<p>So I didn't get into any Ivies, despite my good stats & interesting background, and was waitlisted at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. I did get into Tufts and Northwestern, and am deciding between them (still don't know whether I should give up on Gtown..). </p>
<p>So here's my problem: I want to do IR, which Tufts is known for. I'm also pretty international, and have found that the friends I make tend to be international too - and Tufts has a big international population. I visited both NU and Tufts last week, did the whole overnight thing, etc. Didn't think I was going to like NU b/c it's big, not so international, you can only major in Int'l Studies as a second major, and it has BIG Greek life, which I hate the idea of. But I walked on campus and fell in love. At Tufts, I liked it. It was ok. Not love though. </p>
<p>I don't know what to do! I'm thinking Tufts may be better for me in the long run, but I wasn't a huge fan of the campus & dorms, and wasn't too impressed by the people. Any thoughts??</p>
<p>Although there is something to be said for "connecting" with a school, I think it's more important that they have the sorts of programs, opportunities, and experience that you want. But that could just be me.</p>
<p>Your gut feeling counts for a lot; but it worries me that what you want to study is only offered as a minor at the school you felt you socially connected with more. Hmm... it's tough, but I do think you have to weigh how likely you want to study IR/IS... if it's only maybe, then NU would be fine; but if you're really set on it, going to a school that doesnt' offer it as a major could be a problem later on. Also know that a campus visit can vary from one day to the next; maybe the day you went you didn't like Tufts /that/ much but if you'd gone the next, or had a better host, you'd like it more.</p>
<p>Anyway, I wish you luck with your choice... I'm an international student at Tufts studying IR (sidenote: I turned down NU, but that was my personal choice). If you'd like to ask me about the international social life or just regular social life, PM me or post on this board. I can also try to connect you with other people here to talk to if you want.</p>
<p>Hey, man: I know you're not in an easy spot right now, so I'll just give you my two-cents. Look, it'd be one thing if you said, "I went to NU and loved it; I went to Tufts and HATED it." Instead, you said you loved NU and liked Tufts. OK. Next you say you want to study IR, and that NU only offers it as a second major and it's not one of the premier programs for it in the country... whereas you say that in the long-run, Tufts would be a better choice because it has one of the top IR programs in the country.</p>
<p>If you had said you hated Tufts, I would say go to NU. But you said you liked it, just that you liked NU more. Go to Tufts—in the end, you can find great people and a great social life anywhere... that's what you make of it. But you will only find top programs in your choice of study in a few places.</p>
<p>And for what it's worth, I'm an SFS transfer to Tufts, and love it.</p>
<p>Good luck with your choice, man, you'll make the right decision for you. Any Q's hit me up.</p>
<p>The people at tufts didn't impress you because you hadn't met me, obviously.</p>
<p>If you've only visited the tufts campus once, then I would be hesistant to place all of your decision on that visit. There are a lot of things, (such as huge greek life) that you may not have seen at NU that you may not like once you're exposed to it as a full time student. It seems as if a short visit favored northwestern, but all of the facts point toward tufts. I tend to think the facts, as you had mentioned, will play out in the long run. However, that initial feeling is a huge deal. Good luck, maybe I'll see you at tufts next year :-)</p>