Choice between Skidmore, Tufts & Colgate

Parents Forum
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<p>"Also, Tufts is eons more selective than Colgate. In every way possible. Colgate is definitely a safety."</p>

<p>This is not even close to true. Both Colgate and Tufts have been in the 25-30% acceptance rate range in the last few years. Colgate and Tufts both had median SAT ~ 1300 about four years ago and while Colgate's median has increased to 1350 and Tufts to 1400 since, would hardly call that 'eons' more selective, especially with regard to someone citing the Brody rankings. The vast majority of people I knew at Colgate, who had applied to Tufts had been accepted. Also, from what I've seen, Colgate has a stronger alumni network with regards to Wall Street jobs to the extent that matters to the OP. </p>

<p>Both schools are basically back-up schools to the top places, the only difference is they have a somewhat different bent. Tufts is more for applicants striving for Yale, Brown, Amherst and Colgate is more for applicants striving for Princeton, Dartmouth, Williams.</p>

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<p>I am a Tufts student, having just finished up my freshman year. I am a tour guide and work in admissions. This thread has seemingly gotten out of control, and focused far too much on rankings and numbers. I am personally shocked that some parents are naive enough (no offense) to believe that US News and World Reports is some sort of divine hand gracing schools with the most holy and accurate of "ranking", come on. </p>

<p>This is my take. I know students at Skidmore, Tufts, and Colgate, and all are fine schools. I will say, however, that if your kid wants a better alumni network, to be anywhere near a city, and more resources, Tufts is where they should go. If they strictly want an LAC, then obviously Tufts may be too much of a university for them, but honestly, as the smallest research university in the country at ~5,000 I don't really see that being a problem. I love this school, I love the academics...my history professor and future adviser has even taken me to lunch at the Taj Hotel on Arlington (the original Ritz-Carleton that just changed hands), simply to chat, and he is amazing, probably the most popular historian around that focuses on global/world history (Felipe Fernandez-Armesto). The atmosphere is great, I have yet to encounter one of these "Ivy Reject" oriented people, I don't know what cave they live in, but I never meet them. There is so much to do here between Boston, the campus (which is chalk-full of the arts, especially now due to the brand new music building with "drum-roll", the 2nd largest orchestral theatre in Boston! I love that we have the oldest grad school for IR in the country, I love that the Reach toothbrush was invented at Tufts, and that the co-creator of Xbox went here, lol. But most of all, I love the school, the people, and Jumbo, the coolest mascot on the planet, and the only one in the dictionary. This is a great place, and when I considered schools, I was a legacy at Georgetown, one of the best debaters in the country, and had other viable options that were higher on the aforementioned "holy pedestal" of higher education that is US News and World Reports, but I decided to apply to Tufts ED I, because I knew it was right for me, I love this place, and I will never look back on my decision with regret. </p>

<p>BTW: I am a History/Middle Eastern Studies double-major taking Arabic.</p>

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<p>
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the smallest research university in the country at ~5,000

[/Quote]

There are smaller. Caltech has less than 1000 UGs and roughly the same number of grads.</p>

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<p>I apologize, one of the very smallest, I wasn't thinking of Caltech.</p>

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<p>A bit off the OP, but thanks for that post, Duffman! Am going to show it to S., who now frequents CC way less than I do.
He researched schools extensively and visited quite a few, but Tufts was the one that just clicked. He was positive it was the school for him and asked if he could apply ED. We made him visit again just to be sure, and he ended up liking it even more the second time. At school, he was somewhat frustrated when classmates asked why he didn't apply to "better" colleges (ivies), but is thrilled with his ED decision and will happily be heading to campus is August. I hope he will find it as good a fit as you obviously have!</p>

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<p>^ Of course, if he wants to talk at any point, send him my way. I will actually be up there as a FOCUS leader August 20th, so I will be around for orientation and whatnot. :)</p>

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<p>Thanks- Wish he was doing FOCUS. The pre-orientation stuff looks great.</p>

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<p>BS...colgate > tufts</p>