Tuesday, November 4, 2014

So, Should I Send It?


So, Should I Send It?

During a college visit with a representative from Tufts University in Massachusetts several years ago a question came up about submitting additional materials to “enhance” an application. The representative shared a personal experience about a student who mailed her a package during the application cycle.  The student was interested in majoring in European history and in the box was a replica of one of the most beautiful castles in Spain, Alcázar of Segovia.

There was just one problem. The castle was constructed from Popsicle sticks but the glue had dried out. When she tried to pull it out of the box, it disintegrated; spilling thousands of sticks on her desk!  Well, when I saw this posting by Tufts, I remembered this scenario and thought it might be helpful to students applying to not only Tufts, but other selective colleges.  As Meghan McHale, admission representative from Tufts, says in this article, “There’s a fine line between providing helpful details we need to know, and burying us in information that distracts from the core strengths of your application.  And it’s worth remembering that the vast majority of applicants (and the vast majority of admitted students) submit only what is required.  But if there’s something you’re pondering, follow the steps below to see if we’ll find it helpful.”