<p>How do the two schools comapare?</p>
<p>Might want to look at this thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/896266-tufts-v-uchicago.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/tufts-university/896266-tufts-v-uchicago.html</a></p>
<p>Chicago is a great school.</p>
<p>I’m waitlisted at Chicago and accepted to Tufts, and will most likely to enroll in Tufts. Chicago is, however, my dream school.</p>
<p>I think mmace91 gave you a great link, and that will probably answer all your questions. But if I may add something, UChicago has an INTERNATIONAL reputation for being an excellent institution. Tufts’ reputation is regional. (from Massachusetts to Northeast U.S) </p>
<p>This, by no means, is to say that Chicago is ‘better’ than Tufts. That will depend on your academic interest. But keep one thing in mind - your institution reputation will be helpful in your future.</p>
<p>Hmm, Jamiecago’s statement seems a little outdated to me. Or maybe just off. Tufts is a smaller place with a correspondingly smaller worldwide reputation than Chicago. But while I’ve heard that regional argument, I don’t much buy it. When I went to Tufts, close to a half century ago, there were a lot of students from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey. But I came from far away, and there were plenty of people from Hong Kong , Hawaii, and around the world. </p>
<p>In recent years California has been a major feeder, and international students make up a significant portion of the student body. To some extent there is a regional focus–for example, major building projects in Boston tend to hire Tufts engineering grads. But overall, my first thought is not “regional school.”</p>
<p>
Having recruited internationally this year, with big crowds everywhere I went, the above quote made me smile. My response to it is one word long: false.</p>
<p>A lot of good schools that used to be more regional have developed more of a national rep–Tufts, WashU, Emory, Vanderbilt, and Chicago itself. I blame the Interwebs.</p>
<p>My reflex for everything is to blame the tubes. :)</p>
<p>First of all, please do not take my response as an attempt to diminish Tuft’s reputation. I totally agree that Tufts is one of the top institutions in North-east area, and perhaps in the entire U.S. Also, I also apologize for stating an absolute statement, “Tufts’ reputation is regional.” I meant to say that while Tufts and UChicago both have international reputation, UChicago has ‘more,’ hence being more well known. This is strictly based on my personal experience. </p>
<p>I believe that my statement presents truth to some extent. During my high school year I had a chance to meet with top diplomats of the world, including those in France, UK, Hungary and Chile, since my father is a diplomat. Whenever there was a topic merged during a conversation about colleges, whenever I expressed my interest in studying Economics their first response was “So I assume you will want to study in Chicago/MIT.” </p>
<p>The most recent event was when I had a chance to join a dinner table where Ricardo Lagos, an ex-ex Chilean president was present. (Ph.D in Duke, currently in Brown as a professor) He is an economist, and he told me that the top institutions in the ‘world’ in Econ was MIT, Chicago and LSE.</p>
<p>But you might wonder this. “It’s unfair to compare Tufts and Chicago only in terms of Economics. Tufts may have stronger academics in other fields other than Economics!” This statement is absolutely true. (I don’t feel the need to explain about Tuft’s #1 IR program) </p>
<p>But remember this. The U.S institutions with strongest Economics program, whether undergrad or grad, tends to have higher international reputation. (e.g-HYP,Chicago,MIT, Michigan, and the rising NYU) This is because Economists has a powerful influence in their countries, and so as the local people see where these people with ‘influences’ graduated from, they believe it is a prestigious institution.</p>
<p>Dan, I don’t know whether you visited only international schools, but I must admit Tufts is very popular among international students. People who have a slightest idea about US colleges WILL KNOW about Tufts. I’m also an international student, and Tufts was the first choice for many students in my school.</p>
<p>However, when we talk about ‘international reputation,’ we must also take into account the general population of a country. As a student who lived in more than 9 countries, including France, Hungary, Chile and Korea, I had an impression that Chicago is ‘much’ more known to the general people. This was especially true in Korea and Chile, where Chicago Economists played a vital role in constructing their economies. (A Proof why strength in Economics tends to lead to stronger international reputation)</p>
<p>People may disagree with me, but that’s fine. All I’m saying is, I just had the impression that Chicago has a better reputation than Tufts when living abroad. However, I have not a single doubt that Tufts and Chicago are both prestigious universities. NO. DOUBT.</p>
<p>P.S - I realised that my comment may upset some Chileans/South americans who may read this. I completely understand that Pinochet and his Chicago Boys sometimes seriously hurt Chilean families… I also understand that Chicago can also be a political term. So please don’t ground me on this.</p>
<p>In addition to my writing above, I’ve always wanted Tufts to do something: ADVERTISE. Tufts seems to be weak in recruiting in international fields. Dan, did Tufts even send recruiters to South America? (I live in Chile, and I don’t think Tufts came here) </p>
<p>I’m sure Tufts is advertising as much as they can, but I always thought that if Tufts advertise more, it can become much more prestigious… Tufts has a super advantage with its Fletcher School of L&D, so if it can use Fletcher’s reputation well, Tufts will rise above BC or Brandeis in any day.</p>
<p>It’s very sad to see some people not even knowing what Tufts is, until after the app deadline only to regret they haven’t known it earilier.</p>
<p>^^
Tufts IS ranked ahead of Brandeis and Boston College.</p>
<p><<< It’s very sad to see some people not even knowing what Tufts is, until after the app deadline only to regret they haven’t known it earilier.>>></p>
<p>Que interesante, Jamie. We have friends in Rio, Buenos Aires, and Bogota, all of whom know Tufts. Of course, these three families all have connections to the States.</p>
<p>And for people who are savvy about college, here in the States, and who think out of the Ivy League box, Tufts is a known and very-respected entity. The more provincial thinkers do not know Tufts (or Rice or Wash U. or University of Virginia (UVA)–I had someone ask me why my daughter, referring to UVA, would consider a “hillbilly” school–uh what?!). We just had an Eastern European guest in our home (someone trying desperately to transfer from MIT), and he knew Tufts ever before he landed in the States and spent an agonizing first year at MIT.</p>
<p>@CollegeMom08
Although I believe the rankings generally show the prestige and the quality of education, college that are 5~10 rank apart virtually have NO difference. The general rank in people’s mind of colleges near Boston is 1.Harvard/MIT/Amherst 2.Tufts/BC/Brandeis 3. BU/Northeastern, Umass. (Not counting Berklee) What I mean by ‘rise above’ is changing this kind of people’s perception.</p>
<p>@SWharborfan
I agree that Tufts is known and very well respected. All I’m saying is, only in terms of reputation, Chicago is better. (Which by no means Tufts doesn’t have a reputation)</p>
<p>Anyone out there who is an IR/Global Security person who can speak about the availability of internships and job opportunities after graduation? How does Tufts do with getting folks placed in summer positions? Snarf, are you out here?</p>
<p>CountingDown - would you please start a new tread with this? I’m also interested knowing about interships and job opportunities during and after graduation. … But I don’t think people who may know about this will find this question in the “Tufts vs Chicago”. Thanks!</p>
<p><<<@SWharborfan
I agree that Tufts is known and very well respected. All I’m saying is, only in terms of reputation, Chicago is better. (Which by no means Tufts doesn’t have a reputation)>>></p>
<p>Not in pre-med curriculum or international relations or languages or social satisfaction it it isn’t. I also refer you to the oft-repeated axiom, however fine, academically/intellectually, U of C–where fun went to die.</p>
<p>And to your insistence that Tufts is a regionally-known school. Tell that to the passel of fun Israelis on my flight from New Orleans, Sunday, all of whom work in Silicon Valley, all of whom knew (and thought very highly of) Tufts.</p>
<p>My idea of the “better” school is determined by something called fit. You can get anywhere from anywhere, by the way–e.g. the peer students in my Harvard Medical School class who were from even more esoteric and unsung universities/colleges than Tufts!</p>
<p>Both are excellent schools, but they are very different. Chicago has had 85 Nobel prize winners (graduates or faculty) while Tufts has had three (Fama was an undergraduate, MacKinnon was a med student, and Cormack was a faculty member). Of course, many intro courses at Chicago are taught by grad students and some of the Nobel prize winners are not the greatest teachers. Still, Chicago seems to do right by its students. For instance, Chicago has had 45 Rhodes scholars. (To put that number into perspective, Tufts has had 4.) </p>
<p>Our daughter really enjoyed her overnight at Chicago. Many Chicago students consider it “fun” to sit around until the wee hours debating issues of the day, which is something she enjoys. Again, both are excellent schools so it is a matter of which offers the better fit for you.</p>
<p>I think that I understand what Jamiecago is saying, and correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t think that Tufts has the name brand power that other top, and not so top, universities have. Perhaps if you are one who hangs out on College Confidential, or reads the national rankings (and places stock in them), you may have heard of Tufts. I, on the other hand, only heard of Tufts maybe two years ago for the first time.</p>
<p>I only found out about Tufts when I was researching schools in the Boston Area to potentially transfer into. I did apply to Tufts as a transfer, and every time I mention that to friends and family on the west coast, the response is the same, “Cool, uh…where is that? Is that a good school?” </p>
<p>There are many great colleges throughout the US that many have not heard of such as Bates, or Macalester. That does not mean that they are not as good, just not as known.</p>