TUFTS vs. DARTMOUTH vs. CORNELL vs. WELLESLEY?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tufts University
1

<p>So here's the deal: I got into Tufts, Dartmouth, Cornell, and Wellesley. Obviously I'm not going to base my decision on the responses that I get here but I would like to perhaps get helpful advice or feedback. I visited ALL of the schools this week and loved them all, but I think my top choices right now are Dartmouth and Tufts and I can't decide between them. I plan to major in psychology. </p>

<p>Here's the basics:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>TUFTS. I absolutely loved it, and I see myself there. The campus is perfect and I love the personal, intimate feel and undergraduate focus of the school. I also like that it is small and personal, which is what I was looking for in college. In addition, it is in Boston, and I lived in Boston for five years before moving to Mexico for high school, so I've been dreaming about coming back to Boston for college (hence I applied to Wellesley as well). I like having the city and having opportunities to meet and interact with other colleges, since Boston IS like a huge college town. However, people keep pushing the Ivy thing and saying that Tufts doesn't have as good academics and opportunities as schools like Dartmouth and Cornell. Personally I don't think this is true but I'd like to hear opinions as well.</p></li>
<li><p>DARTMOUTH. SOO much to do, so many opportunities and music clubs and groups (I'm also interested in participating in music), beautiful campus, outing club, Ivy League, amazing academics, etc. But I'm honestly not feeling the whole isolation thing, and even when I visited for one day I felt so far away from everything and I definitely didn't like that. I also don't like how involved in Greek life it is. But is it wrong for me to give up such amazing academics and reputation just because of isolation and Greek life? Honestly I just see myself more at Tufts, but am I giving up an amazing opportunity?</p></li>
<li><p>WELLESLEY. I honestly haven't done too much research because I don't know if the all-girls atmosphere appeals to me that much. But the cross-registration with MIT, location (near Boston), academics, etc. appeals to me. Don't know if it's worth it to consider it over Tufts, however, since I've just always been more Tufts over Wellesley.</p></li>
<li><p>CORNELL. Also wondering if it's okay to give up the entire Ivy thing and academics and opportunities just because it's soooo isolated. Also, it is so huge and I feel like I want a smaller, more personal feel. I visited and I felt like a little ant because it is just too big for my taste. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>So, what do you think? Any advice or more information on the colleges would be appreciated. </p>

2

<p>Gosh, it sounds like you’re in the throes of a sort of blissful agony right now, having to choose among so many wonderful schools!</p>

<p>The conflicts you feel are far from uncommon, as are the arguments you’re hearing one way or the other with respect to location, Ivy prestige, etc. Folks will want to suggest an ultra-sharp delineation in terms of educational quality and future success between Tufts and the Ivies to which you’ve been accepted. I don’t believe the contrast is nearly stark enough for you to base your decision solely on this matter of prestige. It sounds like your gut is telling you to attend Tufts. And for all the reasons you love it, my D, who is a current freshman, does too. (And she discounted the other three schools for the same reasons you cite.) </p>

<p>Tufts has shown up on enough “happiest freshman” and “healthiest” and “smartest students” lists to warrant serious interest. As far as opportunities go, my D was able to garner a spot in a gene therapy research lab this summer on the basis of her Tufts creds (and thanks to the confidence she gained over the past year, stoked in large part by her Tufts profs, TAs and advisors). She will be a writing fellow next year–a coveted position she would never have imagined she’d earn, but was encouraged by a current writing fellow to apply for. And on the basis of a sit-down meeting with a prof, she’s also garnered a competitive research spot in his lab next year. Her friends are almost preternaturally friendly, engaged and whip-smart. She’s busy all the time with concerts, comedy clubs, lectures, thrift store/ tea shop/ sushi/ MFA outings, volunteering with the Leonard Carmichael Society, etc. Her classes are rigorous but not oppressively so. </p>

<p>So yes, life is good for a Jumbo. </p>

<p>And if you’re interested in music, well there’s so much Tufts has to offer: </p>

<p><a href=“Student Organizations | Tufts Admissions”>Student Organizations | Tufts Admissions;

<p>I could go on, but obviously you’ve done you’re homework on each of the schools (and have carefully parsed the psychology programs at each, too) I sense you’re wanting someone to tell you (or not) whether you should listen to the naysayers or your own niggling doubts, someone to tell you your life’s course will branch in radically different ways with one choice over the other, for much better or far worse. If only life were so predictable. If you can imagine that a degree from Tufts will ultimately set you down a dark, difficult path by comparison, then go with what others are telling you and say yes to “the Ivy thing”. If your gut tells you that college success is about more than rankings and about the complete undergraduate experience, for which you seem to understand Tufts offers advantages by dint of location, size, ethos, etc., then say yes to Tufts and don’t look back. </p>