Tufts Student Life
Applicant Email
July 8, 2016
The Packet
The packet we will send to the schools to which you apply will contain all your individual letters along with the composite committee letter. In addition there is fact sheet that explains a number of important things about Tufts and our process. Relevant ones that you should know about are outlined below.
English Requirement and Chemistry Sequence  
Printed below is the form letter that we include with each packet explaining the Tufts curriculum and requirements. For English, it describes the various ways that students can fulfill the requirement (including AP, the Phil 1 course, etc). This has greatly reduced questions from admissions officers about an applicant’s writing preparation. You should not worry about this now, but let us know if any schools truly will not accept what you are offering.
Our chemistry sequence is relatively new and while most schools have shifted their requirements, this explanation should help admissions folks know how our courses are taught. If you are asked, first refer the admissions office to the explanation in your Committee packet. If you did not do your chemistry courses here at Tufts you may be required to take a second organic chemistry course.
Disciplinary Action and Required Dean’s Forms
Our committee cover sheet addresses disciplinary action and mentions that any student who has had academic or disciplinary probation will have it mentioned in his/her letter. This suffices for all med schools who requires a particular dean’s certification (including Wash U., BU, etc) except Temple and Medical College of Wisconsin. They refuse to use it and we do a separate letter for each student who has been on probation for them.
DO NOT SEND DEAN’S CERTIFICATION FORMS ANYWHERE IN TUFTS EXCEPT OUR OFFICE.
Stay cool and enjoy the weekend!
Carol and Stephanie
TUFTS UNIVERSITY CHEMISTRY SEQUENCE LEADING TO BIOCHEMISTRY
The Tufts University Department of Chemistry has restructured its chemistry sequence in keeping with ACS recommendations, the SFFP report and the MCAT2015. The current sequence is as follows:  
Chemistry 0001 Chemical Fundamentals with lab
Atomic and molecular structure, intermolecular forces and states of matter, the relation of structure and bonding to the physical and chemical properties of matter, patterns of chemical reactions, stoichiometry, and thermochemistry.
Chemistry 0002 Chemical Principles with lab
Properties of solutions, chemical kinetics and thermodynamics, physical and chemical equilibria, aqueous equilibria (acid-base, precipitation, and complex formation), electrochemistry. Introduction to organic chemistry.
Chemistry 51/53 Organic Chemistry with lab
Structure, bonding, conformational analysis, functional groups, and stereochemistry. Organic reactions, synthesis, and mechanisms including acid/base reactions, nucleophilic substitution and elimination, reactions of alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, and amines. Tools for structure determination including nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy.
Chemistry 171 Organic Chemistry of Living Systems (Biochemistry)
Structure and function of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Mechanisms and molecular function of binding proteins, enzymes, and membrane transporters. In-depth explorations of metabolic pathways and regulation with connections to physiology and human disease. Prerequisite Chem 51/53.
                             Or
Biology 152 Biochemistry and Cellular Metabolism
An in-depth examination of the structure and function of biomolecules: chemical and physical properties of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids; enzyme kinetics and mechanisms; metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and amino acids and the metabolic relationships of organ systems. Prerequisite: Chem 51/53.
TUFTS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS ENGLISH REQUIREMENT Tufts University requires its liberal arts students to fulfill a two course Writing Foundation requirement as a minimum for graduation. While students will almost certainly do more writing in additional coursework, these two requirements are never waived.
 
Students fulfill the Writing Foundation requirement in several ways: 
  • Completing English 1 (Expository Writing) and English 2 (College Writing Seminar)
  • Completing English 1 and Philosophy 1 (a writing-intensive seminar equivalent to Eng 2)
  • Completing English 1 with a grade of A or A-
  • Completing English 3 and English 4, if the student is a non-native speaker
  • Earning a score of 760 on the SAT writing exam and English 2
  • Earning a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement Test in English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition; an A on the British A-Levels; or a score of seven on the Higher Level International Baccalaureate.
Our students are advised to list the relevant situation above in explaining to you how they have completed the 2 required semesters of English. We are confident that every Tufts graduate will have fulfilled the spirit of your English requirement. Please contact Carol.baffi-dugan@tufts.edu if you have any questions about these curricular matters.
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