<p>Hi,
I have always been wondering why nobody knows Tufts University where I live ( New Jersey). I find it weird because New Jersey is not that far from Boston. When parents or other people congratulate me and ask where I am going to college, they give puzzled looks after hearing Tufts. Only my smart friends know and acknowledge it. I am sure Tufts is a prestigious university known for its academics.</p>
<p>Academics, diplomats and employers in the northeast know about Tufts. The general public not so much. Don’t worry about it. You won’t likely be associating with people who haven’t heard of Tufts in a few years anyway.</p>
<p>know of it in Texas! One of D’s best buddies from HS will be attending in the fall. Try telling people in Texas you are going to Wellesley!</p>
<p>The people who count know Tufts, and that’s all that counts :)</p>
<p>Remember that the purpose of college is not to impress people with a prestigious name, but rather to prepare you for a lifetime of learning. Be less concerned with what others think and more concerned with what you are learning.</p>
<p>One possible approach to avoid the puzzled looks is to simply state that you are going to school in the Boston area. There are so many universities in Boston that everyone will generate some image in their head that would be preferable to awkward confusion.</p>
<p>Heyhey: where in our fair Garden state do you attend HS?
Tufts is very well known and respected in the surrounding areas of NJ where I live in Northern and Central NJ…</p>
<p>Boston area school - that’s mostly what I do!</p>
<p>Most people only know a handful of colleges or universities either because the colleges and unis are in their state or region (and consequently on their news or in their news) or because they have national athletic reputations. Going to college and graduating from college are the two most important talking points. Just say “I’m going to a university in Boston called Tufts”, then you will have geographically located it for people as well as given them the name.</p>
<p>Haha do not worry all of your future employees and people in academea will know Tufts and it’s reputation. I also went to a very competitive school in jersey and all of the students there know of Tufts. Tufts is not a household name for the average American citizen but the people that matter will recognize it.</p>
<p>Probably less than 50 people on all of CC have ever heard of my/my husband’s directional state public university. And yet, I have never had trouble getting a job, and he went to an excellent U.S. medical school, got into the residency of his choice, passed his boards on the first try, and is a very high ranking U.S. military officer. </p>
<p>Our lack of a “name” undergraduate universlty has never held either one of us back.</p>
<p>Why do you care that “nobody” has heard of your university?</p>
<p>The average person won’t know most top academic schools except Harvard or Stanford. Most people don’t know the Ivies, or could not list the top 10 schools, or even name a top ranked school like Tufts. People who have gotten a college degree or are in professional careers are much more likely to know the best schools in the country. And trust me, I know how you feel. I’ll be attending University of Chicago, but not a single person I’ve met has heard of it. My high school counselor didn’t even know about the school and it took awhile for my parents to realize it was a great school, plus most people wrongly assume it is a state school. Most people will never know it only accepts 13.2% of applicants or is ranked #5 along with Stanford, UPenn, Caltech, and MIT but those at top colleges have stated they know its a top school and has an amazing reputation for outstanding academics. I’m sure the same is true for Tufts, which is an incredible school! I almost applied, but I didn’t want the foreign language requirement! :D</p>
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<p>D1 goes to Tufts, and this is exactly what we say, too! I assume people won’t have heard of it, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find out that many people have…or at least pretend that they have. ;)</p>
<p>Meredith Vieira went to Tufts. So did Tony Soprano’s psychologist. I saw the diploma in one episode.</p>
<p>The average person may not know Tufts, but you probably give the average person too much credit. Lady Gaga may be popular but it sure as heck doesn’t make her better than other unknown artists.</p>
<p>And believe me, the layman might not of certain colleges, but I’d bet you every employer worth his or her salt knows the top 50 colleges forward, backward, and inside-out.</p>
<p>This is a problem… why?</p>
<p>Aren’t you attending Rutgers?</p>
<p>^ nah. i changed my mind. Thanks for the replies. I guess i was being paranoid.</p>
<p>I’m from Florida, and have heard of Tufts. I think maybe it’s the pronunciation. ;)</p>
<p>That’s so weird, everyone at my college knows about Tufts.</p>
<p>Seriously, this is the ultimate “so what?” thread.</p>