tufts transfer essay

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I'm really interested in transferring to Tufts and I was wondering if anyone could share their experience with the Tufts transfer application? Any advice or guidance would be much appreciated!

Transferring to any school can be a complex process, but I can help provide some insight into the Tufts transfer application. Here are five tips to help you put your best foot forward:

1. Understand Tufts' transfer admissions criteria: Academic accomplishments are essential, so ensure that you have a strong college GPA. Tufts also looks for students with well-defined goals, interests, and passions that align with the school and its offerings. Researching the programs and opportunities available at Tufts and tailoring your application to reflect how you can benefit from and contribute to the community can make a difference.

2. College-specific essays: Tufts requires a "Why Tufts?" essay, and you'll need to discuss why transferring to Tufts is the best fit for you. Be specific about the programs, clubs, research opportunities, or faculty members that interest you, and explain how they align with your short- and long-term goals. This demonstrates passion for the school and a clear understanding of how it fits in your academic and personal pursuits.

3. Articulate your reasons for transferring: Your application should explain why you are transferring and what makes Tufts an ideal choice for you moving forward. This could be due to academic reasons, such as a program not offered at your current institution, or personal growth goals that Tufts' community can better nurture. Avoid speaking negatively about your current school and focus on the positive aspects of Tufts that will help you thrive.

4. Obtain strong letters of recommendation: Letters of recommendation from your college professors or advisors are crucial to your application. These letters should attest to your academic performance, enthusiasm for learning, and personal qualities. Reach out to professors who know you well and can speak to specifics about your work, achievements, and potential.

5. Showcase extracurricular involvement: Tufts values active community members, so demonstrate how you've contributed to your current college or local community through extracurricular engagements. This could include clubs, community service, part-time jobs, or internships. Talk about your leadership, teamwork, creativity, or other relevant skills, and express your desire to continue actively engaging with the Tufts community.

In summary, a competitive Tufts transfer application will showcase a strong academic record, a clear fit with the school's community and programs, well-articulated reasons for transferring, solid letters of recommendation, and a commitment to extracurricular involvement. Best of luck with your application!

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2 Terrific Tufts University Essay Examples

What’s covered:, essay example 1, essay example 2.

• Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay  

Tufts is a highly-selective college located right outside of Boston. With small class sizes and an abundance of eager applicants, it’s important that your application stands out with strong essays. In this post, we’ll share real essays students have submitted to Tufts, and share what they did well and how they could be made even better (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized. 

Read our Tufts essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

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

Overachiever

With your big handwriting”

I’d just texted a friend about how much I was enjoying the 27-problem, AP Calculus worksheet our teacher had assigned for homework that night. I wasn’t quite sure how to reply; I knew she was joking, but she wasn’t entirely wrong. I asked Mr. Gearhart for extra problems regularly. But what’s more, I enjoyed applying my knowledge to concepts I was passionate about. I’d use my knowledge of geometric series to learn about the money multiplier in economics. I’d use my knowledge of logarithms to learn about the twelve-tone equal temperament tuning system in western music. And yes, I’d do so with giant handwriting.

It wasn’t just that I wanted to apply the mathematical concepts; I wanted to see new perspectives. To apply math to music, I had to understand how the two interacted— look at math through music-based lenses. Every time I’d grasp another application, I’d gain another set. And by the end of a month or so, I’d have filled a drawer of lenses, categorized by subject. One could call me a lens collector. But I call myself curious, always wanting to gain new viewpoints. Why? They allow me to take more pictures, wear a myriad of glasses, see a fresh outlook on the world. Every latest perspective is like coming back to a puzzle after taking a break— so many new insights to act upon. So that’s what I replied:

“I just find them as fun little puzzles haha”

What the Essay Did Well

One of the reasons this essay is so powerful is because it takes a single moment in time and expands on the thoughts and feelings behind that experience. The entire essay is sandwiched between two text messages, but because it is so focused, it allows the student to delve into how she is perceived as an overachiever and what it means to her.

This student does an excellent job of showing the reader how they go above and beyond and what they get out of it. They don’t just say they like to do extra practice to see how math affects the real world (a basic answer). Instead, they specifically connect geometric series to economic concepts and logarithms to music. By doing this, the reader sees the different academic interests this student has and how they take an interdisciplinary approach to learning.

They also go a step further than just explaining what excites their intellectual curiosity by explaining why it excites them. There is even more great use of imagery when the student compares the interdisciplinary study of math and music to a new lens to view the world through. By referring to themselves as a “lens collector”, it paints a clear picture that this is a student who is always learning new things and eager to gain new perspectives. Tufts is looking to admit “lens collectors”, so showcasing how your curiosity impacts your outlook on the world is an excellent way to take this prompt above and beyond.

What Could Be Improved

Although this is a well-written essay with a great story, the one area for improvement would be the inclusion of the text messages. While it sets up a good context for the response, when the first thing the reader sees are three disjointed lines, it makes the hook less effective. It does create some mystery and suspense, but it makes the reader take a step back and try and process what is happening. The person reading an essay should be enthralled from the beginning and shouldn’t have to try and figure out what the author is referring to.

This hook would be stronger and less disjointed if it only had one text from the student’s friend saying they were an overachiever. The fact about the big handwriting is personable, but ultimately unnecessary. The student could jump into why they are seen as an overachiever and why they actually enjoy doing extra work sooner if the opening line looked like this:

“ My phone buzzed and one big word flashed across the screen: Overachiever.”

Lunch is served. Falafel, salad, humus, pita, tzatziki sauce and mint lemonade. The common denominator: made by me. My family gathers around quietly filling their plates with my creations. They sit and the conversation begins to flow. My sister shares that King Louis XIV only showered twice in his life. My physics-obsessed grandpa urges us to read Thinking, Fast and Slow. My grandma pitches a business proposition for me to open a restaurant. My mom looks disgusted when my sister shares the not-so-fun fact. My dad joins my grandpa and demands my sister and me to read the dense book. The food is almost gone but the conversation still lingers. Maybe there is something magical in the little balls of chick-peas that prompt my family to speak of everything that crosses their mind. I don’t chat much but I enjoy listening and smiling to the continuous exchange of information. This is what excites my desire for knowledge, each member of my family knows something different and they bring it to the table. Each member fills a particular gap in my world of knowledge just like my dishes fill their bellies with the five essential nutrients. And when the conversation comes to a lul: Dessert is served.

The use of imagery and tangible descriptions really makes this essay stand out. Right away, any hungry reader’s mouth is watering at the description of a delicious meal, and we learn that this talented student made it all. But then we really feel like we are sitting at the table and listening to their family’s conversation. It’s all in the details for this essay. If it just said, “My sister mentioned a fun fact she learned in history class, while both my grandpa and dad suggested a book to read,” we wouldn’t feel like we were transported to this family’s meal, which wouldn’t make us engage with the story as much.

This student also employs some creativity to connect her family’s stories to her interest in cooking. It’s never said that cooking excites their intellectual curiosity, but it is implied since that’s what this student brings to the table. We don’t need to be explicitly told that food excites them because the way they write about cooking for their family, and the effects it has on them, is enough to understand their passion for this topic.

One thing that could improve this essay is changing the order of the family members’ conversations to make the story flow smoother. For example, since the mom’s contribution to the meal is directly related to the sister’s, her reaction should have directly followed the sister’s comment on Louis XIV. Likewise, the dad agrees with the grandpa on the book, so those should have been bundled together. 

Improving the structure and flow of the essay would make it a faster read and reduce any confusion. Admissions officers race through essays, and the last thing you want is for them to have to pause and go back to understand what is happening. By the time we hear the student’s mom was disgusted at the sister’s story or the dad likes the book, we’ve heard other family members’ stories and might not remember what they are referring to. Simple changes like this can make big differences to the quality of an essay.

Where to Get Feedback on Your Essay 

Want feedback like this on your Tufts University essay before you submit? We offer expert essay review by advisors who have helped students get into their dream schools. You can book a review with an expert to receive notes on your topic, grammar, and essay structure to make your essay stand out to admissions officers.

Haven’t started writing your essay yet? Advisors on CollegeVine also offer expert college counseling packages . You can purchase a package to get one-on-one guidance on any aspect of the college application process, including brainstorming and writing essays.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Transfer Applicants

Who would be considered a transfer applicant, does tufts accept mid-year transfers, when should i begin preparing my transfer application, which is more important in the transfer admissions process: my high school transcript or my current performance in college, are there certain classes i must take in order to be considered for transfer, do i need to send standardized test scores as a transfer student as an international transfer applicant, do i need to send sat and toefl scores, can i reapply to tufts if i was not admitted as a first-year applicant, if i previously applied to tufts and want to re-apply, do i need to resend credentials, if i am older than the traditional college-age applicant, should i apply as a transfer student, do i need to apply to a specific school or program at tufts, who is admitted to tufts as a transfer student, how many credits must i complete at tufts as a transfer student, will the credits i earned at another institution be accepted at tufts, is housing available for transfer students at tufts, is there an orientation for transfer students, are transfer students eligible for financial aid what about international transfer students, do you require any documents from my high school, are information sessions available for transfer students, what is the mailing address for the admissions office, how can i connect with a student who transferred to tufts, are interviews available for transfer students, can transfer students defer their admission.

A transfer applicant is someone who has matriculated at another institution prior to applying to Tufts. To be a competitive applicant to Tufts, you must be in good academic and disciplinary standing, and typically have at least two semesters of academic work.

If you are an adult learner interested in the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering, have some college experience within the last five years, and are invested in earning your bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis, you should apply to the REAL (Resumed Education for Adult Learning) program . Unfortunately, the REAL program is not available for adult learners interested in the BFA or 5-year Combined Degree (BFA + BA/BS) program.

For students who will have not completed a full year of academic work by time of enrollment at Tufts, please call 617-627-3170 for additional information.

No. All transfer students must matriculate in the fall semester. 

The application deadline for transfer admission is  March 17, 2025 this year, so you should begin to prepare your transfer application as soon as you determine your desire to transfer. The  application process  requires your college and high school transcripts, a college official’s report, and an academic instructor evaluation, in addition to the  Common Application for Transfer Admission  and the  Tufts short-answer questions . The application process involves several essays and short responses, so take the time to think about these questions and craft responses to help the Transfer Admission Committee get to know you and understand your desire to transfer.

Your academic profile is considered in the context of your personal history, your reasons for wanting to transfer to Tufts, and your specific passions, goals, talents, and interests. Your performance in high school and college, alongside standardized test scores if submitted, will be evaluated to see your potential for success at Tufts. If you have only completed one year of college coursework, we may need to put greater emphasis on your high school transcript. If your high school transcript is not as strong as you would like it to be, superior performance in one or two years of college coursework will help us see your full potential. 

The answer is different for the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering.

For the School of Arts and Sciences, you do not need to take specific courses to be admitted for transfer. The Transfer Admission Committee will review your transcript to determine if you’re making successful progress toward the Tufts requirements of your intended major, the language requirement, and the foundation/distribution requirements. You can find more information about these requirements here .

For the School of Engineering, applicants for sophomore transfer need at least two semesters of calculus or higher level math and two semesters of calculus-based physics or chemistry at the time of matriculation. Applicants for junior transfer to the School of Engineering need two years of coursework at the time of matriculation that completes the introductory coursework for engineering, and must be making progress toward completing the foundation requirements for his or her intended major. Information regarding introductory and foundation courses can be found by degree on the Engineering Degree Sheet page on the School of Engineering website, and more information on graduation requirements for the School of Engineering can be found here .

Tufts University is renewing its SAT and ACT test-optional admissions policy for all undergraduate applicants for a 3-year period, beginning with applicants who apply for the Fall 2024 semester. This extension of our current test-optional policy allows for first-year and transfer applicants to have a choice about whether or not to submit SAT or ACT scores to be considered for undergraduate admission to Tufts University. All applicants whose primary language is not English must submit proof of English proficiency, unless a student has been enrolled in an English instruction institution for at least three years. Exams that can be submitted to prove proficiency are: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and Duolingo. Students enrolled in ESOL classes during secondary school may be asked for proof of proficiency. Click here for additional information.

You may apply to Tufts as a transfer applicant if you enroll at another two- or four-year accredited institution.

Yes, you must submit all required documentation for transfer admission even if it was previously submitted.

If you are an adult learner (beyond traditional college-age), have some college experience within the last five years, and are interested in earning your Bachelor’s degree on a full-time basis, you should apply to the Resumed Education for Adult Learning (REAL) program .

While we do not ask applicants to commit to a specific major when submitting the Common Application, we do ask that you indicate your intended school or degree program. Programs include the School of Arts and Sciences ,  School of Engineering , Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at SMFA at Tufts, or 5-year BFA+BA/BS Combined Degree program .

Tufts admits transfer students who the Transfer Admission Committee identifies as potential contributors to the fabric of Tufts. We look for students who will be successful in their chosen discipline here, but also students who will engage in campus life. Though there is no minimum GPA cut off for a student to be eligible for admission as a transfer student at Tufts, the most successful transfer applications are those with a GPA above a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Students must complete a minimum of two years or 60 credits to obtain a degree from Tufts.

Each individual academic department is responsible for awarding credit for courses from another institution. Typically, courses similar to those offered at Tufts will receive transfer credit, called a "credit-bearing course equivalent." Tufts employs a course credit system using semester hour units (SHUs), where each course is equal to 2, 3, 4, or 5 SHUs, and 120 SHUs are required to graduate. At time of acceptance you will be given an evaluation of how many credits you are likely to receive at Tufts. The transfer of credit is granted by the faculty once you have matriculated at Tufts. After you enroll at Tufts you will be able to submit an electronic request for transfer credit. For more information, visit the Registrar’s page on the Student Services website.

Housing availability for transfer students is dependent on room availability on campus. Admitted transfer students will be notified if housing is not available . To learn more about housing at Tufts, please visit the Office of Residential Life and Learning  website. 

Yes! Orientation for incoming transfer students coincides with the first-year orientation programming beginning in late August. There will be sessions and events specific to transfer students to ease your transition to Tufts.

Tufts does offer need-based financial aid to its students. While the financial aid budget at Tufts is substantial, it is a finite resource that is available on a limited basis to transfer students. If you are admitted, we meet 100% of demonstrated need. In light of Tufts’ commitment to maintain an international community, the University makes available a small amount of funding for talented international students. Because of the limited financial aid funding available, Tufts can offer admission to only a very small number of international applicants a year. Visit the Financial Aid website  for forms, deadlines and how to apply for financial aid.

Yes. Your high school transcript is a required part of the transfer application. No other documentation from your high school in necessary.

Each winter, we offer several online Question and Answer Sessions specifically designed for prospective transfer students. To view dates for online events and register, click here .

The mailing address is: Tufts University Office of Undergraduate Admissions  Bendetson Hall 2 The Green Medford, MA 02155 

There are several ways to connect with a transfer student or hear about their experiences. If you are interested in talking to a transfer student via email, send an email to  [email protected]  and request to be connected to a current transfer student. Additionally, keep your eyes peeled for  blog posts  reflecting on the experience of transferring to Tufts.

Unfortunately, we do not offer interviews for transfer applicants.

No, transfers are admitted for the fall term following the application deadline and cannot defer their admission. If you want to take time away from your undergraduate studies, we encourage you to wait to apply until you are ready to resume your studies.