<p>Zant is going to PTon next year.</p>
<p>Tufts is a good school and all but I really shouldn't have applied. It wasn't a good fit for me and the visit was a bit of a turnoff. I think Tufts Syndrome is a bit of a misnomer. I think schools will reject you anywhere if you give an "I'm not going if you decide to take me in" attitude.</p>
<p>OOH that's amazing! you got in after being deferred?!??! That is so amazing, I'm thrilled for you!</p>
<p>And yeah I like that too...i mean, in my high school, language was only required for TWO years so people dropped it the second sophomore year was over...I feel bad, because knowledge of another language is something you come to really treasure in life. And if they have to learn a language in college, by the time they have to start taking it again, they'll have forgotten what little they had learned.</p>
<p>Is Tufts a good school for engineering? I've seen compelling evidence both for and against and having a difficult time deciding whether its worth an application.</p>
<p>Yea, I think I was of a small group of deferrees who were then accepted. </p>
<p>I took 5 language classes total in high school (4 years of spanish and 1 year of french) and at times I really didn't like it, but then when I went on vacation to a spanish speaking country and suddenly all these words came back to me it felt great. I think I'm going to take two languages in college if I have the time.</p>
<p>from what i hear, it's an excellent engineering program.</p>
<p>what do you hear and why do you think its an excellent program?</p>
<p>Congrats on P-ton!!! I was so close to going as well, but end the end decided to go elsewhere. Tufts, was a beautiful campus as I remember it. Unfortunately do to many circumstances beyond my control, I definitely didnt have the best time. It is not the schools fault entirely. The host I was assigned just didn work out very well. I was among the first admits to ever step foot ont he campus after being admitted, and we met many friendly people who all had tons to say about the school. We aslo met people who sincerely disliked it, and encouraged us to elsewhere. Over all - I beleived Tufts to be quite prestigious when I applied. I hadnt heard of it until the college application process started, however. But most college counselors to fortuntately know its reputaion, and encourage students to apply.</p>
<p>Tufts is an elite school and I'm proud to have gone there. I can't speak for other people's experiences at this school but I can mention a few of my own.</p>
<p>a) I was an undergrad student there in the mid 90's...
b) Most of my teachers got there doctorate degrees from Harvard, MIT, Brown,etc.
c) One prof. at Tufts who used to teach at Brown told me that she did not change her teaching methodology when she arrived at Tufts. This told me that I would be getting an excellent education from this teacher and most likely from many others...
d) many high school valedictorians there...I knew a couple personally
e) my wife who is from India heard of Tufts before she ever came to the U.S. ...so the PR people have to be doing something right.
f) classes (especially upper level ones) can be quite rigorous/demanding. Classes can be small...even 5 to 1...so you feel as if you are getting specialized, almost one-on-one training from your teacher.
g) The school is recognized in many academic circles as a top school. It is a hidden gem that is doing a better job right now of putting itself on the map.
h) The school is receiving larger endowments and this helps its rank.
i) advice: if you go there do the best you can...get the high grades (extremely challenging if you multi-major and shoot for all the honors)...this does pay off in different ways in the end...
j) I've found that doing well did lead to some great opportunities...academically and professionally once I graduated from there..</p>
<p>Tufts does NOT compare to Ivys in terms of national prestige. A degree from Tufts will not open doors for you like a degree from Harvard might. It's more comparable to the liberal arts colleges, like Amherst, Middlebury, and Wellesley. Very few people outside of the college/intellectual community and the New England area will have ever heard of Tufts or many of the liberal arts colleges.</p>
<p>But Tufts is highly regarded in New England, New York, New Jersey, California, and internationally.</p>
<p>If you're going to rank schools in terms of prestige in Boston,</p>
<p>1.) Harvard/MIT
2.) Williams/Amherst/Tufts/Wellesley<- Williams and Amherst are both more selective than Tufts and Wellesley
3.) BC <- Probably more well known across the US than the #2 colleges.
4.) BU
5.) Northeastern/UMASS Amherst
6.) Other state schools</p>
<p>Yeah, I'd say in New England a fair amount of people have heard of Tufts and are impessed by it. I don't know what Rich is talking about saying that BU, Northeastern and UMass Boston (!?!?!?!) are more respected in the Boston area than Tufts, that's absurd, although I think those schools are probably more well known for obvious reasons. The first being that they're 2-3 times the size of Tufts and student population. The second being that they're actually IN Boston. </p>
<p>Elsewhere though I don't know, it seems there are a few people in the MidWest and the West Coast who've heard of Tufts but just can't seem to put a face on it.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say elite since I don't know that simply being in the top 50 makes a school elite. It's a great school to be sure though. If you have the money go here.</p>
<p>Tufts recognition is a funny phenomenon. I'm from PA, and it's tough to tell people I go to Tufts (it's become second nature to follow it with, "which is up in Boston, so I love it). Most regular people have no idea. HOWEVER, every time I have a doctor's appointment (with any kind of doctor, dentist, etc), they ask me where I go and recognize it instantly. The secret test if they don't say anything is to see if they spell it right ;) But if you go outside the area, you won't find many people who know about it except professionals like dentists, etc and high-achieving high schoolers in the middle of the college process.</p>
<p>Tufts has a pretty well known medical and dental school located at the Boston campus. That's probably why your doctor and dentist recognizes the name.</p>
<p>"I am just wondering because I've seen many people speak highly of Tufts, but I've never heard it actually mentioned with the elites."</p>
<p>Tufts is elite to those in academia and community of graduate school admission officers. A Tufts degree elevates a student a rung above most in the quest for admission to prestigious graduate/med, etc. schools.</p>
<p>The Newsweek Kaplan College Guide in 2006, listed Tufts as one of the 25 New Ivies. See link for additional info <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14325172/site/newsweek/%5B/url%5D">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14325172/site/newsweek/</a> I was not that familiar with Tufts before my son began applying to schools, but then again I wasn't familiar with many of the top schools that are out there. Until one begins researching and comparing schools there are only so many that stand out, the Ivies and those with big sports, because they are the school's that get the most press. You really have to find a school that is the best fit for you. Tufts has turned out to be that fit for my son. He couldn't see himself anywhere else. Great professors, great location, really friendly and social student body. Good luck!</p>
<p>Of course Tufts is elite...I'm a little surprised that this is even a point of debate. It has an extremely low admit rate, and one that is falling further every year...All of the other specs match up with the schools that it directly competes for applicants with - Georgetown, JHU, Wash-U, Northwestern, Cornell, etc. Just b/c John Doe down the street hasn't heard of Tufts doesn't mean anything, as it is the reputation among academia that counts - something that Tufts thrives on. It's silly that one is even contesting the point about Tufts. Also, The difference btw Tufts' admit rate and that of Amherst/Williams is small, and it is better to compare Tufts to other national research universities than LAC's because IT ISN'T A LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE. It hasn't been since the Meyer Administration. Also, that is the only reason why Tufts may not have as much "instant brand-name recognition" as GT, JHU, etc - b/c it was an LAC for a long time before it b/c a university. Are you aware how many people haven't heard of Bowdoin?</p>
<p>A good reputation in academia helps if you're going to apply for grad school. A lot of employers outside of New England have not heard of Tufts, so the school name on a resume probably won't catch their attention.</p>
<p>I'd expand that to include NY and other major metropolitan areas. Mostly, though, it's not so much the place as it is the people you're talking to-- their field, level of education, etc.</p>
<p>A good school should have a lot more going for it than name recognition anyway, but if that's what you're looking for then it's true, you might be better off looking elsewhere...</p>
<p>We have yet to run into any of our adult friends (in varied fields-- tech, law, financial) from PA, NJ, and CA who aren't familiar with it and it's reputation.</p>
<p>Ooops - couldn't edit--
"it" meaning Tufts...</p>