Tufts v Wesleyan - social scene?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS has narrowed his list down to Tufts & Wesleyan.

He attended both admitted student days but still doesn’t have a great feel for what the social life would be like.

It sounded like maybe Wesleyan might be a closer-knit community?

He wants to have fun but isn’t a hard core partier.

Dating? He is at an all-boys HS so it’s definitely a consideration.

Go to the one that offers a degree in partying and better dating careers outcomes.

[Anonymous]

If your son is straight, he should know that Wesleyan has a lot of gay kids. This was told to my DC by a family friend who currently attends. They said probably 40% of the girls and 20% of the guys. Don’t roast me, DCUM. Just passing along what we heard and this can effect the social and dating scene.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your son is straight, he should know that Wesleyan has a lot of gay kids. This was told to my DC by a family friend who currently attends. They said probably 40% of the girls and 20% of the guys. Don’t roast me, DCUM. Just passing along what we heard and this can effect the social and dating scene.

Sure, there's some gay kids--as there are anywhere--and also plenty of straight ones. Makes for a diverse, interesting campus.

I'd pick Wes. More interesting group of kids, nicer campus, tighter community, generally more intellectually and culturally curious.

[Anonymous]

Based on the students I know who are either there now or recently graduated (friends' kids, relatives, friends of my older dc), Wesleyan is generally a happier campus and a more social place. Tufts can be hit or miss and depends on the student's initiative more, but Wesleyan is close-knit in a nice way and all types of kids mingle with one another, not cliquey. You can find your group at Tufts but it's more based on type. At Wes, athletes hang out with artists, parties pretty much open to everyone, and it's just more relaxed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your son is straight, he should know that Wesleyan has a lot of gay kids. This was told to my DC by a family friend who currently attends. They said probably 40% of the girls and 20% of the guys. Don’t roast me, DCUM. Just passing along what we heard and this can effect the social and dating scene.

Sure, there's some gay kids--as there are anywhere--and also plenty of straight ones. Makes for a diverse, interesting campus.

I'd pick Wes. More interesting group of kids, nicer campus, tighter community, generally more intellectually and culturally curious.

This is true almost everywhere these days, but most of the "gay" kids identify as bi. Plenty of straight dating at Wesleyan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Boston vs West Hartford. Easy choice.

Eye roll.

Right? I mean somebody is way underestimating the West Hartford Elks Lodge’s spring B-B-Q.

[Anonymous]

DC a recent Wes grad and 1000% would have chosen Tufts if he had a redo - he was a top athlete there and found th social strata to be extremely cliquey, with incredibly leftist and try-hard to be cool overlay. Theater geeks hanging with film nerds, Football players hang with volleyball girls, etc etc is the extent of the mixing - friend at Tufts found a more open and welcoming environment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC a recent Wes grad and 1000% would have chosen Tufts if he had a redo - he was a top athlete there and found th social strata to be extremely cliquey, with incredibly leftist and try-hard to be cool overlay. Theater geeks hanging with film nerds, Football players hang with volleyball girls, etc etc is the extent of the mixing - friend at Tufts found a more open and welcoming environment

But West Hartford!!

[Anonymous]

Talk to current students at both schools! So much more useful than n=1 observations from randos on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC a recent Wes grad and 1000% would have chosen Tufts if he had a redo - he was a top athlete there and found th social strata to be extremely cliquey, with incredibly leftist and try-hard to be cool overlay. Theater geeks hanging with film nerds, Football players hang with volleyball girls, etc etc is the extent of the mixing - friend at Tufts found a more open and welcoming environment

But West Hartford!!

Neither here nor there, but I lived in West Hartford for a while and it’s actually pretty nice! 😉

[Anonymous]

Both great schools with very smart students. Wesleyan definitely has a more alternative vibe/artsy lefty students. Tufts is also lefty but more "mainstream" in vibes. I *think* Wesleyan has greek life but am not sure. Tuft has it but it is a small part of the social scene. FWIW, club sports are big at Tufts and for many of the clubs anyone can join, if that is of interest. Good luck and congrats to your DS!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC a recent Wes grad and 1000% would have chosen Tufts if he had a redo - he was a top athlete there and found th social strata to be extremely cliquey, with incredibly leftist and try-hard to be cool overlay. Theater geeks hanging with film nerds, Football players hang with volleyball girls, etc etc is the extent of the mixing - friend at Tufts found a more open and welcoming environment

I have heard from older friends of DC that Wes has more of a athlete/non-athlete divide socially. It sounds like that was also true in your son's experience. My son is interested in what Wes has to offer academically, but worried about the size (3000-ish students) being limited, and the slogan "Keep Wes Weird" does not speak to him. Was that slogan true to the spirit or culture of Wes in your son's experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your son is straight, he should know that Wesleyan has a lot of gay kids. This was told to my DC by a family friend who currently attends. They said probably 40% of the girls and 20% of the guys. Don’t roast me, DCUM. Just passing along what we heard and this can effect the social and dating scene.

This is something we've noticed at most small LACs tbh. Much higher percentage of gay community is attracted to smaller queer-friendly LAC culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk to current students at both schools! So much more useful than n=1 observations from randos on DCUM.

DC didn’t get a chance to talk to any current Tufts students while we were there and only a couple at Wes. He did have a student tour guides at each last year but he was more focused on academics then, not social.

He doesn’t have any older friends at either but maybe the college counselor at his school can connect him.

-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, all.

He isn’t crazy about the Tufts campus and doesn’t love the location of Wes. But generally likes most everything else about them. Academics, etc.

I think he’s leaning a little more towards Tufts at the moment just to have Somerville/Boston nearby.

If he does pick Tufts which pre-orientation “camp” should he do?

It depends on his interests. TWO is a 5-day wilderness camp bonding experience. FIT is for active, sporty kids. GO is wonderful for those who want to explore more about Boston and do lots of cool excursions. There are a few other ones that are about civic engagement into the towns of Somerville/Medford or political engagement with the community. All are very bonding.

Thanks!