<p>Can anyone give me any information regarding the physical sciences are like at tufts? After all the reading I’ve done on here and in books, I get the impression that no one really majors in physics, geology and chemistry, they just say how hard the classes are (which, although I don’t doubt the classes are hard, I don’t necessarily think is true: someone on here must major in one of the three).</p>
<p>Maybe some info like…</p>
<li><p>How large are the average intro classes, how does this change over time?</p></li>
<li><p>What sort of research opportunities are available on campus, or maybe research trips? (I saw photos of a geology trip out west, it looked really interesting)</p></li>
<li><p>How about graduate school advising? Does anyone have any experience with this? If so, do you feel that a Tufts undergraduate education has really been beneficial in sending you to a ph.d program?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I’ve read countless statistics about the large percentage of students who end up going to grad/professional school, but really haven’t heard much in the way of personal anecdotes (which are very helpful)</p>
<p>I know that the Physics department is the most prestigous of any at Tufts...but of course you'd never know that since they have about what I'm told are maybe 5 graduates a year. Tufts is huge internationally in astronomy...huge.</p>
<p>He was being sarcastic. I'm a biology major that more or less completed the premed track with the exception of the MCAT. Of the sciences: the chemistry and biology department are at the head of the undergraduate education (aside from engineering of course). Average class sizes can range from introductory courses of 75-150 students and goes down as the students begin to choose their majors. Introductory bio courses are weedouts for the massive flood of premeds that enter Tufts from freshman year. Chemistry isn't so bad, but it really hits people who never really learned to critically think well (such as me after getting a nasty C/C+) and haven't developed good study habits entering as a freshman. I personally enjoyed organic chemsitry though. Some of my friends say that the courses have dwindled down to a class size of 20-30 for some of the upper division science courses compared to the large lectures. </p>
<p>For geology/physics there are fewer students. A lot of people who major in geology tend to double up as one of my friends also majors in biology. She seems to like it (although I hear there's a Creationist student who's a geology major - puzzling, no?). From what I've heard about the physics department, the lower level courses are abysmal as no one really wants to teach them because they are geared for the premeds and intro engineers. However, upper level courses seem to get much better reviews as the professors become much more engaged in the material and students actually want to learn. So with most of the sciences at Tufts, the further you go up, the better the courses are in terms of quality and in number.</p>
<p>Research is plenty available, but it won't come to you on a silver platter. You have to ask professors for openings, and there are courses that you can take to actually assure you get a research assistant position for a semester for credit. Most people who want research will find it, guaranteeed. I did research in the biomedical engineering department and the psychology department for fun, and to be truthful, i hated them both :) But what's important is that I now know that I hate it after trying it! There is a Summer Scholars program available where students can apply for a research grant to work with a professor on a particular topic. I know several people who have done that program and have really enjoyed the experience, though not the heat.</p>
<p>In terms of graduate school preparation, I can't really say how successful we are at getting people into the "top" PhD programs, but I can say that I know many people who have gotten accepted into them. I just don't have any statistics as it's mostly anecdotal, but in terms of preprofessional preparation we do very well in terms of law schools and medical schools. The courseload here is rigorous and will help you get into the top schools by working you at times to the verge of tears. However, people do reap the rewards for their hard work.</p>
<p>No I'm actually not being sarcastic. If you want you can waddle over to Miner Hall and go ask George Smith in the Philosophy department. He's the director of the History of Science program at M.I.T. He's the one that told me that, I highly doubt he was pulling my leg.</p>
<p>But hey, you can ask him, or email him if you don't believe me...</p>
<p>Yeah man, Tufts has one of the top astrophysics programs in the world and apparently according to Dr. Smith that is the single most prestigous department at Tufts internationally. Apparently either because the department is small or because it's an astrophysics department they only have 3-5 graduates every year.</p>
<p>Hmm, I would've thought Classics was the most well-known program at Tufts. Literally <em>everyone</em> has heard of and uses Tufts' Perseus project.</p>
<p>Vet med is good too, but that doesn't have too much to do with undergrad.</p>
<p>I ask all this because I really liked Tufts, it's a great fit for me location-wise, student body-wise etc. I'm officially "undecided" but have always liked the science/maths, specifically the physical sciences I listed (not necessarily biology). </p>
<p>But like I mentioned before, it seems everyone at this school is IR, premed econ or maybe engineering. I wanted a little reassurance that, hey, there's other stuff going on too.</p>
<p>Small departments can be great. You get to know everyone, including the professors whose courses you never take. I'd especially recommend them as a second major, to counter-balance a major in a larger department. Biology-geology, bio-math, and bio-physics are all great options. As are chem-geology etc.</p>
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it seems everyone at this school is IR, premed econ or maybe engineering. I wanted a little reassurance that, hey, there's other stuff going on too.
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<p>Yes! Definitely! This is not just an IR/econ/pre-med school though those, along with the Classics dept. and the child development and psychology programs are the most popular and renowned. Small departments in the physical sciences, environmental sciences, comparative religion, etc. give you so much by virtue of the fact that there's close & constant interaction with the faculty and other students. If you really liked the vibe at Tufts, this place could be for you.</p>
<p>Yeah, Professor Arnold in the Comparative Religion department is far and away the best lecturer at Tufts save maybe Devigne in the Political Science department. I highly encourage anyone still at Tufts to take a course with him while he's still there because he might be gone after this semester. Really, really incredible class. </p>
<p>But how is Classics known internationally or even nationally for that matter outside of Perseus?</p>