Tufts - questions (ranking, low acceptance rate, comparable schools - why?)

[Anonymous]

Tufts is also a “Goldilocks” school for many kids…not too small, not too big. I know that finding schools in the 3000-8000 student range was a priority for my kids. BC, BU, and NU were all too big.

[Anonymous]

Tufts is a great school. As some have mentioned, it is a goldilocks school. Great academics, smaller, but with a medical school. Really a great, great choice.

I really don't care what US News thinks of it. And from the tons of applications, most parents and students don't either.

[Anonymous]

Tufts is facing some financial headwinds. For those who are into this, this letter from them last month gives some clarity on this issue:

https://www.tufts.edu/president/speeches-and-messages/04112024-Update-on-University-Finances

Some of the challenges aren't unique to Tufts, but it is reflective of the competition that it faces with the other Boston schools.

[Anonymous]

Tufts is declining while BC and especially BU and NU are rising fast.

[Anonymous]

I always thought highly of Tufts and still do. Love Boston as a college town. One thing I noticed on our tour was how rundown many of the buildings and campus appeared compared to other Boston schools, especially BC. BC is also far more accessible to T to get into town and more social (but admittedly, not everyone is a social butterfly).

OP - why does this matter? Visit and if DC likes it, apply. If not, don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In light of its ranking, why is Tufts:

- Usually lumped together with Wash U, Vanderbilt, Emery, Rice, etc.?

- such a competitive admit — comparable to those other schools?

Based on the caliber of students admitted by tufts from our DMV private, it is similar to BU, admits students who are above average but do not get into BC or UMich in RD, and BC admits students who do not get into GTown/WashU/Emory RD, and those of course are less selective than the ivy/plus /T10 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In light of its ranking, why is Tufts:

- Usually lumped together with Wash U, Vanderbilt, Emery, Rice, etc.?

- such a competitive admit — comparable to those other schools?

Based on the caliber of students admitted by tufts from our DMV private, it is similar to BU, admits students who are above average but do not get into BC or UMich in RD, and BC admits students who do not get into GTown/WashU/Emory RD, and those of course are less selective than the ivy/plus /T10 schools.

BU is not easier to get into than Michigan out of state. BU's SAT scores are substantially higher, and its acceptance rate lower. Michigan's 25% SAT score is below 1350, and that's for those who even submit an SAT score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Visited all the Boston schools (except BC) with both my kids. Both had very high stats. One loved Harvard and Tufts. The other loved BU and NU. Different strokes for different folks.

+ 1

We excluded BC, Tufts and NEU

We wish BU had a traditional campus, but it wasn't a dealbreaker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought highly of Tufts and still do. Love Boston as a college town. One thing I noticed on our tour was how rundown many of the buildings and campus appeared compared to other Boston schools, especially BC. BC is also far more accessible to T to get into town and more social (but admittedly, not everyone is a social butterfly).

OP - why does this matter? Visit and if DC likes it, apply. If not, don't.

Bc I have one senior who got into some of the schools lumped with Tufts and got WL at Tufts. My 2nd child is recruiting and asked this question that I posted, bc: Tufts and another one lumped with Tufts are both expressing interest in the kid AND kid sees sibling got into high ranked schools and WL at Tufts (so trying to understand why). Recruited kid trying to understand how Tufts fits in. We toured several of these lumped in schools and didn’t see how Tufts was run down but have heard that from several posters. Can someone clarify?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Visited all the Boston schools (except BC) with both my kids. Both had very high stats. One loved Harvard and Tufts. The other loved BU and NU. Different strokes for different folks.

+ 1

We excluded BC, Tufts and NEU

We wish BU had a traditional campus, but it wasn't a dealbreaker.

This was a dealbreaker for us- and why GW was excluded.

[Anonymous]

BU's campus is peculiar because of it length. Hard to have a cohesive campus when its one long road. We didn't see Tufts as being run down. Obviously not like our Virginia schools, but not run down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought highly of Tufts and still do. Love Boston as a college town. One thing I noticed on our tour was how rundown many of the buildings and campus appeared compared to other Boston schools, especially BC. BC is also far more accessible to T to get into town and more social (but admittedly, not everyone is a social butterfly).

OP - why does this matter? Visit and if DC likes it, apply. If not, don't.

how is BC for a non-catholic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always thought highly of Tufts and still do. Love Boston as a college town. One thing I noticed on our tour was how rundown many of the buildings and campus appeared compared to other Boston schools, especially BC. BC is also far more accessible to T to get into town and more social (but admittedly, not everyone is a social butterfly).

OP - why does this matter? Visit and if DC likes it, apply. If not, don't.

There is a brand new T stop at Tufts (Green Line)- students can be in downtown Boston in 15 minutes. Between that and the 10 minute walk to Davis Square with all the restaurants and the red line, its accessibility to the city and the best parts of Cambridge is terrific (much better than BC).

The campus did not feel run down to me but I don’t think they invest as much in new spaces as some other schools- my kid was fine with that when we toured and was mostly just impressed with the students and how happy they seemed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I always thought highly of Tufts and still do. Love Boston as a college town. One thing I noticed on our tour was how rundown many of the buildings and campus appeared compared to other Boston schools, especially BC. BC is also far more accessible to T to get into town and more social (but admittedly, not everyone is a social butterfly).

OP - why does this matter? Visit and if DC likes it, apply. If not, don't.

how is BC for a non-catholic?

BC is perfectly fine for non-Catholics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Visited all the Boston schools (except BC) with both my kids. Both had very high stats. One loved Harvard and Tufts. The other loved BU and NU. Different strokes for different folks.

+ 1

We excluded BC, Tufts and NEU

We wish BU had a traditional campus, but it wasn't a dealbreaker.

This was a dealbreaker for us- and why GW was excluded.

Visited all 4 schools, Tufts, BU, BC, NU
NU was the best overall.