Getting accepted to Tufts School of Medicine is difficult. Submitting an OUTSTANDING Tufts secondary application is vital to receiving an interview invite, which ultimately can lead to an acceptance. The Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) loves students who have work experience and non-clinical experiences. Read more Tufts secondaries tips to stand out to the admissions committee! The Tufts secondary essay questions have not changed in the past couple of years. We highly recommend you pre-write this short and easy secondary so that you can submit it sooner.
Tufts also has a lesser known Maine track. It is specifically for students who are interested in practicing in Maine throughout their careers. The Tufts Maine track places a special emphasis on rural health and primary care. Our mentees have also received interview invites and acceptances to the Tufts Maine track, and we think this is an awesome choice if you are interested in serving Maine or rural populations!
Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to Tufts School of Medicine Boston and Maine tracks year after year. Get our help with editing your secondary essays! We will help you personalize and tailor your Tufts Medical School secondary essays.
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Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2025 – 2026
Tufts Boston Campus Secondary Essay Questions
- Do you wish to share a specific reason why have you chosen to apply to Tufts University School of Medicine? (Yes/No) (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Will you be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, or other activities? (1,000 characters max)
- Please tell us about your journey to medical school and how your background and experiences will positively impact your future as a medical student and physician. If you have experienced personal circumstances or hardships that have helped you develop qualities that you believe will allow you to better serve your future patients and the medical community as a whole, please share those experiences in your response. (1,000 characters max)
- Which of your experiences with clinical medicine or healthcare has best prepared you for a future career as a physician, and why? Please tell us about the specific experience, the skills you acquired, and the insights you gained about the profession of medicine. (1,000 characters max)
- Tufts University School of Medicine is committed to social responsibility, and to serve and advocate for all people. Have you done substantial work or service that has contributed to societal good, or addressed social determinants of health, health equity, or social justice? (Yes/No) (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s)? (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
- Because your academics (grades and MCAT scores) will not be shared with interviewers until after you complete your interview, we encourage you to use this space to elaborate on any academic challenges you have overcome since completing high school. We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No.’ (1,000 characters max)
- (New) Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a Misdemeanor crime, excluding 1) any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile 2) any convictions which have been expunged or sealed by a court, or 3) any misdemeanor convictions for which any probation has been completed and the case dismissed by the court (in states where applicable)? (Yes/No) (1,000 characters max)
- (New) Have you been a participant in any of the following programs? (a list of programs is provided) (If so, please indicate the dates of your participation.) (1,000 characters max)
- (New) Do you wish to include any additional comments (beyond those already provided in your application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (Yes/No) (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Maine Track Secondary Essay Questions
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores) and that you believe might adversely affect your likelihood of medical school acceptance. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No’. (1,000 characters max)
- What, if any, connections or ties do you have to Maine or a similar rural state? (3,000 characters max)
- What aspects of the Maine Medical Center (MMC) – Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) track do you find most attractive and interesting? (3,000 characters max)
- How do you foresee your completion of the MMC-TUSM track helping you achieve your future medical career goals? (3,000 characters max)
Tips to Answer Tufts Secondaries
Tufts Pre-writing Guidance: Questions for Tufts Medical School do not change much year to year, but there were a couple of changes last application cycle. This is a good med school secondary to pre-write. From our experiences, students can also submit this secondary later in the application cycle. We would aim to submit this by late August / early September.
>> Download our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples.
Tufts Secondary Application Tip #1: Read our blog post on “How to Get Into Tufts Medical School” to learn more about Tufts’ curriculum and opportunities around Boston. Then, incorporate why you want to attend Tufts and opportunities you want to pursue in Boston throughout your Tufts secondary essays. You can definitely incorporate elements “Why Tufts” in essay #1 and essay #3. You can make your entire response to essay #1 a “Why Tufts” response.
- Read our tips on how to answer “Why This Medical School:” Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example
- Learn more about Tufts Medical School’s curriculum and culture in our researched Tufts Medical School Profile.
Tufts Secondary Application Tip #2: For the TWO Tufts secondaries questions, “Please tell us about your journey to medical school and how your background and experiences will positively impact your future as a medical student and physician. If you have experienced personal circumstances or hardships that have helped you develop qualities that you believe will allow you to better serve your future patients and the medical community as a whole, please share those experiences in your response,” and “Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine?” these are essentially both open-ended “diversity” questions. Writing about diversity does not necessarily mean discussing your ethnic diversity. We recommend students write about their strengths, including exceptional extracurricular activity endeavors. For example, if you are passionate about helping underserved populations, then you can discuss a story about an underserved patient you helped and what you learned about social determinants of health. Additionally, you can bring up community service work, clinical rotations, and social determinants of health research you want to do at Tufts School of Medicine as a medical student.
Tufts loves non-traditional applicants because it wants to recruit medical students with extremely diverse perspectives and life experiences. For this diversity essay, we would strongly suggest you write about a topic in which you discuss your vision to improve medicine. Many students also use the space in these two essays to complement the other Tufts secondaries questions and primary applications – they discuss meaningful patient care or clinical experiences. For example, one student we helped through our essay editing packages discussed his love for surfing while another student discussed her clinical experiences in Boston.
- Learn how to write strong diversity secondaries: Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips
Tufts Secondary Application Tip #3: For the Tufts secondaries question, “Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc.,” many students undersell what they will be doing in the upcoming year. Don’t forget to write both clinical and non-clinical activities. For example, if you will be volunteering in your community, that’s important to include!
Tufts Secondary Application Tip #4: TUFTS MAINE TRACK APPLICANTS – It is important to establish what experiences you have to Maine. If you don’t have ties to Maine, then please discuss what experiences you have in the Northeast. Additionally, it is extremely important that you focus your essays on primary care and rural medicine. Discuss rural health issues you are passionate about improving. Describe your understanding through patient stories about challenges and unique attributes of rural health.
Tufts Secondary Application Tip #5: Get our help to edit your Tufts secondary application essays. We can help you through our secondary essay packages. The Tufts Maine Track is also a very special, unique program. We are glad to say that we have also helped students get accepted to the TUSM Maine Track! Therefore, reach out so we can help you tailor your essays specifically to the Maine track! Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.
Tufts Secondary Application Tip #6: As a heads up, the Tufts Boston track has a traditional one-on-one interview, but the Tufts Maine track is a Multiple Mini Interview! Learn more about MMI Schools and how they vary among different schools.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Does Tufts send secondaries to everyone?
- From our experience, yes. Our application package mentees have always received Tufts secondaries.
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Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025
Tufts Boston Campus Secondary Essay Questions
- Do you wish to share a specific reason why have you chosen to apply to Tufts University School of Medicine? (Yes/No) (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Will you be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, or other activities? (1,000 characters max)
- Please tell us about your journey to medical school and how your background and experiences will positively impact your future as a medical student and physician. If you have experienced personal circumstances or hardships that have helped you develop qualities that you believe will allow you to better serve your future patients and the medical community as a whole, please share those experiences in your response. (1,000 characters max)
- Which of your experiences with clinical medicine or healthcare has best prepared you for a future career as a physician, and why? Please tell us about the specific experience, the skills you acquired, and the insights you gained about the profession of medicine. (1,000 characters max)
- Tufts University School of Medicine is committed to social responsibility, and to serve and advocate for all people. Have you done substantial work or service that has contributed to societal good, or addressed social determinants of health, health equity, or social justice? (Yes/No) (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s)? (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
- Because your academics (grades and MCAT scores) will not be shared with interviewers until after you complete your interview, we encourage you to use this space to elaborate on any academic challenges you have overcome since completing high school. We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No.’ (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Maine Track Secondary Essay Questions
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores) and that you believe might adversely affect your likelihood of medical school acceptance. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No’. (1,000 characters max)
- What, if any, connections or ties do you have to Maine or a similar rural state? (3,000 characters max)
- What aspects of the Maine Medical Center (MMC) – Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) track do you find most attractive and interesting? (3,000 characters max)
- How do you foresee your completion of the MMC-TUSM track helping you achieve your future medical career goals? (3,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024
Tufts Boston Campus Secondary Essay Questions
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Given how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world this year, please contextualize how your experiences have been affected which might include your personal, professional and educational journey. (1,000 characters max)
- We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores) and that you believe might adversely affect your likelihood of medical school acceptance. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No’. (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Maine Track Secondary Essay Questions
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Given how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world this year, please contextualize how your experiences have been affected which might include your personal, professional and educational journey. (1,000 characters max)
- We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores) and that you believe might adversely affect your likelihood of medical school acceptance. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No’. (1,000 characters max)
- What, if any, connections or ties do you have to Maine or a similar rural state? (3,000 characters max)
- What aspects of the Maine Medical Center (MMC) – Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) track do you find most attractive and interesting? (3,000 characters max)
- How do you foresee your completion of the MMC-TUSM track helping you achieve your future medical career goals? (3,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023
Tufts Boston Campus Secondary Essay Questions
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Given how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world this year, please contextualize how your experiences have been affected which might include your personal, professional and educational journey. (1,000 characters max)
- We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores) and that you believe might adversely affect your likelihood of medical school acceptance. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No’. (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Maine Track Secondary Essay Questions
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Given how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world this year, please contextualize how your experiences have been affected which might include your personal, professional and educational journey. (1,000 characters max)
- We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores) and that you believe might adversely affect your likelihood of medical school acceptance. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No’. (1,000 characters max)
- What, if any, connections or ties do you have to Maine or a similar rural state? (3,000 characters max)
- What aspects of the Maine Medical Center (MMC) – Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM) track do you find most attractive and interesting? (3,000 characters max)
- How do you foresee your completion of the MMC-TUSM track helping you achieve your future medical career goals? (3,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Given how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world this year, please contextualize how your experiences have been affected which might include your personal, professional and educational journey. (1,000 characters max)
- We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores) and that you believe might adversely affect your likelihood of medical school acceptance. We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No’. (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Given how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the world this year, please contextualize how your experiences have been affected which might include your personal, professional and educational journey. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s). (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s). (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s). (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s). (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
There is also a prerequisite section that asks to show which classes you have completed to complete each prerequisite.
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s). (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
- Is any member of your family a graduate of TUSM or a current member of our faculty? (1,000 characters max)
- Have you ever participated in any of the following Tufts University programs? (If so, please indicate the dates of your participation.) (1,000 characters max)
- Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s). (1,000 characters max)
Tufts Secondary Application Questions: 2014 – 2015
- Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine? (1,000 characters max)
- Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1,000 characters max)
- Is any member of your family a graduate of TUSM or a current member of our faculty? (1,000 characters max)
- Have you ever participated in any of the following Tufts University programs? (If so, please indicate the dates of your participation.) (1,000 characters max)