<p>So now that you've been accepted to the Tufts Class of 2011, go ahead and ask us current students (& recent alums) everything else. You don't need to talk about SATs and GPAs anymore. Ask us about student life, classes, etc. We're so happy to have you join us on the Hill!</p>
<p>hey lolabelle, do you have any tips for us upcoming freshies? how to balance school and work, where to go for good entertainment/parties, what not to do? =D</p>
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how to balance school and work
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<p>One key: DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Honestly, it sounds dorky, and I never did this before Tufts, but having an agenda/planner helps. That way you can map out your deadlines in advance. Nearly every professor gives a syllabus the first day of class with the due dates for major assignments and when you'll be having midterms/finals/etc. Just plan accordingly, and the library shouldn't become your bedroom. :-)</p>
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where to go for good entertainment/parties
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<p>Freshman year is hard because besides the occasional frat party, there's not much else on-campus for you to do because all the people that live off-campus are juniors and seniors. However, if the campus is quiet one night, get on the shuttle to Davis Square and take the subway to Boston! You have a city of college students at your reach! If you have good fake ID's you can also sneak into a bar; but don't count on it. Boston has a great music scene -- very good for independent music as well as major national acts -- and usually music venues are 18+, so check those out.</p>
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what not to do? =D
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<p>Don't wait for people to make friends with you. Say hi! Freshman year is the friendliest year of your college experience because /everyone/ is new!</p>
<p>Don't skip classes! Just don't! It's a waste of your time and money to do so!</p>
<p>Don't get TEMS'd. (That's Tufts jargon for getting picked up by Tufts Emergency Medical Services for alcohol intoxication. I think about 100 freshmen do it every year, sigh.)</p>
<p>what residence hall do you suggest i apply for? i would prefer a non-traditional, apartment-esque dorm...although i doubt those exist for freshmen. and if it is in fact an option, do you think it would be best to be in a traditional all freshmen dorm for my first year regardless?</p>
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what residence hall do you suggest i apply for? i would prefer a non-traditional, apartment-esque dorm...although i doubt those exist for freshmen. and if it is in fact an option, do you think it would be best to be in a traditional all freshmen dorm for my first year regardless?
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You cannot apply for specific dorms. The only options you have as a freshman are all freshman dorms, all female dorms, and Metcalf(I still have no idea what this is).</p>
<p>All freshman dorms are newer and "better" than most of the other part-freshman dorms. Although I requested all freshman, I was put into Hodgdon this year, which is one of the oldest dorms on campus. The rooms are not as good as the newer dorms, but it is in the middle of everything and walking is minimized to get to classes.</p>
<p>The only apartment style dorms you could get are Hillsides, which you cannot get until you're a sophomore, and Sophia Gordon, which is an all senior dorm.</p>
<p>Haskell and Wren are suite-style and you could very easily end up there freshman year. However, you can't like Clutch said, specifically ask for those dorms. You should also note that though Haskell & Wren are suite-style, they are also known to be teh ugliest dorms on campus, because they are brick-walled inside too -- imagine four brick walls every day for a year...</p>
<p>Latin Way is also apartment-style, for the record.</p>
<p>Housing is a crapshoot. And it's subjective, too - I live in South and I think it's great b/c it's new, clean, and has private lockable bathrooms. Interestingly, many people I know say they'd NEVER live in South b/c they consider it so far downhill.</p>
<p>Metcalf is a dorm that has the best location on campus, in my opinion - right in the center, closer to Dewick than Carmichael, the library, the campus center, and closer to classes than most of the downhill dorms. The Bridge program involves i think discussions between the people that live there, but I'm not sure how widely-attended they are...</p>
<p>Would you recommend Start house for an Asian-American guy? Or would it be too clique-ish and self-segregation?</p>
<p>Probably a little clique-ish. But only if you hang out only with your housemates. Otherwise, it shoudln't be a problem. Sophomore year I lived at the International House and I just made it a point to not only stay in with the people I lived with all the time.</p>
<p>FYI: You don't get to live in any of the culture-themed houses 'til sophomore year; and even then it's not guaranteed -- there is an application process (current house residents & the house director vote).</p>
<p>hey</p>
<p>housing is kind of a crapshoot.
I applied for healthy living and didn't get it, which is strange.
also, my friend got places in all female and didn't ask for it. </p>
<p>if you really have a problem with where you are living you can switch.
a girl who is a year older than me from my high school and who also goes to tufts got placed in all female housing. she basically refused to live there and got moved to hill hall with no real problems at all.</p>
<p>so don't worry too much.</p>
<p>I have noticed that in all freshman dorms (such as Houston) the RAs seem to be a bit more lenient. Which is good if you want more partying but bad if you want people to respect oyur quiet hours.</p>
<p>Does Tufts offer some sort of Freshmen Week / Freshmen Trips for incoming students? If so, are they popular / worth doing? For example, I know some colleges have Freshmen hiking trips, biking trips, etc.</p>
<p>Yes, tons of different options. You'll get info in April</p>
<p>All-freshman dorms are great because everybody's in the same situation. At least, that's why I like mine. Dorms with a mix are alright because you can find older students to give advice about stuff. The problem with mixed dorms (and I'm only basing this on my experience with South) is that they're less social.
It's not something to worry about yet, though. Enjoy your senior year for a while!</p>
<p>Actually the sophomores in my dorm are arguably more friendly than many of the freshman.</p>
<p>Any more comments on healthy/substance-free dorms? Do people who live in them feel "out of the loop?" Are they apt to be quieter than the other dorms? Do many freshmen choose this option?
Also, a lot of schools have very comprehensive roomate-match questionnaires, but it sounds like Tufts is almost the opposite (i.e. it's up to you to learn to get along). What (if any) questions do they ask? Morning vs. night person, quiet vs. sociable -- anything like that?
Thanks...</p>
<p>They ask the questions that matter (sleep habits, neatness, etc). As long as you answer them honestly, it works out really well. Most of the people on my floor get along fantastically with their roommates (some are even, dare I say it, really good friends). The only problem room was two people with <em>very</em> different sleep and noise habits.</p>
<p>Thanks-----</p>
<p>Are there many organized social activities on campus? Dances, concerts? Also, does anyone date or is it just hookups?</p>
<p>Absolutely. I always say that what replaces a strong athletic environment at Tufts are the extracurriculars/student activities. There is ALWAYS something to do on-campus whether it's on the more academic side (debates, lectures, etc.), or the social side (dances, trips, plays, concerts, etc.).</p>
<p>I think that Tufts' hook-up culture is much like at every other university. Freshman year is a hook-up fest, but about end of sophomore year and especially by your senior year, most people start pairing off into more serious couples.</p>
<p>can you tell me anything about the science program at tufts (specifically, biology?) And maybe something about undergrad research?</p>
<p>I was just accepted today, and very intrigued by their biology major with a secondary major in biotech</p>