When you visit the Common Application or the Coalition Application by Scoir platform to fill out and submit your application to Tufts, you'll notice that the application includes Tufts-specific questions. We invite students to think outside the box as you answer them. Take a risk and go somewhere unexpected. Be serious if the moment calls for it, but feel comfortable being playful if that suits you, too. To get you started, here are a few tips for answering the short-answer questions for a BFA or Combined Degree application:
1. We ask all applicants to complete this sentence in 100 words or less: “I am applying to SMFA at Tufts because…”
Why are we asking? These short answers are one of the ways that we gauge your demonstrated interest, which can show us that (or leave us wondering if) you’re really excited to become a member of our community. Once you take a tour or watch a virtual information session, flip through Jumbo Magazine or the SMFA viewbook, and/or peruse student blogs or the website, you should have way more than 100 words about why you’re applying. The main goal here is to make your answer as specific as possible about your connection to SMFA at Tufts.
Maybe you bonded with your SMFA tour guide over your love of niche film or printmaking. Maybe you saw a student blog about an internship at the Museum of Fine Arts, and you love the idea of studying and working in the galleries next door. Maybe you checked out the SMFA graphic arts faculty and what you found inspired you to work on a new zine. Maybe you got some unique advice from an SMFA admissions counselor during a portfolio review, and you're excited to apply to a school that supports your ideas and your vision. There’s no right answer to this question, but you should take advantage of the space to help us understand what excites you about SMFA at Tufts.
2. Here’s the second question, which you should answer in 200-250 words: Art has the power to disrupt our preconceptions, shape public discourse, and imagine new ways of being in the world. What are the ideas you’d like to explore in your work?
Why are we asking? SMFA at Tufts is a school that – through an interdisciplinary studio curriculum and access to coursework and resources across the entire University - supports artists who are excited to create innovative, ambitious projects that are driven by research and motivated by concepts. Simply put: SMFA students make art that’s idea-driven, so we want to hear about your ideas. Sustainability, folktales, social justice, cultural perspectives, music, art history, community, family, dreams, nature, current events, ET...CETERA! Your art can be about anything, and so can your answer to this question. Take this opportunity to tell your captive audience (the admissions committee) about the topics that excite you and motivate your work.
This question may seem self-explanatory, but the answer won't come easily to everyone. Because the SMFA portfolio doesn’t have any requirements or restrictions, you can submit 15-20 images and/or <10 minutes of time-based work comprised of anything you want. Some students may be in a place to submit a portfolio containing a body of work motivated by a central concept, but we often see students submitting a combination of personal pieces, assignment work, and collections from AP or IB portfolios. Telling us that you’re exploring social justice in your work doesn’t mean that every piece needs to be about social justice, but we should see some connection between what you’d like to explore and what you’ve submitted, even if it’s limited to a few pieces so far.
Your answer to this question may also evolve while you’re working on your portfolio. Interests can change, and inspiration can come from a new experience or bit of research. Stay open-minded! Your portfolio and your short-answer can talk with one another. Try laying out all of your artwork, and arrange them by theme or subject matter rather than chronologically or aesthetically. Are any reoccurring themes popping up? Alternatively, take a pass at answering the short-answer question and see what’s exciting to write about. Go back to your work and see if there’s any connection to what you’ve made already. If not, you’ve got some inspiration for your next artwork. If you’re really stuck on where to start, we recommend signing up for a portfolio review. The objective perspective on what you’re making can be super helpful in jump-starting your ideas.
Read The Role of Writing in an Art School Application, Part 1: Letters of Recommendation
