2015-2016 Tufts University Application Thread

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Eb123 said:
I have heard that Tufts requires an official letter to document all institutional actions, but there were no instructions in the supplemental application detailing how to fulfill this requirement. Will they contact me about this?

Anybody receive a request or have any insight? Thanks!
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Also wondering this. Do they email you or something if they see that you answered "Yes" on AMCAS?
 
ahoffmann16 said:
Hey all! Anybody else show their MCAT scores as not received? My primary was verified in June and secondary submitted on the 10th of July. My MCAT scores have been uploaded to other schools. Should I wait a bit more or contact them?
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I JUST got verified by AMCAS, and my MCAT score instantly showed up on the Tufts portal, so I would give them a call, because it doesn't look like there's a manual verification associated with MCAT scores.
 
Does anyone know what exactly is supposed to go into a Dean's Certification Letter for an IA? Like, is it the entire initial report? Or just them saying your description was accurate?
 
rocklobstr said:
Does anyone know what exactly is supposed to go into a Dean's Certification Letter for an IA? Like, is it the entire initial report? Or just them saying your description was accurate?
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I emailed them and they responded with the following:

"Aside from addressing the issue in your secondary application, your committee letter will most likely address the institutional action as well and if so, that documentation is usually all the we will need. However, a request will be sent to you requesting this documentation at a later time."

I think they meant to type "aside from addressing the issue in your PRIMARY application"...
 
Eb123 said:
I emailed them and they responded with the following:

"Aside from addressing the issue in your secondary application, your committee letter will most likely address the institutional action as well and if so, that documentation is usually all the we will need. However, a request will be sent to you requesting this documentation at a later time."

I think they meant to type "aside from addressing the issue in your PRIMARY application"...
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Hmm. Okay. So it it just like "This happened and they were found guilty of this."

I called them, and the person on the phone was not helpful at all. Just said "They write about it." I then asked more specifically what they want so I could tell the dean in my email and they repeated the same thing..
 
rocklobstr said:
Hmm. Okay. So it it just like "This happened and they were found guilty of this."

I called them, and the person on the phone was not helpful at all. Just said "They write about it." I then asked more specifically what they want so I could tell the dean in my email and they repeated the same thing..
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Wow that is super unhelpful. I would say a letter detailing the incident, punishment, and how you fulfilled any sanctions (i.e. to return to good standing) would be sufficient. Not sure where your dean should send this exactly though. Do you have a committee letter? If they document the incident in your letter it should be enough, but sounds like Tufts will contact you if they need more info.
 
rocklobstr said:
Hmm. Okay. So it it just like "This happened and they were found guilty of this."

I called them, and the person on the phone was not helpful at all. Just said "They write about it." I then asked more specifically what they want so I could tell the dean in my email and they repeated the same thing..
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It's funny how some admissions offices like Emory are extremely helpful and friendly, while others seem to care less about helping students that call or email questions.
 
Eb123 said:
Wow that is super unhelpful. I would say a letter detailing the incident, punishment, and how you fulfilled any sanctions (i.e. to return to good standing) would be sufficient. Not sure where your dean should send this exactly though. Do you have a committee letter? If they document the incident in your letter it should be enough, but sounds like Tufts will contact you if they need more info.
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I honestly have no idea if it's in the committee letter. I gave my committee a resume & CV and the wrote the letter. Never asked for anything else.

I wonder if they can just send a letter stating that my description on AMCAS was accurate.

Pastamahn said:
It's funny how some admissions offices like Emory are extremely helpful and friendly, while others seem to care less about helping students that call or email questions.
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Seriously. I was at a loss of words. Thinking less and less of finishing the application. Since I'm otherwise competitive, I think I will anyways though. It will be interesting to see if I get screened out for a pretty insignificant event (IA did not involve, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, alcohol, drugs, etc.)
 
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dizzylizzy said:
Argh. Getting confused filling out the premedical requirements. My college was on the quarter system. Each of my classes were 3 credits and took place during 1 quarter. How many credit hours are in 1 semester?
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How many semester hours did AMCAS assign for them? I'm not 100% sure but I think that's what you go by?
 
dizzylizzy said:
Argh. Getting confused filling out the premedical requirements. My college was on the quarter system. Each of my classes were 3 credits and took place during 1 quarter. How many credit hours are in 1 semester?
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5 quarter credits = 3.3 semester credits
3 quarter credits = 2 semester credits

The equivalent of 2 semesters is 3 quarters. So if they want a full year of bio for example, that's 3 quarters. 2 full years of lab is 6 quarters. Etc
 
dizzylizzy said:
AMCAS gave each 3 semester hours

EDIT: so for physics, which requires 1 semester worth, I would list 2 quarters worth? (phys 1 and 2) since 1 quarter =/= 1 semester
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Maybe your school does quarter hours differently then! The credit equivalencies I put up there are the ones AMCAS used for my classes. But yes definitely list 2. In fact I was worried that it wouldn't be enough so I listed all 3 physics quarters. The way I think about it is 2 semesters = 3 quarters, so 1 semester = 1.5 quarters, so 2 quarters should do the trick, but this whole process is making me a bit neurotic.
 
Exact semester hours are found on your verified AMCAS, there is a separate column where the verifiers convert your schools hours to a standardized semester one. Use those!
 
rocklobstr said:
Seriously. I was at a loss of words. Thinking less and less of finishing the application. Since I'm otherwise competitive, I think I will anyways though. It will be interesting to see if I get screened out for a pretty insignificant event (IA did not involve, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, alcohol, drugs, etc.)
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I am sure minor IAs will not screen you out--I have a friend who is matriculating this fall and he had an alcohol related IA. Obviously it depends on the specifics of the incident, how long ago it was, and the rest of your application but don't lose hope!
 
idontknowwhatnametopick said:
I JUST got verified by AMCAS, and my MCAT score instantly showed up on the Tufts portal, so I would give them a call, because it doesn't look like there's a manual verification associated with MCAT scores.
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Update: Scores got magically uploaded. Maybe the download them in waves? Whatever the reason, it's complete! Thanks for your help!
 
mazarine said:
My understanding from their site is that they want 3 and only 3 letters. I might be wrong though.
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Oops I sent 4, hope they don't hate me haha
 
Chasing Never Land said:
6 🙁 just sent all of mine to all my schools
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Hey, per their website:
"Applicants must submit a minimum of either:
  • Three individual letters (we do not specify the nature of the authors) that will arrive at the admissions office separately."
I read as a minimum of 3, therefore I think is ok to send more. Also #neuro91 has emailed the office and they said that most students submit 3-5. 6 should be all right IMO.
 
I'm seeing a lot of mixed opinions on whether "additional comments" spaces in secondaries should be used for "Why X SOM?" essays. Almost every secondary guide I've read online has told me that those essays are prime opportunities to establish fit with a school's unique curriculum/mission.

Those of you who say that writing a 'why' essay in that section will ding your application, what exactly is your reasoning?

(Personally, I wrote about how my BME and Teach For America backgrounds can align with Tufts' CSL and concentrated research programs to work towards creating better treatment plans for marginalized Bostonians. 😵)
 
I just wrote in my additional comments when I'm up to these days while trying to not let this process take over my life.
Because life
 
Thermometer said:
I'm seeing a lot of mixed opinions on whether "additional comments" spaces in secondaries should be used for "Why X SOM?" essays. Almost every secondary guide I've read online has told me that those essays are prime opportunities to establish fit with a school's unique curriculum/mission.

Those of you who say that writing a 'why' essay in that section will ding your application, what exactly is your reasoning?

(Personally, I wrote about how my BME and Teach For America backgrounds can align with Tufts' CSL and concentrated research programs to work towards creating better treatment plans for marginalized Bostonians. 😵)
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I'm not involved in admissions, but for what it's worth, I honestly don't think it makes a huge difference either way. If the adcoms really wanted to hear why you think Tufts is a good fit they would ask outright in order to make sure everyone answers. If you have a specific reason that Tufts is your dream school (specific program, past experience with Tufts, etc...) you may as well mention it if you have nothing else to write. However, all you really have is generic perceptions based on what you have read off the school website (which is how I answered 90% of those prompts when applying) it really won't do much to stand out from anyone else. Plus, as with all essays, there is the risk that you have a spelling/grammar error, or just a piece of poor writing, that leaves a negative impression (i.e there is a small but possible risk).
 
Anybody applying to MD/MPH? Sorry if someone already asked this, but the MD part asks about "any additional info," and I recently completed a global health ethics workshop that I didn't put on my AMCAS so I put that in there. Buuuttt I just realized I put the same paragraph about the workshop in my "relevant experiences for MD/MPH" question.

How do these two apps work? Is it OK to be redundant? They can be submitted at different times so I'm assuming...two different committees?...
 
Doc City said:
Anybody applying to MD/MPH? Sorry if someone already asked this, but the MD part asks about "any additional info," and I recently completed a global health ethics workshop that I didn't put on my AMCAS so I put that in there. Buuuttt I just realized I put the same paragraph about the workshop in my "relevant experiences for MD/MPH" question.

How do these two apps work? Is it OK to be redundant? They can be submitted at different times so I'm assuming...two different committees?...
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Did you already submit? If so, there's no point worrying about it! Plus the extra info essay is optional so it really should be fine either way.
 
idontknowwhatnametopick said:
Did you already submit? If so, there's no point worrying about it! Plus the extra info essay is optional so it really should be fine either way.
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no i held off! i thought it might look odd to have the exact same paragraph in the two apps...do you think i should just submit?
 
Doc City said:
no i held off! i thought it might look odd to have the exact same paragraph in the two apps...do you think i should just submit?
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If you haven't submitted yet, you have a chance to give them two different things, so you might as well not give them the same one. If you really just want to be done with it though I totally get that, and since you haven't submitted yet I'd just remove the optional essay.
 
Doc City said:
How do these two apps work? Is it OK to be redundant? They can be submitted at different times so I'm assuming...two different committees?...
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No they put them together as a packet and your info is reviewed as a whole. Each school has it's its own unique was of going thru them, but they will be all together - so you want things to be different
 
I am pre-writing my secondaries and I was curious if Tufts character limit with with or without spaces? Makes a big difference! Thanks!
 
mavric1298 said:
No they put them together as a packet and your info is reviewed as a whole. Each school has it's its own unique was of going thru them, but they will be all together - so you want things to be different
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Thanks guys! I just found out a paper I was on got accepted for publication, so I ended up swapping that in for my "additional info" question. Redundancy averted!
 
So when do they ask for an IA letter? I've been complete for a while and haven't seen anything about it. Do they only do it for accepted students to make sure they didn't lie or something?
 
So I planning on using the "Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1000 characters) " as a "why Tufts" as well, but would this be better to save for an interview (I'm assuming that is a question they would ask anyways)? That's also assuming that I will get an interview, so would it be better to just lay it all on the table?
 
idonotcareaboutausername said:
So I planning on using the "Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1000 characters) " as a "why Tufts" as well, but would this be better to save for an interview (I'm assuming that is a question they would ask anyways)? That's also assuming that I will get an interview, so would it be better to just lay it all on the table?
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I didn't put anything in there but a lot of people used it as a "why Tufts" essay.
Even if you do "why Tufts" there, they still probably will ask you on interview day, because interviewers don't always have time to read your whole app before interviewing you. So I'd say do whatever you feel comfortable with.
 
rocklobstr said:
Hmm. Okay. So it it just like "This happened and they were found guilty of this."

I called them, and the person on the phone was not helpful at all. Just said "They write about it." I then asked more specifically what they want so I could tell the dean in my email and they repeated the same thing..
Click to expand...

Last year, they sent me an email after I received an II asking for clarification on my IA from a "university official" and I just got the Dean of our undergrad to write them a quick email explaining what went down. Their email also stated that if I had already received an II, to go ahead an attend, so it seemed like the two processes were kind of separate.

Ended up going to the interview, the IA never really brought up, and accepted. So just get a university official to shoot them an email explaining it.
 
DocFarnsworth said:
Last year, they sent me an email after I received an II asking for clarification on my IA from a "university official" and I just got the Dean of our undergrad to write them a quick email explaining what went down. Their email also stated that if I had already received an II, to go ahead an attend, so it seemed like the two processes were kind of separate.

Ended up going to the interview, the IA never really brought up, and accepted. So just get a university official to shoot them an email explaining it.
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Thanks for the answer
 
I know this was already probably discussed but I was planning on putting my gap year essay/list an activity I don't have on my AMCAS in the optional essay. Anyone else take this route?
 
catie_jane said:
I know this was already probably discussed but I was planning on putting my gap year essay/list an activity I don't have on my AMCAS in the optional essay. Anyone else take this route?
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If I recall correctly, that's what I did as well! (All these applications blur together at this point)
 
starlite911 said:
If I recall correctly, that's what I did as well! (All these applications blur together at this point)
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Okay, awesome! Just wanted to make sure it was appropriate since most schools have a separate questions for the gap year.
 
CellPowerhouse said:
Question: do they send an "application complete" e-mail?
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Yup, they send one email indicating that they received your secondary and another to indicate that all of your documents have been received. I got mine all on the same day (7/6).


Edit: the above two answers did not show up on my page for some reason when I was replying to your post...:beat:
 
CellPowerhouse said:
Question: do they send an "application complete" e-mail?
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They do and it says:
We are contacting you to confirm that all required documents for your application to Tufts University School of Medicine have been received. Your Secondary Application is now considered complete and will enter into our review process. Selected applicants will be invited to visit our school for personal interviews between September and March. Students who are invited for interviews will be notified by email. This correspondence is also recorded on the Secondary website under the "Communication History" tab.

We appreciate your interest in Tufts University School of Medicine.

Regards,
Tufts University School of Medicine
Office of Admissions
 
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