im trying to figure out how tufts compares to other mid-size, liberal schools in the northeast with proximity to cities. I love so many aspects of tufts, but I’ve heard a few things that concern me and if anyone can give me some insight that would be super appreciated:
I have heard that tufts facilities are awful and super out of date when compared to other ‘prestigious’ universities of the same caliber and that given the high cost of tuition, some don’t find them to be worth the price tag.
I have heard that there is minimal to no ‘school spirit.’ People seem to love the community of tufts students, but see a genuine rift between students and school administration in part due to their small endowment and inability to put money towards improvements. Additionally, I have also heard that athletes are somewhat divided from the rest of the student body, and that creates a rift as well. With these two factors combined, it seems like students don’t enjoy going to sporting events or having a sense of pride in their actual school. Is there a sense of unity in the community?
Do people enjoy games and tufts events? Do they wear school colors or have any school cheers? These aren’t academic concerns, but I have heard such conflicting things about social dynamics. I don’t know what to make of this, and does this have any drastic effects on the social life/overall enjoyment of students? Do people frequently host tufts parties, or are they forced to look elsewhere in Boston?
Georgetown interests me because it seems to provide school spirit in the ways Tufts lacks it, but I have my concerns with Georgetown as well: the catholic environment (I am not catholic), the lack of diversity, the more urban feel, less green space, more preppy and less down-to-earth seeming, the more fast-paced, competitive atmosphere. In the ways Georgetown lacks, Tufts thrives with a collaborative, friendly feeling, a ton of diversity, and a more suburban setting. Am I assessing the differences in these schools correctly? What can anyone tell me about the differences in their vibes/does anyone know any other schools similar to what I seem to be looking for? Does one seem to be a better fit for me?
Some of your information is way off. Tufts endowment is close to 2 billion -vs- Georgetown 1.6 billion.
Tufts facilities are far from outdated. They have renovated a vast majority of their housing. Some look like hotels now. With a lot more on the way. New Stem building will be completed next year.
During COVID Tufts has implemented one of the most successful testing programs along with brand new isolation units to keep numbers low and keep us all on campus. (unlike Georgetown- totally virtual)
The student body is supportive, friendly, collaborative and welcoming.
The food is great! The city is great. The campus beautiful!
Concerned about pride and colors and sports…well it’s not a D1 school and doesn’t pretend to be. everyone proudly wears Jumbo gear…but it’s COVID so right now no sports.
Student life has done a lot to try to make things as normal as possible during COVID.
I’m a freshman and I am so happy I chose Tufts.
Not sure when you are applying or if you can visit …but I actually crossed Georgetown off my list after I did two summer programs. I did one summer at Georgetown and the next summer at Tufts. I thought Tufts was superior (for me) in every way.
wow thank u so much thats rlly helpful to know:) I think the facilities thing I heard was mostly directed to the humanities buildings but glad to know that was over-exaggerated! I was a little concerned bc i’m not studying stem
I feel like as far as school colors and some of those more shallow concerns of mine are more to get a feel for if people feel proud of their school and happy to be there for more than just the education. like does the student body feel at arms with the admin/athletes to an extent where it’s overwhelming?
How is tufts in-person? How’s Davis Square? How is the snow and vibe in the winter? The fact that people are on campus is amazing to me, I am somewhere that is super shut down lol
I have visited tufts and I am definitely applying, but people seem to have such different perspectives on the school. I was hearing a ton of negativity about social aspects of tufts and I’m glad to know that the advice I got wasn’t entirely accurate.
What made you cross off Georgetown? were there any other schools you looked at besides tufts?
wow thank u so much thats rlly helpful to know:) I think the facilities thing I heard was mostly directed to the humanities buildings but glad to know that was over-exaggerated! I was a little concerned bc i’m not studying stem
I feel like as far as school colors and some of those more shallow concerns of mine are more to get a feel for if people feel proud of their school and happy to be there for more than just the education. like does the student body feel at arms with the admin/athletes to an extent where it’s overwhelming?
How is tufts in-person? How’s Davis Square? How is the snow and vibe in the winter? The fact that people are on campus is amazing to me, I am somewhere that is super shut down lol
I have visited tufts and I am definitely applying, but people seem to have such different perspectives on the school. I was hearing a ton of negativity about social aspects of tufts and I’m glad to know that the advice I got wasn’t entirely accurate.
What made you cross off Georgetown? were there any other schools you looked at besides tufts?
** I didn’t see myself living in DC, too political…I was there during a big protest week…annoying to get around town with all the chaos. I also did not like the food or the facilities. the buildings seemed older and run done. On my admissions tour everyone seemed extremely opinionated and “braggy” more than informative and welcoming. i looked at over 20 schools. I started early.
I was accepted Cornell,(transfer opt) Case Western, U Rochester, Northeaster, Lehigh, BU, and BC among others but those were my finalists…then Tufts called! best decision ever.
you have no idea how helpful this is, thank you so much for responding so quickly! I loved tufts when I first went and only started to hear negativity after I told people I liked it there and I was shocked… this is so refreshing. I come from the west coast and people don’t seem to know much about tufts
I am applying to almost all of the schools u just mentioned! I didn’t want to let on at first until I heard what you had to say but I’m actually REALLY considering ED 2 for tufts, especially to help myself stand out within the applicant pool from my competitive high school. I have some other contending schools but tufts seems to have everything I am looking for, its just definitely a commitment so I want to be sure I have ruled everything out.
Especially given my high school experience with cutthroat attitudes from my peers and COVID and all, I want to make sure I go to a school where students are social and enjoying themselves with different traditions and fun times. From what you describe on winter, and overall everything you have said, that sounds like the case at tufts. Thanks so much for the honest advice:)
My almost biggest regret was second guessing myself and not applying ED to Tufts …people tried to discourage me from applying to Tufts ED…it’s not a school a lot of people form my HS apply to or if they do they don’t get accepted…so it’s looked at as a big long shot
I visited 3 yrs ago, attended info sessions, did a summer program and so much else…I knew it was a great fit for me (so did my family) I loved that it was collaborative and not cut throat…and then as it got closer I doubted myself. Cornell was my other top choice. …so last minute I did not ED to Tufts…and was waitlisted. At that point I committed to another school …never fully happy with my choice.
I kept in touch with admissions and a few weeks later got a phone call from Tufts with an offer of admissions. It was the best phone call ever…To this day, i cannot believe i almost let it slip away. I can still kick myself.
Good luck and follow your true feelings. no one can tell you. how to feel
As each acceptance came in, I never had that excited jumping up and down feeling that so many kids get when they hear from their colleges. so I started to think ok, i guess it was all hype…then when I got that Tufts phone call!! and I finally knew.
I have no insight on Tufts but I wanted to address your “too Catholic” concern about Georgetown. I’m not sure what might concern you precisely about that, but on our tour (1) it seemed that the main influence of the Jesuit philosophy was in their emphasis on social justice, rather than religion as such (2) they have many religions represented on campus, example there is a full time rabbi and I think an imam too, and it seemed a number of religions have office space and representatives on campus (3) there does not seem to be much in the way of a religious conservative influence - our tour guide was openly LGBT.
It didn’t really feel that urban to us either - it’s located at the far end of Georgetown behind gates, and felt very much a campus college, albeit within very easy reach of more urban amenities.
My daughter decided not to apply - it would have been a reach school anyway but she felt it would have been too academically intense for her - but I did want to address those points in your post. My daughter does know a couple of high school friends at Georgetown, neither of whom are Catholic, and both love it.
I agree…most Jesuit schools are more concerned with social justice and service. I attended a Jesuit HS and had many kids of different faiths…never an issue. Very accepting.
I remember reading an article a while back on how Georgetown is becoming the least Catholic of all Catholic colleges.
I think I’m going to go for it and ED! Your concerns about georgetown still hit home for me, especially the competition there seems to be at that school. Tufts seems perfect in every way. Hopefully I will one day get to call tufts home myself:)