Happy New Year!

On behalf of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, we wish you a wonderful 2008 and the best of luck with your college search!

Controversy!

Last week, the Political Science department sponsored a lecture by Stephen Walt, the infamous co-author of the highly controversial book The Israel Lobby. Regardless of their personal opinions on the subject, students packed Barnum Hall to hear Professor Walt's argument; in fact, the lecture hall filled up so fast that there was not only an overflow room in which students watched a live broadcast of the lecture, but the hallway outside the room was also packed with students simply listening.

Professor Stephen Walt speaking at Tufts on November 27th.
Media Credit: Aalok Kanani, Tufts Daily

Having speakers on campus such as Professor Walt exemplifies one of my favorite things about Tufts... the fact that students and faculty here are not only willing, but also excited to engage in the controversial. More so, this engagement is done in a thoughtful and intellectual way -- we are not a school at which you see violent protests and screaming matches, but, rather, thought-provoking dialogue that involves those from multiple perspectives.

For instance, the New Initiative for Middle East Peace (a student-run think tank that does some amazing work, such as sending students all over the Middle East to conduct research), as well as Friends of Israel and Hillel, held well-attended pre and post-lecture discussions on the contentious book. Even more telling was the general campus dialogue that surrounded the event, penetrating classes, the Daily and all other campus media, and the general conversation in dorms, dining halls, and on the Quad. Students wanted to talk about this controversial issue -- they didn't want to take Professor Walt's opinion, or anyone else's for that matter, at face value.

This discourse is still continuing on campus, even a week and a half after the original event. And I think that's pretty cool.

Oh, and a shameless plug: feel free to read my contribution to this discourse right here!

Q & A

Ah, if only navigating the college search process was as failproof as this Doonesbury comic! Unfortunately, there are several hoops you have to jump through before depositing your intent to enroll at an institution. The alumni interview is one such Herculean feat of strength.

Once Tufts receives your Supplemental Form to the Common Application, your information will be forwarded to the Tufts Alumni Admissions Program (TAAP). TAAP is composed of over 2,500 fantastic alumni who volunteer to assist their alma mater. A member of the local alumni committee will contact you to schedule an interview. We do not offer on-campus interviews.

Last year, TAAP was able to grant interviews to 87% of the 15,000+ applicants worldwide. All the same, interviews, although highly recommended, are not required for admission. If you are unable to meet with an alum or if you opt not to pursue an interview, this will not affect your overall application.

For example, I applied Early Decision I to Tufts and was unable to secure an alumni interview due to the time constraint and my isolated geographic location. This wasn't held against me and, fortunately, I was still accepted!

Tufts highly recommends that you submit your Supplemental Form early; the sooner we receive it, the greater the likelihood that you will be granted an alumni interview. This is particularly important for individuals who live near metropolitan areas or in regions that we consider to be "high-volume" in terms of number of applicants.Luckily, Jack Bauer of "24" will not be interrogating you. The interviews that alumni conduct enable admissions officers to gain a fuller idea of who you really are--what makes you tick, what makes you unique, and, ultimately, what you can add to the microcosm that is Tufts. These are somewhat informal meetings at your high school or a local coffeehouse, but they can have a significant impact on your file. I think of interviews as humanizing the application process.

Tufts admissions officers stress that they do not want you to reiterate your transcript or information that you already included in your file. Use this opportunity to introduce something new about yourself! Talk about what you are doing in your favorite class, the new club you joined, or the book you're currently reading. The conversation goes both ways: feel free to ask your interviewer any questions you may have about Tufts. Ask him or her how attending Tufts shaped his or her professional life.

Remember, as intimidating as they may seem, alumni interviews are not patterned after the Spanish Inquisition. So take a deep breath, relax, and just tell us why you're awesome!

High Flying, Adored

One of the best experiences I had in all of college was when I studied abroad in France and went "parapenting." It's kind of like tandem paragliding. Without any prior training, you drive up to the top of a mountain, set up a canopy, and then literally run off the slope until the wind catches the parafoil and you become airborne. Here, my friend Hillary (who is currently studying abroad in Florence) prepares for liftoff:Parapenting is free-fall, so you pretty much feel like you're flying. It was an exhilarating endorphin rush! (This, coming from someone who hates roller coasters, camping, or anything remotely dangerous. Making s'mores in the microwave is about as outdoorsy as I get.) You can use hand controls to steer and do aerial acrobatics.Here, my friend Kayt looks out over the water mid-flight. She graduated from Tufts this year and is currently doing Teach for America in the Mississippi Delta.We were able to see the entirety of Lake Annecy! Talloires, the village where we took classes, is one of the outcroppings on the right.Kayt, ecstatic that she survived the landing in the middle of a field.Meanwhile, other Tufts students who studied abroad opted to ride camels in Israel, scale Machu Picchu, and attempt bungee-jumping and sky-diving in Australia!