<p>Debating between these two schools. Which school has the stronger academics, better science department, higher medical school acceptance rate, and better post-grad opportunities? </p>
<p>I know Tufts has it’s own medical school, it’s a research university, and has that early-acceptance to medical school option. But does that necessarily mean it’s the better school to go to for undergrad to get into a good medical school? Don’t or can’t Bowdoin students do the same if not better?</p>
<p>If you just had to say one school was better than the other, which would you choose?</p>
<p>What do you think Bowdoin’s peer schools are?</p>
<p>Haha, I’m choosing between these two schools too…they are so different, and I like them for different reasons…I know Bowdoin students do go onto med school and graduate school (Roughly 15% I think…) But I think Tufts is more pre-professional orientated. Regardless, you are trying to compare apples and oranges (small LAC vs. big research university: totally different!). In short: you can get into great medical schools at both. Where do you see yourself being happiest? That’s what will matter, that is what will different how much you excel (at least in my mind :D).</p>
<p>As far as peer schools go, many websites can give you the “overlap” schools in regards to Tufts/Bowdoin</p>
<p>cilyboi, most rankings (especially USNWR which you are probably referring to) separates LACs and universities so you can’t compare that way.</p>
<p>The quality of education and “name on the diploma” are probably about the same so pick the environment you like better. BTW, Tufts isn’t really “big” it only 5,000 undergrads then 4,000ish undergrads/preprofessionals.</p>
<p>I personally would pick Tufts since I want a university where I have a lot of funding to do research and I’d like being near a big city (Boston) over basically the middle of nowhere, but that’s just me.</p>
<p>Let’s put it this way. When you click on the “Colleges” link on the sidebar of College Confidential, which college is on the front page? That’s right - Bowdoin. You have to navigate all the way down to the “T” section to get to the Tufts boards. Yuck.</p>
<p>Only kidding, of course. Two schools with similar academic standing and different atmospheres. I would go with Bowdoin in a heartbeat. Each school is excellent.</p>
<p>Tufts was my first choice for much of the college admissions process. Now I’m not so sure if it’s the place for me. I felt it was a really big school and not as personal as Bowdoin. Also, there are so many hills!</p>
<p>i think they’re different. they’re both good. i went to bowdoin, so i’m biased, but tufts is great. in my opinion, bowdoin had a classic new england college feel whereas tufts did not feel that way. it’s community felt stronger to me than the community at tufts. it was on the maine coast, which struck me as unique and an interesting place to spend a few years. i don’t know, i just felt a better fit at bowdoin. </p>
<p>tufts’s peer schools - wustl, vanderbuilt, upenn, brown…tufts is this funny school. i think it’s peer schools are harvard at the top and northeastern at the bottom, although it’s true peer schools are similar to bowdoin’s.</p>
<p>i mean, tufts and bowdoin are in the same athletic conference so in a way they’re peer schools of each other. </p>
<p>i’d encourage you to sit with it for a few days and see where your feelings lead you. if you don’t know yet, just wait a bit more. it’ll be ok either way (although my vote goes to bowdoin, not that it matters).</p>
<p>After visiting both, I feel like I’m more of a fit for Bowdoin. Also, I liked it’s campus more :).</p>
<p>But I’m afraid I might lose out on some opportunities by not going to Tufts. Do you think Bowdoin is too small (in regards to school size)? Does Tufts have any departments/programs stranger than Bowdoin’s (I’m still unsure what I’m going to study)? Will Tufts graduates land better jobs because they have access to the city and the internships/opportunities there? Will Tufts graduates gain an advantage because Tufts is a university and they get to do research with professors?</p>
<p>I don’t need to go a school in the city, especially Boston/Medford, because I’m from around that area kind of. It’s basically been there, done that.</p>
<p>Right now I’m really leaning toward Bowdoin, but I don’t want to have any regrets in the future. </p>
<p>Also, is there any discrimination/racism at all at Bowdoin? Are people generally open-minded and friendly?</p>
<p>if you’re talking about undergraduate research, you have more opportunities at a smaller school than a bigger one. </p>
<p>I mean, yes, tufts has a 1 billion endowment, but it also has 5,000+ students. Bowdoin has $688 million for only 1,700 students. the quality just shows through in every aspect of college life, and the close community of bowdoin alums will help you out all over the world. </p>
<p>My roommate just got a private wealth management internship with Goldman Sachs and he’s never taken economics or math and is an art history major. the alum just wanted a bowdoin guy. bam.</p>
<p>Light10491, I was in the same position three years ago and happily chose Bowdoin.</p>
<p>In terms of your size question, one of my high school teachers offered me this nugget of advice: you can be a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big pool. By going to Bowdoin I have received money for two otherwise unpaid internships and had my pick of professors to supervise my honors project next year in the Environmental Studies department.</p>
<p>In terms of Tufts and Bowdoin, my feeling was and still is that I could be happy at either. But having spent three years at Bowdoin, I know that I couldn’t be any happy-ER at any other school than I have been at Bowdoin. My classmates have become my best friends and I’ve been challenged intellectually in exactly the way I was looking for.</p>