SUPERCUT Meg Wolitzer

SUPERCUT Meg Wolitzer SUPERCUT is a feature where we collect interesting snippets from the best author interviews and combine them into a single post. Meg Wolitzers ninth novel, The Interestings, was published April 9, and readers and critics alike are raving. Our own Rebecca called it really fucking good. And then: If Meg Wolitzer isn’t widely recognized for  writing one of the best  books of the year, I will eat my shorts. The novels about a group of friends who meet at an art camp, form a bond, and then grow into adulthood together. Evidently, its not always smooth sailing. The soft-, but outspoken, author has done several interviews, both about her novel, and about womens fiction, a term she hates. Heres a sampling of the best of Meg Wolitzers recent press: From Salon On the origins of The Interestings: In  The Interestings  I wanted to write about what happens to talent over time.   In some people talent blooms, in others it falls away. And, relatedly, there are other ideas in here, like about the quiet envy people can have even for those they love and what happens to friendship over years and decades. I’m surprised I hadn’t thought to do this book earlier, because my experience as an adolescent at “this” camp   [a similar camp she went to in a similar setting at age 15] was the spark for so many things.   There are junctures in life, times when things change.   This was one for me. Read the whole interview here â€" its the much ballyhooed one with the headline Men wont read books about women. From NPR On talent, in her novel as in life: I guess I felt, when I was writing this novel, that talent is this sort of interesting, strange, slippery thing, as a character describes it in my novel. Are you talented if theres no product to go with it? If you dont become really big? Are you still the same artist that you wouldve been if nobody recognized you? All those questions are very much present. And on Wolitzers own experience at a summer camp: I began to be a little different. And to have aspirations that were maybe bigger. Something had been lit in me thats got un-lit again. Listen to the whole interview here. From Slate On VIDA numbers and how fiction is perceived, in conversation with her long-time editor, Sarah McRath: McGrath: Of course, this topic of how fiction is perceived, big or small, is something you wrote about in a now famous essay in  the New York Times Book Review  almost exactly a year ago. Which came first, the ambition and vision for the book, or the insights that went into the essay? Wolitzer: I have a chicken and egg answer, I think. Ive been absorbed for a long time in questions about men and women and fiction; I tried to address themâ€"or impale themâ€"in The Wife 10 years ago. Since that time, these ideas have sometimes found their way sort of obliquely into my fiction, and other times theyve simply made for a passionate conversation. I knew I wanted to write an essay about this, because it was what I thought about all the time. As I kept playing with ideas about the different ways literature by men and women is often treated, I was also deep into The Interestings. But as I mapped out the essay, I may have also (coincidentally or not) allowed myself to try and put a little more unconflicted muscularity and energy in my novel. I mean, you may not be able to control how your book will be treated, but no matter who you are, you have to write what absorbs and preoccupies you. Theres no point otherwise. Thinking directly about gender issues, which do absorb and preoccupy me, I guessâ€"and also looking at the atrocious VIDA numbersâ€"did light something up in me, and at least some of that light was applied directly to my fiction. Read the whole conversation here. Sign up to Unusual Suspects to receive news and recommendations for mystery/thriller readers.

The Immense Character Development in Antigone by Sophocles...

Brad Moore, a famous athlete once said, â€Å"Pride would be a lot easier to swallow if it didn’t taste so bad.† In Sophocles’ well known Greek tragedy, Antigone, the main character undergoes immense character development. Antigone transforms from being stubborn and underestimated to courageous and open-minded. In reality, it is Antigone’s insular persistence that leads to her ultimate decline in the play as well as others around her. After the death of her two brothers, Eteocles and Polynices, Creon becomes the new ruler of Thebes. With this, he grants Eteocles an honorable funeral service for his brave fighting. Claiming that Polynices was a traitor, he shows complete refusal to grant Polynices a respectable and worthy service. Clearly†¦show more content†¦She makes it obvious that she has made her final decision to stand by her brother showing an extremely poor sense of pride. She will stop at nothing to prove her abilities. Her pride takes ov er her thinking and clouds her from using good judgment. Antgone’s pride is exaggerated to a point where her arrogance is causing problems. For instance, it is difficult for her to admit to anything wrong she has done. Along with her close-minded nature, â€Å"it is Antigone’s splendid though perverse valor which creates the drama† (Rose 220). Her excessive pride to save her brother results in chaos for herself as well as those around her. Love and bravery for her family is a key factor for her determination to give her brother a proper burial. She shows immense loyalty and will power as she fights for her family name. Her endurance is extraordinary as she declares Naturally! Since Zeus never promulgated such a law, nor will you find that Justice, Mistress of the world below, publishes such laws on humankind. I never thought your mortal edicts had such force they nullified the laws of heaven... (Sophocles 38). Antigone responds to Creon’s speech and disagrees with his proclamation denying Polynices a funeral. Polynices, hated by the entire country, is being deprived of an appropriate burial service and Antigone is determined to honor her brother correctly (Rose 219). The courage she displays is crucial factor in her character development. The devotion towards helping her brother isShow MoreRelatedEssay on Creon As The Tragic Hero In Antigone602 Words   |  3 Pages Sophocles’ Antigone is, without a doubt, one of the greatest tragedies ever written. There are many questions that somebody could ask about this work, but this one intrigues me the most: Who is the tragic hero? Could it be Antigone? Or could it be Creon? Antigone might be the name of the tragedy, but I believe that Creon is the winning candidate. His role in the plot of this tragedy, his sensible tragic fault, and his dynamic character are the obvious reasons why I chose him as the tragic heroRead MoreEssay What Does Violence Mean to the Greek?1142 Words   |  5 Pagescreate more subtle and detailed drawings on the pottery. The most popular drawings on the pottery were that of mythological characters in battle; details of characters holding spears and swords. This acted as propaganda to the Greek world. The Greeks were constantly envisioning battle scenes of their idols and naturally wanted to follow in their footsteps. Due to the immense number of wars that took take place in Greece, the hoplite phalanx always required more men. Wars broke out for the controlRead MoreEssay about Oedipus The King2546 Words   |  11 Pages Oedipus the King by Sophocles is more than just a plain tragedy. This play is a suspense thriller, where every character involved with Oedipus learned that fate is determined only by the gods. In this specific play, Apollo was deciding god that predicted the fate of every person in the city of Thebes. This book represents a symbol of the lives of many, showing that you can not run away from fate because it decision that will forever remain. It was written in the honor of, the god of theater, Dionysos

The Immigration Act Of 1882 - 900 Words

With the founding of the United States government, many Americans have expressed a variety of attitudes towards those who differ from the majority culture. Furthermore, as can be seen throughout America s history, one can pull many example of how Americans have acted towards the other. For instance, many Americans began to fear that the immigrants had been coming faster than they could become good Americans and be made part of American life which provides a way of seeing how Americans felt about those traveling into the country at that time. Moreover, these attitudes towards different types of cultures were placed into policy making, religions, and languages that differed from the majority. Throughout the nineteenth century, many of the policies that were passed were formed on the idea of trying to keep the other from increasing into the majority. In fact, during the year 1882, the United States government allowed two major immigration laws to be passed, the Immigration Act of 1882, a series of laws have been passed prohibiting the bringing over immigrants under contract to labor . Additionally, the Chinese Exclusion Act required the few non laborers who sought entry to obtain certification from the Chinese government... but this group found it increasingly difficult to prove that they were not laborers because the 1882 act defined excludables as skilled and unskilled laborers and Chinese employed in mining . Moreover, those policies may provide someShow MoreRelatedGuarding The Golden Door : American Immigration Policy And Immigrants948 Words   |  4 Pagesthe Golden Door: American Immigration Policy and Immigrants Since 1882 -By Roger Daniels Guarding the Golden Door by Roger Daniels provides an overall clarification of the immigration system in the United States throughout the past and in latest policies. Ever since 1882, America claimed that the settlement objective was to prevent it from occurring, although it permitted the complete opposite. Thus, the single factual policy that has been realistic to American immigration is that it is on a constantRead MoreImmigration Laws Essay examples1213 Words   |  5 PagesPrior to 1882, there were not any formal acts that controlled immigration. The Act of 1875 merely prohibited the importation of women for purposes of prostitution and the immigration of aliens who are undergoing conviction in their own country for felonious crimes, other than political... The Act of 1882 levied a head tax of fifty cents for every passenger not a citizen of the United States, and forbade the landing of convicts, lunatics, idiots, or of any person unable to take care of himselfRead MoreEssay on Guarding the Golden Door1551 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican immigration history is the story of bonded, free, and enslaved migrant labor. Immigration to a settler society advances resource extraction and economic development. Extracting agricultural products and natural resources from land can Require forced labor. Over the last 30 years the United States has been turning once again into a nation of immigrants. Roger Daniels is especially sensitive to the role of race and ethnicity in shaping American immigration policy. Daniel provides an expertRead MoreWhy Did Chinese Immigrate to the United States?1053 Words   |  5 Pagesand England. There are as many as 12 million immigrants at this time. Regarding Chinese immigration, they immigrated to the United States from 1849 to 1882. Between this period, America had California Gold Rush, which is one of the reasons Chinese people immigrated. Because the Chinese Exclusion Act was taken into practice, no more Chinese people could immigrate to the United States after 1882. Chinese immigration is the divergent point for Chinese’ lives who lived in America. The main reason ChineseRead MoreChinese Exclusion Act Of 18821608 Words   |  7 Pagesorganizations, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese immigrants from entering the country for decades. The Act stated that any Chinese immigrant â€Å"found unlawfully† in the country â€Å"shall be caused to be removed.† President Chester A. Arthur signed the Act for the protection of America since the Chinese were defined as being a threat to America’s economy and undermined American values. However, the Chinese did not comply with the Act. Determined to enter and remain in the UnitedRead MoreIn 1882, Congress made considerably stronger move in the Chinese Exclusion Act, the countrys first700 Words   |  3 PagesIn 1882, Congress made considerably stronger move in the Chinese Exclusion Act, the countrys first supremacist, prohibitive movement law. The Act suspended all movement of Chinese workers for ten years and precluded any court to concede Chinese individuals for citizenship. What brought the Chinese to America in any case? Likewise with numerous migrant gatherings, it was a combo of push and draw components. Numerous meant to escape destitution and oppression in China and would have liked toRead MoreGold, A Railway The Length Of A Continent, Progress, And New Beginnings1629 Words   |  7 PagesPoverty, danger, and injustice awaited the Chinese in America. The racism and discrimination inflicted upon the Asians by the Americans was provoked by the behavior exhibited, and jobs performed by Asians in America, and engendered laws limiting immigration of Asians. The Chinese came to America to escape the poverty and chaos in China. In 1850, around the same time the gold rush era began in California, a devastating war swept across China. According to historian and author, H. W. Brands, â€Å"China hadRead MoreImmigration to the US1148 Words   |  5 Pageslaborers (â€Å"Chinese Exclusion Act†). Thereafter, sudden changes in political actions were made. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, for example, was ratified to halt legal immigration of Chinese immigrants into the United States for ten years(Takaki 81). â€Å"The exclusion legislation led to a sharp decline in the Chinese population --- from 105,465 in 1880 to 89,863 in 1900 to 61,639 in 1920† (Takaki 112). Nearly a decade after the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, many entrepreneurs wereRead MoreCauses Of The Irish Famine1370 Words   |  6 Pagesworkforce. Greeks brought many things to the United States: the growing culture and many new food dishes that some of us enjoy. Asian Immigrants: Chinese 1849-1882, 1882-1965, and 1965 to the present. The first period began shortly after the California Gold Rush and ended abruptly with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. During the first period hopes of being to send money back to their poor families, or of returning to China after a few years with newly acquired wealth was one ofRead MoreImmigration Reform Is Needed For Our Country880 Words   |  4 PagesImmigration reform is desperately needed for our country; otherwise unauthorized immigration will continue to be on the forefront of our country’s problems. Obtaining a visa for any reason has become an extremely difficult process, and many immigrants do not even qualify to apply. There are approximately 11.3 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Prior to 1882, when the Chinese Exclusionary Act was passed, the United States had open borders. Immigration was further restricted with

Statistics in Business Free Essays

Statistics is a way of gathering, analyzing, interpreting and presenting data so that it becomes more meaningful. It helps convert raw data into useful information. Statistics is therefore a collection of information. We will write a custom essay sample on Statistics in Business or any similar topic only for you Order Now Statistics can be presented in graphical form to make it more appealing and easily understandable by the users. Statistics can be descriptive or inferential. Descriptive statistics have to do with methods in a data set that utilizes numerical and graphical to look for patterns to summarize the information revealed in a data set, and to present the information in a convenient form. The four elements of descriptive statistical problems are the population or sample of interest, one or more variables (characteristics of the populations or sample units) that are to be investigated, Tables, graphs, numerical summary tools, and the identification of patterns in the data. Also there are Inferential statistics that utilizes sample data to make estimates, decisions, predictions, or other generalizations about a larger set of data. There are 5 elements of inferential statistical problems: The population of interest, one or more variables (characteristics of the population units) that are to be investigated, the sample of population units, the inference about the population based on information contained in the sample, and a measure of reliability for the inference. When it comes to the role of statistics in business decision making it is applied in many ways in terms of consumer preferences or even financial trends. For example, managers across any type of business unit formulate problems, they decide on a question relating to the problem and then form a statistical formulation of the question is used to determine answers to all of the above. An example of a business question may be how many calls are answered on average in a call center and how can we increase the numbers of calls answered per hour. Another example may be how we can increase the number of accounts. How to cite Statistics in Business, Papers

Southwest Airlines free essay sample

In the airline industry has targeted at a distinctive market niche, in which customers want low prices and frequent departures. To achieve its goal of profitability maximization, Southwest primarily provides low fares, high frequency services, point-to-point flying, short hop flights, and high-quality Customer Service. Its low prices and no-frills approach has greatly attracted customers and enabled them to purchase flight tickets with the lowest prices among U. S. airlines. Along with its expansion and merger with AirTran, Southwest has gradually changed its strategy. Longer non-stop trips, one-stop trips and even international trips have been added to its flight schedule. It continues to be profitable with lowest cost in the industry. Overall, low price is the major part of Southwest’s strategy that brings both development and market share. External Analysis * Threats Airline industry could be affected by many factors such as general economic environment, fuel price, airline terror acts, weather conditions and air traffic restrictions. We will write a custom essay sample on Southwest Airlines or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page General economic environment has impact on the demand for travel, and therefore influences the number of flights run by Southwest. The fuel price controls the company’s costs; rising fuel price would increase the cost, and the company cannot always avoid influences of fuel price by fuel hedging. Terrorist attack incidents would both physically and psychologically affect customers and employees, which leads to a higher security cost. Weather conditions have important impact on flights as well. Bad weather conditions may delay flights, increase turnaround time, and thus mark up costs. All these potential threats are faced by Southwest Airlines. Southwest is also facing a very competitive environment with both large- and small-scale airline companies. Those companies like JetBlue, Virgin America and Spirit Airlines that have similar strategies to Southwest are the most notable competitors of Southwest. They all have low-cost and low-fare strategies that force Southwest to maintain low prices to be competitive. Airlines with international flights also threaten Southwest’s future expansion. Since Southwest has already entered international market, it needs to keep an eye on those competitors providing international flights. Another threat derives from the company would be other traffic alternatives. Because the majority of services provided by Southwest are short-haul, it is very easily challenged by surface transportations such as cars, trains and buses. Consumers who travel short distance consider so many factors as costs, convenience and safety. As a result, Southwest has to retain its safe, reliable, frequent, low-cost air transportation to compete with surface transportations. Opportunities It is mentioned in the case article that â€Å"over 100 cities have asked Southwest to begin service in their communities because of the positive impact the company has had when it began operations in a new location. † In addition, the destinations of Southwest have not been developed efficiently; still a great number of potential cities can be settled nationwide. Additionally, mergers or acquisitions could reinforce Southwest’s position in international airlines. American Airlines and US Airways are major airlines left to merge, and they both already have international flights. A merger or acquisition would reduce risks and challenges associated with joining new markets. Internal Analysis * Strengths After merger with AirTran, Southwest has more than 100 destinations including domestic major cities and foreign hubs. Southwest’s financial performance has also been impressive; it operates at profit for almost 40 years in a row. Further, Southwest has significantly effective and economical operations that minimize the turnaround time to 20 minutes or less and fly a single aircraft model-Boeing 737-which avoids unnecessary costs of training, maintenance, and inventory. Southwest has also fully taken advantages of its website and mobile applications to increase its efficiency. * Weaknesses Southwest has started to provide long haul and international flights, however its 80 percent of flights are still short-haul. Its market for long-distance trips has not been fully utilized. Lack of alliances limits Southwest’s enlargement and puts intense competitions to the company. Although it merged with AirTran in 2011, the major international hubs still need to be reached. No luggage transfer outside Southwest system would also limit the company’s flexibility. Strategic Recommendations * Retain the existed advantage: low cost * Develop more urban cities as destinations domestically * Make an alliance to exploit international flights * Improve mobile applications that enable passengers to book tickets, check in and board a flight * Continue to hedge fuels * Keep on improving turnaround time * Increase employee retention by providing continuous training program and improving management-employee relation

The Story of Kurt Cobain essays

The Story of Kurt Cobain essays Who was the most important musical figure of the '90s? Kurt Cobain changed the rock and roll scene from heavy metal, hair bands to head banging grunge. From his childhood up until his mid-twenty's, Kurt had only one dream. He wished that he was center of attention on stage before thousands of screaming fans. He did just that with his band Nirvana, but like everyone says, "All good things must come to an end." Kurt Donald Cobain was born on February 20, 1967. He grew up in Aberdeen, Washington with his mom, Wendy Fradenburg Cobain, and his father, Donald Leland Cobain. Kurt also had a sister, Kimberley, three years after his birth (Graham). Kurts mother was attached to Kurt and his every move. Wendy said, "No child even comes close to that. I was totaled out on him. My every waking hour was for him" (Azerrad 11-13). At age two, Kurt was showing an interest in music. This wasn't very shocking because everyone in the family had at least some kind of musical talent. Kurt's uncle played in a rock and roll band and his aunt Mary played the guitar. Mary gave Kurt records of the Beatles and the Monkees, and a bass drum, when he was only seven. Kurt was so enthused with his new drums. He would wear them over his shoulders and beat them all the way down the street and then back up, singing songs by the Beatles. Mary also brought him along with her to band practice. Kurt was also very artistic. By second grade, his relatives and all his teachers had noticed how well he could draw. For some reason Kurt was never satisfied with his artwork. To him, it could always be better (Azerrad 13-15). When Kurt was eight years old, his parents got divorced. This crisis was extremely difficult for Kurt to handle. He changed from happy and screaming with excitement, to sad and ridiculing. Wendy says, " It just destroyed his life. He changed completely. I think he was ashamed. And he became very inward he just held i...

3 Key Tips for Writing Successful Tufts Supplemental Essays

3 Key Tips for Writing Successful Tufts Supplemental Essays SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Tufts University has a selective acceptance rate- right around 14 percent in 2016. You'll need a strong application to stand out from other applicants, including stellar essays. Luckily, this guide is here to help you out! In this blog post, we'll cover everything you need to know about the writing portion of Tufts University's application, including what prompts are available and how to answer them. Feature Image:Jellymuffin40/Wikimedia Commons If you want to study at Tufts' Ginn Library, you'll need strong essays.Nurcamp/Wikimedia Commons. What Should You Know About the Tufts University Essays? Tufts University uses either the Common or Coalition Application, so choose the one that works best for you. Each one has unique essays, so be sure you follow the correct prompt for whichever application you're using. Both applications have their own writing sections that you'll need to respond to. These essays are more general than the Tufts essays, but it's still important to follow guidelines and aim to impress with them. They're part of your application, and deserve your best effort! The Common Application has one set of prompts to choose fromand the Coalition Application has another, so do some reading ahead of time to plan for which one you'll answer if you need to fill out both applications for different schools. What Prompts Does the Tufts University Application Have? Tufts University requires you to apply to a specific school within the university during your application. This shouldn't be a problem if you already know what major you'll be applying to, and Tufts recommends not applying as undecided. The application should give you the correct set of prompts for whichever school you apply to, but if you want to get a head start, you can choose your preferred major from the drop-down menu on Tufts' Majors and Minors page. Under each major and minor, Tufts lists the school that major belongs to. This will let you figure out which set of prompts you'll be using, even if you're not yet ready to fill out the application itself- but always keep in mind that the prompts may change! If you're applying to the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, or 5-year Tufts/NEC combined degree, you'll have two essays. One is a classic "Why Tufts?" essay with a Tufts-specific twist, and the second prompt allows you to make your choice of two options. For applicants to the BFA or 5-year BFA+BA/BS combined degree program, you'll also have two prompts. The first is, again, a classic "Why Tufts?" essay question, while the other asks you to write an artist's statement for the work you're hoping to create at Tufts. Editing and revising is all part of the essay process- your papersshould look like this! What Are the Tufts University Prompts? Because the prompts vary between different schools, there's a lot of information to cover for how to write the ideal Tufts essay. But Tufts does provide some helpful advice- "Think outside the box as you answer the following questions. 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." In short, be yourself. Tufts doesn't just want to hear your academic qualifications, nor do they want to hear their qualifications as a good school recited to them- they already know! For School of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, and Tufts/NEC Degree Applicants: You have two essays to write for this section. Both are required, but the second prompt offers you two potential choices. The first prompt, which you have 200 to 250 words to answer, reads: What excites you about Tufts' intellectually playful community? In short, "Why Tufts?" At a glance, this is a pretty straightforward question. You wouldn't be applying to Tufts if you didn't already know that you wanted to go there, right? But always be aware that every other student applying to Tuftsalso knows that it's a good school. You can't just list qualifications back them; you have to dive a little deeper than that. Tufts makes a point of mentioning their "intellectually playful community." This can mean a lot of things, but consider what it means to you as a student. What Tufts wants to know here is not just what attracts you to the college, but also what you'll bring to it. Let your enthusiasm and fresh ideas shine! As a private research university, research is a heavy part of Tufts' academic focus. How do you bring "play" into that? What excites you about research and learning? As mentioned above, Tufts emphasizes that it's okay to be playful with your essay. Don't think too much about Tufts' qualifications- think about yours. Did you help your entire biology class prep for your final by creating a study sheet based on puns? How about turning your report onThe Scarlet Letter into a mock trial for Hester Prynne? These creative approaches to learning are precisely what Tufts wants to hear about, but be certain you tie them back to the school, too.You want to use this space to demonstrate how you'll both fit into Tufts' community and how the college will help you achieve your goals. The second prompt is a little more complex. It also has a word count of 200 to 250, but includes two options you must choose from: Now we'd like to know a little more about you. Please respond to one of the following two questions.A) Whether you've built blanket forts or circuit boards, created slam poetry or mixed media installations, tell us: What have you invented, engineered, produced, or designed? Or what do you hope to?B) Our Experimental College encourages current students to develop and teach a class for the Tufts community. Previous classes have included those based on personal interests, current events, and more. What would you teach and why? These two prompts are a great way to tell the admissions office more about yourself, particularly if you have extracurricular interests that you haven't had the opportunity to discuss yet. Both prompts are great choices, but consider prompt A if you're creatively oriented, and prompt B if you're particularly curious or have surprising interests. Of course, both traits can intersect- consider which way you'd most like to represent yourself, and choose accordingly. If you can't find this key on your keyboard, you'll have to invent it! How to Answer Prompt A In this prompt, Tufts wants to hear about your creativity and ingenuity. What you've created doesn't have to be revolutionary, but it does need to demonstrate your passion for creation. Tufts wants to see your creativity, your passion, and your problem-solving ability. Again, don't worry about impressing the admissions officers with a wild story about solving a public health crisis (though of course if youhave done such a thing, you should mention it!)- a creative solution to a simple problem is also valuable. For example, maybe your new and improved chore wheel improved the overall efficiency of getting things done at homeand convinced your little brother to finally start picking up his room. Or maybe your Twitch streams of relatively unknown video games introduced tons of people to games they'd never have picked up otherwise. Both of these examples demonstrate your desire to make something new! Think outside the box on this one. "I wanted to get good grades and I did," isn't a very interesting story. Think abouthow you got those good grades, such as with a unique studying strategy for by making a project your teacher had never seen before. Show off your big ideas! How to Answer Prompt B This prompt is an excellent place to show off your leadership and passion for knowledge. If you're an expert in a niche field- puppetry or being able to identify every plant variety within five miles, for example- you can share that knowledge with others through Tufts' experimental college program. What Tufts wants to see here is what interests delight and inspire you. What makes you want to learn and share that knowledge with others? Demonstrating your interests here shows that you don't just want to attend Tufts for the prestige or because your family wants you to. You want to be part of this community of playful, inspired learning, so use this prompt to show off your unique areas of interest and how you'd like to share them with others. Take a look through some of Tufts' previous and current experimental college offerings. Do you see anything you'd like to learn about? Are there any topics that inspire you to think up your own class? Any interest is a good one, but consider using those interests in a new way. If you're into fantasy football, considering pitching a class based on learning statistics through that lens. If you're an expert on ghost stories, turn that into a course that looks at representations of spirits throughout different cultures. Avoid being too straightforward with your ideas. Math is great! But Tufts already has plenty of math classes. They're also probably pretty well covered in the art department. What can you, specifically, offer that isn't already there? Tufts' SFMA school is all about the arts. For BFA, 5-Year BFA+BA/BS at SMFA Applicants: This section has two required essays. You don't have any choice over which prompts you'll be answering, which eliminates some of the struggle to choose the best option for you. The first prompt, which must be answered in 200 to 250 words, reads: Which aspects of the Tufts curriculum or undergraduate experience prompt your application? Why SMFA at Tufts? This prompt is similar to the "Why Tufts?" essay prompt, but with a slightly different focus. SMFA at Tufts is the School of the Museum of Fine arts program at Tufts, so it's definitely for those interested in the arts. The admissions office wants to see you demonstrate what exactly draws you to this school over others, and what specifically drives you to seek an art degree. What will you get out of Tufts that you couldn't get elsewhere? How will an art degree enrich your life, and how will you use that degree in the future? Colleges want to foster intellectual growth in their communities, which is why they ask for more than a standard "this is a good school" answer. They want to know why you want to attend, but they also want to know what you're bringing to the community. Browsing Tufts and SMFA at Tufts galleries are a great way to get some inspiration. Can you see your artwork fitting in there? What will you offer that isn't already represented? Think about art that you've created or art that you want to create. How will Tufts help you get there? What makes you want to pursue an art degree, rather than art as a supplement to another field? Clearly articulating your interest and commitment will demonstrate that you're a good fit for Tufts to the admissions office. The second prompt, also with a 200 to 250 wordcount, reads: Art has the power to disrupt our preconceptions, shape public discourse, and imagine new ways of being in the world. Whether you think of Ai Weiwei’s work reframing the refugee crisis, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald’s portraits of the Obamas reimagining portrait painting on a national scale, or Yayoi Kusama’s fanciful Infinity Mirrors rekindling our sense of wonder, it is clear that contemporary art is driven by ideas. What are the ideas you’d like to explore in your work? This question dives a little bit deeper into your artistic mind. It's not enough to create art that is beautiful on a surface level- Tufts wants to know that you're thinking about your art meaningfully, too. This prompt is essentially an artist's statement, though it's focused more on your artistic intent on a large scale rather than on an individual piece. Look through some of your favorite art you've created and think about common themes and recurring ideas, even if you didn't intend for them to be there. What concepts are you trying to explore, even subconsciously? Consider not just what your art looks or sounds like, but also what it's made of and why you chose to make it that way. Think beyond availability or ease of use- always keep the question of "why" in your mind. Themes are good, but try not to go too general or invent something that isn't there. Much of art is about capturing beauty, so try to think deeper than that. And if you're going to claim that your art critiques or represents something, you need to be able to demonstrate that- analyze what you've created to show how it connects to your themes, don't simply project something over the top and hope that admissions officers don't notice it wasn't really there. Write a good enough essay and this could be you and fellow Tufts students. What Do Tufts Essays That Worked Look Like? Thankfully, Tufts University isn't shy about putting accepted essays online for applicants to browse. Consider writing out a draft or outline of your ideas before reading through these to avoid making them sound too similar. Even if you do it by accident, sounding too much like an essay that's already been accepted could be a red flag for the admissions office. "Why Tufts?" Essay That Worked I vividly remember stepping onto the roof of Tisch Library and seeing a group of kids sitting in hammocks, overlooking the Boston skyline. I briefly tuned out my tour guide's presentation and began to eavesdrop. The students covered everything from physics to what they had for lunch that day. When they spoke about physics, they did not speak with pretension; instead they spoke with passion. Likewise, when they spoke about something as simple as lunch, they did so with witty intrigue. Tufts students are as interesting as they are interested. This description not only resonates with me, it defines me. This essay does an excellent job of answering the questions at the core of the "Why Tufts?" essay. The writer channels an experience they had while at Tufts, detailing how listening in on other students solidified their desire to attend.They use words like "passion" to describe Tufts students, showing traits they also want to channel. The ending really hits on something important: this student wanted to be part of the student body because the students they overheard were not only interesting people, but alsointerested. Remember the prompts mentionof being "intellectually playful?" This is the perfect way to demonstrate curiosity, interest, and love of learning int he specific context of Tufts. "What Have You Created?" Essay That Worked When people talk about building something, creating it, they most often mean something physical. Engineers, architects, and laborers, these are the professions that I think of as making things. I've never been much of a builder, I lack that particular understanding of the world that is required to envision what you will build, and have never been coordinated enough to make much of anything with my hands, but I can create. What I have made is not something you can hold or touch, it spans no gaps and holds no weight, and I can't even claim to have laid a single finger on its construction. My creation is a poem, or rather, poems. Series of letters symbolic of sounds strung together to make words, which are in turn collected into lines and stanzas, pieces of a whole. My poems cannot be touched, but they can touch you; though they won't form a bridge, they can cross a divide; and while you'll never be able to weigh them on a scale, the weight of the ideas they hold can be felt the moment you read them. So I may not be an engineer or an architect or a laborer, but I am a creator. I craft words into meaning, forge lines into rhymes, and sculpt imaginations. So even if I can't hold what I make, I can watch it take shape and see its impact on the world. This essay does an excellent job of answering the question not just by stating the answer, but by embodying it. It's clear that the student is a writer; their language is vivid, immediate, and playful, demonstrating how strong their grasp is on word meanings and sentence structure. Importantly, this essay doesn't disparage other disciplines- it interprets poetry using language physical creators might use, such as "spans," "bridge," and "weight. There's a great deal of creativity and intellectual play in this essay, which serve to set the writer apart from students who might have focused more on the existence of the thing they'd built (a souped-up car engine, for example) than thefunction of the thing they'd built (a souped-up car engine that reduces carbon emissions, for example). When tackling this prompt, think about how you, too, can exemplify your creation in your essay. Think like a dolphin: smart and playful! Key Points for Your Tufts Essays Best practices for Tufts essays are similar to other schools, but there are some special considerations to keep in mind. Pay Attention to Tufts' Intellectual Bent Tufts makes a point of using words like "playful" and "intellectual." These suggest a curiosity about the world that goes beyond wanting to attend a good school because it's a good school. Keep them in mind as you're writing- how can you demonstrate your own curiosity and interest in the world? Remember That Tufts Is a Research University You'll be interacting more with graduate students than you would in other settings. Not only will this give you a leg up in applying to grad school, but it will also grant you the opportunity to think more deeply than if you were only exposed to other undergrads. Demonstrating an interest in learning from other students and participating in a learning community is a great way to show that you're interested in the unique experience of attending a research university. Choose the Prompts That Are Right for You Because Tufts has two different sets of prompts depending which school you'll be attending, be sure you select the right ones. Further, be sure you really maximize each prompt's potential- the rest of your application covers academics, so use your essay to showcase what really makes you stand out. What's Next? Before you get started on writing your essays, you'll want to know what kind of admission requirements Tufts has. Great essays are important, but you should also demonstrate academic success! Plan to get the best scores possible on your standardized tests, too. Reading about ACT and GPA requirements ahead of time can help you plan your academic strategy, as can reading about SAT requirements. Use these guides to get a head start! 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