How to get into Tufts University
How to get into Tufts: international relations heavy and quirky essays
11.5%
Acceptance rate
$70,704
In-state cost
What makes Tufts University admissions different
Tufts is famous for international relations (Fletcher School), engineering with a humanities flavor, and intentionally quirky supplemental essays. The school positions itself between a top-tier research university and a small liberal arts college, and admits students who can articulate why that hybrid matters to them.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Take the quirky 'Why Tufts' and 'short answer' essays seriously. They're the single biggest differentiator.
- 2.
If applying to International Relations: show specific engagement (model UN, language depth, international experience, policy interest).
- 3.
Maintain 3.9+ GPA, 1480+ SAT / 33+ ACT.
- 4.
Apply Early Decision (ED1 or ED2) — Tufts is one of the most ED-favoring top-30 schools.
- 5.
Reference specific Tufts traditions: Fletcher, the IR program, the Experimental College, the Cannon, dorms-as-castles culture.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Writing safe supplements. Tufts explicitly rewards quirk and voice.
- ✕
Treating Tufts as a 'BU-level' school. Acceptance rate has dropped to around 9% and the medians have climbed.
- ✕
Generic international interest. The IR program admits students with specific regional/language/policy expertise.
If you're on the bubble
Tufts rewards strong writers and quirky thinkers more than most top-30 schools. If your stats are at the median and your essays have a distinctive voice, Tufts ED gives you a real shot.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.