<p>The Tufts Observer (a student magazine on campus) published a great article back in Sep. 2007 on the new admissions process that Tufts has adopted… I wish I could find the article, but I guess it isn’t online. If I remember correctly, the optional essay is there to give Admissions a look into an additional side of “who you are.” Not doing the optional essay won’t necessarily hurt you… you just won’t get the possible benefit of showing that additional side.</p>
<p>I hope that made sense…</p>