<p>I'm currently a freshman at Tufts and can't believe that I'm in this position right now. Tufts was my first choice and about a year ago, when I found out I was accepted, I was the luckiest person in the world and now I'm just not and am thinking of transferring. </p>
<p>First off, the housing situation/lottery brought so much unneeded stress and anxiety during the school year. I got a VERY low number in the system and found someone to room with, however, I no longer want to live with this person just based on their different study and life habits that I have learned about throughout the past month or so. I do not think I should have to be forced to live with anyone and would be fine having a single. My parents were not thrilled either about how Tufts does not seem to want to help students with housing (sophomores are supposed to be "guaranteed" housing, however, one of the Reslife individuals told my dad on the phone that they don't even have enough rooms for everyone sophomore) so that is bad pressure right there.</p>
<p>Additionally, it seems as though everyone else has really found his or her place and I'm struggling to do that and it does not seem that Tufts has a decent way of helping students cope with this. The advisors just say "sure" to whatever you throw at them without any type of real guidance and I think that might be screwing me over for the future. </p>
<p>Given all of the negativity I was feeling, I became very homesick and absolutely could not wait to go home for Spring Break. I started to really doubt the school and a lot of things about it just seemed suddenly awful. In terms of the social aspect, it seems as though it's difficult to find those who are not strictly interested in JUST the party scene. I have a great group of friends at the school, however, it would be nice to find those who might want to explore Boston on a weekend instead of going out to a frat all the time.</p>
<p>These past few weeks, especially after all of the housing issues, have been extremely difficult and right now it seems as if transferring is the best option. I would just like some guidance from anyone who might feel/have felt the same way at some point.</p>
<p>I’m sorry it’s been tough going, BlueL39. But I have to say that the complaints you’ve brought up sound pretty typical. Without a whole lot more information, I’d have to suggest that you could transfer to a lot of other schools and find yourself in the same or a similar situation. I know a lot of kids your age (I’m a mom), and I’ve heard about the same difficulties in finding a group who wants to do more than party across the country–from Columbia, to Chicago, and west to Stanford.</p>
<p>My own freshman year at Tufts many years ago, I decided AFTER room assignments, that I just didn’t want to live with the person I’d gone through the housing lottery with. So I went through a “mop-up” lottery and got assigned to a room with a stranger. It was okay, but by Thanksgiving, I’d figured out a better option and moved. Ironically, many years later, I found myself still in touch with the person I’d “abandoned.” I haven’t told you even a small portion of my housing/friend issues, but by the end of my four years, if I’d had to describe my time at Tufts, I would have only told roommate stories because people found them so funny.</p>
<p>I guess my point is that you’re in a tough time of life, but these times are pretty hard for everyone. Moving AWAY from somewhere unless you have a specific place you want to move TOWARDS probably isn’t the right answer.</p>
<p>That is very sad, especially for the expectation you had and the price you pay (although no one should be unhappy at a public school, either). Because I hear, so commonly, about how happy most people seem to be at Tufts, maybe, you should wait until you have a happier living scenario before you move on. Is there no one who could help you with this? I find it hard to believe that the school would be indifferent to your “pain.”</p>
<p>Are you aware of Dan the admissions person who posts on the Tufts’ CC postings? Maybe, he could be of help to you? He seems quick to volunteer when someone has a question or is struggling, somehow.</p>
<p>And, I am totally confused, does Tufts not assign its freshmen to a room-mate?? I do not understand how an incoming freshmen, not knowing anyone, would have the capacity to choose a room-mate. Thanks for clarifying.</p>
<p>Freshmen can either choose their roommate before the year begins or they can choose to do random roommate assignment. Usually incoming freshmen join a group on Facebook such as Tufts 2013 Roommate Search and find someone who is compatible with them and they are then able to put one another’s names down on the roommate questionnaire. Other than that, roommate assignment is random.</p>
<p>Freshmen can either choose their roommate before the year begins or they can choose to do random roommate assignment. Usually incoming freshmen join a group on Facebook such as Tufts 2013 Roommate Search and find someone who is compatible with them and they are then able to put one another’s names down on the roommate questionnaire. Other than that, roommate assignment is random.</p>
<p>And Tufts actually acedes to a such a request instead of using their own judgement to match incoming freshmen?? And when and how does one know to do such a thing–e.g. join Tufts 2013 Roommate Search. Would you say that the majority of freshmen leave it to the random roommate assignment?? And by random, do you mean a computer does capricious matching or a live human being actually looks at some sort of (answered) questionnaire submitted on behalf of each freshmen??</p>
<p>SWHarborfan, I’m glad you took your question to another thread–this finding roommates on Facebook is a relatively new practice. I knew it was the method of choice for other schools but didn’t know that Tufts was adopting it. It has sounded kind of stressful to me when I’ve heard about it for other campuses, so I’m interested in learning more.</p>
<p>But for this thread, I am pretty sure that BlueL39 is talking about housing choices for next year, sophomore year. It seems that he/she got a low lottery number–that’s one problem–and also isn’t happy with the prospective rooommate. This is really sad. But I think it’s more common than people who find themselves in the situation think. I’m thinking and hoping that in the coming years BlueL39 may find a suite of friends that’s a better fit than the freshman crowd. Granted we have very little information, but I’d bet that can happen on the Tufts campus. Unless there’s more to the story, transferring seems like too extreme a reaction. </p>
<p>Good luck, BlueL39. Hopefully, some students can weigh in.</p>
<p>I don’t really know what to say to help you other than that the housing lottery for sophomore year was one of the most stressful experiences of my time so far at Tufts in large part because I got stuck with a crappy number and reslife’s system is really ****ty.</p>
<p>I’m working to get a single next year since I don’t think ResLife can make you just live with someone if you don’t want to. Hebrewhammer, how did the living situation work out for you? Is it going to be impossible to get a single?</p>
<p>I, too, would go along with hebrewhammer and say that sophomore housing lottery was the most stress my D has faced at Tufts. Not enough housing, bad lottery number, wanting to live with friends, the whole waiting line line to choose a room, etc. etc. Horrible!! They ended up “splitting up” with some living downhill and others living uphill.</p>
<p>I will say it has all worked out in the end and she has made even more new friends and is living in an entirely different area of campus than last year. But during the entire process, it was hell!</p>
<p>Next year she will be abroad and will not have to deal with this. Senior year she has a great lottery number, but will probably choose to live off-campus.</p>
<p>I would venture to say that housing is THE biggest problem/complaint/issue at Tufts.</p>
<p>I will say it has all worked out in the end and she has made even more new friends and is living in an entirely different area of campus than last year. But during the entire process, it was hell!</p>
<p>Glad it worked out for your daughter–maybe, even for the best? But, yikes! Can’t Dan, the admissions guy, resolve this for everyone (ha, ha!). He seems so helpful in other matters. Just a thought. I am just sorry that Tufts can’t be proactive about the grief that the housing lottery seems to generate.</p>
During the lottery process I wound up picking a double that was near some of my friends and got another person put in with me. I asked them to notify me if a single became available but they never did.<br>
There are a few freshmen with singles on my floor and elsewhere in Lewis/other dorms, so I think if a sophomore wants a single then that SHOULD take precedence for a number of reasons, but Reslife is really f**king stupid, so who knows. You should be proactive, though, and keep calling/emailing them (or even showing up at their office in South Hall) until they give you something.</p>
<p>I’ve been waiting to post here for a few days, mulling over my thoughts on the matter, which are complicated and may not end up being expressed with the clarity I’d like.</p>
<p>At around this time during my own freshman year, I wondered about a few of the same things. I doubt my own feelings met the depth that you’re feeling, Blue, but I can relate to pieces of it. Honestly, I think it’s common (and normal) to experience some of that doubt. For most of us at Tufts, freshman year represents an untethering from the social lives we knew at home and a search for the links that will bind us to our new community and gives us a sense of place and meaning. And whether you can visibly see it or not, I think most freshman struggle with that for a time. And for most freshman, that struggle can be a healthy process, even if it isn’t easy. I worry, though, that what you feel right now goes beyond that. Would you be interested in meeting me? As a former RA and a Tufts alum, I’d be so happy to sit down with you to talk about your frustrations. I can share my own freshman year experience, and maybe you’ll find it helpful. If nothing else, maybe I can offer some insider tips on housing?</p>
<p>I, too, end up hearing the complaints about the lottery, and can appreciate the challenges. And while my intention is not to rationalize your situation, living with a roommate next year doesn’t have to be a disaster. If you’re still looking for a social niche, and eager to meet new people who may better share your interests, a new roommate could end up providing a new path for you. </p>
<p><<< Would you be interested in meeting me? As a former RA and a Tufts alum, I’d be so happy to sit down with you to talk about your frustrations. I can share my own freshman year experience, and maybe you’ll find it helpful. If nothing else, maybe I can offer some insider tips on housing?</p>
<p>I, too, end up hearing the complaints about the lottery, and can appreciate the challenges. And while my intention is not to rationalize your situation, living with a roommate next year doesn’t have to be a disaster. If you’re still looking for a social niche, and eager to meet new people who may better share your interests, a new roommate could end up providing a new path for you. </p>
<p>Either way, come and talk to me.>>></p>
<p>The foregoing is one of many countless, wonderful reasons that my daughter will attend Tufts–Dan, you are a mensch! (mensch is a good thing, Dan)</p>
<p>I agree…I don’t know about other colleges/universities but how cool is it that an admissions officer from Tufts spends time enlightening, informing, commiserating, clarifying, answering questions and comments on this forum…Dan you are so valuable to this forum as are the others who comment…your participation shows you (and Tufts) care! You express yourself in a clear relateable way…and have the benefit of having been a former student…I really appreciate you too.</p>
<p>But I agree that there is something amiss about the housing situation at Tufts—D (a fy student) got her lottery # for next year in the fall —before they really had a chance to know each other and way before they were actually going to be acting on those lottery #s and so they started calculating/fretting about the following year’s rooming situation —so why would Res Life do something like that and is this part of the reason Blue is feeling blue—My D is just really lucky because she and her roommate have hit it off but for those who don’t the following year’s prospect could be pretty daunting when they have to start contemplating it so early on —what is the point of that early lottery number? Is this part of what Snarf has alluded to about the problems of Reslife (and hebrewhammer is hinting at too)? </p>
<p>That said, I think there’s something to be said about simply trying the next scenario, Blue—wonderful things can happen when least expected and I do think that Tufts is a warm happy place (although I only know it vicariously)----best of luck to you—oh, and take Dan up on his offer</p>
<p>I actually like that they release the number so early. It’s easier to make plans for next year with so much time between the release of the numbers and the actual lottery!</p>
<p>I know I’m late to this party (and full disclosure; I only read the first post) but does everyone see what I’m on about regarding Yolanda King and ResLife? Literally the single worst part of Tufts.</p>
<p>I’m feeling the same way Blue is. I’m a freshman at tufts and I just feel out-of-place at Tufts. I have a solid group of friends, but I don’t ever truly feel like myself around them. Obviously much of my homesickness is natural, but is the “feeling-completely-out-of-place” thing natural too? I’m worried I made the wrong decision but I’m afraid to transfer in fear that whereever I end up going will be worse.</p>