Tufts - what is the atmosphere like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is begging to read as if a bully is trying to hijack it - with multi anti messages intended to look as if they are from different people when they are clearly authored by one disgruntled person. To that person I think we can all say, “get over it and move on.”

Tufts is clearly the right fit for a segment of students. Its applicant pool continues to grow and is increasingly competitive year after year. Seems to be they are doing something right.

Agreed. I wish I knew the reason. Jealousy of some form definitely plays a role.

Welcome to the area, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is begging to read as if a bully is trying to hijack it - with multi anti messages intended to look as if they are from different people when they are clearly authored by one disgruntled person. To that person I think we can all say, “get over it and move on.”

Tufts is clearly the right fit for a segment of students. Its applicant pool continues to grow and is increasingly competitive year after year. Seems to be they are doing something right.

Agreed. I wish I knew the reason. Jealousy of some form definitely plays a role.

+1

Jealous people try to sabotage many posts, not just this section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is begging to read as if a bully is trying to hijack it - with multi anti messages intended to look as if they are from different people when they are clearly authored by one disgruntled person. To that person I think we can all say, “get over it and move on.”

Tufts is clearly the right fit for a segment of students. Its applicant pool continues to grow and is increasingly competitive year after year. Seems to be they are doing something right.

Agreed. I wish I knew the reason. Jealousy of some form definitely plays a role.

+1

Jealous people try to sabotage many posts, not just this section.

There is some snark here, but a lot of the pushback (from me, included) is just simply stating that Tufts is not super-elite. Which is true, and that's OK. I don't think it necessarily comes from jealousy, although I can't speak for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Does anybody know how hard it is to get in with average grades from one of the so-called "Big 3," if you're being recruited by a coach? DS is currently in that position. Mosly a B+/A- average (but overall GPA brought down by a rougher freshman year--much better sophomore and junior year so far). Meeting with coach at prospect clinic soon and they seem very very interested, but we're not sure when he should ask about the threshold for admittance. His grades would not get him on his own most likely. He is a great student and could do well anywhere, so he's not worried about not fitting in, but he doesn't want to annoy the coaches if they find out later that he can't get in. His club coach says just keep communicating with them and they like him they'll give him one of their "spots." Anyone have experience with sports recruiting at Tufts? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is begging to read as if a bully is trying to hijack it - with multi anti messages intended to look as if they are from different people when they are clearly authored by one disgruntled person. To that person I think we can all say, “get over it and move on.”

Tufts is clearly the right fit for a segment of students. Its applicant pool continues to grow and is increasingly competitive year after year. Seems to be they are doing something right.

Agreed. I wish I knew the reason. Jealousy of some form definitely plays a role.

+1

Jealous people try to sabotage many posts, not just this section.

There is some snark here, but a lot of the pushback (from me, included) is just simply stating that Tufts is not super-elite. Which is true, and that's OK. I don't think it necessarily comes from jealousy, although I can't speak for everyone.

What an idiotic and useless comment. Literally nobody cares what your definition of “super elite” is and I don’t see anybody claiming that Tufts is the most selective school in the country. If you can’t add even a modicum of value to the conversation then refrain from posting and let the adults converse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While USC is a fine school - and indeed deserves all the accolade referenced above, that only makes it a more known school - not a “better” one. The reality is USC is a huge draw in SoCA, perhaps close behind Stanford, UCLA, and Cal for CA residents. Otherwise, it’s seen as a respectable but nothing special school for extremely affluent over privileged kids (reminder, it was a top destination in the parents bribing for admissions scandal). The amount of money USC invests in reputation advancing (vs mission advancing) is an obscene waste.

Also - and this is always the challenge with Tufts - comparing Tufts to any of these schools is comparing apples and oranges. Tufts is a SLAC that also has an engineering school and some excellent graduate schools. Yes, it’s a University, but not in the same way as a NYU, Georgetown, or USC. They are just different types of schools. Those actually affiliated with Tufts know this to be the case.

This thread reads as if the majority of people commenting on it have no understanding of Tufts or it’s appeal. My best guess is the negativity comes from two types of DCUM participants - those who are going through the college search with their own child and frustrated and needing to vent (I get it, this is a tough admissions season) and those with an ax to grind who may, or may not, have anything to do with the actual school being discussed.

I went to Tufts for grad school, but right after undergrad so I lived on campus and knew a lot of undergrads. I think the characterization above is very correct. Fwiw I can't speak to the culture now; back when I was there, a lot of undergrads did seem to have a bit of a chip on their shoulder and also were a little snotty and insular at the same time. I imagine that's changed dramatically since then - admissions are SO much more competitive now, and Somerville has become (for good reason) a really popular neighborhood across all of greater Boston. Amazing restaurants and clubs etc. My oldest kid didn't stand a chance, but if my younger one is within range, I'd encourage them to consider Tufts, precisely because as the PP says it's a SLAC with all these other great schools/programs embedded as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody know how hard it is to get in with average grades from one of the so-called "Big 3," if you're being recruited by a coach? DS is currently in that position. Mosly a B+/A- average (but overall GPA brought down by a rougher freshman year--much better sophomore and junior year so far). Meeting with coach at prospect clinic soon and they seem very very interested, but we're not sure when he should ask about the threshold for admittance. His grades would not get him on his own most likely. He is a great student and could do well anywhere, so he's not worried about not fitting in, but he doesn't want to annoy the coaches if they find out later that he can't get in. His club coach says just keep communicating with them and they like him they'll give him one of their "spots." Anyone have experience with sports recruiting at Tufts? Thanks!

The school as an 11% acceptance rate. You have to look at the Naviance scattergrams to see where your kid falls.

I know from experience that the student you describe is not likely to gain admissions without a coach helping out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody know how hard it is to get in with average grades from one of the so-called "Big 3," if you're being recruited by a coach? DS is currently in that position. Mosly a B+/A- average (but overall GPA brought down by a rougher freshman year--much better sophomore and junior year so far). Meeting with coach at prospect clinic soon and they seem very very interested, but we're not sure when he should ask about the threshold for admittance. His grades would not get him on his own most likely. He is a great student and could do well anywhere, so he's not worried about not fitting in, but he doesn't want to annoy the coaches if they find out later that he can't get in. His club coach says just keep communicating with them and they like him they'll give him one of their "spots." Anyone have experience with sports recruiting at Tufts? Thanks!

The school as an 11% acceptance rate. You have to look at the Naviance scattergrams to see where your kid falls.

I know from experience that the student you describe is not likely to gain admissions without a coach helping out.

Right. The question was whether how much can a coach help. Anybody have experience with a NESCAC coach getting slightly underqualified athletes in?

[Anonymous]

The best course is to take the mystery out of it. Our experience at a NESCAC is that the couches generally will tell you whether they are going to use their pull/slot on your behalf (or will do so by saying the converse i.e., you will make team if you can get in on your own).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody know how hard it is to get in with average grades from one of the so-called "Big 3," if you're being recruited by a coach? DS is currently in that position. Mosly a B+/A- average (but overall GPA brought down by a rougher freshman year--much better sophomore and junior year so far). Meeting with coach at prospect clinic soon and they seem very very interested, but we're not sure when he should ask about the threshold for admittance. His grades would not get him on his own most likely. He is a great student and could do well anywhere, so he's not worried about not fitting in, but he doesn't want to annoy the coaches if they find out later that he can't get in. His club coach says just keep communicating with them and they like him they'll give him one of their "spots." Anyone have experience with sports recruiting at Tufts? Thanks!

The school as an 11% acceptance rate. You have to look at the Naviance scattergrams to see where your kid falls.

I know from experience that the student you describe is not likely to gain admissions without a coach helping out.

Right. The question was whether how much can a coach help. Anybody have experience with a NESCAC coach getting slightly underqualified athletes in?

Big 3 parent here who has seen some NESCAC scattergrams: A 3.5 from a Big 3, where the average would be higher but for 9th grade, is absolutely not out of the picture for Tufts. They don't consider 9th grade grades anyway, and in your son's case he is on an upward trajectory which is most important. It's definitely not going to keep him out of the picture as a recruited athlete.

[Anonymous]

Tufts is names after a dude, Charles Tufts, who made his fortune from real estate and his brick company.

Look, my brother went there in the 80s and it was as many described: kids who really wanted to be in the ivies or MIT and were rejected, running around with chips on their shoulders (including my brother).

Times really have changed and this is an old characterization. My DC applied ED and it was very tough to get in last year as many have already pointed out. He really did not want to apply to an Ivy. He wanted Tufts. It checked the most boxes for him. What can I say? Things have evolved.

My brother went on to get a grad degree from Berkeley. He has a great job and looks back fondly on Tufts. But to this day he will say his experience back then was that it was everyone’s Ivy back up.

[Anonymous]

It’s a backup for Ivy lovers. People who are looking for LACs, they go to LACs not to Tufts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a backup for Ivy lovers. People who are looking for LACs, they go to LACs not to Tufts.

Just… bizarre. What makes you think you can speak for everyone? There are kids who go to Tufts because they want to go to Tufts. They are choosing to ED. This means Tufts isn’t back up anything for this subgroup.

Some kids really just like the size, locations, programs, student body. Why is this so hard to understand?

[Anonymous]

I know a kid who chose Tufts over Dartmouth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a backup for Ivy lovers. People who are looking for LACs, they go to LACs not to Tufts.

Just… bizarre. What makes you think you can speak for everyone? There are kids who go to Tufts because they want to go to Tufts. They are choosing to ED. This means Tufts isn’t back up anything for this subgroup.

Some kids really just like the size, locations, programs, student body. Why is this so hard to understand?

+1

There are plenty of kids who have it as a first choice ahead of "higher ranked" schools, apply ED and don't get in. It is what it is.