<p>Help! Just reply to the prestige issue please - but I'll accept any sort of input! Thanks</p>
<p>LACs are rather obscure. I think Tufts would technically be more “prestigious”, though it would be the use of the word quite loosely, IMO.</p>
<p>I would just pick the institution you feel provides the best education or that you feel you would enjoy the most.</p>
<p>The average person on the street is not likely to be that familiar with either of them, so functional prestige - job search advantages, peer recognition, etc. - aren’t that likely with either. Those of us on CC who obsess about colleges will find them impressive. Twenty years ago, I’d have said that among academics and the college-obsessed, Bowdoin would have had greater cachet. Today, I’d say they’re equal.</p>
<p>I always thought Bowdoin was more prestigious (or at a minimum more selective), but honestly who cares? This is probably the least important factor in choosing between these two schools.</p>
<p>For those who are aware of both colleges, Bowdoin is the better school; but, I think there are many individuals are aware only of Tufts so I said it was more “prestigious”.</p>
<p>thanks everyone. I’ve never been one to care much for prestige, but everyone has been giving me trouble lately about the prestige differences between these schools which I had never considered to be significant enough to matter</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say Bowdoin is better at all. You can’t compare these schools: One is a national research university the other is a liberal arts school. Academically, they both are excellent and I don’t understand how one can be better than the other as there isn’t some distinct way to measure them equally.</p>
<p>Seriously, I could hear arguments go both ways. Once you get to top schools the distinction of which is “better” or more “prestigous” boils down to arbitrariness.</p>
<p>Bowdoin is much more prestigious than Tufts. This doesn’t mean that one is better than the other or that one is a better fit. I would not base a decision on prestige alone.</p>
<p>^^^ Interesting. </p>
<p>Prestige is a personal observation. Depending on where you attended, who rejected you or who you know as a graduate from a particular school will have an huge impact on your assessment of a school’s prestige. It also probably has a generational component as well. </p>
<p>I grew up in the Boston area and Bowdoin always had the reputation of being the home for the wealthy prep school crowd not quite bright enough or rich enough to get into Williams. Tufts was always considered the poor man’s MIT, a tough academic environment with not necessarily the most socially well-rounded students. Paradoxically, I’m sure both assessments are incorrect while also having some grains of truth.</p>
<p>Personally, I see no difference whatsoever in terms of prestige and academic quality between your two choices. Obviously some people disagree. My suggestion is that you make your decision based on the academic programs and environments that give you the best chance to succeed, not on other people’s personal perceptions of prestige.</p>
<p>Niether is well known outside of the NE. I don’t think academic circles parse the data that finely to differentiate. Both are great. Choose the one in which you feel most comfortable.</p>
<p>Bowdoin connects with Caltech, Columbia and Dartmouth (exchanges). Bowdoin.</p>
<p>I currently serve as the Chairman of the Committee Regarding Membership Quality for a well regarded lawn sports and fox hunting club. Even in these difficult economic times, we would never consider Tufts graduates for membership. Bowdoin graduates would be considered if strong evidence exists of sound breeding and advanced social standing. </p>
<p>Hope that is helpful.</p>
<p>Wait, if the post above is supposed to be sarcastic, then well done! (It’s hilarious).</p>
<p>Let’s just assume I’m being a bit dense here, and say that it’s real. In that case, “lawn sports and sound breeding?” Say whaaat?</p>
<p>The two are sufficiently similar in reputation that the only place where the difference in prestige would matter would be in name-dropping at cocktail parties.</p>
<p>Personally, I think that this is a poor basis for choosing your college.</p>
<p>You buy a watch.</p>
<p>I acquire a timepiece.</p>
<p>The point is not that my timepiece is better than your watch. The point is that my timepiece is better than you.</p>
<p>A discriminating consumer.</p>
<p>Stats21 wins for best post of the day.</p>
<p>Bowdoin is one of the selective LACs that are sometimes referred to as “Little Ivies.” But Tufts is also a highly selective school, and is part of the same NESCAC sports conference as Bowdoin. I think it would be silly to decide between these two schools on the basis of perceived prestige.</p>
<p>By name alone, Tufts seems to be a perfect match for a lawn sports club. ;)</p>
<p>Oh Stats21, you’re awesome!</p>
<p>I guess Tufts would be more prestigious among laymen, and the general public because of the Tufts New England Medical Center, Tufts Medical School and Tufts being one of the number of schools schools in Boston. But some would categorize it with Brandeis and Boston College and Boston University among the schools in Boston, not at the higher end.</p>
<p>Bowdoin may not be as prestigious because only a select group will know about it. But if we were not to use the term prestige, but ELITE, Bowdoin would be much more elite than Tufts.</p>