Tufts or Georgetown?

<p>PLEASE HELP!</p>

<p>I got waitlisted at Georgetown and accepted at Tufts (where I put down a deposit). Though Gtown was previously my first choice, once I looked closer at Tufts, I got REALLY excited about it. Now that I finally got off the waitlist at Georgetown, my decision is MUCH harder than I thought it would be. I need help!!!</p>

<p>about me: i'm a girl from san francisco, ca. though i love bio and medicine, i'm also really interested in art history and international studies. i'm not preppy, but get along with almost everyone—and whichever school i go to, there MUST be a good/interesting/diverse social life. (i'm not really into just getting drunk EVERY weekend, but i want to know that i won't be alone when i do just want to party. though i'm hoping there will always be something fun/quirky to do, too—i'm from san francisco after all :)</p>

<p>thanks!!</p>

<p>oh, and to be clear, i definitely don’t care about “prestige” or the name. my friends all respond to georgetown because they know the name, but i know both schools are great so i don’t mind going to a lesser known one.</p>

<p>I’d say tufts is a very good option (although im a bit prejudiced, as I’m in love with the place). It’s big on the interdisciplinary stuff, has excellent bio, art, and IR, and i think is a bit more fun-loving/laid back than georgetown.</p>

<p>the thing i really like about tufts is that you learn about stuff from all of these different areas and are supposed to put it together. all the stuff goes along together. this makes it a bit better in a liberal-arts education way. I guess how i’d put it is that tufts is more of an educational experience, whereas georgetown is more of an education.</p>

<p>that isn’t to say georgetown is all boring (it isn’t). but boston is also a so much better city than DC.</p>

<p>I think the best thing to ask yourself is why Georgetown was your first choice, and why you’re starting to question that. I really don’t think you could go wrong with either school, but Tufts seems like a closer fit with your science/international relations interests, which are the two major focuses of the school. Also, I believe Georgetown has a more city-campus feel, whereas Tufts is a bus and metro ride away from the city, if that makes any difference. Good Luck, it’s an amazing choice to be able to have!</p>

<p>^to the contrary on the Georgetown/city feel.</p>

<p>It’s a bus/metro ride to anywhere interesting in DC. the nearest metro is across the river, and downtown is a 20 minute bus on an average day. Tufts felt a little bit more city-like than georgetown to me. kinda because it’s right up the hill from Cambridge.</p>

<p>I think Tufts is the better school</p>

<p>^What IB footballer said is true regarding the campus. (Visited both)</p>

<p>I do think Tufts is much more of a fit since you have interest in science.</p>

<p>I love Gtown. lol. If it was me I’d pick Georgetown but only because it’s better for my major. Tufts is amazing though.</p>

<p>Both are very good schools, and their prestige is equal. It all depends on your major, where you want to work, etc. etc.</p>

<p>thank you! i’m kind of leaning towards tufts right now, but still not sure.
does anyone have any experiences with the social life on both campuses? i.e. what do students do for fun, do they go off campus much, drinking/drug culture etc.?</p>

<p>both are great schools. If you’re interested in science and international relations/studies, Georgetown has more options combining the two than Tufts. I would say Tufts has better science facilities overall. For IR+science, Georgetown has majors in:</p>

<p>-International Health in the School of Nursing and Health Studies. This major includes HUMAN focused science courses (anatomy and physiology I and II, medical microbiology, human growth and development, biochemistry of human functioning, for example) with public/international health courses (epidemiology, global patterns of disease, globalization and health, health promotion and disease prevention, for example), as well as THREE built in internships in the curriculum, culminating in a practical experience abroad (i.e. not a study abroad, but actually conducting a study abroad using the knowledge you gained over 3 years). There also is a human patient simulator that you can use in some courses and in your research if you decide to.</p>

<p>-Biology of Global Health in Georgetown College. This is the major that has more of a general science focus. You’ll take General Biology I and II, General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, and Genetics (required for all majors in the bio department at Gtown). You’ll then take the Gateway to Biology of Global Health in the sophomore year, which introduces you to the major. Then you can take courses like Bioinformatics, Population Genetics, Immunology, Virology, Parasitology (all relevant to studying epidemics/pandemics/endemics, etc.) There’s also unique courses open to all students, such as Shaping National Health Policy, Health in Conflicts, Crises, and Disasters, Women’s Health, Human Genetics, etc.</p>

<p>-Science, Technology and International Affairs (STIA), concentration in Biotechnology and Global Health, in the School of Foreign Service. This will have more of an IR focus to it than the others. You’ll become fluent in a second language, study at least 4 economics courses, 3 history, and 2 government courses. You can then take courses in the International Health and Biology departments, as well as STIA specific courses, such as Politics of International Health, Global Health Ethics, Science and Technology in the Global Arena, etc.</p>

<p>So, Georgetown has three very different options that combine science and international relations. You can add pre-med to any of these, with Biology of Global Health including most of the pre-med requirements in the major. You can switch between schools at anytime if you feel the need to. I would say that Tufts has better overall sciences, but if you’re interested in small science departments with majors that actually focus on and combine your interests in science and international relations, Georgetown is a great choice. There is also an Art History major at Georgetown, though I’m not familiar with it. Georgetown also has an Early Admission Program to Georgetown School of Medicine, where you can apply after sophomore year, and if you have a good application (with defined goals that you want to accomplish in your senior year instead of spending time applying to schools), you can be admitted early, without taking the MCAT. It’s very difficult to get in (very competitive), but the option is still there. Georgetown also has GERMS, Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service, where you can train to be an EMT-B, and get basic medical skills, responding not only to the University, but the surrounding communities. They also have 2 ambulances, unique among collegiate EMS organizations.</p>

<p>I’d say that over 50% of students drink at Georgetown. Students take advantage of DC, and go to various neighborhoods in it. Georgetown the neighborhood has great bars and a few clubs, and great restaurants. Parties happen both on and off campus. Georgetown doesn’t have Greek life, so student organizations take on the role of creating the weekend social life, and it’s great. People tend to study hard during the week, and have fun on the weekend. I’m sure it’s the same at Tufts. The University organizes various events as well, such as dance parties in the library (it’s actually awesome), various comedians, speakers, etc. Georgetown also has a grilling society that sometimes throws late night parties with food. There’s a diverse array of options for social life at Georgetown.</p>

<p>Georgetown also is very accessible. It does not have a Metro stop nearby, however it does have shuttle buses running to the Rosslyn and Dupont Circle metro stations, as well as the Georgetown Law campus downtown. There’s a taxi stand on campus near the Conference Center, and it is surrounded by multiple Metro bus stops with buses running all the time. So, while it is not in downtown DC, it is accessible whenever you need it to be.</p>

<p>You sound like you were made for Tufts. Go there and don’t look back.</p>

<p>Socially.</p>

<p>Tufts has social fraternities and sororities. Georgetown does not.
Tufts has division 3 athletics. Georgetown has Division 1 and competes in the Big East so college athletic events, especially basketball games, can play a part in the social life and add to the US college experience.
Both schools are diverse and have international student bodies, but Georgetown also has a Catholic school influence that stresses strengthening the mind, body and spirit, and the school sponsored social activities support this mission.
Georgetown has a slight southern hospitality culture and there are some popular events in the spring and fall involving horse races in Northern Virginia. House parties at Georgetown tend to be free and open to all students. Eating, drinking, shopping, the DC tourist circuit are also popular activities at Georgetown given the variety cafes, restaurants, pubs, boutiques, art galleries in the Georgetown neighborhood, and the monuments, museums (Smithsonian, National Gallery, Corcoran, Phillips Collection), and galleries downtown.
Finally, more of Georgetown’s social activities (parties, receptions, intramural sports), take place outdoors given the shorter winter and longer summer. Tufts is in a better location for winter sports and activities, except for inaugurations.</p>

<p>You can’t go wrong here with either school, but I think Tufts is the slightly better choice for you.</p>