anything TUFTS

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

<p>Hey Everyone,</p>

<p>I posted this same thread in the College Search section, but I realized that what better place to post then our very own Tufts forum!</p>

<p>As a current Tufts student (entering Junior), I thought I would post on this forum and let anyone who has any questions about Tufts ask away. I can definitely remember the admissions process chaos quite vividly, and I would be more than happy to help prospective students/parents. I also have some pictures that I took of the campus last May, which you can find at:
<a href="http://community.webshots.com/album/140854017KuVlAl%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://community.webshots.com/album/140854017KuVlAl&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>***Also- check out my e-pinions review of Tufts, which covers a lot of aspects of the school. You can find that opinion at:
<a href="http://www.epinions.com/content_124965129860%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.epinions.com/content_124965129860&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I absolutely love Tufts and could not be happier. I look forward to answering your questions, and feel free to ask about anything!</p>

2

<p>I realized that it would be easier to just keep the forum in one section, so if you could all just post any questions under this same topic in the "college search and selection" section (since people have already started responding to that one) that would be great. Thanks!</p>

3

<p>Oh good, another Tufts student to take on the big task of Tufts representation on the CC boards :) It's nice to have help, I get kinda burnt out trying to do a lot of the outreach!</p>

4

<p>Aye yo, entering as a junior too, but as transfer.</p>

<p>PM me your AIM or whatever, just to ask you some **** about the scene for transfers and what.</p>

5

<p>I am a sophomore at Tufts and would also be happy to answer any questions. :)</p>

6

<p>Thanks tufta08! I'm not trying to be negative but, forewarned is forearmed... So, I was wondering what you would say people complain about most there?</p>

7

<p>Hmmm... complain about the most... that's a tough one, since everyone's different (as clich</p>

8

<p>I'm a rising senior at Tufts, and I just thought I'd throw in my two cents on this.</p>

<p>I disagree with tufta08, while the requirements are daunting, they haven't been a problem for me. I've thoroughly enjoyed most of the courses I've taken for my requirements, you just have to be careful and discriminating what you pick. </p>

<p>My biggest complaint about Tufts is the housing. Essentially no juniors get housing on campus and are kicked into local landlord-owned apartments. While mine has turned out well, many I know have not. It would be nice to have the option to live on campus rather than being forced to live somewhere less desirable. They're constructing a new dorm but honestly, I'm not sure how helpful it's actually going to be in terms of housing more of the junior and senior classes.</p>

<p>And despite popular opinion, the Greek system at Tufts isn't in as dire peril as many make it out to be. There are also a million other things to do on campus that don't involve going to frat parties.</p>

9

<p>Addendum: although I disagree with abs about the requirement thing, the housing complaint stands. There's not enough housing for everyone, and with the exception of several dorms (Hill, Metcalf East Side, Miller), in general, rooms are small.</p>

10

<p>okay i definitely had a few questions. laptop or desktop, dell or mac? Also, stupid magazines are always full of things that we should bring to college, like laundry baskets and whatnot. But what are some things that you only realized you needed when you got there? So, you know, it'd save me the angst of realizing that I am in dire need of this Mystery Thing with no way of obtaining it.</p>

<p>Oh and what's better, uphill or downhill? I've heard conflicting accounts. Like, the dining hall downhill is much better, but uphill has a better social scene. I heard Hill is going to be all-frosh this year, is that true?</p>

<p>I come from a small town, with 143 in my graduating class, so I've made friends with a ton of kids in other classes. Do people make friends with students in other years at Tufts as well? And if they do, is it just with people that they do out-of-class activities with, or separate from that?</p>

<p>And I hear you guys about the lack of housing and smallish dorms, but is there a lot of interaction between kids in the dorms? Do you usually make better friends with the people near you in your dorm, or with people you have classes with?</p>

<p>haha answer whatever you want, any point of view is appreciated!</p>

11

<p>oh and one last thing. is there a lot of school spirit? Like, are sports events highly attended, or are students mostly apathetic?</p>

12

<p>Bluirinka, to answer some of your questions:</p>

<ol>
<li>100% laptop, and PC in my opinion. I know people who use Macs, but PCs are most widely used and it was easier to work with PCs in my computer science class. I did not purchase my computer through the Tufts Dell program; if you want to do that, that's up to you, but having a desktop (especially a Mac) would be, in my opinion, highly inconvenient. </li>
</ol>

<p>2) One thing I ended up not needing was an iron and ironing board. I used it first couple of times, but most people don't even own irons. (invest in fabric softener...) You WILL need a laundry basket. </p>

<p>3) Whoever you make friends with depends on your personality, activities, and classes, so I can't answer that in general. Personally, I do. Keep in mind, too, that a lot of people go abroad and return, so there's always new people to meet. </p>

<p>4) Uphill vs. downhill is a continuous battle. I think downhill is way better. The dining hall is much bigger and better, and it's closer to Davis Square, the campus center, the library. Next year, though, I am living uphill in a nice dorm. Really, the debate is over-done; the campus is pretty small, ten minutes across tops, so it's really not that much difference to affect anything really important. But if you ask me, downhill takes the cake just in terms of commodities. </p>

<p>5) A lot of people make very close friends in the dorms. I tend to interact with people based on classes and common interests; it's hard to answer that question because, once again, it depends on what you prefer, your personality, and the people you are placed with. </p>

<p>6) I don't know about school spirit and sports. Frankly, I'm not a sports. fan so I don't attend events. I do know people get excited for homecoming and such, but I haven't experienced it from lack of personal interest. Sports are generally not as big here as they are in other schools, from what I hear. </p>

<p>I hope this was sort of helpful and not too general.</p>

13

<p>Tufta08 and I can agree to disagree on the requirements front, but I agree with many of the points in the list above. I'll try to add on things I think of.</p>

<p>I have a desktop, and yes, a laptop would be way more convenient, so I'd go with that. Mac vs PC is probably personal preference. A lot of professors use Macs but most people are PC users.</p>

<p>Laundry baskets are very very useful. I found it helpful to have my own printer. A couple little things I liked to have were tupperware, ziploc bags, a lap desk, and board games.</p>

<p>Yes, Hill's going to be all-freshman next year. I lived downhill my freshman and sophomore years, and my apartment is downhill as well. I like it better, primarily because it's closer to the theater, which is where I spend a lot of my time. </p>

<p>Tufts sports aren't that well-attended by other students. The most popular sport is football. However, many students get more into the Boston professional sports scene, the Red Sox are pretty big on campus.</p>

14

<p>thank you so much, both of you. this has actually been extremely helpful, and I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>So if Hill is all-frosh next year, does that mean that those who signed up for Tilton/Houston may be put into Hill?</p>

<p>I figure that living downhill is better b/c for one, Dewick is better, and secondly, having to walk downhill late at night from uphill is so much better than having to walk uphill late at night from downhill, lol.</p>

<p>I would really prefer a laptop, but my father is convinced it'll be stolen. but I'm so jewish and recognize that it costs so much money, so i would never leave it out of my sight. still, is there a lot of laptop theft?</p>

<p>Again, thank you!</p>

15

<p>Bluirinka, if you take proper precaution for your laptop, you'll be okay. Keeping it safe is really a common sense type of thing; I know they say there's a lot of theft, but I don't know anyone personally who has had theirs taken (unless, of course, they leave it in plain light and go far off somewhere for hours at a time). Having said that, I always take my laptop to the library but with the proper precautions. Invest in a laptop lock; they cost around $30, and are portable. It's convenient to lock it to a table if you need to leave for a bit. The convenience of having a laptop outweighs the danger of having it stolen by far! (FYI, most laptop theft reports have come from off-campus locations and not on-campus. At least to my knowledge.)</p>

<p>As for Hill, I'm not exactly sure what's going on with that... someone I know is an RA there next year, but yes, I believe that it will be included in the Tilton/Houston bunch. I also wouldn't be upset if you are not placed downhill; like I said, I'm living uphill next year, and it's really not as big a difference as people make it out to be. I'd worry more about what classes to take. Take it all in stride... :)</p>

16

<p>I want to be uphill cause that gym is far enough away as it is, damnit.</p>

17

<p>Hey Guys,</p>

<p>First, a shout-out to me roomie from frosh year (GOJUMBOS), I hope the hawaii is treating ya just right....</p>

<p>Now, I'm a rising junior and IR & History double major, so if you have any questions let me know. Also I'm a big fan of the Asian, German, and Russian Lang. Dept. Any questions about either German or Russian professors, ask away.</p>

<p>Finally, I'm a two-year veteran of the uphill and I would trade away those two years for anything.</p>

<p>Fire away with questions!</p>

<p>Vlad
Class of '07</p>

18

<p>I have a question!
I'm hoping I am just very unlucky, but I've sent PMs/emails to a few people who are either students or employees of Tufts and I'm being ignored :(
I wondered if the students are a bunch of snobs or something??</p>

<p>Since you guys are volunteering to be helpful, maybe I've found the right crowd :D</p>

<p>We are going to visit the school in early August. S will be a senior in HS this fall and is looking at several schools. Wants to major in engineering (civil or architectural), wants to keep playing baseball at the college level, is not a partier. </p>

<p>Anything we should not miss in August? </p>

<p>TIA</p>

19

<p>It's the summer and not everyone checks their emails or have gone on vacations or other exciting adventures so I would probably chalk it up to that. </p>

<p>I would try to get down to Davis Square while you're here. It's a nice place, and while there won't be too many students here since it's August, Davis will still be hopping.</p>

20

<p>Drdrewsmom-make sure your son makes an appt. to meet with baseball coach to express his interest and get a feel for how he would fit in with the team</p>