Tufts University has released its supplemental essay prompts for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle, and this year, it got a major makeover. The Class of 2031 is tasked with writing two essays, one of 150 words and one of 200 words, that convey a deep understanding of institutional specifics and a love for Tufts that is unmatched, in addition to a well-articulated singular hook. Let’s take a look at the prompts that could very well set apart those who are rejected from those who realize their dreams of going Jumbo!

2026-2027 Tufts University Essay Topics & Prompts

All applicants are asked to respond to the following prompt in 150 words or less:

Please describe how you have learned about and engaged with Tufts during your college search process.

This is a straight-down-the-middle Why College prompt. In your response, especially given the prompt has a relatively limited word count, every sentence should be chock-full of institutional specifics that apply only to Tufts and Tufts alone. If your response reads like a game of Mad Libs, in which the details could apply to any other school and you simply filled in “Tufts” for the university’s name, delete it and never look back!

And when we say institutional specifics, what we don’t mean is professors’ names dropped in here and there alongside specific courses (which change from year to year) or details that could apply to any university, such as small class sizes or low student-to-professor ratios. Instead, you should focus on the proper noun resources and opportunities that make Tufts, well, Tufts!

School of Arts & Sciences 

The following question applies only to applicants to the School of Arts & Sciences:

Tell us about one of your favorite school assignments in the past two years. What was the assignment and why did you enjoy it? (150-200 words)

What excites your intellectual curiosity? What about your singular hook? It’s the unique, often small, and intellectually fulfilling pursuit that you’ve committed yourself to, whether it’s local activism in your community, research you’re conducting, or that prototype you’re tinkering with. In this 200-word response, you should articulate how you’ve pursued your hook within the scaffold of one school assignment in particular. If nothing comes to mind, focus on a school assignment that ignited your intellectual passion and offered you the chance to reach new depths of intellectual inquiry.

School of Engineering 

The following question applies only to applicants to the School of Engineering:

Tell us about an engineering or science-related project that you have helped build, design, create, or iterate in the past two years. What was the project and what was your role? (150-200 words)

In this case, you should pick a hook-related project, whether inside or outside the classroom, that will allow you to demonstrate a depth of commitment and passion for the discipline of engineering. You’re afforded a bit more freedom in your response here than applicants to the School of Arts & Sciences, as you need not stick to classroom experiences. Perhaps you conducted research alongside a college professor into your singular hook. Maybe you prototyped a model airplane for years and finally got to witness the magic of its takeoff. In any case, show Tufts that you not only did this work but can reflect on it with grace and perspective!

School of the Museum of Fine Arts

The following question applies only to BFA applicants:

Tell us more about a specific piece in your portfolio. What were the ideas you intended to explore, and how did those ideas inform the process of making the piece?(150-200 words) 

This response is relatively straightforward: describe your artistic process and the meaning behind a piece in your portfolio. Here’s a hint: if you can’t synthesize ideas about your own art, you won’t stay afloat in a BFA program! In responding to this prompt, keep the intellectual stakes close at hand by citing specific examples of artistic references and theories that informed your piece. Don’t just state that inspiration struck one day and the rest was history! Get into the details to the extent possible in 200 words (and yes, be sure to go up to the limits of that word count!).

Combined BFA+BA/BS Program

The following question applies only to applicants to the Combined BFA+BA/BS program:

Tell us more about a specific piece in your portfolio. How did an academic course, project, or interest inspire the ideas that you explored in this piece? Or, how did making this piece influence your academic interests? 150-200 words) 

A slight variation on the previous prompt, in this case you should articulate the academic underpinnings of your artistic process and explain how these interests could go on to inform the next four years of study at Tufts. Yes, that means you should cite Why Major specifics that will provide your application reader with a roadmap for how you’ll pursue your interests while on Tufts’ campus. You’ll have to do your research, not only into the academic foundations of your selected piece, but also into the resources and opportunities at Tufts that will allow you to carry this inquiry forward.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with Tufts University Essays

If you’re interested in Ivy Coach’s help optimizing your case for admission to the Tufts Class of 2031 by presenting highly competitive, strategic essays in the Tufts supplement, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll be in touch to outline our college counseling services for seniors led by our team of former elite college admissions officers.