Brown vs Tufts - 2011 - class of 2015

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Hello</p>

<p>I’ve narrowed down my choices to Brown or Tufts, both of which I’ve been accepted to.</p>

<p>I’m planning to major in English/Literature/etc., but I’m also on the fence about taking a premed track. I might or might not basically. I’m greatly interested in the biological sciences but not sure if I want to pursue a career in it. But I definitely love books and composition so a related major is pretty set. Love reading and writing. Since both are popular subjects/fields at many schools, I feel pretty confident that I can get a great education at either school.</p>

<p>However, I’m really looking for a well-rounded experience. I’m also interested in participating in theatre/drama/performing arts, learning many languages, and playing sports, mainly lacrosse and downhill/alpine skiing.</p>

<p>I’m definitely going to do study abroad. No questions asked. I don’t care whether it’s a semester, a year, during the summer, independent, with a program, etc., I am going to study abroad.</p>

<p>In terms of community, I’m just generally looking for open-minded, friendly, and just fun to be with sort of people. You know, love to learn and love to play. I absolutely cannot stand arrogance or self-importance.</p>

<p>For professors, I don’t really mind because I adapt to many different teaching styles. I prefer the more personal touch but it’s not a deal breaker.</p>

<p>Of course, for both students and professors, there will be some bad eggs but since I’m easy-going for the most part, I don’t think I’ll mind too much. I mean, I get along with a wider range of people than many of my friends do so that must mean something, right?</p>

<p>Location-wise, I was really looking for a suburban setting. I want the campus itself to be a little outside of a city but as a city girl, I also really want the convenience and fun of a city nearby.</p>

<p>Now one of my biggest problems are my parents. Both are Japanese immigrants and don’t know as much as other parents might about the whole college process. My dad is a neurosurgeon and did both undergrad and grad school at the most prestigious school in Japan (Tokyo University). My mother only did undergrad and graduated from an all-women’s school.</p>

<p>Both are pressuring me heavily to go to Brown because of it’s reputation. They fear that I’ll feel inferior to all the Ivy students nearby if I go to Tufts, and they also want me to have that Ivy advantage when I go looking for career opportunities.</p>

<p>I love both Tufts and Brown but right now I’m leaning ever so slightly towards Tufts. The thing is, I don’t want to disregard Brown but the more my parents pressure me, the more I’m afraid that I’ll ignore it just to rebel against my parents.</p>

<p>I’m really trying to give a fair eye to each school so I was hoping you could enlighten me to both pros and cons of the schools as well as anything you think will help my decision process.</p>

<p>I will be visiting both this weekend to get each of their “vibes”.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>I went on my junior college tours during spring break and saw Brown and Tufts on back to back days. </p>

<p>I went on the trip thinking Brown was my top choice, and sure enough fell in love with it when I saw it. But something strange happened when I saw Tufts; It rivaled Brown. It was crazy! Tufts definitely has a worldly emphasis and persona that I’m not sure you can find at many other places. They are both very similar schools, but I was really blown away by how close Tufts came to overtaking Brown as my ED I school. </p>

<p>I think the best question to ask yourself is what kind of college experience you want to have. Being that you are looking at artsy/liberally/hipster schools such as Tufts and Brown, you obviously want more of a "thinkers’ experience, but to what ends! Brown seemed fantastic and motivated and fun but Tufts looked more like the “college” student body that I know after growing up near UMD. </p>

<p>So ask yourself what you think your social life will be in college, and how much of the conversations you want to be based on the last reading of Leviathan. For me, I love political theory and would choose to talk about it with my best friends constantly, but on the other hand, sometimes being a kid is being a kid. </p>

<p>Hope this helped! Remember, only you can make the decision for yourself! Get more info! spend nights at each school!</p>

3

<p>Sounds like a win-win situation. You can’t go wrong either way.</p>

<p>I don’t have much experience with Tufts, but I do know that Brown seems a perfect fit in every category except the suburban setting. There’s probably no better place than Brown for a well-rounded experience. Brown certainly supports study abroad. As far as community, Brown ranks at the top year in and year out in the survey of Happiest College Students.</p>

<p>I doubt there’s much disadvantage in terms of career opportunities at a school like Tufts. It’s not Ivy League, but it’s one of the leading schools in a group informally known as the “Little Ivies”. </p>

<p>Good luck, whichever you decide.</p>