As the Tufts community heads into April, seniors are getting ready to leave the Hill, but a new class is beginning to take shape at Bendetson Hall - the class of 2005. Acceptance letters will soon go out to a new class of potential students, who must decide whether or not to chose Tufts as their new school. With April Open House approaching, current and prospective students get ready to usher in a new class of Jumbos.
According to Director of Undergraduate Admissions Allan Clemow, regular applications decreased this year from last year. Admissions saw a small decrease of about three percent in applications, with 13,701 applicants, the second-largest application pool in the University's history. Last year, Tufts received the highest number of applicants in the ever, with 14,192 students applying.
The number of students applying to Tufts has increased heavily in the last eight years, generating a sharper rise than many other schools, according to Dean of Admissions David Cuttino. "This is a very strong year in terms of competitiveness," Cuttino said, adding that more students are considering Tufts as their first choice.
Despite the difference in numbers, admissions maintained the same ratio of 12 to one for applicants to available spaces. Overall, applications have risen nearly 70 percent since 1995, and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions continues to attract interest in Tufts through mailings, information sessions, and providing prospective students with the opportunity to take campus tours and attend classes.
Despite this year's slight decrease in applications, at least one high school guidance counselor said that she has seen increased interest in Tufts. Elizabeth Jensen of Ardsley High School in Ardsley, NY, has noticed an increase in applicants to Tufts during her 20 years as a guidance counselor.
"More kids are interested [in Tufts]," she said. "Now, more students are concerned about its acceptance rate. Students no longer see Tufts as a solid school, but as a more and more competitive school [to get into]."
As interest in Tufts grows, so does student concern over its acceptance rate - or the "fear factor," as Jensen calls it. On the other hand, since Tufts offers two rounds of early decision, many students also decide to apply early, which may increase a student's chance of acceptance. Cuttino added that early decision applications were at an all-time high this year.
To inform and assuage these anxious high school students, Student Outreach, an organization with over 600 volunteers, works in conjunction with the admissions office. In this organization, "students want to help other students," according to senior Leon McLean, one of the Student Outreach coordinators.
The group focuses on campus tours throughout the year, giving high school students the chance to see the campus and interact with current Tufts students.
The tour allows prospective students to view Tufts - its campus and its student body - in an open and informal atmosphere, giving them a peek into what their lives might be like at Tufts.
"[My campus tour] made me decide to apply early," freshman Lauren Friedman said.
Tour guides go through an application and interview process, and all work on a volunteer basis. "Other schools pay their tour guides," McLean said. "It says a lot about Tufts that people are willing to volunteer their time to talk about the school."
April Open House (AOH), which will take place from April 18 to 20, is one of Student Outreach's major events of the year. For many current students, this weekend was influential in their college decision.
"I was already accepted to Tufts, but felt better about coming here after [AOH] and meeting some people in my class and current Tufts students," freshman Graham Wilson said.
Overnight visits also give accepted students a taste of student life, not only helping future Jumbos make decisions, but also reinforcing and comforting the students' choices.
