Chance Me: Tufts ED 1, ED 2 Boston College

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Demographics:
White Female
NJ resident
mid-sized (1200 total students) public HS

Intended Major:
Media Studies; Civic Studies; Psych (concentrations)
Minor, Studio Art

GPA
~3.97 (W) 5.2 (UW) Rank: School does rank, but top 10% of 300

Test Score
SAT: 1520 (E: 740, M: 780)

Coursework
Full IB Diploma, Highest Rigor (4 years of 5 core subjects (including Spanish) + IB Studio Art)
3 HLs (Calc Analysis, English, Studio Art)
All grades in A range, except one “B” in IB/AP Physics

Awards
Scholastic Art & Writing Sliver Key + regional art awards, Nat. Honors Society
school not big on awards, so nothing notable

Extracurriculars
4 year JV/Varsity sports (tennis)
Art/Design business, designs work featured on App store
Intern, Tech start up, advocate for digital wellness
Certified Art Activist (social justice projects)
TKD, black belt
PT job, 10 hours a week
community volunteer work

Essay
Solid, quirky, creative, but thoughtful. Why Tufts and Why BC thoroughly researched (after 3 visits) and specific to interests/goals

Budget
not applying for financial aid

Specifically: D wants to be near Boston and likes Tufts and Boston College. She realizes the differences (e.g. student body leaning left vs. right, non-denominational vs. jesuit) but concluded she will be able to thrive at both.

Both schools have ED 1 and 2. While Tufts has a lower admissions rate, BC is much more popular at her high school (annual average of ~18 Tufts applicants vs. ~ 40 BC applicants). Her plan is ED1 to Tufts and ED 2 to BC. Would be interested in hearing thoughts on her chances at both.

Targets and safeties. 10 schools total: 2 reaches (Tufts BC), 7 likely, 3 safety.

2

She has a chance at both.

The question becomes and it sounds like it’s already answered - so you want to pay $325k+ - especially for a major that likely has low paying outcomes - when she can take advantage of her accomplishments and go for $100k, $150k, $200k less? She won’t get any merit aid at your two choices.

If mom is truly ok at full pay, I think you have a good chance at both. Not spectacular but above average.

Good luck

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Excellent test score, GPA and class rank combined with what sounds like targeted and researched essays make her very competitive. What works against you is NJ as both schools draw a lot of applications from the area.

Tufts notoriously seeks those that are committed to attend and full pay. I think she has a very good chance of success at both schools which makes both schools appropriate reaches and your ED plan and school list well constructed.

In terms of not needing financial aid and a willingness to allow your child to pursue academic areas of interest without financial consideration, congratulations!! Sounds like you planned ahead and this flexibility was a priority for your family.

A desire to impose a personal value system on others is a recurrent theme on CC and is particularly the case when it comes to money. You should hardly be questioned or made to feel badly for having the financial flexibility and willingness to allow your daughter to choose schools and majors independent of finances.

Good luck!

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Really appreciate the lack of judgment on our values. There are plenty of things we’ve chosen NOT to spend money on.

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Was no judgement. As I said I had a question and it sounded like it was already answered. Many people are unaware of alternatives and it’s good to ask. Many end up changing direction when they realize.

There is no judgement implied in what I wrote.

Nor do any other posters need to take shots or criticize what others write.

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I really appreciate everyone’s input/insights. Really do! The cost comment and the part about whether her choice of major will obliterate any ROI did sting a bit.

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I think she has a solid shot at both reach schools and it sounds like her list makes sense (as long as she would be happy to attend her likely/safety schools). If anything you may consider adding a match school or two if any pique her interest. Best of luck.

And FWIW H and I saved diligently for our kids education and were able to cover their undergrad and grad schools. D was a psych major undergrad and then became a speech pathologist. No regrets. IMO you should feel great about providing this opportunity for your kids.

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@happy1 I’m a first gen college/law school grad (best investments I ever made). Also on her list are Skidmore, Richmond, Fordham, UVM. She’s my third. I have an engineer, a marketing analyst, and my dreamy, altruist artist. Thanks for your kind words.

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Sounds great…I’m guessing you know but I’d suggest your D apply non-binding EA or rolling to any school she can.

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EAs are Northeastern, Villanova, Fordham, UVM, Richmond … not all safeties, we know, but most of the safeties don’t have EA. Thanks!

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In my opinion she’s competitive at Tufts, where my D22 is a freshman. Probably at Boston College too but I know less about it.

It is rumored that ED1 at Tufts is better than ED2. Since Tufts hasn’t released ED stats in years, it’s impossible to say.

The essays, main & supplemental, are very important for Tufts. So it’s good to hear about the work your daughter has put into them.

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Thx @SouthYankie … is your daughter happy there so far?

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If she is planning on Grad. School, which is needed for all of those majors, I would use stats to cash in merit for an UG degree. In the end, no one cares where you get your UG degree, just where that Graduate degree is from. It will also be important to find a school with significant UG research.

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Why do you believe grad school “is needed for all those majors”? Her plan is to work in the media/advertising industry in NYC. There are plenty of jobs available for high-achieving undergrads.

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Oh her intended majors did not give that indication. why media studies? and not broadcast journalism, marketing, or advertising. Personally, I would look into schools in New York, for media, it would be beneficial to be in the market she intends on going into for internship opportunities.

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Advertising and media are amongst the hardest jobs to get and amongst the lowest paying. And that’s even at a top school like Syracuse (my alma mater) for the major.

As for all the criticism I am taking through people liking insults of me on banned messages, I’m not sure the issue- I chanced the OP as she asked and said relative to normal odds, the student has a solid chance at Tufts (in part, because Tufts is need aware and they are full pay family and 2/3 of Tufts kids are full pay).

I simply noted - because not everyone realizes this - that the accomplishments of their student could also provide significant merit opportunities. I’ve had many a person over the years thank me for this - that’s an individual choice. How does it hurt to know this?

OP - if you have concerns - and only if you have concerns per the note from @silemon - you can ask each school for career outcomes from the chosen major. They will show you where their students end up.

I come from the journalism / media side and I saw the 90% of kids struggle, become stock brokers, go to law school, etc. I work with advertisers to this day and have for 20 years - there is a reason 90% of the account managers are younger than 35 and that they are constantly changing.

Information is good. If one doesn’t like it, they can ignore it. There’s certainly no reason to hate those who provide it or to like messages that insult others. We are all trying our best to help people - and while many of you may not like my message, I’m here only with the best intentions.

Good luck to OP.

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Our area sends a lot of kids to Tufts. I think you have a good shot if you ED and are full pay.

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She’s very happy and enjoying her first semester at Tufts.

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I agree with the others that I think your daughter probably has a better chance for acceptance than the overall admission rate at either Tufts or Boston College due to her credentials and your family circumstances. I think that her hard work will definitely pay off for her during the college application process (with a good chance at ED, or during the rest of the process).

Your daughter is very fortunate that she has a family that is willing and able to pay for her college expenses, even at the most expensive colleges in the U.S. I’m particularly glad that you’re willing to do so regardless of her major (a sore point in my own personal history).

I will say, though, that based on her current professional goals, she may need to be living in areas with a high cost-of-living with less than high-levels of pay. Would your family be willing and able to assist her with the start-up costs to a life in her chosen career (whether contributing to the monthly rent, or subsidizing her life in other ways)? Would your ability/willingness be impacted by the amount you would pay for college? If the answer to both questions is yes, you may want to have a discussion with your daughter to see if she has feelings about whether she may want to try for an institution where there may be some monetary savings for her to start in her chosen career. If the answer is no (to either the first or second question), that is also an entirely reasonable decision and entirely within your purview to make.

Wishing your family the best of luck with this process!

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