Tufts University's wording, checked October 26, 2026“Tell us about one of your favorite school assignments in the past two years. What was the assignment and why did you enjoy it?”
How to approach it
- 1Describe the assignment precisely.
- 2Show what you did with it that went beyond the brief.
- 3Explain the enjoyment: what it tells Tufts about how you learn.
A structure that works
One way to shape this answer. It describes moves, not sentences: the words have to be yours.
- 1The assignment, in one or two sentences.
- 2What you did with it.
- 3Why you enjoyed it, which is what it says about you as a learner.
Where the 200 words go
| Part | Words |
|---|---|
| The moment or example | about 80 |
| What it shows or changed | about 70 |
| Why it matters, or what you bring | about 50 |
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing the assignment with the best grade instead of the one you enjoyed.
The checklist our grader uses for this question
When you check your Tufts answers, this answer is read against these 5 areas. Each comes back Met, Partly or Missing with a quote from your draft as evidence, and together with the 100-200 words limit they set its readiness verdict.
| Area | What a reader looks for |
|---|---|
| Answers the question | The opening sentences answer what was asked, plainly, before background or a hook; every part of a multi-part question is answered. |
| One specific idea | It names one specific topic, question or idea early, narrower than a whole subject. |
| Evidence you pursue it | It shows what the applicant read, built, asked or tried on their own, beyond required class work. |
| Your own thinking | The reader sees how the applicant's mind works on it: a connection, an opinion, a question still open. |
| Tufts's ask | Names the assignment and why the applicant enjoyed it. |
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Questions
More on Tufts and this kind of question
- Yale: A topic or idea that excites you · 200 words
- Stanford: What excites you about learning · 100-250 words
- Northwestern: Dream up a class or project · 200 words
- Caltech: Process: the thought behind the outcome · 200 words
- Caltech: Learning: a STEM rabbit hole · 200 words
- Caltech: Pursuing: sustained intellectual engagement · 200 words