “Decolonizing the History of North Africa in Antiquity.”

Ukraine at the Crossroads, with Maria Popova & Oxana Shevel February 22, 2024 NGO Watch Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel joins this The Doorstop podcast episode to discuss shifting Ukraine-Russia war narratives and expectations. 

Analysis of research grants pipeline illustrates systematic disadvantages February 21, 2024 Medical Xpress Assistant Professor of Biology Sarah Hengel was part of a collaborative analysis that showed of the more than 3,000 extramural National Institutes of Health K99 awards granted between 2008 and 2021, none were to an investigator at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). 

Human cells used to create biological robot February 20, 2024 ASME Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya are quoted about their collaborative research to create Anthrobots, multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue.

Inside The Fowler Museum's Decision To Return Historical Artifacts To The Asante Kingdom February 18, 2024 LAist Chair of the Music Department Kwasi Ampene worked as an intermediary to return looted objects from the UCLA Fowler Museum to Ghana’s Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

A Physicist Tries to Avoid the Fact of Design in Our Universe… February 18, 2024 mindmatters.ai Professor of Physics & Astronomy Alexander Vilenkin's conversation with Robert Lawrence Kuhn from Closer to Truth discussing his theory regarding multiple universes is featured in this article.

Study finds Massachusetts school desegregation program benefits K-12 students February 15, 2024 Phys.org Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren is quoted about her new research that found Boston students who attended suburban school districts as part of the voluntary racial integration METCO program outperformed their peers in Boston Public Schools on nearly every measure over the last three decades. 

Trump’s NATO Threat Reflects a Wider Shift on America’s Place in the World February 15, 2024 The New York Times Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley is quoted in this article examining current American views of international partnerships, noting, “The alliance structure was built to win the Cold War and it’s sort of atrophied.”

Podcast with Diego Javier Luis, author of “The First Asians in the Americas: A Transpacific History” February 15, 2024 asianreviewofbooks.com Assistant Professor of History Diego Javier Luis joins this podcast episode to discuss his new book, The First Asians in the Americas: A Transpacific History.

How Anti-Army Vote May Deliver An Unstable Pak Government February 15, 2024 NDTV Mary Richardson Professor of History, Arts and Sciences Ayesha Jalal discusses the aftermath of Pakistan's general election and what the next government may look like.

'10 Million Names' | African Americans working to recover the names of their ancestors February 14, 2024 13 NEWS NOW Associate Professors of History Kendra Field and Kerri Greenidge appear in this video segment previewing the documentary Roots Recovered: Reclaiming Our Names , which will air on 13NewsNow on February 23. The documentary highlights the collaborative 10 Million Names Project, of which Field is chief historian.

5 Urban Planning Ideas for How to Settle Mars February 14, 2024 Planetizen Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Justin Hollander shares ideas for building on Mars, the topic of his 2023 book The First City on Mars: An Urban Planner’s Guide to Settling the Red Planet .

Pakistan's election was supposed to end deadlock. It failed February 13, 2024 Nikkei Asia Mary Richardson Professor of History, Arts and Sciences Ayesha Jalal discusses the aftermath of Pakistan's general election and the future of democracy in the country.

Not just ‘Star Wars’: John Williams’ scores includes jazz, bluegrass, English Gothic February 13, 2024 KCRW Associate Professor of Music Frank Lehman joins Press Play to discuss some of composer John Williams lesser known film scores. Lehman is the author of Hollywood Harmony: Musical Wonder and the Sound of Cinema .

Gaza war frays Egypt-Israel pact February 13, 2024 The World from PRX Professor of History Khaled Fahmy joins PRI’s The World to discuss increased calls by Egyptian citizens to end diplomatic relations with Israel, threatening a 40-year-old peace treaty between the countries, if the Israeli military moves into the Egyptian border city of Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. 

Analysis: Pakistan’s youth deliver stinging rebuke to military elite by backing jailed leader Khan February 12, 2024 CNN Assistant Professor of Political Science Fahd Humayun says “While public confidence in the country’s institutions has clearly fluctuated in the past few years, these elections, for all their flaws, have proven that there was considerable political mobilization around the issue of representation, and that should inspire hope for Pakistan’s future.”

Inside Oscar winner John Williams’ jazz, bluegrass scores February 12, 2024 Press Play with Madeleine Brand This year, John Williams’ score for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny earned him his 54th Oscar nomination. Associate Professor of Music Frank Lehman joins the Press Play podcast to discuss Williams' seven-decade career and says some of Williams’ best works are smaller scale and grab less attention from the Academy. 

Pakistan’s post-election crisis – how anti-army vote may deliver an unstable government that falls into the military’s hands February 11, 2024 The Conversation Mary Richardson Professor of History, Arts and Sciences Ayesha Jalal discusses the aftermath of Pakistan's general election and what the next government may look like.

I have brought back the spirit and soul of Asanteman – Otumfuo February 9, 2024 GhanaWeb This article shares remarks from Professor of Music and Department Chair Kwasi Ampene at the unveiling of looted objects returned from the Fowler Museum to Ghana’s Asantehene Osei Tutu II. Ampene is a member of the delegation that facilitated the return.

Ayesha Jalal writes | Pakistan votes: Here’s what’s at stake in the elections February 8, 2024 Indian Express Mary Richardson Professor of History, Arts and Sciences Ayesha Jalal examines why Pakistan’s elections “are extremely important in determining Pakistan’s immediate and future trajectory.”

5 things to do this weekend, including ice sculptures in Salem and a science fest in Cambridge February 8, 2024 WBUR This overview of notable Boston-area events includes the February 11 screening of Malcom X at which Associate Professor in the Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Department Kerri Greenidge will lead a discussion. The event is part of the Museum of African American History’s Black History Month film series.

What Is the Essence of Life? February 8, 2024 Evolution News Professor of Biology Michael Levin is quoted from a Big Think video in which he discusses cellular intelligence.

Rigged or not, polls the only option for Pakistan February 6, 2024 The Times of India Mary Richardson Professor of History, Arts and Sciences Ayesha Jalal discusses Pakistan’s upcoming February 8 general election in this in-depth interview.

In wealthy, educated communities, evidence emerges of a new form of "white flight" February 6, 2024 stacker.com Lenore Stern Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo’s 2022 book, Race at the Top: Asian Americans and Whites in Pursuit of the American Dream in Suburban Schools, is referenced in this The 74 reprint, which appears in 24 additional outlets.

Larry Bell: New Piano Music February 6, 2024 The Boston Musical Intelligencer Professor Emeritus Mark DeVoto reviews a recent Berklee College concert featuring four pianists, including Professor of Music John McDonald , playing pieces composer Larry Bell wrote specifically for each musician.

What to read about Pakistan February 6, 2024 The Economist Mary Richardson Professor of History, Arts and Sciences Ayesha Jalal’s book The Sole Spokesman: Jinnah, the Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan is featured in this collection of essential reads on Pakistan. 

Rigged or Not, Polls Are the Only Option for Pakistan February 5, 2024 The Wire Mary Richardson Professor of History, Arts and Sciences Ayesha Jalal discusses Pakistan’s upcoming February 8 general election in this in-depth interview. 

In a highly unusual move, UCLA Fowler Museum is initiating returns of looted African works February 5, 2024 Los Angeles Times Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department Kwasi Ampene is among the delegation that will be returning looted objects from the UCLA Fowler Museum to Ghana’s Asante King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. Ampene also worked with the Fowler to commission replicas of these objects created by Ghanaian artists. 

How Primed for War Is China? February 4, 2024 Foreign Policy Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley co-authors this essay examining the factors that indicate China may be on a path toward using military force, against Taiwan or another target in the Western Pacific.

First batch of looted objects land in Ghana February 3, 2024 Modern Ghana Professor of Music and Chair of the Music Department Kwasi Ampene is among the delegation that will be returning looted objects from the Fowler Museum to Ghana’s Asantehene Osei Tutu II.

Brains Are Not Required When It Comes to Thinking and Solving Problems — Simple Cells Can Do It February 1, 2024 Scientific American This article describes Professor of Biology Michael Levin's work leading a new field called basal cognition. Recent research in this area has documented hallmarks of intelligence—learning, memory, and problem-solving outside brain systems. 

Sex and Poison May Explain California Death Cap Invasion February 1, 2024 Bay Nature This article cites research by Associate Professor of Biology Benjamin Wolfe involving death cap mushrooms at California’s Point Reyes National Seashore.

J.D. Tuccille: Over-educated urban elites think Americans have too much freedom January 31, 2024 National Post This opinion column references a 2023 paper co-authored by Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh , “The Partisan Realignment of American Business,” which found that corporate America is shifting away from its traditional alliance with the Republican Party.

How can macroeconomics (and macroeconomists) contribute to what we know about development policy?  January 31, 2024 VoxDevTalks The availability of better data has given fresh impetus to the use of macroeconomic models to explain the development process in LICs. In this episode of VoxDevTalks , Professor of Economics Douglas Gollin talks to Host Tim Phillips about this emerging agenda.

Thinking Global Podcast – Maria Popova and Oxana Shevel January 29, 2024 E-International Relations Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel , alongside McGill University’s Maria Popova, joins this episode of E-International Relations’ Thinking Global podcast to discuss their new book, Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States .

Background Briefing: January 28, 2024 January 29, 2024 www.backgroundbriefing.org Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel , alongside McGill University’s Maria Popova, joins this episode of Background Briefing with Ian Masters to discuss the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They are coauthors of the book Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States .

Tufts celebrates first class of incarcerated graduates at MCI-Concord January 28, 2024 The Boston Globe The Tufts University Prison Initiative of the Tisch College of Civic Life’s (TUPIT) celebrated its inaugural graduating class last week. Hilary Binda , founder of TUPIT and senior lecturer in Civic Studies, Provost Caroline Genco , as well as several students are quoted about the initiative’s impact.

Boston museum teams up with Showcase Cinemas for Black History Month January 28, 2024 The Business Journals Associate Professor in the Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Department Kerri Greenidge will lead a discussion at one of the Museum of African American History’s Black History Month film screening series. Greenidge is a Museum historian-in-residence. 

Tufts study: METCO’s a program that works! January 25, 2024 Dorchester Reporter The author, president and CEO of METCO, highlights research from Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren that found the program “has a large, positive effect on METCO students’ educational achievements and careers.”

Tufts study shows METCO participation boosts college attendance, graduation January 25, 2024 Bay State Banner This article highlighting research from Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren on the METCO program quotes several adult alumni who lived in Boston and graduated from a participating suburban district.

Boston names its Reparations Task Force research teams January 24, 2024 NBC Boston Associate Professor in the Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Department Kerri Greenidge and Associate Professor of History Kendra Field have been selected as members of the research team that will study Boston’s role in the transatlantic slave trade from 1620 to 1940, as part of the Boston Reparations Task Force’s work toward addressing the city’s historical involvement in slavery.

What is time? An astronomer explains the search to find its origins January 24, 2024 MSN Professor of Physics & Astronomy Alexander Vilenkin’s work on the eternal inflation theory of the universe is highlighted in this reprinted 2022 Astronomy article.

China expected to step up coercion, provocations after Taiwan election rebuke January 23, 2024 The Washington Times Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley is quoted from his recent  New York Times  op-ed saying, “Determined to maintain their autonomy, the people of Taiwan are drifting farther from China and won’t come back voluntarily, elevating military action as one of the only options left for China to effect the unification with Taiwan that it has long sought.”

Adventures in Philosophy with Daniel Dennett and Richard Dawkins January 22, 2024 Player FM A&S Professor Emeritus Daniel Dennett joins this Intelligence Squared podcast episode to discuss philosophy, science, and their intersections with British scientist and writer Richard Dawkins. 

Latin America’s colonial period was less Catholic January 22, 2024  Patheos In this The Conversation reprint, Assistant Professor of History Diego Javier Luis examines the spiritual life of colonial Latin America, where Spanish control “was far from absolute.” 

After Affirmative Action Ban, They Rewrote College Essays With a Key Theme: Race January 20, 2024 The New York Times Lenore Stern Professorship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo discusses how the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions is impacting applicants' essay topics, saying that the Court is “expecting that a story of adversity is going to play the role that race played when we had race-conscious admissions.” 

How a Tufts Program Gives Inmates College Degrees January 19, 2024 The Boston Globe Senior Lecturer in Civic Studies and Founder and Executive Director of the Tufts University Prison Initiative (TUPIT) Hilary Binda is quoted in this Boston Globe article about how the TUPIT program is impacting in-prison students' lives.

Latin America’s colonial period was far less Catholic than it might seem − despite the Inquisition’s attempts to police religion January 19, 2024 The Conversation Assistant Professor of History Diego Javier Luis examines the spiritual life of colonial Latin America, where Spanish control “was far from absolute.”

Is function more important than emotion? Let's build more fun buildings, Heatherwick suggests January 18, 2024 Forbes Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Justin Hollander , A’96, and his book Cognitive Architecture were mentioned in an article in Forbes Magazine on creating innovative buildings.

Synthetic biology aims to tackle disease and give cells superpowers January 18, 2024 Science News Explores This article links to a 2022 Lex Friedman Podcast video interview with Vannevar Bush Professorship of Biology Michael Levin , in a wide-ranging conversation that covers aliens, evolution, embryogenesis, and xenobots.

A new study highlights the long-term benefits of METCO participation January 17, 2024 WBUR Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren discusses her new research examining the long-term effects of the METCO program, which sends Boston students to learn in suburban school districts, finding a range of “remarkable long-term advantages” for participants compared to those who were not accepted into the program.

A Peaceful Solution on Taiwan Is Slipping Away January 17, 2024 The New York Times Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley shares why he believes Taiwan’s continued advocacy for its independence from China is dampening the possibilities for peaceful unification and increasing the likelihood of conflict.

A new study highlights the long-term benefits of METCO participation January 16, 2024 WBUR Assistant Professor of Economics Elizabeth Setren led a new study, which sheds light on the long-term effects of the popular METCO program, which sends thousands of Boston students to learn in suburban school districts each year.

Brains Are Not Required When It Comes to Thinking and Solving Problems--Simple Cells Can Do It January 16, 2024 Scientific American Vannevar Bush Professorship of Biology Michael Levin discusses his collaborative xenobots and anthrobots research and how these innovations can contribute to rethinking the way cognition plays out in the real world. 

In Gaza, Israel has turned water into a weapon of mass destruction January 16, 2024 972 Magazine Associate Professor of Anthropology Amahl Bishara coauthors this piece examining the dangerous ramifications of Israel’s “weaponization of water” in its latest military offensive in Gaza.

TikTok 'Sludge' Trend: What Parents Need To Know January 16, 2024 Movieguide Assistant Professor of Anthropology Nick Seaver does not have concerns about “sludge” videos, the latest TikTok trend, saying “I don’t think it’s very useful to point to, like, any new media and be, like, see, ‘This is evidence that we’re falling.’”

Campaigning Starts In Pakistan's Delayed National Polls January 15, 2024 Barron's Mary Richardson Professor of History, Arts, and Sciences Ayesha Jalal says that Pakistan’s delayed national election is “going to be a controversial election: one party sees it as a complete negation of democracy." 

Who Will Rid Us of This Cursed Plane? January 13, 2024 New York Magazine Professor of Economics Silke Forbes comments on the lack of incentives for airlines to switch an existing airplane model for another. 

Catholic universities need a new kind of affirmative action-for student aligned with their mission January 12, 2024 America - The Jesuit Review Lenore Stern Professorship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo comments on a college admissions process that considers how students might contribute to a school’s mission. 

Thousands of U.S. Cities Could Become Virtual Ghost Towns by 2100 January 11, 2024 Scientific American Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Justin Hollander , A’96, was interviewed and quoted in an article in Scientific American on how thousands of US cities could become virtual ghost towns by 2100.

Looking back on a year of The Embrace January 10, 2024 WGBH Ahead of its first anniversary, Associate Professor in the Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Department Kerri Greenidge joins The Culture Show to discuss "The Embrace," Boston’s sculpture honoring Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King and the role of public art and memorials in communities.

Biological robots: a new therapeutic tool January 9, 2024  drugtargetreview.com Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya are quoted about their collaborative research to create Anthrobots, multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue. Levin’s collaborative xenobot work is also mentioned.

From Slave To Spiritual Icon, One Woman’s Life A Snapshot Of Spain’s Colonization January 9, 2024 The Freethinker Post Assistant Professor of History Diego Luis shares the story of Catarina de San Juan, who became one of the first Asians in the Americas after she was captured as part of the transpacific slave trade. 

From South Asia to Mexico, from slave to spiritual icon, this woman's life is a snapshot of Spain's colonization – and the Pacific slave trade history that books often leave out January 8, 2024  The Conversation Assistant Professor of History Diego Luis shares the story of Catarina de San Juan, who became one of the first Asians in the Americas after she was captured as part of the transpacific slave trade.

Episode 61: The Weaponization of Migration January 5, 2024 Player FM Associate Professor of Political Science Kelly Greenhill joins this episode of the Global in the Granite State podcast, from the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, to examine what weaponized migration is and how targeted states and communities might respond to this coercive tactic. Gallagher is the author of Weapons of Mass Migration: Forced Displacement, Coercion, and Foreign Policy .

The United States and China are Locked in a New Cold War: A Debate with Dr. Michael Beckley and Dr. Arne Westad January 3, 2024  chinapower.csis.org Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley joins the ChinaPower podcast to debate the proposition that the United States and China “are locked in a new cold war.”

3 academic experts question O’Brien’s comments January 2, 2024 CommonWealth Beacon Lenore Stern Professorship in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo comments on allegations of racial insensitivity made against suspended Cannabis Control Commission Chair Shannon O’Brien.

Today’s at-home microbiome testing industry is fraught with snake oil January 2, 2024 STAT A 2022 reprinted The Conversation article by Associate Professor of Biology Benjamin Wolfe , discussing what he learned from using personal gut microbiome testing kits, is linked.

Democracy’s grand test. More than a billion people will head to the polls in South Asia in 2024 December 31, 2023 CNN Assistant Professor of Political Science Fahd Humayun comments on the political and economic uncertainty in Pakistan ahead of its crucial 2024 elections, noting “any government coming to power through suspicious elections is not only likely to be on a weak footing and reliant on the military for its political survival but will also be unlikely to attract the capital inflows so badly needed." 

AI-generated “counterfeit people” are worrying Daniel Dennett December 27, 2023  The Economist Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett joins this Babbage podcast episode to explore the coming clash of artificial and human intelligences.

Yup, There Are A Total Of *Seven* Greek Words For Love-Here's What They Mean December 25, 2023 Women's Health Associate Professor of Classical Studies Marie-Claire Beaulieu is quoted throughout this article examining the origins of the ancient Greeks’ seven words for love. 

Gaza’s journalists: ‘Targets’ or ‘casualties’ of Israel’s war? December 23, 2023 Al Jazeera Associate Professor of Anthropology Amahl Bishara joins this The Listening Post segment to discuss the experience of Gaza journalists. 

8 Stunning New Images From Neuroscience December 22, 2023 The New York Times Two images of Anthrobots, collaboratively created by Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya, are included in this interactive gallery of images from new neuroscience research.

MicroMachines: Advances In Biorobotic Regenerative Medicine Decber 22, 2023 Forbes This article highlights collaborative research from Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya to create Anthrobots, focusing on how these multicellular robots might impact the future of medicine. 

Why younger Americans are more likely to support Palestinians than Israelis December 22, 2023 The Washington Post Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh is quoted about some findings from his collaborative article “The Young American Left and Attitudes About Israel.”

Could "Anthrobots" be the Future of Regenerative Medicine? Tufts Researchers Say Yes December 16, 2023 WBZ Radio Professor of Biology Michael Levin and and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya talk about what the future holds for Anthrobots – tiny automatons made of human cells that may heal tissue.

McKee faces defining moment in R.I. bridge crisis December 15, 2023 The Boston Globe Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh comments throughout this article on Rhode Island Governor Daniel J. McKee’s handling of the closure of the westbound lanes of the heavily traveled Washington Bridge.

Tiny 'Robots' Made From Human Cells Show Wound-Healing Potential December 15, 2023 smithsonian.com Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya are quoted about their collaborative research to create "anthrobots," multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue. 

Renewables like solar, wind will soon overtake coal, EIA says December 14, 2023  Marketplace Associate Professor of Economics Steve Cicala comments in this radio segment examining the market advantages that the renewable energy sector has over coal. 

Jerry Rice, Lance Armstrong were the best: Why did they cheat? December 13, 2023  USA TODAY Professor of Psychology Sam Sommers is quoted throughout this article on why some elite athletes cheat, noting “They feel the pressure to be even greater than they already are." Sommers is the author of This is Your Brain on Sports .

Tiny biobots surprise their creators by healing wound December 13, 2023  freethink.com Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya are quoted about their collaborative research creating "Anthrobots" - multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue. Tufts’ past xenobot research is also mentioned.

Robots made of your own cells to repair your body December 11, 2023 Daily Mail Online Professor of Biology Michael Levin is quoted about his collaborative research creating "anthrobots" - multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue. 

Authors Oxana Shevel and Maria Popova Write the History of Ukraine-Russia Relations December 10, 2023 The Moscow Times This is a book review and excerpt of Russia and Ukraine: Entangled Histories, Diverging States , co-authored by Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel .

Why your brain finds Spotify Wrapped so irresistible December 8, 2023 NPR Assistant Professor of Anthropology Nick Seaver joins this Morning Edition segment to discuss why people enjoy receiving and sharing feedback from Spotify Wrapped, which provides users with customized infographics about their listening habits over the past year. Seaver is the author of  Computing Taste: Algorithms and the Makers of Music Recommendation .

'The Holdovers,' hardcovers, and history December 8, 2023 WGBH Associate Professor in the Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Department Kerri Greenidge joins the third segment of this The Culture Show episode to discuss the life and legacy of Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved person who became one of the best known poets in 18th century America. Greenidge is the author of The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family .

How America Met Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli December 8, 2023 The Ringer Professor of International Literary and Cultural Studies Susan Napier comments on factors that contributed to the eventual success of movies from Hayao Miyazaki‘s Studio Ghibli in the United States.

Legal experts express concern over Trump’s comments about not being a dictator except for ‘day one’ December 7, 2023 The Boston Globe Professor Emeritus of Political Science Jeffrey Berry shares his take on Donald Trump’s comments during a recent televised Fox News town hall.

These astonishing biobots can help neurons regrow - but researchers have no idea how Dec 6, 2023 Yahoo Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya are quoted in this LiveScience reprint about their collaborative research to create Anthrobots, multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue.

Biological robots made from human cells can help repair damaged tissue December 6, 2023 LiveScience.com Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya are quoted about their collaborative research to create Anthrobots, multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue.

Mother of Allentown boy waiting for heart transplant speaks out December 5, 2023  WFMZ-TV Associate Professor of Community Health Keren Ladin is quoted about her research examining the relationship between organ transplant outcomes and social support structures, a factor in determining transplant eligibility, noting that “[social support] requirements at transplant centers are not evidence-based, and they're very, very high, and they do disproportionately disadvantage people of color, people who are lower income.”

Evolution, AI, and Consciousness December 4, 2023  Psychology Today In this fourth installment of an interview centered on his new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking , Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett discusses philosophical theories of consciousness and evolution. 

Robots Made from Human Cells Can Move on Their Own and Heal Wounds December 1, 2023 Scientific American Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya are quoted about their collaborative research to create Anthrobots, multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue. 

Scientists create tiny living robots from human cells December 1, 2023 CNN Professor of Biology Michael Levin and PhD student Gizem Gumuskaya conducted collaborative research to create Anthrobots, multicellular, self-assembling robots from human tracheal cells that may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue. 

A Theory Of Wealth Inequality Is The Flip Of A Coin December 1, 2023 Forbes This article highlights a new paper from Professors of Mathematics Bruce Boghosian and Christoph Börgers in which their model shows that in perfectly even conditions, wealth inequality would develop due to luck rather than by choices made. 

Spotify Doesn't Know Who You Are December 1, 2023 The Atlantic Assistant Professor of Anthropology Nick Seaver comments on how consumers have learned to adjust their actions on media platforms to get the content they want. Seaver is the author of Computing Taste: Algorithms and the Makers of Music Recommendation .

What Is Good Philosophy? Nov 30, 2023  Psychology Today In this third and final part of an interview centered on his new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking , Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett discusses his approach to philosophy and philosophy historians' role. 

Tiny living robots made from human cells surprise scientists November 30, 2023 CNN This article describes Professor of Biology Michael Levin's research on tiny living robots made from human cells that can move around in a lab dish and may be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue.

Meet ‘anthrobots,’ tiny bio-machines built from human tracheal cells November 30, 2023  Popular Science Professor of Biology Michael Levin's research on “anthrobots” — biological machines derived from human tracheal cells is described in this article.

Scientists build tiny bio-robots from human cells to repair neurons November 30, 2023 MSN This Daily Mail reprint outlines research by Professor of Biology Michael Levin on microscopic bots that have repaired damaged nerve tissue and may one day help people with serious health conditions.

Tiny robots made from human cells heal damaged tissue Nature November 30, 2023 Professor of Biology Michael Levin's research on how tiny robots made of human cells or "anthrobots" can repair a scratch in a layer of neurons in a lab setting.   Tiny ‘anthrobots’ built from human cells could help heal the body November 30, 2023 Science This article explores Professor of Biology Michael Levin's research on how tiny robots made of human cells can repair nerve tissue in a lab and one day could ferret out disease or deliver drugs.

Human Cell “Biobots” Encourage Neuron Regrowth in Lab Dishes November 30, 2023 Technology Networks Professor of Biology Michael Levin's research on "anthrobots" is described in this article. Anthrobots can encourage the regrowth of "wounds" created in plated human neurons in the lab and could one day lead to the development of patient-derived therapeutic “biobots."

These 'anthrobots' created from human cells are healing neurons  November 30, 2023 Interesting Engineering This article describes Professor of Biology Michael Levin's exciting new research on the potential of cells to cooperate and communicate in the body and how they can be reprogrammed to create new structures and functions.

Scientists create microscopic ROBOTS made from human cells that repair neurons - opening the door to future Alzheimer's treatment November 30, 2023 Daily Mail Professor of Biology Michael Levin's research on microscopic bots that can repair damaged nerve tissue is covered in this article.

Tiny living robots made from human cells surprise scientists November 30, 2023 Albany Herald Professor of Biology Michael Levin and a team of researchers "have created tiny living robots from human cells that can move around in a lab dish and may one day be able to help heal wounds or damaged tissue."

Scientists develop biobots from human cells to repair damaged neurons November 30, 2023 Albany Herald A new study led by Professor of Biology Michael Levin suggests that multicellular robots comprised of human cells can potentially treat patients with damaged neurons.

Video and Transcript: Scientists create tiny biological robot "healers" assembled from human cells November 30, 2023 Newswise In a live event, Professor of Biology Michael Levin , Graduate Student Researcher at Michael Levin Laboratory Gizem Gumuskaya, and Associate Director of Public Relations Mike Silver discuss tiny biological robot "healers" assembled from human cells.

Fear of Competition? Research Shows That When Asian Students Move In, White Families Move Out November 29, 2023 The 74 Lenore Stern Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo’s 2022 book, Race at the Top: Asian Americans and Whites in Pursuit of the American Dream in Suburban Schools , is referenced in this article, which appears in two additional outlets, including Yahoo.

Chess and Philosophy November 29, 2023  Psychology Today In this second part of an interview centered on his new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking , Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett discusses what makes an activity worthwhile.

Greek Mythology in the Garden November 28, 2023 The Academic Minute As the leaves fall, Associate Professor of Classical Studies Marie-Claire Beaulieu talks with the Academic Minute podcast about how representations and uses of certain plants tie to Greek myth.

“You are the best you the world will ever see!” November 28, 2023  Renton Reporter A 2018 The Conversation piece by Senior Lecturer Julie Dobrow , Associate Professor Calvin Gidney , and Professor of the Practice Jennifer Burton discussing their research that suggests that "children need a diverse universe of media images” is quoted in this article.

An Interview with Daniel Dennett November 28, 2023  Psychology Today Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett discusses his new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking .

Greek mythology in the garden: Academic Minute November 28, 2023 Inside Higher Ed Associate Professor of Classical Studies Marie-Claire Beaulieu joins Inside Higher Ed’s podcast Academic Minute to discuss how Greek mythology expresses how human life is part of the universal cycle of nature.

Bruce Boghosian Returns for a Second Term as AUA President November 27, 2023 The Armenian Mirror-Spectator Professor of Mathematics Bruce Boghosian , who is on academic leave, discusses plans for his second term as president of the American University of Armenia (AUA).

Biden’s paradox: Can a green grid coexist with industrial surge? November 27, 2023 E&E News Associate Professor of Economics Steve Cicala comments on the challenge of expanding the “green grid” to include zero-carbon resources while the utilities industry grows to meet rising electricity demands, noting skepticism of “utilities’ claims about how much capacity they need to build because they’ve never not wanted to build capacity.”

The Ceramists Putting a Fresh Spin on Traditional Korean Techniques November 27, 2023 The New York Times Alumna and SMFA Professor of the Practice Jennie Jieun Lee is highlighted among a group of U.S.-based women artists of Korean descent who are creating experimental ceramics that reflect traditions and aesthetics of both cultures.

What survey data reveal about antisemitism in America November 23, 2023 The Economist This article references “The Young American Left and Attitudes About Israel,” a 2022 article co-authored by Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh .

How an opera about Harpo Marx introducing Marmite modernist composer Arnold Schoenberg to Hollywood producer Irving Thalberg went down in Shenzhen, China November 23, 2023 South China Morning Post Professor of Music Joseph Auner comments on a Chinese staging of Tod Machover’s Schoenberg in Hollywood , an opera for which he wrote the original program preface.

Wealth Inequality the Result of Pure Randomness, Tufts University Study Suggests November 21, 2023 CFO This article highlights a paper from Professors of Mathematics Bruce Boghosian and Christoph Börgers in which their model suggests that pure randomness causes the rich to always get richer and the poor to always get poorer — with a concentration of extreme wealth at the top. 

Wealth Inequality Is The Result Of Pure Randomness November 21, 2023 California Business Journal Professors of Mathematics Bruce Boghosian and Christoph Börgers's research is described in this article, finding that wealth inequality is the result of chance. 

Wealth inequality is result of ‘pure randomness’: Study November 21, 2023 Investment News This article describes a recent study from Professors of Mathematics Bruce Boghosian and Christoph Börgers that finds that "when people are more wealthy, it’s because they’re lucky — a result of just pure randomness."

Four Months After the Supreme Court Ruled Against the Use of Race in Admissions November 19, 2023 Sampan Lenore Stern Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo and Dean of Admissions Joseph Duck are quoted in this article on how the admissions process has impacted Boston-area colleges following the Supreme Court ruling against the use of race in admissions.

Don’t be fooled by Biden and Xi talks − China and the US are enduring rivals rather than engaged partners November 17, 2023 The Conversation  Despite the positive optics of last week’s meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley examines why the “enduring rivalry” between the two nations is likely to remain.

Q&A: Schools are more likely to call mothers than fathers, which has implications for the careers of working parents November 16, 2023 Phys.org Associate Professor of Economics Laura Gee discusses the implications of her collaborative study that found mothers are 1.4 times more likely than fathers to be contacted by school officials when the choice of who to call appears neutral. 

Biden-Xi meeting: 6 essential reads on what to look out for as US, Chinese leaders hold face-to-face talks November 14, 2023 The Conversation Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley’s March 2023 Conversation analysis of the inaugural hearing of the U.S. House's Select Committee addressing the perceived growing threat of China is included in this round-up of articles providing helpful context and insights into the forthcoming meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Images Reclaimed: Chantal Zakari's New Book Sends Messages to Those Inside November 14, 2023 Boston Art Review This is a review of SMFA Professor of the Practice Chantal Zakari’s book, Pictures from the Outside , which was inspired by a class she taught with the Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT).

Whether machines could become conscious November 14, 2023 The Times of India Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett’s new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking , is discussed in this The Speaking Tree blog post.

Second-most distant galaxy discovered using James Webb Space Telescope November 13, 2023 Science Daily Professor of Physics & Astronomy Danilo Marchesini is among the researchers who discovered the second-most distant galaxy ever observed using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope.

America and China: Nonviolent enemies November 11, 2023 Philstar Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley is quoted from his August Foreign Affairs article on the United States and China as “enduring rivals.”

Comparing Gaza Death Counts to Those in Other Wars? Don’t. November 10, 2023 The Wall Street Journal Associate Professor of Political Science Kelly Greenhill is quoted about gathering statistical information in conflict environments from her co-edited 2010 book Sex, Drugs, and Body Counts: The Politics of Numbers in Global Crime and Conflict .

‘The Longer and Bloodier the War, the Harder it Will Be for the Democratic Coalition’ November 8, 2023 The New York Times This opinion pieces quotes from “The Young American Left and Attitudes About Israel,” a 2022 article co-authored by Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh .

'Conflicting pressures': Riled by Israel's Gaza plans, Egypt pushes back November 6, 2023 Middle East Eye Professor of History Khaled Fahmy is quoted about Egypt’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict and the rejection of forced displacement of Palestinians to Egypt’s Sinai peninsula saying, “For Egypt’s military, Sinai is a red line.”

Thermal imaging: A promising tool to measure stress in wild animals November 2, 2023  Phys.org A&S Biologist Paul Jerem and Professor of Biology Michael Romero have determined that thermal imaging is an effective technology for monitoring the stress response in wild animals, providing a noninvasive alternative for those who use such data in their work to protect wildlife populations. 

Philosopher Daniel Dennett On the Illusion of Consciousness November 2, 2023 Down East This profile of Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett highlights his new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking .

A Gut Check for Artificial Intelligence November 1, 2023 The Wall Street Journal     Associate Professor of Biology Benjamin Wolfe notes there is no consensus definition of a normal gut because microbiomes vary among healthy and sick people.

The Origins of Cerberus, and What the Three-Headed Dog Represents October 31, 2023 Discover Magazine Associate Professor of Classical Studies Marie-Claire Beaulieu discusses the mythology of Cerberus, the three-headed hellhound that guarded the barrier between life and the afterlife.

Harvard marks 75 years of scrutinizing Russia October 30, 2023 Theworld Associate Professor of Political Science Oxana Shevel comments on the challenges of academic scholarly work on Russia and its distinct regions. Shevel was a speaker at the recent symposium celebrating the 75th anniversary of Harvard University's Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian studies. (Her comments begin at 2:04.)

Consciousness: what it is, where it comes from - and whether machines can have it October 30, 2023  Nature This is a review of Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett’s new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking .

Daniel C. Dennett, the fourth ‘horseman’ of atheism October 29, 2023 EL PAÍS English     This is a review of Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett’s new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking .

Feds eye college programs for alleged bias against men, white people October 29, 2023 Times Union Lenore Stern Professor in the Humanities and Social Sciences Natasha Warikoo comments on a wave of discrimination complaints (filed mostly by white men) against single-sex or racially targeted offerings at colleges and universities saying, “To say that any kind of differentiation is discrimination is problematic, because what these programs are designed to do is to compensate for past exclusion and the ongoing impact of that past exclusion.” 

How the Putin family's 'blood sacrifice' may be driving the high Russian casualty rate in Ukraine October 29, 2023  Business Insider Professor of International Literary and Cultural Studies Gregory Carleton is quoted throughout this article examining the history behind Russian President Vladimir Putin and his generals’ willingness to sacrifice thousands of soldiers in their war on Ukraine.

‘We Cannot Fight A.I.’: How Art Schools Are Navigating the Challenge of Artificial Intelligence October 27, 2023 Artnet News SMFA’s Nate Harrison, professor of the practice, and Thomas Duncan , director of admissions, share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that AI is bringing to art schools. The SMFA exterior as well as Harrison and Duncan are pictured.

No recipe for success: what happens to TV cooking stars after the show? October 26, 2023 The Guardian Associate Professor of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies Tasha Oren is quoted at length in this article about how chefs’ offscreen careers are impacted by television appearances. Oren is author of the new book Food TV. 

Museum of African American History, Stone Foundation recognize authors writing about the Black American experience October 24, 2023 MassNonprofit News Associate Professor of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora Kerri Greenidge is among the recipients of the 2023 Museum of African American History (MAAH) Stone Book Awards for her work The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery in an American Family .

The GitHub Black Market That Helps Coders Cheat the Popularity Contest October 23, 2023 WIRED Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Justin Hollander is quoted about his recent research examining the role and potential risk of the use of automated social media accounts (“bots”) in urban planning and real estate development saying “It seems like any entity that’s savvy and active in this space of shaping the city and being involved in these policy areas, they’re using bots.” 

China’s Window For War October 23, 2023 Forbes Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley is quoted from a recent International Security article examining how economic growth slowdowns of rising powers has historically led to aggression and expansion by that power and the implications of this historical trend for current Chinese foreign policy. The book Chip War , by Fletcher’s Chris Miller, is also referenced.

How Science Today Can Peer Deep Into Space to Observe Our Cosmic Roots October 23, 2023 themessenger.com Research by Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Mark Hertzberg is noted among data gathered over the past decades to better understand the Big Bang and the beginning of the universe.

J.D. Tuccille: Internal party squabbles are why U.S. can't get anything done October 23, 2023 National Post This opinion column references new research co-authored by Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh , “The Partisan Realignment of American Business,” which found that corporate America is shifting away from its traditional alliance with the Republican Party.

Did the Infant Universe Resemble a Needle or a Sphere? October 22, 2023 Medium.com Work by Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy Mark Hertzberg solving Einstein’s equations for the gravitational evolution of an anisotropic universe is mentioned in this post.

Community Resilience: Knowing Your Neighbor Could Save Your Life October 20, 2023 Climate One Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Justin B. Hollander and GSAS student Vernon Walker join this episode of the Climate One podcast to discuss the importance of being socially connected to neighbors when facing extreme weather events. 

‘Journalistic eye’ guides GlobeDocs Film Festival, now in its ninth year October 19, 2023  The Boston Globe Associate Professor of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies  Kareem Khubchandani’s Kareem’s Queer Academia is among the documentary shorts featured in this year’s Boston Globe GlobeDocs Film Festival.

Mothers still more likely to be called first even when fathers are listed as primary contact at schools October 18, 2023  The Globe and Mail Associate Professor of Economics Laura Gee comments on the implications of her collaborative study that found mothers are 1.4 times more likely than fathers to be contacted by school officials when the choice of who to call appears neutral.

Daniel Dennett’s evolutionary philosophy of mind October 18, 2023 Times Literary Supplement This is a review of Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett’s new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking .

Mothers still more likely to be called first even when fathers are listed as primary contact at schools October 18, 2023 The Globe and Mail Associate Professor of Economics Laura Gee discusses her recent research showing moms are more likely to be contacted first by schools.

Understanding the Hamas-Israel war through history and human rights October 17, 2023 KUOW Seattle News and Information Associate Professor of Anthropology Amahl Bishara is quoted at length about the long history of conflict between Israel and Palestine.

What Causes Traffic -- and How It Separates Rich and Poor Countries October 17, 2023  Knowledge@Wharton Associate Professor of Economics Adam Storeygard is among the collaborators on a new study finding a strong relationship between a country’s transportation mobility and economic development, noting that travel speeds are 50% faster in rich countries.

Dorchester Food Co-op, the first of its kind in Boston, opened this weekend October 16, 2023  Boston.com In this piece on the new Dorchester Food Co-op, Professor of Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Julian Agyeman discusses the prevalence of food insecurity and injustice within redlined neighborhoods of Boston.

Family research at BYU: Which parent are schools more likely to call? October 16, 2023  Church News Associate Professor of Economics Laura Gee’s collaborative study finding that mothers are 1.4 times more likely than fathers to be contacted by schools with volunteer requests, thus disproportionately bearing demands from outside forces, is highlighted in this article, which appears in one additional outlet.

Daniel Dennett’s intuition pumps October 15, 2023 iVoox Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett joins this Night Science podcast episode to discuss topics related to creative thinking in science, sharing his perspective as a philosopher.

Cameras, cops and paranoia: How Amazon's surveillance network alters L.A. neighborhoods October 11, 2023 Los Angeles Times Assistant Professor of Sociology Daanika Gordon is quoted from a 2020 Tufts Now news story about her research on race and policing strategies in US communities.

Chronic diseases take a toll on U.S. life expectancy October 10, 2023 UPI Assistant Professor of Community Health Leah Abrams discusses new collaborative research finding that chronic diseases among older Americans is the biggest factor in life expectancy rates of Americans. Her collaborative 2020 research finding that cardiovascular disease played a big role in the stagnation in US life expectancy since 2010 is also referenced. 

Attacked for Being a Non-Compliant Woman Online With Sarah Sobieraj October 4, 2023 Canadian Women's Foundation Professor of Sociology Sarah Sobieraj joins this Alright, Now What? podcast episode to discuss how speaking out about feminism, gender equality, sexual abuse, or specific aspects of women’s rights online can trigger violence and abuse. Sobieraj is the author of Credible Threat: Attacks Against Women Online and the Future of Democracy .

Daniel Bennett Looks Back on His Career October 3, 2023 Skeptic Professor Emeritus of Philosophy Daniel Dennett joins The Michael Shermer Show to discuss his new memoir, I’ve Been Thinking .

Peak China may pose peak danger October 2, 2023  Reuters Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley comments on geopolitical tensions between China and the West and the risk of military action or war by China. He is noted as the co-author of Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China .

What It Takes to Win Trump’s Voters September 29, 2023  The Nation This article quotes Professor of Political Science Brian Schaffner from a June 24 The Atlantic piece that highlights his Cooperative Election Study.

Today With Dr. Kaye: Climate crisis; China-Taiwan tension September 25, 2023 www.weaa.org Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley joins this episode of “Today With Dr. Kaye” to discuss ongoing tensions between China and Taiwan, the role of the U.S. in this conflict, and the decline of China’s power. Beckley is the author of “Danger Zone: The Coming Conflict with China.”

Is 'containment' a realistic policy? September 23, 2023 CGTN This opinion piece references a Sept/Oct Foreign Affairs article by Associate Professor of Political Science Michael Beckley examining the benefits of a U.S. containment strategy towards China. 

Voters benefit as GOP embraces early voting September 18, 2023 Washington Examiner New collaborative research by Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science Eitan Hersh finding that state-level reforms to election laws and policies actually have “negligible effects on election outcomes” is linked in this article.

What ancient Greek stories of humans transformed into plants can teach us about fragility and resilience September 18, 2023 SFGATE Associate Professor of Classical Studies Marie-Claire Beaulieu examines how Greek mythology reflects the broad cycle of nature and connection between the human and plant worlds.

What makes TikTok so thirsty for Joe Burrow? September 18, 2023 The Washington Post Professor of Psychology Sam Sommers is quoted about the perceived attractiveness of NFL quarterbacks and how the position’s leadership role often contributes to this “well-worn trope.” Sommers is the co-author of the book “This Is Your Brain On Sports.”

In bid to stop Trump, one group is making different pitch to independents and Democrats: Vote GOP September 18, 2023 The Boston Globe Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science Eitan Hersh is quoted about his decision to switch voter status to enable him to vote in the Republican presidential primary, a strategy some organizations are touting to weaken Donald Trump’s chances of re-election.      What ancient Greek stories of humans transformed into plants can teach us about fragility and resilience September 18, 2023  The Conversation Associate Professor of Classical Studies Marie-Claire Beaulieu examines how Greek mythology reflects the broad cycle of nature and connection between the human and plant worlds. 

Incomes grew in Greater Boston last year, but not as fast as inflation September 14, 2023 The Boston Globe Lecturer in Economics Brian Bethune and William L. Clayton Professor of International Economic Affairs Michael Klein are quoted in this article on Greater Boston’s newly released household-income and inflation-rate data. Klein is the editor of Econofact.

US, China Lay Out Vision for New World Order Amid Human Rights Differences September 14, 2023  VOA Voice Of America Professor of Political Science Jeffrey Taliaferro is quoted in this article on the implications of efforts by the United States and China to expand their global influence.

Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron cements the legacy of Studio Ghibli, says author September 9, 2023 CBC Professor of International Literary and Cultural Studies Susan Napier discusses Hayao Miyazaki‘s Studio Ghibli film catalog and its new film “The Boy and the Heron.” 

In Cairo's City of the Dead, demolitions are halted but 'damage already done' September 9, 2023 Middle East Eye Professor of History Khaled Fahmy is quoted about the historical importance of Cairo’s City of the Dead, which is being threatened by controversial infrastructure development projects led by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

The Best Booths at the Armory Show, Where Under-Recognized Giants and Rising Stars Collide September 7, 2023 ARTNews Professor of the Practice at SMFA Cathy Lu's booth at the NYC Armory show is featured in this ArtNews article and described as "arguably the most visually stunning one of the entire fair."

Why Pakistan’s founder Jinnah was opposed to the name ‘India’ for the independent Indian nation September 6, 2023  Indian Express Mary Richardson Professor of History  Ayesha Jalal  is quoted from her book, “The Sole Spokesman: Jinnah, the Muslim League and the Demand for Pakistan.”

How corporate liberalism is changing both parties September 3, 2023 The Washington Post Professor of Political Science  Eitan Hersh  is quoted about his collaborative new research paper, “The Partisan Realignment of American Business,” and its findings that “challenge the dominant narrative in political science that corporations remain a Republican interest group.” 

Study: Pro-Israel Jewish students pay a growing social price

In 2024, more than half of jewish students said they paid a social penalty for supporting israel’s existence, up from 34% in 2022, a new report from a tufts university researcher finds..

(RNS) — Campus protests over the war in Gaza last school year featured scenes of chaos around tent encampments with police crackdowns and student arrests.

Jewish establishment organizations then rushed in with headline-grabbing reports detailing an unprecedented spike in antisemitism and violence against Jewish students.

But as the new school year begins this month, and students settle in for a new school year, a new report from a Tufts University political scientist mostly sidesteps the politically charged questions of antisemitism, its definition and whether it’s being used to stifle free speech. Instead, it examined the social costs that the protests had on Jewish students.

The study, consisting of surveys of Jewish and non-Jewish students undertaken by College Pulse, an online survey research and analytics company, in 2022, as well as 2023 and 2024, offers a peek into the experiences of Jewish students before and after the start of the war in October last year.

It found that Jewish students on campus overwhelmingly supported a Jewish state in Israel. (Only 15% of Jewish students disagreed and an additional 15% to 25% said they weren’t sure.) But that support came at a price.

“On average, students feel physically very safe on campus, and that’s not what they’re worried about,” said Eitan Hersh, the report’s chief researcher and a professor of political science at Tufts. “The problem is really social, which is that most of the Jewish students have a view that is deemed a negative view by most people on campus.”

Students surveyed were asked if they have lost friends because of conflicting viewpoints over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Chart courtesy of Hersh & Lyss report

In 2024, more than half of Jewish students said they paid a social penalty for supporting Israel’s existence, up from 34% in 2022. Israel, to put it bluntly, was unpopular among most college students.

More specifically, in 2024, 24% of Jewish students said they hid their Jewish identity to fit in, up from 15% in 2022, and 33% said “people will judge me negatively if I participate in Jewish activities,” up from 19% in 2022.

In 2024, that social penalty also meant lost friendships: 39% of Jewish students who supported Israel said they had lost friends. (The same was true of Jewish opponents of the existence of Israel — 41% said they had lost friends over their beliefs.)

One Jewish student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who was not a part of the report, spoke to this dynamic.

“I’ve had a couple of friends that participated in the protests,” said the UNC junior. “Initially, I was fine with it. But then when I saw them in the quad chanting things like ‘globalize the intifada,’ I thought that that was sort of too far, and I think that those relationships sort of have broken down a little bit as a result of that.” (The phrase “globalize the intifada” is a pro-Palestinian slogan meaning “resist Israel’s oppression and occupation.”)

The Gaza war, which has dragged on for nearly 11 months, followed the Hamas attack on Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people and took some 250 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israel’s foreign ministry. Israel’s retaliation has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians and has reduced the coastal strip to rubble, leaving 2 million people homeless, hungry and sick, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The report found that non-Jewish students blamed Israel for the war and overwhelmingly sympathized with Palestinians. Both Jewish and non-Jewish students agreed their campus was more sympathetic to Palestinians.

Data from responses by Jewish students regarding whether or not they hide their Jewish identity. Chart courtesy of Hersch & Lyss report

Pro-Palestinian students were passionate about the issue. The report found that 21% of non-Jewish students said they didn’t want to be friends with Israel supporters. A small but growing number — 8% — said they avoided socializing with Jewish students altogether, up from 4% in 2023.

Len Saxe, a social psychologist at Brandeis University who has directed studies of students at university campuses, found something very similar in a study he did on hostility toward Jews on campus.

“What we concluded is that the hostility that Jewish students feel is not from the majority of the non-Jewish students, it’s from a much smaller group,” Saxe said. “The basic finding was that two thirds of (non-Jewish students) didn’t express any prejudice, but there’s a third that do.”

Jewish students, especially those who grew up within Jewish denominations, tended to blame Hamas for the war, rather than Israel. But their views on the war were nuanced.

“The students with the most robust Jewish background were both most supportive of the existence of Israel and also most critical of the government,” said Hersh. “It wasn’t hard for them to hold those two things in their head at the same time.”

But Hersh added, “If prior to Oct. 7 a student might have thought their position, which is I’m a Zionist but I don’t like the Israeli government, was socially acceptable, they realized that no, that’s not a socially acceptable position on campus.”

On Tuesday (Sept. 3), classes resumed at Columbia University, one of the campuses with the loudest disruptions last semester.

Some 50 pro-Palestinian demonstrators picketed outside the school’s main gates, urging students to boycott classes and handing out flyers accusing Columbia of being complicit in genocide, the New York Times reported.

Many campuses have new rules in place to tamp down on protests, and so far there are few signs that the activists are rebuilding momentum.

But the reality for Jewish students remains the same, Hersh said: “Jewish students have what is really a minority viewpoint on campus. This past year that minority viewpoint was highly salient.”

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Tufts Initiative on Substance Use and Addiction (TISUA): Spring 2024 Recipients

Tuesday, september 3, 2024.

We are delighted to announce award decisions for Tufts Initiative on Substance Use and Addiction (TISUA) .

The goal of this initiative is to support innovative programs aimed at understanding, preventing, and treating addiction and substance use, as well as related morbidity and mortality, while pursuing external funding to sustain and expand our impact.

Please join us in congratulating the following individuals/teams who were selected for awards.

Evaluating Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy in Residential Recovery Services: A Community-engaged Collaboration Team Lead: Nancy Baker (A&S) Team Members: Ryan Whitney (A&S), Mary Barnes (A&S), and Brynn Speroni (A&S)

Xylazine in Lowell: Community Engaged Spatial Analysis and Harm Reduction (XL – CESAHR) Team Lead: Jack Cordes (TUSM) Team Member: Thomas Stopka (TUSM)

Modeling Alcoholism-Associated Fungal Dysbiosis Impacts Host Ethanol Consumption: Insight into Alcohol Use Disorder and Possible Therapeutic Targets Team Lead: Carol Kumamoto (TUSM) Team Member: Andrew Day (TUSM)

The Role of ZBP1 in the Prevention of DNA Damage and Cognitive Decline Associated with Chronic Alcoholism Team Lead: Alexander Poltorak (TUSM) Team Member: Hayley Muendlein (TUSM)

Microshield: Dose controlled Delivery of Opioid Antagonists for the Treatment of Substance Use Disorder Team Lead: Sameer Sonkusale (SOE) Team Members: Hasika Sures (SOE) and Darian Myers (SOE)

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What is the On TRACC email?

The ‘TRACC’ in On TRACC stands for “ Tufts Recent Activity in Career Communities .” On TRACC is a weekly email customized to your career interests. You’ll stay up to date with opportunities, events, and industry trends. You’ll receive it every Thursday, and you’ll be able to quickly scan through the individualized info to find what you need.

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On TRACC features blog posts, career events, resources, and job/internship listings that can be tailored to match your career interests.  We strongly recommend taking 1-2 minutes to update your preferences to ensure you are getting the most relevant, helpful content. 

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Yale Daily News

In first Yale class since the end of affirmative action, Black and Latine enrollment share remains stable, while Asian American decreases

In the class of 2028, the first to be admitted after the fall of affirmative action in college admissions, there was a decrease in the share of Asian American students, while the enrollment of white students rose. Other racial demographic groups remained largely the same.

Staff Reporter

Ellie Park, Multimedia Managing Editor

The class of 2028, Yale’s first group of students admitted since the Supreme Court ended race-conscious college admissions, saw changes in its share of Asian American and white students compared to last year’s class, while Black and Latine enrollment remained largely the same. 

According to the first-year class profile released by the admissions office, 14 percent of the class of 2028 identifies as African American, 24 percent as Asian American, 19 percent as Hispanic or Latino, 3 percent as Native American and 46 percent as white. 

Compared to the class of 2027, admitted in the last race-conscious admissions cycle, the class of 2028 saw a 4 percent increase in the share of white students and a 6 percent decrease in the share of Asian American students. The percentage of both Black or African American students and Native American students remained the same. 

Yale’s report comes as some other colleges have seen drops in Black and Latine enrollment.

The share of Hispanic or Latino students increased by 1 percent, giving the class of 2028 the largest share of Latine students in Yale’s history.

Students who opted not to answer the optional race question in their application were not included in the demographics data and some students indicated two or more races, meaning the percentages do not add up to 100.

“Yale College’s newest students bring with them an extraordinary collection of interests, ambitions, and talents that will enrich the undergraduate learning environment,” Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid Jeremiah Quinlan wrote in a Yale News press statement. 

The Yale News story noted that the class of 2028 had the “most applications ever from students who identify as members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.”

The News could not confirm whether changes in enrollment demographics for the class of 2028 were directly caused by changes in the post-affirmative action admissions process. Quinlan and Associate Director of Admissions Mark Dunn did not answer further questions about the results before the class profile release.

Post-affirmative action demographic shifts in elite universities

Following the fall of affirmative action, some of Yale’s peer colleges such as MIT and A mherst College experienced a steep drop in enrollment from African American and Hispanic or Latino students. 

Compared to the class of 2027, MIT’s newest class saw a decrease in the percentage of Black students, dropping from 15 percent to 5 percent. The share of Latine students also dropped to 11 percent from 16 percent last year. 

At Amherst, the percentage of Black students in the class of 2028 dropped to 3 percent from 11 percent in the class of 2027; at Tufts University, it dropped from 7.3 percent to 4.7 percent.

Like Yale, some colleges did not see a drastic decrease in Black students’ enrollment this year. At the University of Virginia, Black student enrollment decreased only from 7.9 to 7 percent this year. At Emory, this share decreased from 12.6 percent for the class of 2027 to 11.1 percent for the class of 2028.

While Asian American enrollment increased from 40 percent to 47 percent at MIT, the share of Asian American students in Yale’s class of 2028 dropped to 24 percent from 30 percent the year prior. 

Yale’s share of white students rose from 42 to 46 percent from the class prior; MIT’s class of 2028 saw a small 1 percent decrease in white students’ enrollment.  

Modified post-affirmative action admissions process

At Yale, the admissions process for the class of 2028 underwent several changes. 

In a letter to the Yale community last September following the ruling on affirmative action in college admissions, Quinlan and Dean of Yale College Pericles Lewis wrote that “Yale College should build on existing programs and take new concrete steps to attract exceptional students from underrepresented communities.”

Lewis and Quinlan highlighted three “unwavering priorities” following the fall of affirmative action for college admissions in their September 2023 letter: “fully complying with the law, continuing to support a diverse and inclusive community, and maintaining a world-class admissions process that considers each applicant as an individual.” 

While last year’s applicants could still answer the optional question about self-identified race on the Common Application, their responses were not accessible by admissions officers involved in the selection process. The University could access the data after students had been admitted.

Last year, Yale College’s supplemental essay prompts were modified to allow students to respond to one of three questions that were intended to “invite students from all backgrounds to reflect on the experiences that have shaped their character and strengths.”

The admissions office also began using place-based data from Opportunity Atlas , a nationwide mapping project that measures economic mobility at the census tract level and has been shown to improve the committee’s evaluation of applicants from under-resourced areas. 

The admissions office told the News last year that the use of the Opportunity Atlas tool will supplement the admissions office’s existing use of the College Board’s Landscape tool , which provides data about an applicant’s high school and neighborhood . 

In the process of admitting the class of 2028, the admissions office introduced several new initiatives to expand outreach to prospective students, including the “ Yale in MOHtion Student Fly-In Program. ” The initiative is a fly-in program for high school students and their families that introduces 50 prospective students to Yale’s four cultural centers: the Afro-American Cultural Center, the Asian American Cultural Center, La Casa Cultural and the Native American Cultural Center. 

Yale also introduced a test-flexible policy , under which students can choose which scores to include from their ACT, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and SAT tests. The policy starts this fall.

The updated test policy did not apply to the class of 2028. While Yale’s class of 2028 was selected through a COVID-era test-optional admissions, MIT’s class of 2028 was required to submit a standardized test score.  

Other initiatives included the hiring of two new full-time admissions office staff members to increase year-round engagement with college access organizations, expanding the distribution of the Diversity Viewbook and developing new relationships with leaders of college access organizations and school counselors who serve students from underrepresented backgrounds. 

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is located at 38 Hillhouse Ave.

Update, Sept. 4: This story has been updated to clarify Tufts University saw a drop in African American enrollment, not Hispanic or Latino enrollment. 

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From left, moderator Monroe France with panelists Matthew Kincaid, Anna Kaplan, Khudejha Asghar, and Adam White. In college, “I met a bunch of people who really supported me,” said Kaplan. “The most important thing is now I have these people who really push me, can tell me when I’ve made a mistake, and we can build on those friendships, and I really trust them.” Photo: Alonso Nichols Photo: Alonso Nichols

Difficult Conversations, Healthy Dialogue, and Keeping an Open Mind

A panel discussion with four recent alumni gives incoming students perspectives on choices they will face in college and beyond

On college campuses, some people live in a bubble—surrounded by others just like themselves. When someone comes along and has a different point of view, “it can open up interesting pathways of dialogue,” said Matthew Kincaid, A11.

Kincaid was speaking to an assembled crowd at the Gantcher Center for incoming students. He was one of four recent Tufts alumni who took part in a panel discussion on August 30 with Monroe France, vice provost for institutional inclusive excellence. 

As the alumni recounted their experiences, they brought up the challenges of fitting in on campus, finding their own community, and being open to change, both personal and professional. 

The panel was made up of Khudejha Asghar, A10, a research fellow at the University of Edinburgh who studies the intergenerational transmission of violence; Anna Kaplan, A16, MG17, director of epidemiology and data services for the Cambridge, Massachusetts, public health department; Kincaid, A11, founder and CEO of Overcoming Racism, which seeks to develop more equitable institutions through comprehensive race and equity training; and Adam White, E09, founder of Atlas Workshops, which leads project-based trips and study abroad programs around the world. 

Here are some of the takeaways from the presentation. 

It’s important to have difficult conversations. In college, Kincaid said, “a lot of times you can make really organic connections with people you otherwise wouldn’t have made connections with, and I had to lean on those connections a lot. During my time at Tufts, I was a very vocal and outward activist on campus, and with that came a lot of conflict. There were a lot of times where I had really difficult conversations with people about what their beliefs were and what my beliefs were. And we didn’t always walk away in agreement, but I did try to open myself up to have those conversations for the greater good of change.”

Incoming first-year students listen to the alumni panel. “We are encouraged to learn in a linear way, to think a linear way. But the truth is, things go in all sorts of cycles,” said Khudejha Asghar, A10. “When you let yourself just have the journey of your life … life can surprise you. It can be really great, and you just have to let yourself let go of that need for a specific outcome.” Photo: Alonso Nichols

Be open to admitting when you are wrong or could have been kinder. “I’ve had so many moments where I’ve looked back and said, ‘Oh, I wish I had done something a little differently,’” said Asghar, “or perhaps I could have been kinder in the moment. That self-reflection has been important for me. I think genuinely acknowledging it and apologizing is huge.”

Sometimes you are wrong and it’s OK to be wrong, she said, but it’s important to acknowledge it. She gave an example drawn from her work in Ethiopia on a project for refugee adolescent girls. There was a task that needed doing, and, in Asghar’s view, a standard way to do it. An Ethiopian colleague of hers suggested doing it a different way, and Asghar was resistant. 

“Then I paused and said, ‘You know what? Actually, she’s right. I’m being so rigid about this thing and this thing is a little bit arbitrary. We can do it in a different way, and it enables us to do the work so much better,’” she said.

Expand your horizons beyond campus—you never know where it will lead. While at Tufts, Kaplan participated in the Peer Health Exchange, which sent Tufts students to teach health education to kids in area schools. She did that for a couple of years in Cambridge, where there were limited health education resources. “It felt kind of absurd that I’m 19 years old and I’m teaching health education to 15-year-olds,” she said, but now her job is all about health education and vaccine access.

She encouraged the incoming first-years to look into opportunities in the communities around the university. “There’s so much happening in the five miles around this little hill in Somerville. There’s a lot of opportunities at Tufts to go be into community. Some of my most valuable experiences while an undergrad were walking into Medford, getting involved in some community agencies—and it’s all there for you.”

You never know what might lead to a career. Kincaid saw so much racial inequity as a middle-school social studies teacher in Louisiana that he was moved to found an organization, Overcoming Racism, to deal with it. “I saw a problem and I felt like I had somewhat of a skillset to help be a part of a solution,” he said. “I didn’t really think a lot about the fact that it could be a career or that it would pay the bills or any of those things, but I thought about how much better off the community I was working in would be if these issues were solved or if there was someone who was putting all their effort into solving them.”  

Social support is always valuable. In college, said Kaplan, “I met a bunch of people who really supported me. … The most important thing is now I have these people who really push me, can tell me when I’ve made a mistake, and we can build on those friendships, and I really trust them. When I have a big problem, I can go to those people.”

Be open to change when you see it’s needed. White had been consulting for the World Bank and other international organizations, traveling to many countries, when something struck him as wrong. In a budget for a project in Kenya, he saw most of the money went to pay Americans rather than Kenyans. “I didn’t want the project’s success to be dependent on me making a living in that way,” he said. At that moment, he pivoted his career to global education. It’s always good to be open “to changing your mind as you go along,” he said.

Let go of preconceptions. “I think we often think of life as point A, point B, point C, point D,” said Asghar. “We are encouraged to learn in a linear way, to think a linear way. But the truth is, things go in all sorts of cycles. … When you let yourself just have the journey of your life … life can surprise you. It can be really great, and you just have to let yourself let go of that need for a specific outcome.”

A Time to Talk About Antisemitism

Tufts Welcomes the Undergraduate Class of 2028

A Fun Way to Begin Their College Careers

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How to Write the Tufts University Essays 2024-2025

Tufts University is consistently ranked in among the top 30 universities and wants to admit students who demonstrate a genuine interest in Tufts. One of the best ways to demonstrate interest is through your supplemental essays.

All applicants will answer two prompts, but the prompts will depend on the school you’re applying to within Tufts.

The college applications process may seem overwhelming, but don’t worry⁠—CollegeVine is here to help you tackle Tufts’ supplemental essays! 

Read these Tufts essay examples written by real students to inspire your own writing!

Tufts Supplemental Essay Prompts

Applicants to the school of arts and sciences and school of engineering.

Prompt 1: Please complete the following statement: “I am applying to Tufts because…” (50-100 words)

Prompt 2: Now we’d like to know a little more about you. Please respond to one of the following three questions. (200-250 words)

• Option A: It’s cool to love learning. What excites your intellectual curiosity, and why?
• Option B: How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today?
• Option C: Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community.

Applicants to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (BFA or 5-Year BFA+BA/BS Combined Degree)

Prompt 1: Please complete the following statement: “I am applying to SMFA at Tufts because…” (50-100 words)

Prompt 2: Please answer the following question – we encourage you to think outside the box. Be serious if the moment calls for it but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too. Your response must be between 200-250 words. 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? (200-250 words)

Please complete the following statement: “I am applying to Tufts because…” (50-100 words)

When first approaching this textbook “Why School?” prompt , take a step back and think about why you added Tufts to your school list. Location, size, and prestige may contribute to your desire to apply to Tufts, however you must dig deeper into why and how you, as an individual, are a good fit for the Tufts community. 

As stated on their website , Tufts students are often described as:

• Interdisciplinary
• Multidimensional
• Intellectually playful
• Collaborative
• Civically engaged
• Globally minded

With only 100 words, you won’t have a ton of space to delve into every way you embody the characteristics of a Tufts student or list everything you love about Tufts. Instead of using generalities such as “great location near Boston” or “strong math major” or trying to squeeze all your ideas into 100 words, be sure to pick just 2-3 specific reasons you want to apply to Tufts. 

Remember that attending college is not only about academics, but also what you do outside the classroom. So, make sure to mention at least one extracurricular/social factor that drew you to Tufts, along with at least one academic aspect.

Reflect on your life, characteristics, and interests, then do your research and tie those aspects of yourself to Tufts’ values and traditions (refer to bullets above). 

• Maybe you’re a passionate, civically engaged environmentalist who is drawn to Tufts’ Food Systems and Nutrition minor, as you want to learn more about ways to increase sustainability in the food industry. 
• Or, maybe the 1+4 Bridge Year caught your eye, as you’re globally minded and want to live and intern abroad in Mexico before beginning your studies at Tufts, to better understand the border crisis and explore your interest in immigration law. 
• Or, perhaps the Traveling Treasure Trunk theatre group caught your eye, as you love being collaborative and putting on imaginative plays for children. 
• Or, maybe you’re multidimensional and have completely varied interests, such as ballet and neuroscience, and are drawn to Tufts’ interdisciplinary learning style. 

Regardless of your interests, whether academic or extracurricular, be sure to use them as an opportunity to form a connection between yourself and the Tufts community. 

Additionally, this prompt is a great place to include any notable experiences you had on any of Tufts’ campuses, or with Tufts students and faculty. You should avoid generally discussing an information session you attended or a campus tour you took, as those experiences are not unique to you and thus won’t help you stand out in the applicant pool.

However, you should definitely consider discussing a memorable conversation you had with a group of students, a particularly interesting class you sat in on, a meeting you had with a Tufts professor in the department of your intended major, or a Tufts club meeting you attended. While these experiences are not essential to your essay, they will certainly enhance your answer and further demonstrate your interest in Tufts.

Prompt 2, Option A

It’s cool to love learning. what excites your intellectual curiosity, and why (200-250 words).

To answer this prompt, you need to think about a topic that you enjoy studying and explain why you find it interesting. This prompt is great for applicants who have specific interests they want to showcase, like ancient Greek theater or quantum theory. Regardless of what you choose to write about, you need to be able to explain why this topic ignites your passion for learning and how you will continue to explore this topic at Tufts.

To start your essay off strong, begin by describing what sparked your interest in your topic. A great way to do this is by beginning your essay with an anecdote.

For example, you could explain that you became interested in civil engineering in sixth grade, when your science teacher challenged your class to break into groups and try to build the tallest structure possible using only marshmallows, tape, and uncooked spaghetti. As you worked to determine the perfect spaghetti-to-tape ratio, you realized that you had never before felt so focused on a school project. Keep in mind, your story does not have to be impressive or complicated; even the simplest stories will do as long as they reflect the origin of your interest. 

From here, your essay could go in a couple of directions. You might continue the narrative of your initial anecdote as you elaborate on your passion for your topic. For instance, you could write, “After winning the spaghetti structure challenge, I continued to enter engineering competitions throughout middle and high school, like the High School Bridge Building Contest. The thrill of competing deepened my enthusiasm and sent me to the library in search of books on seismic loads and renewable building materials.”

Alternatively, you could express your intellectual curiosity by explaining what specifically about your topic you find interesting. A fan of art history may identify a special interest in Ming dynasty ceramics; a computer science scholar could describe their fascination with machine learning.The details you share here provide evidence of your interest in your topic, so feel free to show off what you know!

Now that you’ve established your topic of interest, you need to explain to the reader why your topic excites you intellectually. If you are curious about biomedical engineering, you may refer to its many life-saving and life-changing applications, such as bionic eye technology. A Shakesperean may cite how his plays, despite being centuries old, can feel distinctly modern. In explaining why you enjoy learning about your topic, you reveal more about your character and personality to the admissions committee.

Finally, anchor your response in your interest in attending Tufts by explaining how you will continue your studies during your college years. Be specific, and think about how your topic aligns with courses and activities offered at Tufts. For example, if you were writing about your passion for Meso-American archaeology, you might state your intention to further explore the subject by enrolling in Tufts’ annual Archaeology Field School in Belize. Try to think outside the classroom as well—Tufts’ value of intellectual playfulness encourages learning in unexpected ways.

Prompt 2, Option B

How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing – your family, home, neighborhood, or community – shaped the person you are today (200-250 words).

This prompt is a great opportunity for applicants who want to discuss the influence of the culture of their upbringing on their personality, interests, and values. Additionally, this can serve as an opportunity to discuss a specific event that was particularly impactful for one reason or another. Whether you want to discuss culture or a particular event, you must specifically describe not only the culture or event, but its impact on different aspects of your identity. 

The first step in answering this prompt is to provide some background information. Describe what makes the culture, experience, environment, or event unique. For instance, if you’re going to discuss the caring environment of your community, you need to explain the specific scenarios that illustrate that, such as a weekly potluck. 

The next portion of your essay should be dedicated to how your culture, experience, environment, or event has impacted you. Go deeper than the surface level and show what aspects of your identity have been shaped by the experience you’re discussing. 

For example, if you’re writing about how you grew up in a low-income neighborhood, don’t just tell us “This experience taught me to be resourceful.” Instead, show us your resourcefulness through anecdotes and indirect details:

“Since money was tight, my siblings and I tried to ease the burden on our parents by dumpster diving for food, furniture, and toys. We scoured the streets of the city for overflowing trash bins. We figured out the delivery schedule of local grocery stores. I always looked forward to Wednesdays, when the corner shop would receive new produce shipments, and discard anything that hadn’t been sold. We’d scramble home with our arms full of perfectly-edible apples, carrots, and onions.”

Finally, you should connect the aspects of your identity that were shaped by the culture, experience, environment, or event you wrote about to the Tufts community. Discuss what values you have gained that would allow you to make a positive impact at Tufts. Whether it’s your desire to learn, care for others, collaborate, or advocate, explain how that characteristic will make you a good community member at Tufts. 

In the above example, the student may wish to join the Food Rescue Collaborative at Tufts, to use their resourcefulness to rescue food and help feed people in need.

Prompt 2, Option C

Using a specific example or two, tell us about a way that you contributed to building a collaborative and/or inclusive community. (200-250 words).

The final option Tufts gives you is to write about a community you are part of. Contrary to the belief that a community essay has to be about something large like an ethnic or religious community, you can actually choose just about anything. Community can span from a club you are in to an online forum of people who share a similar hobby. Don’t let the “seriousness” of your community prevent you from picking this prompt—anyone can write a compelling and personal essay about any community.

The key to success lies within the prompt: “using a specific example or two.” In other words, tell us a story! Anecdotes that are full of imagery will be your best friend for this essay. 

However, just setting the scene with an anecdote isn’t enough. Use your anecdote to explain the natural state of the community prior to your involvement—did the community exist, were members active in the community, did the community lack diversity, were people excluded from joining, etc.

Then, continue the anecdote to demonstrate your contribution. Really show the reader what you did, if you recruited members don’t just say that, explain your process for advertising and the conversations you had with prospective members. Finally, you need to highlight the positive impact you had on your community. This last part tells the admissions officers what you are capable of achieving, so don’t be afraid to brag.

Let’s look at some examples of what sample students could write:

• Online Book Club: A student who loves to read always turned to online reviews and forums to find her next great read, but she wished there was a way she could talk about the book she was reading in real time with others. This inspired her to start an online book club which she shared on social media to get the word out. Within two weeks she had 10 teenagers from across the country sign up and they read Where the Crawdads Sing for their first book. Not only did she find new friends and get to experience the nuances of the book through other peoples’ perspectives, she created a sense of belonging for the other members of the club.
• Jarabe Tapatio Dance Team: A student with Mexican heritage who’s part of a larger Mexican community of families felt awkward as she got older and became more distant from the other teenagers at community gatherings. Since she loved to dance, she decided to approach the other kids and suggested they learn a traditional Mexican dance, the jarabe tapatio. Every week, they would meet after school and learn the steps. She coordinated with adults planning the Hispanic Heritage month festival and arranged for the newly created dance team to perform.
• Caring Older Cousin: A student with a brother his age and a bunch of younger cousins might have always been exclusive at family events and refused to play childish games with his cousins. However, one Thanksgiving he was passing a football with his brother when his 10 year old cousin asked him to teach her. Through the process of explaining how to throw a spiral and what a pass looks like, he began enjoying the company of his cousin and invited the other kids to join. Soon he was running a football clinic in his backyard and playing a touch football game with all of his cousins. 

Each of these examples demonstrates how you can turn anything into an essay about community. Just keep in mind to show the before state, what you did to foster collaboration and inclusion, and the end result from your involvement.

Applicants to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts ( BFA or 5-Year BFA+BA/BS Combined Degree)

Please complete the following statement: “i am applying to smfa at tufts because…” (50-100 words).

This first question is very similar to the “Why Tufts?” essay . However, this one asks you to tie your experiences back into why you want to enroll in SMFA. 

Your goal here is to make admissions officers clearly see you maintaining a presence in their SMFA program. If you don’t like being bound to the restrictions of having to be shuffled into a major, write about how the SMFA program’s freedom of delving into a specific medium or exploring a variety of options caters to your goals.

Let’s say that you are interested in both the arts and doing research in a STEM field. Instead of having to choose between one or the other, at Tufts, you can take the shuttle to SMFA in the morning and research the impact of certain elements on human cells in the evening. 

Tufts is one of two schools in the nation that is affiliated with a museum. If you want to gain more insight into art history and see paintings for yourself, SMFA will allow you to do so. SMFA’s Morse Study Room even gives SMFA students access to papers that are not available to visitors. Therefore, those who wish to seek more than what is offered in the classroom and explore ranges of art will be well-suited to the program.

If there was a specific instance where you realized that you didn’t necessarily “fit in the box,” this prompt would be a good one to address that. But if you want to knock this question out of the park, ask yourself what you can contribute to the program. Tufts looks for students who want to add to the intellectual vigor of its campus. If you can convey the kind of person you will be on campus, Tufts will be able to visualize the impact you will make more clearly. 

Please answer the following question – we encourage you to think outside the box. Be serious if the moment calls for it but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too. Your response must be between 200-250 words. 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?

This prompt is asking you to reflect on the ideas and themes that you want to explore through your art. SMFA is interested in understanding how you conceptualize your work within a broader thematic framework and what impact you hope it will have on the world. Basically, they want to see your ability to think critically about your art and how it interacts with larger societal, cultural, or personal issues.

As an artist, you have most likely developed some kind of recurring theme or style. Look back through your past works. Is there a pattern that seems to repeat itself? If so, reflect on why it appears in your work so much, and write your essay about the relationship between that pattern and your identity. Then, connect your current work to Tufts, by explaining how a Tufts education will help you continue to grow as an artist. 

Since the prompt encourages creativity and asks you to “think outside the box,” feel free to express a unique perspective or an aspect of your artistic philosophy. And whether serious or playful, make sure your response is imaginative and distinct. Regardless of your topic, your essay should be authentic, and reveal something about your artistic ambitions. 

To brainstorm, consider these questions:

• What themes or ideas do you find yourself going back to in your art?
• How does your art challenge or reflect current societal norms or issues?
• Are there any personal experiences or cultural backgrounds that influence the ideas you explore in your work?
• How do you hope your art will impact or provoke thought in your audience?
• What is your artistic process like, and how does it help you explore the ideas you’re passionate about?
• Can you think of any moments when your art has already had an impact on someone’s perception or understanding of an issue?
• What are some unconventional or experimental ideas you’ve explored in your art, or been eager to explore?

Compelling responses will clearly articulate the applicant’s artistic version, explaining not only what they want to explore but also how exactly they plan to do so through their art. Discussion of elements like medium, style, or process can be included, if they’re relevant to how you approach these ideas, but don’t get bogged down in technicalities–your goal is to teach Tufts about who you are, not how to sculpt (for example). 

Here are some possible topics:

• An aspiring multimedia artist from a multicultural background who grew up experiencing frequent misrepresentation of her culture in the media could center their work on deconstructing and reimagining these portrayals through mixed media collages and digital art. Maybe they plan to explore the tension between identity and stereotypes, by creating pieces that provoke viewers to question their preconceived notions.
• A sculpture artist who grew up in a rural area is passionate about environmental issues and is fascinated by the concept of “nature’s revenge” might incorporate recycled materials in their work to explore the idea of nature reclaiming human spaces. Perhaps they want to expand on this theme by creating interactive installations that challenge viewers to consider the long-term impact of human activity on the planet.
• A performance artist in the LGBTQ community interested in the concept of social norms and conformity may use their body as a canvas to challenge societal expectations around gender and identity. They might plan to design a series of costumes for their performances that explore the fluidity of identity, and invite audiences to question the rigid structures that define our lives.

As with all admissions essays, specificity and genuine insight are crucial. To make sure you’re providing these two things, ground your artistic ideas in your own experiences or worldview. Don’t just say “I aim to explore environmental issues in my work.” Instead, explain how your background, culture, or personal journey influences the themes you explore in your art. 

Additionally, like in the examples above, the ideas you want to explore should be clear and detailed. “Societal issues” alone is much too broad a category–you need to specify a particular issue, and give your reader some information about why it matters to you, like the student who became passionate about the environment due to growing up in a rural area.

Finally, show your awareness of the power of art to influence thoughts, emotions, and actions. Explain the impact you hope your work will have, whether on an individual, community, or global scale.

Because this prompt is future-oriented in asking what themes you plan to explore, you should also connect your aspirations to Tufts itself. Check out SMFA’s studio resources for options pertaining to your preferred medium, opportunities for student exhibitions , and activities and organizations you can participate in. 

Establishing a clear link between the work you hope to do and the offerings and resources of the university you’re applying to is always a great way to help admissions officers visualize you on campus and concretely imagine your contributions to their community.

Now that we’ve broken down the prompt, let’s take a look at a couple of excerpts from hypothetical responses.

“I’m particularly interested in the idea of memory and how it affects us. Memories can be happy or sad, and they shape who we are and how we see the world. My art will explore how people remember things and how those memories make them feel and react. I plan to create installations that represent different kinds of memories, like using light to show happy memories and darker colors for sad ones. My goal is to make people think about their own memories and how they’ve impacted their lives.”

As you can see, this response is vague and lacks depth. The concept of memory is too broad and not connected to a specific personal experience. As a result, the theme feels superficial, and doesn’t teach us anything about what distinguishes this student as an artist. 

The description of the installations is also generic, with simplistic ideas like using light for happy memories and dark colors for sad ones, which lacks creativity and doesn’t present a unique perspective. The overall response fails to convey a clear artistic vision or a compelling reason why the student is drawn to this theme. 

Now, read over a revised version of this response below.

“I’m fascinated by the concept of memory—how it shapes our identities and our understanding of the world. My work involves creating interactive installations that use light and sound to simulate the process of recalling memories. Inspired by my grandmother’s struggle with Alzheimer’s, I aim to explore the fragility and fluidity of memory, and how it affects not just the individual but also their loved ones. By inviting viewers to engage with my installations, I hope to evoke a personal connection to the themes of loss, remembrance, and the passage of time.”

This response is emotionally resonant and specific, with a clear personal connection to the student’s family experience. The idea of exploring memory through interactive installations using light and sound is innovative and well-suited to the themes of fragility and fluidity. The student effectively communicates their personal artistic vision and the impact they hope to make on their audience, thus making this a much more effective, engaging response. 

If your first draft looks more like the first essay, that’s totally fine. Just make sure that during revision, you make your ideas more precise and specific, and connect them to your personal experiences, so that Tufts can clearly see what you have to offer as an artist that nobody else does.

Where to Get Your Tufts University Essays Edited For Free

Do you want feedback on your Tufts essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free  Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

Need feedback faster? Get a  free, nearly-instantaneous essay review  from Sage, our AI tutor and advisor. Sage will rate your essay, give you suggestions for improvement, and summarize what admissions officers would take away from your writing. Use these tools to improve your chances of acceptance to your dream school!

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Current tufts students, inside admissions, a short guide to the tufts supplemental questions.

The personal statements that high schoolers write for their college applications are an incredible way of getting to know something unique, impactful, or otherwise important about them. We understand why you spend so much time writing these, especially since nearly every college requires, at the bare minimum, a personal statement in order to apply. And we here at Tufts certainly care a lot about your personal statements, don’t get us wrong! But our supplemental short-answer questions also play a role in the application reading process in terms of us getting to know more facets of your personality.

At Tufts, we require two responses: The first is to complete, in 100 words, the following sentence: “I am applying to Tufts because…”, and one other that is your choice from three prompts (which you can read here ). These are your chance to show us that you have done your research on who we are beyond a cursory Google search, and to illuminate something else about your experiences or the way you see the world. Tufts students are kind, collaborative, and intellectually curious. The best way to stand out in this section is to show us how you embody various aspects of these broad traits.

Don’t worry, I’ve got some examples below to help you better understand what I mean.

1. Why Tufts? Why not Tufts?

I could sit here for an hour and list off the reasons why you should apply to Tufts. To be fair, it’s my job, but still! Sometimes students approach me after information sessions and ask, “well, why wouldn’t I want to go to Tufts University?” You could honestly ask this question about nearly any highly selective college or university. They will all offer you a great education, access to resources and professors, copious student organizations, and will be located in a rural, urban, or suburban environment. I know that all of that sounds basic, but every day during reading season I see multiple responses that list those exact reasons as why they want to come to Tufts. This response is a space for you to really dive into what makes Tufts unique for you. Don’t just repeat basic facts you can find on our landing page or on a Wikipedia article. Yes, we have over 350 student organizations and you can easily make your own—but what’s one that really speaks to you? Is it our Leonard Carmichael Society and its focus on service? Or maybe our Eco Arts Club which brings a socially engaged, environmentally conscious, art practice to community activism? Sure, we have a 10 to 1 student/faculty ratio. But do a deeper dive into an academic interest of yours and find a course, department, or professor’s research group that stands out to you and let us know why it engages your intellectual curiosity. The best way to stand out here is to be specific, show us that extra research you did into how what Tufts offers is right for you specifically.

2. Wait There’s More? (Yes—For Tufts, at Least)

A second supplemental question might feel daunting—didn’t you just show us what you knew about Tufts? What more could we need from you? The answer to that question is a 200-250 word response on your choice of three prompts (unless you’re applying to the SMFA at Tufts in which case there is just one question, but the advice here still holds). This second question is designed for you to provide your application readers with another way of understanding who you are. Your personal statement is likely about some moment that is unique to you and shaped who you are as a human being (a boating trip with your grandfather, your path through a high stakes sports competition, a special project you started with friends or family, etc.). But that essay is a way for us to get to know you broadly. Remember, Tufts students are kind, collaborative, and intellectually playful, civically engaged, and globally minded. Will your personal statement be specifically designed to showcase all of that? Probably not! It may illuminate one or two aspects of your personality that align with those values, but we would never expect it to perfectly outline how you would be an ideal Tufts community member. Use this second supplemental short answer response to provide insight into how you embody a different one of these values. Just make sure it is something unique from your personal statement, so that we get that fully nuanced view of who you are. A copy-and-pasted personal statement, or even a supplemental essay that is about the same topic as your personal statement, won’t help your application stand out.

Phew! That is a lot of information about two short answer responses that you will be writing for your application to Tufts. In short, the best way to look at the writing that you provide for your college applications is as a set of responses designed for us to get to know you. Use each one strategically to highlight some aspect of your personality, your academic interests, and who you are as a community member. There’s nothing more disappointing than getting to the final essay and seeing recycled content from elsewhere in the application. Feel free to reach out to your regional representative if you have any questions—we’re here to help! And always have faith in yourself and in your writing. You’ve got this!