Wesleyan vs Tufts?

[Anonymous]

More the same than not? Curious what kind of kid thrives at each?

[Anonymous]

I had two relatives really like Tufts. It has a nice campus life, but also easy access to Boston. Don't know much about Wesleyan, but I tend to think of it as a small step below Tufts.

[Anonymous]

Different sizes (Tufts almost twice the size of Wesleyan and has a much larger graduate student population), location (suburb of large metropolitan area vs small city ), and vibes (more traditional more mainstream vs quirky intellectual). Both difficult to get into and superb education.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how they are now, but back when I went to one of these schools the vibes were very different. Wesleyan attracted much more alternative, less traditional types of students than Tufts. Both good schools, but at the time, very different student body (of course some overlap).

[Anonymous]

13:15 here, I want to clarify. By traditional, I don't mean politically, I mean more in appearance, preppy sort of way.

[Anonymous]

Wesleyan is harder to get into, smaller, small city, artsy, competitive. My DD wanted to go but they gave us no FA. I think its anlovely school, but thenkids seem very self-directed, so if your kid is undecided, the school might overwhelm her.

[Anonymous]

Acceptance rate
Tufts: 16%
Wesleyan: 22%

[Anonymous]

Wesleyan is a better school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wesleyan is a better school.

In some respects, and intermittently in terms of difficulty in admissions, maybe. But Tufts is an actual full-service university. Wider curriculum, larger alum network, closer (much) to a large city, more cosmopolitan. Some could say that Tufts offers more opportunity and better preparation.

[Anonymous]

I visited each with my DD about 5 years ago (she ended up not applying to either -- went to William and Mary).

In addition to what others have mentioned, I got the impression that Tufts, having started as a grad school, has some great departments (which trickle down to undergrads) and some not great ones. Also, there are more lectures and fewer small classes than at Wesleyan, where the whole focus is on undergrads.

[Anonymous]

Wesleyan is getting a boost and seeing an increase in tours and info session attendees . The lead in the popular Broadway play, Hamilton, is a graduate of not that long ago (relatively speaking).

Congrats, OP. Two great choices.

[Anonymous]

I went to Tufts. It did not start as a grad school! It started as Tufts College. The Medford campus is very undergrad oriented. You barely notice the grad students. The medical dental campus is in Boston and Vet in Grafton.

I did not find it to be traditional or preppy at all but I suppose those elements exist. Lots of lefty funky for sure.

I really enjoyed tufts and I think it has only gotten better.

[Anonymous]

Tufts is more prestigious. Wesleyan smokes more pot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tufts is more prestigious. Wesleyan smokes more pot.

Absolutely not, to the first. Possibly, to the second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tufts is more prestigious. Wesleyan smokes more pot.

Apparently, you have not become acquainted with the Tufts Crafts House, sailing team, or large percentage of boarding school grads that make up the student body.