I was recently informed that the deadline for early application to Tufts is approaching. Upon hearing the news, I decided to reapply to Tufts for another four years. Below is the essay I wrote to be "reaccepted" to Tufts.
"Thinking outside the box" is one of the many lessons I learned during my experience at Tufts University. This vision is what has led me to reapply for admission. As open-minded members of the Tufts community, I ask that the Admission Committee consider my reapplication seriously and all that I could bring in the next four years given what I've gained in the last four. Let me explain.Readmitting me as a freshman would be beneficial to the University and to me. As you look to fill the class of 2006 with a diverse blend of valedictorians, star athletes, and class presidents, think of the asset a Tufts graduate could offer as a member of the incoming class. During the awkward period of freshmen orientation, I could ensure a smoother transition into college to those I meet. I could offer guidance on topics that are often uncomfortable or confusing for freshmen, such as the block schedule and "being TEMSed." If my roommate or a hallmate needed help selecting classes or writing papers, I would be there.
You will see from my transcript that I am a political science major. The clubs I have participated in include Spirit of Color, the Leonard Carmichael Society, and the Tufts Democrats. In the next four years, I could bring the lessons I have learned from my endeavors to all the classes I will take and the organizations I plan to join. My personal development would benefit from friendships with my current classmates, who will move on to jobs and graduate school, and the new friends I will make, who will surely be "the finest group of applicants ever admitted to Tufts."
I understand President Bacow is launching an in-depth study on student life. I would be happy to serve as a member of this investigation during the next four years. I believe the study could benefit greatly from my experiences and creating a position for me as a part-time faculty, part-time student is worth considering. My parents would be glad to hear that Tufts would finance my second four years, as I'm sure you would.
For me, there would be nothing greater than the chance to do it all over again. The friends I have made, the experiences we have shared, and the lessons I have learned are a tiny fraction of all that I wanted to do when I arrived at Tufts. There is so much I didn't have time for. If granted another chance, I would register for "School and Society;" I would try out for a play; I would apply for EPIIC. With four more years, I would realize that the clock is always ticking and not squander a minute.
Please give me the chance to extend my stay in this paradise where there is nothing unusual about calling a friend at 2 a.m., where I can sleep until 11:30 a.m. on a Monday morning and not miss a thing, where I maintain a schedule that offers a 15-hour "work week." I don't want to leave. I fear that I will soon be living a life somewhere between the "bored-room" and my cubicle. My flip-flops and stubble will probably not be welcomed in that life.
In the world Tufts' has prepared me for I will not be removed from a job that I have thrived at simply because four years have passed. In fact, politicians and CEOs are rewarded with longer tenures when they succeed. I have worked hard and I deserve the chance to do it again.
Four years ago this spring, you sent a letter of admission to a high school senior in Great Falls, Virginia. Today, he hangs with a different crowd than he did back then. He can pump out a ten-page paper a lot quicker and down a beer with a bit more ease. He now knows the difference between taking a class and attending a class. Now a college senior, he is still filled with the potential he expressed in that application you glanced over.
Let me be your Neil Armstrong on a journey into an uncharted educational experiment. One step for new-age learning, one giant leap in postponing my first day on the job. I promise that after reaching my second graduation ceremony, I will plant my stake in a future that will make Tufts proud. I expect after another four years I will be twice as smart, become twice as successful, and one day, donate twice as much. Come on Tufts, let the good times keep rolling.
