Tufts University is a private, highly competitive research university just minutes from downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Focusing on building a one-of-a-kind, diverse community and emphasizing student and faculty collaboration, Tufts is an exciting place to live, learn, and grow.
Tufts is highly selective and only admits a small percentage of applicants every year. To increase their chances of admission to Tufts, prospective students should start to prepare early by building their profile, doing their research, and gathering their application materials. To learn more about what it takes to get into Tufts University, read on.
How to Get into Tufts: Table of Contents
- When to Apply to Tufts
- How Hard Is It to Get into Tufts: Early Prep
- How Do You Actually Get into Tufts: The Application
- Class Profile
- What Makes Tufts Unique?
- Tufts FAQs
When to Apply to Tufts
Generally, students looking to attend Tufts University should apply between November and early January of their application cycle. Tufts offers several different application options to applicants depending on their needs.
Tufts Deadlines
Deadlines may vary each year, but students applying during the 2025-26 admissions cycle should submit their applications by the following dates:
- Early Decision I: November 3, 2025 (Notification in mid-December)
- Early Decision II: January 5, 2026 (Notification in early February)
- Regular Decision: January 5, 2026 (Notification by April 1)
Early, Rolling, and Regular Decision
Students can choose from several different application types when applying to Tufts. Regardless of where you ultimately decide to apply, it’s important to understand the key differences between these application types, like Regular Decision, Early Decision, Early Decision II, and Early Action.
The Tufts admission process includes Early Decision, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision. Early Decision is a binding application option, which means that if you are admitted Early Decision, you must enroll in that college. Early Decision II is also non-binding, but the application deadline is later, usually closer to the Regular Decision deadline.
Early Action is another early application option, but unlike Early Decision, it is non-binding, which means you can decide whether to attend if you are admitted. Tufts University does not offer an Early Action deadline, nor does it offer rolling admission. Learn more about Early Action vs. rolling admission, which may be options at other schools.
Waitlisted Applications
Deferrals
An Early Decision application to Tufts University has three possible admission decisions: accepted, denied, or deferred. To defer essentially means to wait. When an admissions committee defers an application for admissions from Early Decision to Regular Decision, they are deferring making a final admissions decision until the Regular Decision round. Sometimes, this may be because they want to wait for additional information, like a student’s completed grades from the first semester of their senior year.
If you are deferred, your application will be reevaluated within the Regular Decision applicant pool. So, what should you do if you’ve been deferred? The best thing to do is to send the university any additional academic information that may add to your application. Typically, that means sending your first semester senior year grades and a letter of continued interest. Before you send anything, however, check the school’s requirements: not all universities accept additional materials.
How Hard Is It to Get into Tufts: Early Prep
As a renowned liberal arts and research university, Tufts offers the best of both worlds. It’s no wonder that it has become increasingly competitive to gain admission. Students who want to increase their chances of acceptance to Tufts should start preparing early to best equip themselves for the application process — the earlier, the better.
Build Your Profile
So, what does Tufts look for in an applicant? They describe their community of multidimensional students as “Intellectually playful. Kind. Collaborative. Civically Engaged. Globally Minded.” Tufts is looking for students who will rise to the occasion, immersing themselves in the interdisciplinary learning through its three undergraduate schools — The School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. To be a competitive applicant to Tufts, prospective students should start building their profile as early as possible. Your profile includes everything about you as an applicant: your academic background and history, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and standardized test scores, if applicable.
These days, highly selective colleges are looking for “pointy” students who show a depth of interest and engagement in their field(s) of interest. Students ideally demonstrate this engagement through their high school course selection, academic engagement outside the classroom, and extracurricular activities that align with their interests.
The earlier a student starts to build their profile, the more time they have to make their profile extra “pointy” toward their field of interest. For example, a student looking to apply to Tufts’ School of the Museum of Fine Arts will want to have a strong art portfolio and a demonstrated history of making art.
Visit the Campus and a Class
One of the best ways to get to know a campus is by visiting. There’s nothing like stepping foot on campus, looking around, chatting with current students, and imagining what it would be like to be in their shoes.
There are a couple of different ways that prospective students can visit Tufts University. Students can register for an official campus visit at either the Medford/Somerville campus for the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering, or the Fenway campus for the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA).
For students who are not able to visit campus in person, Tufts also has a robust offering of virtual options, including information sessions, guided tours, audio tours, and Jumbo Chats — an opportunity for prospective students to connect with current Tufts students. SMFA also offers virtual information sessions, tours, and one-on-one portfolio reviews.
Tufts also offers a few special open houses for prospective students, including the virtual Fall for Tufts program in the fall and the Voices of Tufts Diversity Experience, a two-day visit that introduces prospective students to diversity and community at Tufts.
Regardless of how you visit the campus, it’s important to do so. This will give you a great inside look at the university and will also demonstrate interest to admissions officers.
Connect with a Student
Connecting with current students is the best way to get a sense for whether a school is the right fit. Tufts makes it easy, offering opportunities for prospective students to connect with current students, including Jumbo Chats, a forum in which prospective students can ask questions. Students visiting the Tufts campus can connect with their tour guide, who will not only show them around campus, but share their student experiences.
Learn About Any Student Experiences
If you get the chance to visit the Tufts campus, you can feel out the vibe by talking to a current student. You can learn about student experiences by taking a campus tour and staying behind after the tour to chat with your tour guide or with other students in the admissions office. Some prospective students may even strike up a conversation with a student on campus. Places like the student union or Walnut Hill are great for chatting with prospective students.
How Do You Actually Get into Tufts? The Application
Now that you’ve learned more about the college application process, it’s time to consider how you get into Tufts. Application requirements can vary by school, so it’s important to understand what to submit to Tufts during the admission process.
Tufts University uses the Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge for undergraduate admission. Prospective students must submit the application (including the personal essay), essay supplements, and letters of recommendation. Tufts is currently test-optional, but strong scores can give you a competitive edge.
Students applying to either the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering must write two essay supplements, whereas students applying to SMFA must submit one additional essay and a Visual Art portfolio.
GPA Requirements
Tufts University does not report the high school GPAs of their admitted students. Since Tufts is a highly selective institution, it is in your best interest to have the highest GPA possible if you want to gain admission.
SAT and ACT Scores
Personal Statement
Regardless of which application platform applicants choose to use for Tufts, they will need to write a personal statement. This is one of the most important “soft” factors of the application process. Applicants should take the personal statement as an opportunity to introduce themselves to the admissions committee beyond the numbers and other hard factors in their application. It’s a great way for students to share something about themselves that’s not already mentioned elsewhere on their application.
Essays
Students using the Coalition Application or Common App to apply to Tufts University are required to respond to additional essay prompts — what Tufts refers to as short answer questions. All applicants are required to complete this sentence in 250 words or less: “I am applying to Tufts because…”
Students applying to the School of Arts & Sciences or the School of Engineering are asked to respond to one of the following three prompts in 200-250 words for admission to the Class of 2030:
- 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.
Students applying to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts are required to answer the following question 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?
Letters of Recommendation
Tufts University requires one counselor recommendation and one teacher recommendation. Letters of recommendation are an important part of the application puzzle, as they give admissions counselors a chance to see applicants through the eyes of a student’s teachers and counselors. Be sure to ask your teacher and school counselor to write your recommendations early to give them enough time. A great time to ask is at the end of junior year, for example. Don’t just pick a teacher whose class you have the best grades in — pick one who can speak to your intellectual curiosity and who knows you the best.
Admission Interviews
Tufts does not require evaluative admissions interviews, but they are available upon request. Applicants can request to schedule an interview with a member of the Tufts Admissions Network, which may be an alumni volunteer or a senior student interviewer. We always recommend taking advantage of an opportunity to interview, even if it’s not required, as it gives the admissions committee a chance to learn more about you outside of your application and for you to learn more about the school.
Contribution to the Tufts Community
Tufts University students make valuable contributions to the school community through their wide variety of interests and expertise, and applicants should showcase their academic and extracurricular interests in their application. Ultimately, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions seeks to put together a well-rounded and diverse class of students. They consider each applicant’s qualitative factors in many ways, including how they will contribute to the campus community. This is part of why it’s important to be specific in the Tufts University supplement, highlighting the most impressive parts of your profile. Tell admissions officers what excites you about Tufts, what offerings you’ll take advantage of that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, and how you plan to contribute to the campus community.
Class Profile
So, how many people apply to Tufts? is
What Makes Tufts Unique?
Tufts is perched at the top of Walnut Hill, which boasts stunning views of Somerville and Boston below. It’s a beautiful campus with incredible academic and extracurricular offerings for its students. Students can choose from over 300 student organizations, from intramural sports to student government to community service groups.
With its connection to the Museum of Fine Arts and its own university galleries, Tufts has excellent art offerings, including works by Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso. The Aidekman Arts Center and the Granoff Music Center are other arts spaces where students can catch performances and exhibits.
In addition to its undergraduate offerings, Tufts boasts a few world-renowned graduate programs on its Medford/Somerville campus, including in its medical and dental school in downtown Boston. Tufts is also home of the Fletcher School, a graduate school of global affairs. Being in this robust academic environment with advanced degree-seeking students is an exciting part of being a student at Tufts.
Ultimately, Tufts is a great fit for students looking for a liberal arts environment with many of the rich academic offerings of a larger research university.
Tufts FAQs
Where is Tufts located?
Tufts’ main campus is in Medford/Somerville, Massachusetts, just minutes from Boston.
What is the acceptance rate for Tufts?
The acceptance rate over the past three admissions cycles has been around 10-11%, making Tufts a highly selective university.
Is Tufts test optional?
Yes, Tufts has been test-optional for several years, allowing applicants to choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
What GPA do you need to get into Tufts?
Tufts does not require a specific GPA to gain admission. However, most students who entered Tufts in fall 2024 graduated in the top 10% of their class, so a strong GPA is crucial.
Admissions Counseling
A private admissions counselor can be a great partner for students seeking admission into highly selective colleges and universities like Tufts — especially counselors who have visited the campuses themselves. We visited Tufts University so that we could give our students an in-depth explanation of what the university is like and who might be a good fit. No matter where you end up applying, an independent counselor can guide students through the entire admission process, from building a competitive profile, to creating a balanced college list, and crafting strong essays and supplements. Experienced college admissions counselors will help set applicants up for success so they can increase their chances of acceptance and achieve their academic goals.
Getting into Tufts University can be a challenge, which is why it can be helpful to receive expert guidance during the admission process. Take the first step toward getting into your dream school and schedule an Initial Consultation with an IvyWise college admissions counselor.
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