<p>Disappointed in my Alma Mater as my son was waitlisted. He would have been a third generation Jumbo.</p>
<p>I Got in! What a surprise…I never thought I could make it after I bombed the interview.</p>
<p><<<disappointed in=“” my=“” alma=“” mater=“” as=“” son=“” was=“” waitlisted.=“” he=“” would=“” have=“” been=“” a=“” third=“” generation=“” jumbo.=“”>>></disappointed></p>
<p>Have heart; kids do get in off of the waitlist. It’s not over, so to speak, until…</p>
<p><<<accepted!</p>
<p>Tufts and UChicago (got in EA) were my top choices, rej. from Swarthmore, Georgetown, waitlisted at Carleton and Bowdoin, (<–not devastated or shocked by any of these) got some $$$ from my state flagship. </p>
<p>From Wash. Metro area
3.6 UW, 4.2 W, full IB Diploma candidate w.8 APs before senior year, 11 total
2290 740 CR 760 M 790 W
Debate Captain, football player (potentially in college), amateur policy analyst
looking to go into IR</p>
<p>Kickass essays. I’m sure that’s what did it.</p>
<p>Looks like I’m hitting the right demographic sweet-spot! Really tough decision now!>>></p>
<p>Congrats on two excellent acceptances.</p>
<p>But, it’s important for you to know that Tufts and Chicago are not interchangeable, as far as school cultures and sensibilities.</p>
<p>My knowledge of Chicago, knowing kids who went (and some who transferred), is that sports are much eschewed at Chicago, that it’s not an ideal place for a sporty and academic kid. It’s really the school for the kid who lives “the life of the mind” and not much else. </p>
<p>Tufts, on the other hand, seems to cater to a greater spectrum of students, some highly cerebral (like the Chicago crowd) and, also, kids who are high achievers and/or intellectuals who also did a sport, seriously, in high school and will continue their athletic interest in college, as well as a myriad of other really interesting and iconoclastic interests and endeavors.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>^ Haha, not biased at all!</p>
<p>But I agree. I most certainly agree.</p>
<p>Well… as much as I appreciate the Tufts boosterism, I really can’t agree. For one, Tufts is not exactly a football powerhouse. And for two, I know a lot of pretty athletic UChicago students.</p>
<p>When I’m asked to compare the schools, differences in the athletic programs never come to mind. What I focus on is the Chicago view of the life of the mind, which emphasizes a way of learning to think. Tufts has more of a practical approach–learning how to put your knowledge to work in your community and in the wider world.</p>
<p>I think both approaches are valid, and both could be attractive to the same person. But those are the differences that I’d focus on–with the happy thought that both schools would welcome the poster onto their football teams.</p>
<p><<<^ Haha, not biased at all!</p>
<p>But I agree. I most certainly agree.>>></p>
<p>But, please understand, I think very highly of Chicago (as I do other schools, which are not Tufts). I would have posted, similarly, if my daughter were going to Chicago instead of WONDERFUL Tufts<—there’s my bias. :-)</p>
<p>WAITLISTED…bummer…congrats to all those that are
accepted and good luck to all that are still waiting from other schools! :-)</p>
<p>Regarding your son (third generation jumbo) being waitlisted, tell him not to feel bad, as I (also third generation) was REJECTED! Oh well…</p>
<p>That’s part of what I’m evaluating on my trip up to Chicago soon. I am somewhat of a sporty type. But when I visited Chicago last time, I watched a football game with packed stands and a hearty tailgating crowd outside. It favourably impressed me. I’ve heard that such isn’t the case with Tufts.</p>
<p>But that being said, I am worried about not being able to find my people among what is sure to be a sea of nerds at Chicago. And Tufts’ more practical, applied approach to academics is appealing to me. It stood out to me above the theoretical approach Chicago takes to education and the idealistic approach I’ve seen at a lot of other good IR programmes.</p>
<p>@Dan, yes, I do believe I am the one you speak of.</p>
<p>I’ve heard of quite a few other folks with the same decision I have to make. Perhaps I’ll start a thread…</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice, congrats to everyone who got in, and best of luck to everyone on the waitlist and who’s hoping on other schools!</p>