<p>I'm looking for some advice about transferring. I was actually on here before asking about advice deciding between Lehigh and NYU and I decided that NYU was a better choice for me personally. However, while I was actually visiting NYU and I was pretty sure I was going there, I got an email saying I had been accepted to Tufts. Now I'm really conflicted about which to choose and I don't have much time left.</p>
<p>I'm transferring from Oberlin because I didn't think that there was a lot of diversity in personality types... people were either socially awkward or hipsters (doing lots of drugs, very nonchalant about everything). I also didn't like being in the middle of nowhere. The academic aspects, however, were very good when I could get into the classes that I wanted (which was often very difficult). I am planning on majoring in International Relations and probably going on to law school.</p>
<p>NYU: I love the Village and New York City. I also think that there are a lot of work and intern opportunities at NYU. I'm planning on living off campus so the dorms aren't really part of my decision. I'm scared that the classes might be giant and that I might struggle with getting advice and resources because of the large size of the school. The social aspect of college is incredibly important to me because I feel that the academics at both schools are fairly similar as far as quality/opportunities later. I like that there are so many people at NYU that it seems like there would be a diversity in personality type, but I'm worried that I won't be able to meet people because of the sheer size of everything.</p>
<p>Tufts: I love that Tufts has smaller class sizes. I like Somerville/Cambridge/Boston and I'm from the area so I'm very familiar with everything there. I'm worried that there won't be as much diversity in personality types and it will be more like a 'bubble' like Oberlin was. I'm wondering if being an international relations major at Tufts might give me some advantage at getting into the Fletcher School but I'm not sure if it really makes a difference. I'm also worried that because not as many transfer students get accepted to Tufts, that it might be hard to 'break in' to groups of friends that have already formed. </p>
<p>I plan to study abroad junior year. I'm pretty much over the dorm life so I don't really want to life in a dorm. Does anyone know if sophomores have to live on campus at Tufts? </p>
<p>Sorry for the length. This will be a hard decision!</p>
<p>According to Wiki, Tufts is well known for international relations and it’s study abroad programs. For IR, I would go with Tufts (Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy is top notch!)</p>
<p>If you are studying International Relations, Tufts would definitely be the best choice. The program is very prestigious. According to one student “Tufts is internationalism. From the Music Department of ethnomusicology (major) to Political Science and International Relations, every facet of Tufts, both in and out of the classroom, revolves around thinking globally.”. 40% of students also study abroad and there are many amazing study abroad programs including exotic places and a trip to the Alps.
Not to mention that you can easily get to Boston via the excellent public transportation system (MBTA).</p>
<p>I just found out that I can’t major in International Relations at NYU, which is such a disappointment :(. Apparently it’s the only Honors Program in the college of arts and sciences and you need a certain <em>NYU</em> GPA by October of sophomore year. I wish they would have included that note in their transfer material/applications… </p>
<p>Now I’m not really sure. I just visited Tufts and it reminds me a lot of Oberlin, and I really don’t think I would be ‘happy’ there socially, but if I went there I could major in International Relations. Does anyone know if an International Relations major is key for continuing to graduate studies/ jobs in this field?</p>
<p>I would go to Tufts or Lehigh before NYU. The former two are more well-rounded college experiences. You’re going to have a bubble effect to some extent at any non-urban school.</p>
<p>Tufts. I have friends that go to both schools and from what I hear, the teaching at Tufts is excellent (small classes etc.) while the classes at NYU are hit or miss (not a slam against NYU, since I’m applying there anyway, but it’s the truth). Plus, there are a glut of hipsters at NYU. Not exactly the best place to go to avoid them.</p>
<p>Also, Tufts is more likely to give you financial aid, if you need it. Their FA policy isn’t the best in the world, but at least it’s better than NYU’s policy.</p>
<p>^Tufts FA is quite bad, actually. Don’t expect much money at all.</p>
<p>Money aside, however (sorry to sound dismissive, but i just don’t know how big an issue it is for you), Tufts is most certainly the best option. </p>
<p>I have visited both. NYU seems like the kind of place where rich kids go because they know they have to go to college, they like NYC, and because the school is pretty good. Tufts, on the other hand, is fun, engaging, very good for IR. They are about the same price.</p>
<p>There is ethnic diversity at Tufts. However, people separate into cliches and don’t socialize with people outside of cliches. There is also a lack of socioeconomic diversity with a lot of really wealthy people. </p>
<p>But it’s near Boston, one of the most diverse cities in the US</p>
<p>If $$ is an issue, definitely choose Tufts, wher you may be eligible for need based FA even as a transfer student. Not so much at NYU.</p>
<p>What school at NYU did you get admitted to?</p>
<p>You do not have to worry about living “on-campus” at NYU because there is not campus. You will probably have to take one of the shuttles from your dorm (which can be any where from downtown on water street, to 14th street, to 23rd street to the west village on greenwich street to stuyvesant town) to campus to attend class because very few undergrads actually “live” in the village.</p>
<p>If you are definitely interested in study abroad and IR, Tufts is definitely the place to go.</p>
<p>I think you were meaning to say “cliques” not “cliches”.</p>
<p>Of the major 15 or so cities in the US, I would say Boston is one of the least diverse cities, at least in comparison to NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, DC, Chicago, SF, Seattle, LA, SD.</p>
<p>Now I’m not really sure. I just visited Tufts and it reminds me a lot of Oberlin, and I really don’t think I would be ‘happy’ there socially, but if I went there I could major in International Relations. Does anyone know if an International Relations major is key for continuing to graduate studies/ jobs in this field?</p>
<p>edit: ^^^ that above post is strange. I didn’t actually make it.</p>
<p>
Hi, I’m a current Tufts student. Could you tell me a little bit about what exactly you’re looking for socially? Though it’s true that we’re predominantly (though not overwhelmingly) white, upper-class, and liberal, there is a significant amount of diversity in terms of in personality types. </p>
<p>Regarding graduate study, an IR undergrad major is absolutely NOT necessary for graduate-level study. Any political science department will offer preparation in international relations. In addition, every IR grad program I’ve ever heard of, accepts people from all kinds of undergraduate backgrounds. Fletcher’s admissions website says “successful Fletcher candidates come from a wide range of undergraduate majors, including international relations and other social sciences, the humanities, business, and physical sciences and engineering.”
On the other hand, if it’s Fletcher specifically that you want to go to, there is an unofficial but real bias in admissions in favor of Tufts students. Apart from that, being on the Tufts campus along with the Fletcher school offers you the opportunity to actually take classes at Fletcher, and become acquainted with professors and administrators who could tip the scales in your favor during application. It’s also possible for students to do combined programs with Tufts undergrad and Fletcher: I have a friend who is spending her fourth year at Tufts in full residence at Fletcher. She will get her BA from Tufts at the end of her first year in Fletcher, and her MALD the next year, effectively doing 6 years of education in 5 years.</p>