<p>So I really want to go to Tufts (applying ED) but let's say I don't get in... what next? </p>
<p>I consider Tufts a pretty good possibility. It's more on the reach side, though... I am top 20% of class at reasonable (but not FANTASTIC) private school in the south. 1510 SAT, 34 ACT, newspaper editor, sports captain, involved... </p>
<p>So what schools are like Tufts (culture wise, academics wise) but are slightly easier to get into? Thanks for your help</p>
<p>vasser, northeastern, villanova, johns hopkins,boston university - not so much the feel but the culture anyway, middlebury</p>
<p>vassar* 10char</p>
<p>I would definitely NOT consider Johns Hopkins a safety for Tufts!</p>
<p>LOL! Johns Hopkins and Middlebury safety schools for Tufts? Good one!!!</p>
<p>I don’t think any of the schools listed above fit the bill.
Tufts is unique because it is a small research university that has much of the “feel” of a liberal arts college. If being more remote isn’t too big a negative, Bucknell has some of those qualities, while also being a bigger sports school (I think it’s Div IA).</p>
<p>JHU and Tufts are nothing like each other in terms of culture.</p>
<p>S is a first year at Tufts and thought URochester, Macalester and American had the fit he wanted and were less selective than Tufts. If Tufts is your reach, I wouldn’t consider them safeties, but you’d be competitive.</p>
<p>Nowhere near as large, but Macalester has a similar intellectual/quirky vibe. Rochester is a small research uni with a smart student body.</p>
<p>(cross-posted with CountingDown)</p>
<p>Tulane
(10 Char)</p>
<p>I second American - same size, very good IR program, right near a large city but still has a distinct campus. Good academic quality but less selective and perhaps a bit less of an intellectual feel.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for your help. I’ll definitely dig deeper with some of those options…</p>
<p>How do you feel about Trinity College in Connecticut?</p>
<p>I don’t know anything about Trinity – but College Board says they accepted 41% last year. Would also suggest Vassar (25% acceptance), Bard (33%), Brandeis (40%) and GWU (37%). AU was 53%, Macalester 41% and URoch 39% (though these #s might be a year off). If you are a guy, that helps at Vassar. Again, these are not safeties so much as targets, depending on your GPA and difficulty of schedule. (any APs?). </p>
<p>ETA: OK, I see you are interested in Environmental Studies. Not sure if the schools above will help you with that. Look at St. Mary’s of MD (state school, LAC, on the Chesapeake). You might get merit, too.</p>
<p>To clarify for CountingDown, yes I’m a guy, interested in ES… strength of schedule is most rigourous at my school (max number of AP classes) almost all other non-AP’s are honors classes… </p>
<p>I really like Tufts’ being in a city, but not REALLY in the city (think BU) so the tips about AU, UR and Macalester are great! Need to look more into Vassar and Bard (to be honest, I’ve not heard of Bard before…)</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>Bard’s a great liberal arts school for sure, but it’s not right near a city - I think it’s about an hour from NYC. It’s right on the Hudson and near the Catskill Mountains however, so it offers great natural scenery.</p>
<p>Hopkins and Middlebury are in no way safeties for Tufts. With a 1510 (I am assuming that this is a combination of only the CR and Q), you should not have a problem. What was your writing score? Why don’t you apply to Tufts early decision I, and then choose a school, that like Tufts, has an early decision II option? Vassar falls into that category. Another school which has that option is Wesleyan in Conn. Check to see if Middlebury has that policy, as well. Much luck.</p>
<p>callie123, the OP said he is indeed applying to Tufts ED. </p>
<p>Wesleyan is another good reach possibility, though it doesn’t have the near-the-city location that the OP likes.</p>
<p>college1992: I assume you knew before deciding to apply ED that 97% of Tufts 2009 entering class came from the top 10% of their HS? (It was 98% the year before.) You said you are top 20%, so I just want to be sure you’re aware of the raw odds here. </p>
<p><a href=“http://institutionalresearch.tufts.edu/downloads/AbridgedTemplateFB09-10FINAL.pdf[/url]”>http://institutionalresearch.tufts.edu/downloads/AbridgedTemplateFB09-10FINAL.pdf</a></p>
<p>Don’t be discouraged if you don’t wind up at Tufts. You look like a strong applicant with a bright future and this thread has a lot of fine schools for you to consider.</p>
<p>I believe it is 85 percent from the top 10 percent.</p>
<p>You may be right. I misread the info in the link I posted. It is 97-98% from top quintile, not top decile.</p>
<p>As a guy, you’d get a boost at Vassar - not a safety, but a pretty good bet. It was the only LAC my son applied to. His safety was American which makes sense for an International Rel major but less so for you - though in fact as I recall they had some interesting international environmental stuff that my son thought looked interesting so perhaps I should take that back! I’d also look at Brandeis, U of Rochester, and Macalaster. Super safety: U of Vermont and Syracuse. If you are willing to go south how about Tulane? Great city and it’s in a residential neighborhood.</p>