<p>I am absolutely in love with Tufts. Hands down its my top choice. However, It is, thus far, a reach school ( I have a 94/100 UW GPA, and the average accepted gpa for my school is around a 96). While I still have hope that my essays and extra-currics will shine through, I'm from an average suburban family with no hooks, and I know I need to have back-ups. I was wondering what schools are similar to Tufts, and that I might have a higher chance of getting into.</p>
<p>In case you need some more information, some things that I like about Tufts:
-Obviously, just the general atmosphere that I've gathered Tufts has.
-I'm very interested in the Peace and Justice program there, and would like to explore either that or international relations
-I like their emphasis on culture and language (I'm hoping to study Arabic, and maybe further my mandarin)
-class room size seems reasonable and I've heard great things about the professors
-They have a Quidditch team. That seems like the type of kids I'd like to be around ;) (not that any college I go to has to have one, haha)
-The Study Abroad program
-That, from what I've read, the students there are conscientious and politically concerned independent people</p>
<p>Those are only a few things I can think of off the top of my head. Some colleges I already know about that I feel may be similar:
Wesleyan
American
Boston University(maybe not the feel, but the study abroad)
Haverford (just heard about this one today, and its more of a reach school than tufts, but still similar from what I've found out thus far)</p>
<p>Yeah, but jsyk, this isn’t supposed to be a chance me thread, but I’m not going to say no to some extra advice
Classes/grades: Overall Unweighted:94 Overall Weighted:98.33 *(I’m currently a junior, so this is my grades from before junior year, but I’m taking twice as many aps and honors classes, you can see below)</p>
<p>I’ve taken all honors courses available.
I’ve taken APWH and got a 4 on the test.
I’ve taken 2 languages</p>
<p>•Junior year classes/grades that I know of (first quarter):
APHumanGeo-93
AP Physics-100 UW
APUSH-between 94
Chinese3- 97
AP English- 90
Pre-Calculus- 95
French 4honors- 97
Social Science research h-97</p>
<p>•I haven’t taken my SATs yet, but took the PSATs and got a 1350, I’m hoping to go up to around 1440 for the SATS</p>
<p>•I have very good ECs, some highlights:</p>
<p>I worked the past two summers at a camp for children with special needs
I’m a class officer
I’m in a very prestigious model UN group and have won awards at MUN conferences
various volunteer work
Varsity Badminton (<3)
NWLHS/NHS
I’m planning on doing a summer program at a college this summer, but haven’t decided which one.</p>
<p>Plus I’m definitely doing a summer program or internship this summer, not sure where yet.</p>
<p>I feel like I’m a strong writer and will be able to write a good essay.
I will have very good teacher recs.</p>
<p>If you are looking for a smallish university with an Arabic major, that narrows down your choices to a manageable number. Use one of the college finder programs on this site or on CollegeBoard’s site to identify schools that have an Arabic or Middle Eastern Studies major and go from there.</p>
<p>Make sure you look at the school’s sites to see whether they teach what you want to learn (e.g. do you want Ancient Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic?).</p>
<p>I don’t think any schools are quite like Tufts in terms of getting out in the world and changing it now. However that said my son applied to U of Chicago (in some ways a polar opposite, but he considered it until the last minute), American (he loved it and they gave him merit money), Georgetown SFS (he didn’t get in, didn’t feel like he’d fit in, but academically liked its offerings), Brown ( super reach, he didn’t visit and didn’t get in), Vassar (in case he decided an LAC was the way to go). He also considered Brandeis (unfortunately they were on vacation - he seemed to like it when we were there, but ultimately didn’t apply), George Washington (great program, but no campus), Syracuse (too big, too sporty), Carleton (too small).</p>
<p>Be aware you don’t have to do a summer program - my son spent the summer before senior year volunteering at the senior center and helping archive the records of our neighborhood association and working very part time in my architectural office. (Not an interest of his, but helpful to me.)</p>
<p>Macalester is another school with a strong international vibe, a politically concerned student body, and a similar type of quirkiness. It’s a LAC in a city (St. Paul). There is merit money, as well. </p>
<p>For demographic of student population, size, and access to major urban center: Rice, Emory, Wash U. (most like Tufts, in my opinion), Northwestern, and Univ. of Rochester. All wonderful schools.</p>
<p>Actually I meant to type Macalaster not Carleton up there. Hanging head - but those midwestern LACs all get mixed up in my head! I haven’t visited Northwestern in years, (my father got his masters in African Studies there eons ago), and I have an uncle in Evanston, but I can imagine that there are similarities - especially in terms of being a medium sized university with lots of offerings within easy access of a major city.</p>
<p>Less reachy than Tufts? Macalester, Brandeis, American, URoch, GWU, Dickinson, BU. Less reachy is a relative term – these schools all admit >30%, but you will want to show the love. You haven’t said anything about money – if that’s an issue, you may want to broaden your search.</p>
<p>Assume you are talking about a 1350 CR/M PSAT and not all three sections combined.</p>
<p>We visited Haverford expecting to like it; S2 felt it was too small and he wanted more depth. (In fairness, he felt that way about most of the LACs he visited). By the time December of senior year rolled around, he was pretty sure he wanted a mid-sized school. I wish he had taken a look at WashU and Northwestern (not that I think it would have changed his mind, but they both had a lot of what he wanted), but by the time his preferences became clear, it was pretty late in the game.</p>
