Tufts University—the Harvard of Northwest Boston—rolled out their Class of 2018 applications with a litany of unique and alternative personal statement prompts.
Gawker first brought attention to one:
The ancient Romans started it when they coined the phrase "Carpe diem." Jonathan Larson proclaimed "No day but today!" and most recently, Drake explained You Only Live Once (YOLO). Have you ever seized the day? Lived like there was no tomorrow? Or perhaps you plan to shout YOLO while jumping into something in the future. What does #YOLO mean to you?
I got to tip my hat to TU for incorporating bro-firmative action to provide a path for bros, who are just like any other Americans, to pursue a world-class college education. While other "U.S. News Top 50" universities turn their noses up at a chunk of talented youth who eschew responsibility to live once, Tufts has provided an opportunity for every American child.
Below, a sample essay:
YOLO-ing means I shouldn’t be forced to sit here, scribing reasons for my acceptance. Because when you only live once, you’re not concerned what people think about you. There’s no time for worrying when you’re kicking life’s ass, you’re too busy to be taking names, like snagging a laser pointer at nighttime and shining it from across a park at your classmates while they’re sneaking sips of Boone’s Farm. They didn’t invite you because you don’t care about what they think of you. So you’re gonna show them! YOLO.
Seizing the day is the complete opposite of the college app process. I have classmates in my Civics class whose sole purpose was applying to colleges. They’ve manicured their resumes to reflect all of the clubs and community services they’ve crammed into a three-and-half year span of a life not living. I went to my SAT exam on three hours of sleep with zero prep work. YOLO.
Meanwhile, I’ve been pushing life’s pedal down to the medal. Does Tufts want to be a school for thinkers or for doers? My YOLO brethren make this world go round.
Now I’m done.
(Yes, this essay is short of the 200-word requirement. YOLO.)
How else is Tufts going to fuel the @TuftsBroProblems Twitter account unless they open up admissions? It’s been over a year since its last tweet, reflecting the dearth of able-bodied bros.