Tufts vs Brown - 2011

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hello</p>

<p>I've narrowed down my choices to Brown or Tufts, both of which I've been accepted to.</p>

<p>I'm planning to major in English/Literature/etc., but I'm also on the fence about taking a premed track. I might or might not basically. I'm greatly interested in the biological sciences but not sure if I want to pursue a career in it. But I definitely love books and composition so a related major is pretty set. Love reading and writing. Since both are popular subjects/fields at many schools, I feel pretty confident that I can get a great education at either school.</p>

<p>However, I'm really looking for a well-rounded experience. I'm also interested in participating in theatre/drama/performing arts, learning many languages, and playing sports, mainly lacrosse and downhill/alpine skiing.</p>

<p>I'm definitely going to do study abroad. No questions asked. I don't care whether it's a semester, a year, during the summer, independent, with a program, etc., I am going to study abroad.</p>

<p>In terms of community, I'm just generally looking for open-minded, friendly, and just fun to be with sort of people. You know, love to learn and love to play. I absolutely cannot stand arrogance or self-importance.</p>

<p>For professors, I don't really mind because I adapt to many different teaching styles. I prefer the more personal touch but it's not a deal breaker.</p>

<p>Of course, for both students and professors, there will be some bad eggs but since I'm easy-going for the most part, I don't think I'll mind too much. I mean, I get along with a wider range of people than many of my friends do so that must mean something, right?</p>

<p>Location-wise, I was really looking for a suburban setting. I want the campus itself to be a little outside of a city but as a city girl, I also really want the convenience and fun of a city nearby.</p>

<p>Now one of my biggest problems are my parents. Both are Japanese immigrants and don't know as much as other parents might about the whole college process. My dad is a neurosurgeon and did both undergrad and grad school at the most prestigious school in Japan (Tokyo University). My mother only did undergrad and graduated from an all-women's school.</p>

<p>Both are pressuring me heavily to go to Brown because of it's reputation. They fear that I'll feel inferior to all the Ivy students nearby if I go to Tufts, and they also want me to have that Ivy advantage when I go looking for career opportunities.</p>

<p>I love both Tufts and Brown but right now I'm leaning ever so slightly towards Tufts. The thing is, I don't want to disregard Brown but the more my parents pressure me, the more I'm afraid that I'll ignore it just to rebel against my parents.</p>

<p>I'm really trying to give a fair eye to each school so I was hoping you could enlighten me to both pros and cons of the schools as well as anything you think will help my decision process.</p>

<p>I will be visiting both this weekend to get each of their "vibes".</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>Go with your gut in this situation.</p>

<p>Note - There is no such thing as the “Ivy Advantage”. If you’re qualified enough to get into one of those schools, then you’re smart and capable enough to achieve your goals.</p>

3

<p>Go to Brown and yes there is such a thing as an Ivy advantage.</p>

4

<p>I can’t speak about Tufts, but it sounds like you’re describing Brown. Brown’s curriculum is incredibly flexible (for what it’s worth, a good friend was a comparative literature major and pre-med back in the late 1970’s). Brown is the definition of “open-minded and friendly”. The campus is in the city, but separate from it. You can stay up on College Hill or walk downtown in 10 minutes. To get into the city from Tufts, you have to take the subway (the “T”). Providence has improved so much since I was there and is now a truly beautiful city. It has always been a great restaurant town. At Brown, you don’t have to be a theatre major to participate in shows (I did many shows as an AmCiv major). Be sure you walk down Thayer Street when you visit Brown. Brown and Tufts are both great schools, but it sounds like Brown would be a good fit for you.</p>

5

<p>I see that you like schools located on hills. :)</p>

<p>You say that you are leaning slightly to Tufts–could you explain why? Have you visited both schools?</p>

<p>Really, the only issue you seem to face is prestige. Both schools will offer everything else that you’re looking for. I’d suggest that you post in the Tufts and Brown forums as well, and see what kind of responses you get. Yes, both will be partisan :wink: but it might give you a feel for how graduates have fared in the world post-college. </p>

<p>Best of luck–there are no bad choices here.</p>

6

<p>@slithytove: I’m leaning ever so slightly towards tufts because I feel that tu students are slightly more well-rounded in terms of their balance of athletics, arts, and academics. Also, I feel that tufts is slightly quirkier. Not that I’m saying brown students aren’t interesting but that tufts seems to be closer to my flavor of quirkiness if that makes sense. I’ll be visiting both this weekend.</p>

7

<p>^That is an interesting observation that you feel Tufts is slightly quirkier than Brown. I don’t think I have ever heard that before. Brown has always enjoyed a reputation for quirkiness and I have not heard that attributed to Tufts until your comment.</p>

<p>As far as the choice, it really comes down to your personal preference and where you think you can see yourself being the happiest. They are both outstanding choices and you really can’t go wrong with either. I was with a close friend and his daughter earlier this week as she was trying to decide between Tufts and Cornell. Her parents were leaning towards Cornell because of the Ivy factor but she ended up choosing Tufts. Good luck to you and congratulations!</p>

8

<p>I am very familiar with Tufts and Brown (both the student bodies and the schools themselves), so here is my take on the issue…</p>

<p>In terms of academics, student achievement and intellectual quality, ethnic/racial/political makeup of the student body, quirkiness, friendliness, and institutional facilities, the two schools are practically twins. Really, they are remarkably similar with respect to these qualities.</p>

<p>In terms of location, Tufts is located near Boston and a number of other highly regarded universities and colleges (with all of the advantages that entails). On the other hand, Brown is located in Providence, a lively, attractive and largely underrated college town, and Brown students have access to the facilities and creativity of the Rhode Island School of Design. The students at both schools patronize nearby convenient vibrant entertainment districts: Tufts students go to Davis Square and Harvard Square, Brown students go to Thayer Street, Fox Point, and the clubs of downtown Providence.</p>

<p>Both universities have medical schools. Brown’s med school is more highly rated by USNews but Tufts, I believe, accepts a greater percentage of its own students. Of course, med school is insanely competitive (and somewhat irrational, in my opinion), and most students who start out thinking that they will go pre med find that it is ultimately not for them (even at highly selective schools such as these).</p>

<p>Brown, of course, is an established Ivy League school… but Tufts’ reputation for excellence continues to spread and the school is widely regarded as a “new Ivy.”</p>

<p>Remember: many of the ubiquitous posters on CC make recommendations based solely upon which school is perceived to be “more prestigious” (hello, SISTOKID). However, there is no “Ivy advantage” in this situation… you will do equally well if you succeed/excel at either institution. Your parents may not believe this but it is absolutely, certainly true.</p>

9

<p>There’s not enough difference here to justify angering your parents. Just go to Brown and don’t look back.</p>

10

<p>You should go where YOU are happiest not where others think you would be happiest. And not where your parents would be happiest either.</p>

11

<p>You seem like the individual looking for both the academic experience and social experience that a great university can provide. Go to Brown. At first I thought you were joking because you described Brown perfectly with the things wanted from a school. The prestige is nice and your parents are happy. Brown has soooo many initiatives for studying abroad. Go to Brown. There are always 10-12 specific ones going on, but if those don’t fit, you can talk with the staff to build your own. The office of international affairs is great with that stuff. Go to Brown. Did I mention Brown ranks as one of the happiest schools in America? I may seem like I am trying to sell it, and I am because despite the fact that I only know you from a description of what you want from a college, I know that Brown is a great fit for you. Go to Brown.</p>

12

<p>"You should go where YOU are happiest not where others think you would be happiest. And not where your parents would be happiest either. "</p>

<p>Uh when you pay everything on your own then YOU can make that decision, until then MOM AND DAD have a HUGE SAY.</p>

13

<p>i know people who go to both brown and tufts and i would say brown would be your best desicion. They have both a fabulous english program and an outstanding premed program. It is also a wonderful school with wonderful people. Everyone there is open and friendly. Providence also seems like a good setting for you. its a small city with everything a city has to offer in a cute little package. ultimately its up to u but i say go with brown</p>

14

<p>SISTOKID, obviously if the OP is allowed to make a choice, then the OP can ultimately decide. While her parents may have a preference, they are giving their child the freedom to choose.</p>

<p>They can give whatever input they want, but ultimately, their child will decide and the parents will pay for it or part of it or whatever. I mean, an 18 year old kid should be allowed to make a huge life decision. Parents, friends, whatever, can give input and advice, but the prospective student ultimately makes the choice.</p>

<p>By the way, I feel like just<em>the</em>facts is the only one that actually gave a good answer by actually comparing and contrasting. Input like that is better than “go to X school.”</p>

<p>It’s called comparative analysis. Best of luck to the OP wherever you go. You got into great schools!</p>

15

<p>Right buzzers. You know how many 18 year olds go to crappy overpriced schools when they have better in state or financial aid options? This is not a “freedom of choice” issue, it is much larger. And you have no clue if mom and dad are “obviously” allowing this child to make this decision, children (and that is what they are CHILDREN) have a way of reinterpreting things that they want to hear vs reality at times (as do many adults)</p>

16

<p>this is looking like a Brown enrollment</p>

17

<p>I appreciate the input you all are giving me but please, I don’t want to start anything nasty. </p>

<p>@Sistokid: It’s up to you whether you want to believe my words or not but I will say at least this. I am aware of the huge money drain that college is and before I knew I got accepted into either Brown or Tufts, I was agonizing over which school to go to depending on how much merit aid I was being offered. Even though my family could never qualify for financial aid, I still wanted to lessen the burden to my parents. I talked with my them and as my father is the only breadwinner, he said, “Don’t worry about the money. Just go to the school you want.” So one, the financial aspect doesn’t have as much as a significance as it might in relation to other families, and two, my father, even though he prefers Brown, will still fully support me regardless of whichever college I pick. And my mom constantly reminds me of how lucky I am that she and my dad are so flexible and supportive. So that’s how I know I have a choice mostly unaffected by the financial aspect. </p>

<p>Also, I have brother who went to art school completely against the wishes of my parents but they still supported him. My dad was livid for a while but he got over it. </p>

<p>Another thing: I resent you a little for calling me a child but I won’t deny it. I admit, I am still very childish - I haven’t yet had a chance to experience the world on my own without the protective wings of my parents. There are some things I’m blind to or unaware of just because I’ve been spoiled and sheltered my whole life. I do know that I’ll probably have a rude awakening when I try living on my own for the first time, and I’m not naive enough to say I’m prepared because truthfully I’m not. But being childish doesn’t necessarily make me a child. A noun and an adjective have distinct functional meanings. I like to think of it as that I’m at the boundary between maturity and innocence. I’m legally an adult now but I neither look nor feel like it. I’m graduating as a senior but enrolling as a freshman . . . again. High school marks the end of childhood and adolescence while college is the gateway into adulthood. Sure, since I still do have childish tendencies, I might not be ready or mature enough to make this big decision but at what better place to start making big decisions than at this boundary, this transition? And yes, my decision will have financial consequences on my parents more than me but they have already reassured me that they’re okay with that as mentioned earlier. </p>

<p>Maybe you think I’m completely daft for not immediately embracing Brown and the whole Ivy thing but the truth of the matter is, I didn’t know about Brown until I started this college process thing, and neither did my parents as well. You’re welcome to think this is a lie but it’s true. And you’re welcome to think my family must live under a rock or something. Really though, I started this whole college thing thinking the only worthwhile colleges were UCLA and Harvard. So that’s why I don’t really care about the whole prestige thing because there are people that it doesn’t reach. Sure now that my parents and I have asked around, we know a lot more about it but fame, history, and reputation aren’t everything. They can help, I admit that, but they’re not everything.</p>

18

<p>Pearsilk:</p>

<p>Did you return yet from your visits and what were your impressions? Your last response shows a maturity - you don’t sound “very childish” to me. These schools are comparable enough that hopefully your recent visit will be enough to tell you the right choice for you.</p>

19

<p>Pearsilk, I’m also curious to know what you thought after visiting both and if you’ve reached a final decision. I agree with YaleGradAndDad: you may yet be a child, but your reply was anything but childish.</p>

<p>My D1 will be matriculating to one of the two schools next year, and part of me is selfish enough to hope that you choose her school, simply because you sound like a wonderful person who will be an asset to whatever school you select. But the parental part of me knows that either school will be an excellent choice, and that truly you should follow your own heart. :)</p>

20

<p>I think with the new style of admission, using essay to measure student’s dream and ability, Tufts is doing an interesting job to attract an interesting crowd of student body. Nothing new at Brown. They come mainly because Brown is an Ivy. I would go to Tufts for a fresh air :slight_smile:
my 2 cents</p>