<p>My son was THRILLED to read of his acceptance to Tufts this afternoon - particularly with the note that he has been designated a Tisch scholar.</p>
<p>I can't find any additional information on this award on line - any Tuft's students out there know anything about it? </p>
<p>Regardless - we're thrilled with his admission to Tufts!</p>
<p>Oh, wow, Old Prof you really hit it big.</p>
<p>The Tisch Scholarship is a really big deal -- it's new (it was first given to the class of 2010) and comes from the Tisch College of Citizenship & Public Service. It is given to students who have shown a demonstrated commitment to active citizenship (community service and such things) and they are students Tufts really want to come to the University due to that characteristic.</p>
<p>I believe that freshmen who are accepted with this scholarship are automatically offered a place in the Tisch Scholars program -- which I am in -- which is a four-year program explained here: <a href="http://activecitizen.tufts.edu/?pid=19%5B/url%5D">http://activecitizen.tufts.edu/?pid=19</a>. Normally, students have to apply as freshmen to be accepted to this program which is what I did and what most students still have to do. A handful -- three or four -- including your son, it seems, are offered the opportunity to not have to go through the application process. The other Tisch Scholars for each class (~20 are selected from each class) apply as first-years. If you have any questions re: the Tisch Scholars program, please let me know!</p>
<p>It is my understanding that Tisch Scholarship recipients are offered this money because they need a good amount of financial aid that they might not get through Tufts' regular aid office and therefore might go to another school. From my understanding, it's nearly a full ride, right?</p>
<p>Is your son going to Tufts? Where else has he been accepted?</p>
<p>Hello Lolabelle - Wow - did you blow us away with this information! My son found out on line this afternoon - there really was no information posted re: the Tisch Scholarship, so we're awaiting the Fin. Aid letter next week. Found some information on-line re: the community service component of the program and that certainly reflects some of my son's experience and ECs.</p>
<p>With the little we know, we feel pretty honored. Tufts was among his first choices, and he will most probably attend. I think his second choice at the moment is Vassar. </p>
<p>What has your experience in the program been like? What type of projects are you involved in? Are students in the Tisch program fully integrated into other Tufts programs? any information at this point would be very helpful.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>OldProf:</p>
<p>Please take everything I say with a grain of salt until you get your financial aid package information -- just in case something I said is wrong!</p>
<p>In the meantime, let me clarify something: there is a difference between a TISCH SCHOLAR and a TISCH SCHOLARSHIP. The latter is what I believe you have been offered -- which is a big financial aid package tied to the fact that Tufts' adcom believed your son to be a huge asset to the "active citizenship" community that is so strongly emphasized here at Tufts, and that they saw your family as having a strong enough financial need that you might pick another school over Tufts if you didn't get enough money. The former is the program I gave you the link for through the Tisch College. In receiving the Tisch Scholarship, though, your son will be offered the opportunity to bypass the Tisch Scholar application process that others will have to go through during their first year at Tufts.</p>
<p>(A bit of history: I told you that the Class of 2010 was the first class where a few students were picked to receive the Tisch Scholarship. Well, as a member of the Class of 2007, I receive a $3,000 check every semester as a Tisch Scholarship for being a Tisch Scholar -- but ever since the Class of 2009, these scholarships are no longer given. The problem was that they were giving these scholarship based totally on merit -- for having become a Tisch Scholar -- and therefore people like, well, me, who did not qualify for a single cent of financial aid, were getting $6,000 a year in financial aid. It's basically become money in my savings. Tisch College decided that it would be more fair to gather all the money they give to 20-odd Tisch Scholars each year, and give really big financial aid awards to three or four students instead who /really/ need it and who might not come to Tufts if they don't. So while my classmates and I still get the scholarship, due to the fact that it had been promised to use from day 1, newer classes do not.)</p>
<p>OK, about the Tisch Scholar program, you asked if it's fully integrated to other Tufts programs, and the question is yes because it's not a different academic program. The Tisch Scholar program is intensive and demands your full commitment, but it is COMPLETELY extracurricular; i.e., you do it in addition to all your curricular requirements. </p>
<p>For a list of projects that Scholars are doing this year, go here: <a href="http://activecitizen.tufts.edu/?pid=102%5B/url%5D">http://activecitizen.tufts.edu/?pid=102</a>. Mine is on there. ;-)</p>
<p>As for how my experience has been, it's just incredible having the opportuntity to receive all the funding necessary to do any community service-related project I want. Oftentimes it's really just the access to money that makes things possible that's missing. (FYI: this funding is seperate and in addition to, in the case of people like your son who receive the Tisch Scholarship.) The Tisch Scholar community is also very tight-knit and supportive (weekly meetings, retreats, etc.).</p>
<p>Lolabelle, your information is so helpful - thank you! Which project is yours?</p>
<p>The acceptance email simply says that my son has been selected as a Tisch Scholar - no mention of the scholarship, although it does note that the designation will take care of his need for federal student loans. So we'll cross our fingers for the scholarship!</p>
<p>The Tisch College looks to be both rigorous and inspiring. Again, his selection for this program is particularly meaningful to all of us.</p>
<p>FYI, National Public Radio had a great piece on Tufts new "quirky" essays and their potential impact on student diversity at Tufts this past February. If you haven't heard it (it features Admissions Dean Lee Coffin), you can give it a listen here: <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7384490%5B/url%5D">www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7384490</a></p>
<p>Now - any further thoughts about Tuft's language requirement? :)</p>
<p>OldProf:</p>
<p>I like to retain a certain degree of anonymity online, so please accept my apologies for not telling you my project because then I would tell you my name.</p>
<p>Do let me know when you get the finaid statement from Tufts, to let me know if I was correct! Also, any further questions re: the Tisch Scholar program.</p>
<p>What about the language requirement do you want to know? You might want to check past posts on the Tufts thread about it as it's been extensively discussed.</p>
<p>You have to look out though, scholarship money may replace what you would have gotten as university grant in your financial aid package. I got one of those Tufts University scholars thing when I was admitted, and my financial aid package was the same as most other schools I was admitted to.</p>
<p>I think the language requirement is a great thing. Actually though, at the state school I'm at now you have to take 2 years of language for pretty much any major that doesn't rhyme with mathematics or physics. I mean, shoot, how the language requirement not be a great thing?</p>