Kids & Family

Tufts Increasing Annual Payments to City of Medford by Nearly 60 Percent

The money will go toward the city's public schools, according to Mayor Michael McGlynn.

Tufts University announced Tuesday that it will contribute $1.375 million to the City of Medford over the next five years, among other cooperative steps aimed at helping Medford public school students attend college.

The university will give the city an annual payment of $275,000, an increase of almost 60 percent from its current annual payment of $175,000.

Tufts will also waive its application fee for Medford High School students and offer college preparation assistance for Medford students, beginning in sixth grade, according to a Tuesday release from the mayor’s office.

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The city has requested an advance of $500,000 on the annual payments, according to the release. The money will go toward Medford’s public schools.

In addition to waiving the $70 application fee, Tufts’ dean of undergraduate admissions will personally read and evaluate applications from Medford High School students, according to the release.

Find out what's happening in Medfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The university will bring Medford ninth graders who have little college exposure to the campus as well and will offer essay writing workshops to applying students and writing workshops to teachers who are preparing recommendations for their students.

On top of all this, the university will invite Medford High School’s top performers to apply for admission, and representatives from the university will visit the high school each January to offer personal interviews to students who have applied. The university will also provide high school assemblies with speakers about college readiness and admissions and offer the Kids to College program for sixth graders.

Finally, Tufts will offer playing fields as needed and when they are available.


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