Tufts

[Anonymous]

Not sure what to make of it. In the 70s it almost went bankrupt. Now it seems more like a liberal arts undergrad school with a university title due to its med schools and such.

It’s decently ranked, but not that high.

It seems like a fine enough school, but what is the real attraction if you aren’t pre-med? It’s near Boston but not in it. It’s an okay campus but not great.

My sister wants her DD to apply there to be relatively close to home. But it just seems like the kind of place where there is no there there. I’d like to help sell it to my niece but am hard-pressed. She is a quiet hardworking kid but not Ivy or MIT level. I just don’t get Tufts though to even try to sell it to her.

If you went there, did you like it? What was the draw?

[Anonymous]

I went in the 90s and I liked it enough. Strong academics, safe campus, and there’s enough stuff to do. When I went it was an intelligent somewhat nerdy, crunchy granola student body. Lots of Birkenstock’s. Greek system was preppier but they represent a small portion of the student population. Overwhelmingly though the vibe from the place was ivy-reject with a chip on their shoulder and lackluster school spirit. Most students who were there didn’t want to be there and were vocal about it. It’s a good backup to Brown. It’s also good for engineering, pre med pre vet pre dentistry, IR. Other than that, I think the academics of other schools match it and have better student cultures. Outside of academia, no one really knows of tufts, haven’t encountered an alum in any of my corporate travels. I think most grads go on to grad school, med school, etc. I think tufts is good for a certain type of kid. A colleague’s son went for two years on a lacrosse scholarship and then transferred to UVA for the last two years. He says the academics at UVA were like high school compared to tufts, but the culture was way better. In hindsight no real regrets, but I would have had a blast at BC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went in the 90s and I liked it enough. Strong academics, safe campus, and there’s enough stuff to do. When I went it was an intelligent somewhat nerdy, crunchy granola student body. Lots of Birkenstock’s. Greek system was preppier but they represent a small portion of the student population. Overwhelmingly though the vibe from the place was ivy-reject with a chip on their shoulder and lackluster school spirit. Most students who were there didn’t want to be there and were vocal about it. It’s a good backup to Brown. It’s also good for engineering, pre med pre vet pre dentistry, IR. Other than that, I think the academics of other schools match it and have better student cultures. Outside of academia, no one really knows of tufts, haven’t encountered an alum in any of my corporate travels. I think most grads go on to grad school, med school, etc. I think tufts is good for a certain type of kid. A colleague’s son went for two years on a lacrosse scholarship and then transferred to UVA for the last two years. He says the academics at UVA were like high school compared to tufts, but the culture was way better. In hindsight no real regrets, but I would have had a blast at BC.

The greek system is essentially gone now

[Anonymous]

Slightly overrated due to its NE location.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a great school to me (and I say that as someone who grew up near Boston 40 years ago when Tufts was perceived as more of a safety school).

No idea what you mean by "there's no there there". Certainly it has some academic strengths, and for some people it would be a reach/great match and for others it might not.

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t sound very appealing!

[Anonymous]

You can find information here

https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/t/how-good-is-tufts-and-what-is-its-reputation/1992905/9

Tufts is popular in the DMV. Several people, spanning 3 generations, in our local network of friends attended it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slightly overrated due to its NE location.

Curious what this means. If you mean people perceive Boston is the best area to go to college in and give a bump to Boston area schools then I don't think that's really overrating the school.

Otherwise, my experience is that the cluster of schools in Mass means that they tend to be underrated vs if they were located someplace else.

[Anonymous]

You sound a bit unhinged.

It’s ranked 30 in National Universities.

Did your sister ask for your help? I’m thinking you should file this under MYOB.

If your sister asked gor your help just decline.

[Anonymous]

I mean you'd have to be awfully close to Ivy/MIT material to be tufts material. It's totally not a safety school anymore as it might have been during the midcentury - 80s etc. 11% acceptance rate for Tufts in 2021.

"it just seems like the kind of place where there is no there there"

I mean, have you visited? It's an amazing campus right near cambridge, next to somerville which is a really youthful and happening town. Porter square just next to tufts has tons going on-- art, music, some nightlife, amazing transport links. DC didn't go but I was very impressed with tufts campus and location. It would be hard to be bored there.

Like another poster said, "It’s also good for engineering, pre med pre vet pre dentistry, IR" which is great breadth of things for which tufts is highly notable, but I'm sure you could get a great education in any subject tufts offers.

Fletcher school (IR etc. graduate school) at tufts is highly noted. As mentioned, med and dental schools, I think the only vet school in all of new england.

tufts recently bought the School of the museum. of fine arts boston, which was not the best art school, but their purchase now allows expanded art offerings, the option to do a BA/BFA.

There's a lot to like at tufts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slightly overrated due to its NE location.

Huh? I'd argue it's totally overshadowed by its neighbours Harvard and MIT

[Anonymous]

I’m the OP. I suppose I could be unhinged, though no one has certified me as such.

Yes, my sister asked me for help. Otherwise, why on earth would I be involved in this process?!

I am close to my niece and also have more education under my belt than the rest of my family, so I’m the default advice-giver.

Obviously once my niece seriously starts this process she will also have her GC. I told her anything I say (or her mom, for that matter) is just surface advice and she needs to talk through all of this with him/her/them.

I have read the online reviews, etc. Frankly they don’t sound all that positive. When I look at similar schools the culture just seems so much more positive. That’s why I was asking here if people had personal experiences. Maybe it’s better IRL than what I read on paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. I suppose I could be unhinged, though no one has certified me as such.

Yes, my sister asked me for help. Otherwise, why on earth would I be involved in this process?!

I am close to my niece and also have more education under my belt than the rest of my family, so I’m the default advice-giver.

Obviously once my niece seriously starts this process she will also have her GC. I told her anything I say (or her mom, for that matter) is just surface advice and she needs to talk through all of this with him/her/them.

I have read the online reviews, etc. Frankly they don’t sound all that positive. When I look at similar schools the culture just seems so much more positive. That’s why I was asking here if people had personal experiences. Maybe it’s better IRL than what I read on paper.

Well if your more educated and perhaps have a buck to spare I’d hire a consultant because you sound horrible and not in a position to advise a young adult.

Are you an Oncologist? You sound dead inside, it’s common with Oncologists.

[Anonymous]

Are you familiar with NASCAC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. I suppose I could be unhinged, though no one has certified me as such.

Yes, my sister asked me for help. Otherwise, why on earth would I be involved in this process?!

I am close to my niece and also have more education under my belt than the rest of my family, so I’m the default advice-giver.

Obviously once my niece seriously starts this process she will also have her GC. I told her anything I say (or her mom, for that matter) is just surface advice and she needs to talk through all of this with him/her/them.

I have read the online reviews, etc. Frankly they don’t sound all that positive. When I look at similar schools the culture just seems so much more positive. That’s why I was asking here if people had personal experiences. Maybe it’s better IRL than what I read on paper.

Well if your more educated and perhaps have a buck to spare I’d hire a consultant because you sound horrible and not in a position to advise a young adult.

Are you an Oncologist? You sound dead inside, it’s common with Oncologists.