<p>It would be great if you guys can give me some help deciding which college to attend. I'm OOS for UVa, non-financial aid applicant, thinking of double majoring in Economics and International Relations. (perhaps Public Affairs) This is my general idea of tufts and UVa:</p>
<p>Tufts
- #1 in the U.S in IR major
- Very near Boston --> leads to more internship / job opportunities / knowledge exchange
- Medium number of undergrad (approx 10,000)
- Private --> More diverse student body
x relatively non attractive campus
x not renown for Economics</p>
<p>UVa (College of Arts and Science)
- Nation's top in Public Affairs
- Gorgeous campus in America's best town (Charlottesville)
- Build relations with people who are
- More internship in D.C (as UVa alumni is powerful there)
x not renown for Economics
x not reknown for International Relations</p>
<p>I'm also considering UMich due to its strong Economics, but not as much as the two above.
Help me decide!</p>
<p>Tufts is smaller than you state…much lower undergrad enrollment than 10,000. The campus is not great and have heard mixed reviews about how much the proximity to Boston matters. It is, however, a really good school. I have heard nothing but good things about UVA and the weather is certainly nicer. I think you’d be fine at either place. I don’t know if you’ve visited both but I think if you are looking for a “great campus” experience you will wind up at UVA.</p>
<p>No doubt that UVa has the prettier campus between the two, but my personal feeling was that there wasn’t all that much to do in the area of the college, while Boston has endless possibilities. Obviously the IR program at Tufts is solid, so that’s a major plus. I definitely got different feels when I was on the campuses though so it is all down to personal preference and I don’t think you can go wrong. Just because a school isn’t well known for a program doesn’t mean it isn’t good. My brother had a great experience in the Economics program at Tufts and is currently working in I-Banking. The schools are what you make of them, really.</p>
<p>Only know students at Tufts who talk about what a fantastic campus and collegiate experience Tufts provides. UVA, too, is wonderful–more removed, very preppy (according to the kids I know who have attended), beautiful campus, although I consider Tufts very pretty, as well, and I happen to like the hill at Tufts!</p>
<p>Again, I know no one who talks about Tufts lacking a campus experience–no one.</p>
<p>Michigan, too, is a wonderful school–a lot of school spirit, Midwestern hospitality, a real college town, and smart kids who are not arrogant (e.g. insecure, really) about their talents.</p>
<p>You are talking about 3 wonderful schools. My daughter knew UVA to be a wonderful school, and she wanted, after small private schools, all her life, a larger student body, but she knew herself well enough to know that she wouldn’t enjoy a college away from an urban center.</p>
<p>Good luck–you have great choices. And you can always go to one of your choices for undergrad and grad for the other.</p>
<p>If it were me, I think I might go to UVA for undergrad and save Tufts (Fletcher) for grad school. Also, because I am from the northeast, I would want to experience a different area of the country and the weather in Michigan does not appeal to me. But that’s just me. You have three great choices and all three are unique in size, location, the make up of the student body, campus culture, etc. </p>
<p>Thank you so much! Now I excluded Michigan because it is simply too big, although its academic excellence made it hard to let go.</p>
<p>I’m between Tufts vs UVa, and I’ve heard a lot of things about Tufts, and it sounds like a fantastic university. However, I’ll also need to contact with UVa people to see how things are there.</p>
<p>Have you looked into the economic concentration under the IR major? That’s what I’m pursuing and I feel like it’s a great balance between IR/Econ.</p>
<p>A school is “renown” for Economics or IR because it has a prestigious PHD program in those areas and it really has nothing to do with the undergrad program. You need a graduate degree if you want to do anything in those fields anyways, so the “prestige” of your undergraduate degree really does not matter at all in career prospects.</p>
<p>I’d choose the school where you think you’ll be most happy.</p>