Advice from Alec: before you press “submit”

Continuing our application advice series, today we’ll hear from Alec on the value of proofing. Alec manages our application processing operation (among many other things), and has a keen sense of little hiccups that can delay review of an application:

After your application is submitted, it enters a processing stage in which our team ensures that everything necessary for review is present and correct. If things are found to be missing, you will be contacted by our office and asked to revisit your application materials. To help you avoid being held up before your application can be reviewed by our committee, I have gathered some common errors and some recommendations for you to consider.

Actually review your application!

When you reach the end of the Fletcher application, a small box will ask you to carefully review your application before submitting. While you might be in a hurry to get your app in after hours, days, and/or weeks of piecing it together, this is an essential step. It is easy to miss small mistakes in your application in the sprint to the finish line, and it’s important to set aside the time to make sure you are putting your best foot forward. Review your information, answers to questions throughout the form, and the PDFs you have uploaded to the application portal. You never know where you might have overlooked something or misunderstood an instruction.

Make sure you submit your test scores to us through the official channels!

It may be the case that you are submitting test scores to us as part of your application. This could be because you would like to include a GRE or GMAT score with your application (which is optional), or that you are required to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo score to demonstrate your English proficiency. It is important that these scores are submitted through the official channels. A scan of your score without it having been sent to Fletcher explicitly by the testing organization can lead to your application being marked as incomplete. You can find information on how to submit your scores as well as all the relevant institution codes in our application instructions.

Did you complete the scholarship application form?

If you are applying for financial aid from Fletcher, make sure to fill out the form linked to on the “Scholarship Application” section of the application. While there is a simple yes or no drop-down menu on the page itself, don’t miss the hyperlink to the external form which must be completed if you wish to  be considered for scholarship! It can be easy to miss if you are rushing through the app, so make sure you’ve filled it out.

All in all, take the time to properly understand the application and what it is asking of you. And in the end, if something is missing, we will work to make sure you get your application completed. If you have any questions during the application process, please don’t hesitate to reach out at  FletcherAdmissions@tufts.edu!