Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day? (Comparing Schools)

Colleges & Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

<p>In a thread near you, kjcastillo1990 is asking Boston</a> University or Tufts? KJ asks the CC community to provide some insight into the decision she faces. Certainly, a valid question to ask, but one that needs to be asked carefully.<br>


</p>

<p>I second GroovyGeek (as I so often do). There are many meaningful and important differences between Tufts and BU, but it's important to ask for those differences instead of simply asking which is 'better.'</p>

<p>If you ignoring the thread title and look at her actual question, this is what KJ is asking us to do.</p>

<p>For the forum goers responding KJ, please try to stay positive. It's much more useful to do what KJ asks and to illuminate the positives of Tufts (or what we offer than BU doesn't), than it is to start mangling BU. This is coming from the Tufts Admissions officer: There is nothing wrong with choosing BU it suits your needs better. Finding the school that is right for you is about Fit, not about who is more prestigious or has the best reputation.</p>

<p>As threads pop up over the next couple weeks asking for such comparisons, let's provide KJ (and others) with information that will help her understand which school will better suit her needs.</p>

2

<p>Great post, Dan! Exactly the reason I’ve started to answer the Tuft vs. Columbia and Tufts vs. BU threads and then hit the backwards arrow. </p>

<p>What’s right for one is not right for the other. Makes it a whole lot harder to answer the questions.</p>

3

<p>Dan-
I agree with your point of comparison. What’s frustrating to me is that admissions at every school emphasizes this concept of finding the right “fit” and then when you feel you do find what you think is “your fit” (I feel this about Tufts), you first get deferred then waitlisted. It seems very misleading for admissions to tell us to “find our fit” when all that really matters ultimately is what “fits” the admissions officers and what will suit their needs… Just an observation.</p>

4

<p>With just a touch of the “Tufts” syndrome thrown in for good measure!</p>

5

<p>To respond to Emily - I can sympathize with your feelings. We urge students to think about their entire college lists in terms of Fit - not just their first or second choices. I believe that it should be possible to fill your college list (Reach, Target, and Likelys) with schools that are good Fits. Certainly, students will have schools they feel more strongly about than others, and that’s natural. But wherever you get in should be a place you can still feel like you will belong. </p>

<p>You correctly point out the other way that Fit runs. We look for Fit and personality in our applicants the same way you look for Fit and personality in the schools you visit. Fit is a two way street, and there are times when we will disagree with each other. It’s a natural part of the admissions process, but it’s also the source of the most friction.</p>

6

<p>I do agree with you Dan, it’s much easier to be the one making the decision though. I know that I need to fit Tufts’ criteria as well and I’m sure I would make the same point if it was me on the other side because, no matter how much denial I might find myself in, I know it does take two to tango! It’s just endlessly frustrating that I’ll be getting the latest decision possible when I applied for the earliest decision possible (round one)… so excuse me if my previous post seemed snide.</p>

<p>Any particular reason that you capitalize “Fit”?</p>

<p>Also, I want to make it very clear to the admissions board that Tufts is the place for me, but I don’t want to pester. I have written a heartfelt letter, is there anything else I should be sending? Perhaps third quarter grades? Additional recommendations? Make some phone calls? I already did this after my deferral in December which is why I hesitate to start the cycle all over again.</p>

<p>I have been surfing CC for a couple weeks now and find all of your posts to be very helpful, not to mention uplifting. I know people say this all of the time, but thank you so much for taking the time to interact with your applicants. It’s very much appreciated.</p>

7

<p>Dan, any insight?</p>

8

<p>I’m going to refer you to Bluirinka’s posts in another waitlist thread and then add in my perspective.</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/484310-waitlisted.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/484310-waitlisted.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Bluirinka has the right perspective looking back on her waitlist experience. And you are right to hesitate to ‘start the cycle all over again.’ That isn’t the healthy way to move forward, and the ‘hard sell’ is unlikely to work. The heartfelt letter is appropriate - if you have a continuing interest, you want to express that and the depth of your interest. If the waitlist works out for you - Fantastic! But past that, do your best to put the waitlist out of your mind now. You’ve done what you can; it’s time to approach the options you have with enthusiasm and look forward to the next four years.</p>

9

<p>and stop capitalizing bluirinka!</p>