<p>Title pretty much says it all. I'm interested in studying economics, German, Spanish, and Latin, and then maybe going to business school. I'll probably major in economics and minor in a language. </p>
<p>I've been accepted to all of these places. I want a college environment that is academic, without a lot of fraternities and partying. </p>
<p>So what is my best bet?</p>
<p>All are academically strong, but all very different environments.
Tufts is sort of the middle ground between JHU and Reed; it’s the smallish university that seems a lot like an LAC with strong academics. (Maybe stronger academics than Reed, which is great; JHU is at least Tufts’ academic equal, but socially lags far behind.)
Latin??</p>
<p>What do you mean JHU lags behind socially? Does that mean it has less fraternities and parties?</p>
<p>No, I mean that it lacks the academic/extracurricular-social balance that most schools have.
Academically, it’s terrific, but it lags behind on the non-academic side, and I personally think that college should be more than an academic experience.</p>
<p>I am majoring in Greek and Latin (and Poli Sci, though that’s not relevant to your interests) and minoring in Economics. Tufts is very well known for its international focus and strong modern language programs. I have loved every course and professor I have encountered in the Classics department. Our Latin program is very strong and offers plenty of variety for students who enter Tufts at a high level. The Economics program has also been a very present experience, especially Professors Norman, Hardman, and Luallen. They have all made me love Economics more than I already did and are amazingly intelligent and helpful.</p>
<p>Also, note that at Tufts you generally can’t minor in a language (Latin is an exception), because we have such a rigorous language requirement (6 semesters) that everyone would end up with a language minor. Double majoring really isn’t all that hard to pull off so you could double major in Economics and a language.</p>
<p>In terms of social environment, I think that Tufts is probably the most desirable of the three. Having friends at all three schools, I can tell you that Johns Hopkins is dominated by two groups: the omgletsgoparty fraternity/sorority kids and the geeks who never see the light of day because they are working all of the time. Reed kids certainly don’t party and are most definitely not involved in Greek life, but there is a very active hard drug culture there which some find unsettling. Tufts has fraternities and sororities, but they are a very small aspect of campus life. While kids do go out on weekends, Tufts is definitely much more work than play oriented. I went out every weekend in high school and drank heavily, while at Tufts I am perfectly happy to just watch a movie with friends or go to dinner in Boston on some weekend nights. When one of my friends or I has way too much work to be social on a weekend night (a rare occurrence, but it can happen), it’s not “lame” or “antisocial” to stay in your room and get it done.</p>
<p>I seriously cannot say enough good things about Tufts and the Classics and Economics departments. Message me if you have any other questions!</p>
<p>I love Luallen too!
Pity that he only teaches one class.</p>