Tufts University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2021 – 2022]

Tufts describes their fundamental mission as promoting human health, with an emphasis on leadership and clinical care. They are looking for students with a strong background in the fundamentals of science who also want to apply that work in a clinical setting. The school’s curriculum emphasizes early patient contact along with full integration of the sciences.

Because Tufts’ medical school is focused on classes where there is a dynamic environment with a great deal of peer-to-peer work, you should emphasize your ability to lead and contribute to a medical school class.

Tufts Medical School 2021-2022 secondary application essay questions

Tufts secondary essay #1

Additional comments (1000 characters)

You can use this space to write about anything not in the AMCAS. Be sure you do not repeat your personal statement. This is a good place to indicate anything specific about Tufts or about your personal background that relates to your med school application. Some applicants use this space to write about a personal experience that is particularly relevant and not included elsewhere. Others write about a personal circumstance, an opportunity or job offer that arose since having submitted the AMCAS primary application.

This is also a great place to say why you want to attend Tufts Medical School.

Tufts secondary essay #2

Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1000 characters)

1000 characters is approximately 200 words; not a lot. Discuss what you plan to do in the upcoming year that most shows your fit with the Tufts Mission and Values. If you are a rising senior, will you have any leadership positions? What do you hope to accomplish in those roles? What research, if any, will you do? What community service will you do? Where will you participate as a clinician?

If you are taking a gap year, show, as Jennifer Welch discusses in this podcast episode, that it’s going to be a growth year. What will you accomplish at work? How will you immerse yourself in different populations? Will you work as a scribe (excellent clinical exposure)? Will you participate in a research project? Be included as an author?

Highlight your plans that show your commitment to medicine as Tufts sees it and shows that you will be a valuable member of Tufts incoming class.

Tufts secondary essay #3

Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1000 characters)

For this question, you should consider diversity in all its forms: race, ethnicity, language, family background, economic circumstances, education, and past experience. Consider how you might interact with a diverse group of medical students and contribute to your class. It is not enough to simply say that you are diverse; you need to explain how that makes you a better applicant. If you are struggling to come up with ways to describe your individuality, I encourage you to interpret the question broadly and explain how your experiences make you a unique and worthwhile applicant who is going to contribute a unique background, perspective, or experience to Tuft’s class.

Tufts secondary essay #4

Given how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world this year, please contextualize how your experiences have been affected which might include your personal, professional and educational journey. (1000 characters)

It is true, COVID-19 derailed the majority of volunteer work, shadowing, academic research, internships and MCAT plans for medical school applicants. The good news is you’re not alone. 

Tufts wants you to explain how you were affected, broken down into three categories:

Personally (Were you or your family affected? Did you or someone in your home get sick? Did you or someone in your home have to quarantine?) 

Professionally (Did you lose your job as a scribe, a scientist, a care giver, a lab manager during a gap year during which you planned to work? Did your workplace rapidly shift their practice to “safe distancing” and amped up disinfecting routines? What new opportunities surfaced?)

Educationally (Did your Winter or Spring 2020 grades convert to Pass/Fail grades? How has this changed your transcripts and GPA? Did you have to stop shadowing a physician? Did you have to delay taking the MCAT?)

If you were personally affected, definitely explain this, briefly.  There’s no room in this prompt to write an involved story.  (It has a 1000-character limit.) 

It’s likely this prompt is a place for Tufts to easily and uniformly locate information on how applicants were affected by COVID-19, across applications. That’s practical. So, stay clear and categorize in the manner they ask: personal, professional and educational.

Also, consider that this prompt offers a brief opportunity to place in context the effect of a public health crisis that no one could foresee, perhaps in your concluding comment. Avoid self-pity. Avoid woe-is-me. Convey instead how you, a future doctor, adjusted and engaged the crisis. How did you step up to the pandemic, in whatever innovative way?

Tufts secondary essay #5

We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores) and that you believe might adversely affect your likelihood of medical school acceptance. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No’. (1000 characters)

If you have any grades or Ws on your transcript that do not represent your typical academic performance, please explain the circumstance behind them. Then explain what you did about it? Did you repeat a course and earn a better grade? Some applicants address dyslexia or learning accommodations they needed, and the manner in which they learned to prevail academically. Others tell a story about a life situation that arose and caused them to take time off to work, to heal, to grieve – the key to telling a story like this is to conclude with returning stronger which should be evident on your transcript.

Applying to Tufts Medical School? Here are some stats:

Tufts average MCAT score: 514

Tufts average GPA: 3.75

Tufts acceptance rate: 4.2%

U.S. News ranks Tufts #55 for research and #51 for primary care.

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your Tufts Medical School secondary application? We hope so. It’s our mission to help smart, talented applicants like you gain acceptance to your top choice medical school. With so much at stake, why not hire a consultant whose expertise and personalized guidance can help you make your dream come true? We have several flexible consulting options—click here to get started today!

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Tufts Medical School application timeline 2021 – 2022

Deadline to complete Early Decision AMCAS application	August 1
Deadline to complete Early Decision Secondary Application	September 1
Deadline to complete regular AMCAS application	November 1
Deadline to complete regular Secondary Application	January 15

Source: Tufts University School of Medicine website

*Strong recommendation: Submit within two weeks after receipt.

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***

Dr. Mary Mahoney, Ph.D. has over 20 years of experience as an advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. She is a tenured English Professor with an MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in Literature and Writing from the University of Houston. For the last twenty years, Mary has served as a grad school advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. Want Mary to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Med School Secondary Essay Handbook: School Specific Tips, a free guide
• 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay
• Matching Your Values to the Medical School Mission Statement

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