Tufts - what is the atmosphere like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:friend's son just graduated. had a fantastic time. from friends to extracurriculars. he's working in his field, now

know people who got into harvard & not tufts.

good choice

That's the infamous Tufts syndrome for you. You can look it up; it has its own Wikipedia entry.

[Anonymous]

Our DC just finished their freshman fall semester and couldn’t be happier. They applied ED in 2019 and then deferred a year. They are engaged with their classes, love their professors, made a nice group of friends who come from all over the US (surprisingly has not connected with international students), found peers to explore shared interest in music and sports. DC chose Tufts over parents’ more competitive Ivy Alma mater as they were looking for a traditional SLAC campus experience, but in an urban setting. Observations about campus and neighborhood shared above are largely true - whether those attributes are positive or negative is in the eye of the beholder. Our DC and we too appreciate the campus, the surroundings neighborhoods and proximity to Cambridge and Boston,

The engineering, Pre-med, SMFA, and Fletcher students are pretty focused and intense, but there are ma y others who are laid back

DC does comment on how quiet campus can be, but part of that is pandemic and part is they have friends at other area schools and spend a lot of time off campus.

As parents with older children and experience at other schools we think Tufts leaves a little
to be desired in their lack of communication with parents - but our DC and their friends all talk about their engagement with faculty and administration, so perhaps Tufts is intentionally avoiding a helicopter dynamic by not coddling the parents.

Other than the cost of the school, our experience - and more importantly our DC’s experience is very positive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:friend's son just graduated. had a fantastic time. from friends to extracurriculars. he's working in his field, now

know people who got into harvard & not tufts.

good choice

That's the infamous Tufts syndrome for you. You can look it up; it has its own Wikipedia entry.

Is it still that way? My high school bf got into HYP, went to Harvard, and was rejected from Tufts, in the early 1980s. We were in suburban Boston, and the Tufts admits were very average in comparison.

[Anonymous]

When I went in the 90s it was my first choice (I knew I didn’t have a shot at Ivy). But everyone I met, it was Not their first choice school. It was just the best one they got into. And they talked about this a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I went in the 90s it was my first choice (I knew I didn’t have a shot at Ivy). But everyone I met, it was Not their first choice school. It was just the best one they got into. And they talked about this a lot.

According to the data at

https://ivyleagueprep.com/tufts-university-class-of-2024/

For the Tufts Class of 2024, about 50% of students were admitted ED, which would suggest that it was the first choice for many students. No doubt there will be many others for whom it was not the first choice.

[Anonymous]

According to posts in another thread, the Tufts admission rate last year was 11%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I went in the 90s it was my first choice (I knew I didn’t have a shot at Ivy). But everyone I met, it was Not their first choice school. It was just the best one they got into. And they talked about this a lot.

According to the data at

https://ivyleagueprep.com/tufts-university-class-of-2024/

For the Tufts Class of 2024, about 50% of students were admitted ED, which would suggest that it was the first choice for many students. No doubt there will be many others for whom it was not the first choice.

Tufts has ED 1 & 2, and ED 2 is timed to capture those who’s ED application elsewhere didn’t work out. I’m not saying that to denigrate the school - whether an applicant applies in ED 1 or 2 they are still making a statement about how much they like the school. It’s just that kind of place - where kids are there because they know what they want in a college experience and actively choose the school - regardless of what anyone says to the contrary….

[Anonymous]

Are Tufts boosters still acting like it's some highly prestigious, coveted school? Please lay off of it. It's 2022!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I went in the 90s it was my first choice (I knew I didn’t have a shot at Ivy). But everyone I met, it was Not their first choice school. It was just the best one they got into. And they talked about this a lot.

According to the data at

https://ivyleagueprep.com/tufts-university-class-of-2024/

For the Tufts Class of 2024, about 50% of students were admitted ED, which would suggest that it was the first choice for many students. No doubt there will be many others for whom it was not the first choice.

Tufts has ED 1 & 2, and ED 2 is timed to capture those who’s ED application elsewhere didn’t work out. I’m not saying that to denigrate the school - whether an applicant applies in ED 1 or 2 they are still making a statement about how much they like the school. It’s just that kind of place - where kids are there because they know what they want in a college experience and actively choose the school - regardless of what anyone says to the contrary….

The timing of Tufts ED2 is the same as all of the other schools ED2. It isn't unique.

[Anonymous]

My DC liked Tufts after virtual session.
Liked the SMFA art program.
Planned to double major with computer science and art

After visitiing the school, corossed it off the list because
1. The campus is far off from boston and didn't look appealing
2. To take the art classes at SMFA, you have to make around 40min(one way) commute from the main campus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC liked Tufts after virtual session.
Liked the SMFA art program.
Planned to double major with computer science and art

After visitiing the school, corossed it off the list because
1. The campus is far off from boston and didn't look appealing
2. To take the art classes at SMFA, you have to make around 40min(one way) commute from the main campus.

It’s true that Tufts is not in Boston. The campus is officially in Medford, but much of it is actually in Somerville as it straddles both suburbs. That said, to our DC it is not “far off” from Boston. It is a 10 minute bike ride from Harvard Square and 20 min T ride from Boston and they are opening a new T extension and stop this spring on the campus. Although PP is correct the SMFA shuttle takes longer, which is why SMFA students live in the city. For our DC Tufts offers the best of both urban and suburban. There are few schools that do the same. They chose it over several rural SLAC for that specific reason. I think it’s a bit of “to each their own.”

[Anonymous]

General atmosphere is like UVA in Massachusetts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC liked Tufts after virtual session.
Liked the SMFA art program.
Planned to double major with computer science and art

After visitiing the school, corossed it off the list because
1. The campus is far off from boston and didn't look appealing
2. To take the art classes at SMFA, you have to make around 40min(one way) commute from the main campus.

It’s true that Tufts is not in Boston. The campus is officially in Medford, but much of it is actually in Somerville as it straddles both suburbs. That said, to our DC it is not “far off” from Boston. It is a 10 minute bike ride from Harvard Square and 20 min T ride from Boston and they are opening a new T extension and stop this spring on the campus. Although PP is correct the SMFA shuttle takes longer, which is why SMFA students live in the city. For our DC Tufts offers the best of both urban and suburban. There are few schools that do the same. They chose it over several rural SLAC for that specific reason. I think it’s a bit of “to each their own.”

For college kids, Somerville + Davis/Porter/Harvard/Central Squares are for many a lot more lively and fun than Boston proper. There are so many college-aged people around and so much to do. It's a fantastic location to be a student. A lot of Tufts students live off-campus in Somerville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are Tufts boosters still acting like it's some highly prestigious, coveted school? Please lay off of it. It's 2022!

Someone should really just lock you up on an island without internet service somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are Tufts boosters still acting like it's some highly prestigious, coveted school? Please lay off of it. It's 2022!

Someone should really just lock you up on an island without internet service somewhere.

Does a pretty non-controversial statement really warrant such a violent and aggressive response?