Become a Graduate Writing Consultant

Of course! Students from any discipline can apply to be a graduate writing consultant. Every academic discipline involves writing at some level, and we work with classes in many disciplines. Please note that graduate writing consultants are trained to work with students across disciplines. We seek a diverse group of writing consultants with experience in various disciplines to contribute to our learning community. Science writers may have an additional opportunity to provide workshops on scientific writing.   

Yes! SMFA graduate students are encouraged to apply! SMFA writing consultants can opt either to work solely in-person on the SMFA campus or work a mix of SMFA and Medford hours (the Medford hours can be remote). SMFA students often offer workshops on grant writing, artist statements, wall text, and relevant topics in addition to working one-on-one with students.

Cover letters can take many forms, but please be reflective and descriptive. The cover letter is the most important part of the written application. If you have not taught or tutored writing, please make sure to discuss other relevant interpersonal experiences (such as helping a sibling or friend), or imagine how you might approach working with another writer. Descriptions of your tutoring or teaching approach, what you have learned as an educator or as a writer, struggles you have had with writing, what you have learned about receiving feedback on your own writing, and other reflections are all valid things you could include—though of course, you don’t have to address all of these. Some questions you might ask yourself include:

• What experiences do I bring to this position (formal or informal)?
• Why do I care about writing and communication? What is rewarding, interesting, or important about it?
• Why do I enjoy helping others learn and/or express themselves?
• What do I find challenging about writing or communication? How do I deal with those challenges?
• What have I observed others find difficult or challenging about writing or communication? How have I helped others address those challenges (or how do I imagine/hope to do so)? 

Please address the letter to Kristina Aikens and/or the Hiring Committee.

The writing consultant program operates primarily in person on the Medford campus, so applicants should expect to work mostly in person. However, writing consultants are permitted to post a percentage of remote sessions during the academic year (usually 1 or 2 of the 5 required hours). Additional remote work may also be available depending on student needs or if you would like to work with alumni (an occasional need). Please contact kristina.aikens@tufts.edu if you have questions or need accommodations.  

The August/September training is mandatory for all new GWCs and will be offered in person only. If you are sure you are unable to attend, please do not apply. We can accommodate small conflicts—for example, if you need to attend an orientation or department event for a few hours that week, we can work around it. Please reach out (Kristina.Aikens@tufts.edu) if you have a specific concern about the dates. The training will be approximately 10am – 5pm each day. 

We ask for your patience, as our hiring team is small and we receive many applications that we need time to read and process. Some applicants will be invited to interview in March, April, or May. Please do not contact us to inquire about the status of your application, as this only slows down the process. The exception is if you need to withdraw your application or if you have received an offer with overlapping training dates or other conflicts--in that case, please let us know as soon as possible by emailing Kristina.Aikens@tufts.edu.