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.”
