<p>This was less a gimmick, and more an attempt to make my 500 characters count for something, but because I’m now at complete peace with my college applications (it’s easier to do that once you’ve actually hit submit, and are resigned to the inevitability of a long wait) and because I have no qualms with sharing, here’s my Why Tufts blurb:</p>
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<p>I’m definitely open to comments (to the effect of ‘Tufts loves you too!’), but don’t suggest changes; I’ve already submitted this. Oh, and if you’re an admissions officer, it would probably be better if you read this in my application formally than in this somewhat ‘inappropriate’ context (if it’s Dan, I know you’re in charge of my region, so yay!).</p>
<p>srrinath - I think that’s a great, punchy “Why Tufts?” piece. I don’t know what the Tufts Reputation link has to do with it, but then I clicked and read a couple of my 2+ year old posts. The funny thing is, we still feel the same way – probably even more so! S1 is now a junior. All the stuff about diversity, idealism and global thinking at Tufts is no schtick. He couldn’t imagine himself anywhere else. I hope your enthusiasm pays off, srrinath!</p>
<p>Heh. Cute. I like it. I kinda go in for that gimmicky thing as well - my personal statement (for everywhere I applied, and it got me into Ivies as well as Tufts) was written as a very short script, with stage directions and everything.</p>
<p>This was one of my two major gimmicks. The other was a picture of a Scrabble board with a ‘puzzle’ for admissions officers (the essay was about Scrabble so I figured it would be a memorable ending).</p>