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What makes Dartmouth so much better than Tufts? I mean yeah it's an Ivy, but is there anything that really makes it better?
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When I visited Dartmouth, I could tell that the students were much happier and helpful than Tufts students. This could be just a temporary thing since it was only a visit, but I thought that the atmosphere was great there. Dartmouth also has D1 sports, better technology labs, etc, etc. There are things at Tufts that are better than Dartmouth as well, like the location and the climate.</p>
<p>But that's not the point. The question should be what makes Tufts SO MUCH better than Dartmouth that someone would turn down an Ivy to go to Tufts?</p>
<p>snuffles, I agree 100%. Ofcourse one should go to one's best match school. But to most people, prestige is very important, which makes Ivys a "better fit" than Tufts to most people.</p>
<p>This arguement is pointless. To the person who first asked for advice: Visit both schools and choose the one you like best. It's as simple as that.</p>
<p>Ph0enix, now you're talking, lol. I totally agree that Dartmouth had a great atmosphere, though - I may have said, it was my first choice for a long time. But yes. Visit both schools and choose the one you like best!</p>
<p>I only know of one person in the class of 2009 who turned down Harvard for Tufts. But I do know that there are many people in the class of 2009 alone who turned down the "lower" Ivies. The two most common ones are probably Cornell and Dartmouth.</p>
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I know five kids who turned down Harvard for Tufts :-D
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<p>That really doesnt mean anything. I could probably find five thousand+ who went the other way ;) </p>
<p>For someone to turn down Harvard for Tufts, he or she would need a really good reason to do so, usually for financial reasons. I know two people from my graduating senior class who are turning down Harvard for the BU Scholarship. Does this mean that BU is better than Harvard?? or if it even comes remotely close to how good Harvard is?? </p>
<p>Out of the 31 kids who got into Harvard this year at my school, ONLY TWO turned down Harvard for non-financial reasons - One to Caltech and one to Yale.</p>
<p>Of course- Phoenix you're an BL kid, aren't you? Either way...you still don't seem to be getting the point. Considering that Harvard is usually more prone to give aid than Tufts- odds are very likely that money had nothing to do with it. And I don't care how many people you know who got into Harvard what does that have to do with anything? The point is that it's an individual's decision and would anyone have to have a really good reason to turn down one school for another? I still don't really get your point...but I do agree with what you said earlier that this argument is getting really pointless and that the poster shoudl just visit both schools to see which has the better feel. </p>
<p>Also- you said that you got into Tufts, right? Well- what other schools are you considering?</p>
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The point is that it's an individual's decision and would anyone have to have a really good reason to turn down one school for another?
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Harvard is just THAT much better than Tufts. Comparing those two are like comparing Tufts to UMASS. I doubt anyone who got into both would not consider prestige a huge part of his or her decision making when choosing which to go to.</p>
<p>Personally, I'm considering Rice, Notre Dame, and NYU Stern. My ECs killed my application and I got wait listed or rejected to all my top choices. Hopefully, I'll be able to transfer into a higher Ivy or Stanford/Duke next year.</p>
<p>You could list the classic arguments of how good Tufts is, but the truth is that an Ivy is just that much better and that much more prestigious.</p>
<p>U know Phoenix, ur arguements are only based on the latter... U havent gone to either, do dont talk about better, I think current students can tell us that, especially sumone taking courses in both.</p>
<p>Secondly, David Beckham is very famous, can curl the ball, scores. He had a mnovie made on him and is in the news all the time. Yet, after all, Ronaldino is better.. he plays llower key than beckhgajm but is 1 billion time better.. ask people, beckham is better, but look deeper... popular is not better</p>
<p>Sorry I meant to say "wouldn't anyone have to have a good reason to turn down one school for another?"...anyway you still didn't asnwer my question- did you get accepted to Tufts?</p>
<p>I think this thread had diverged so much from the original intent that it is starting to get absurd. To the original poster- I remind you to just look at each school again with an open mind and go with your gut. Best of luck!!!</p>
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I'm not trying to bash Tufts or anything, because I STILL MAY GO THERE, and I WAS REJECTED TO DARTMOUTH.
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Sorry I meant to say "wouldn't anyone have to have a good reason to turn down one school for another?"...anyway you still didn't asnwer my question- did you get accepted to Tufts?
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<p>I think this answers your question. Somehow I think that our badgering is going to steer him away from matriculating :) It's not his fault that he perceives things this way as college confidential magnifies any neuroticism that he feels from life in general. There are some things we can't change overnight (such as our image as being a "lesser" university from the ivy leagues, which is debatably true in certain respects). The best thing we can do is to show what we have to offer, but not necessarily put it in an infallible light. We have to be careful not to accentuate our stereotypes in our zeal for promoting our university. Sometimes unrestrained enthusiasm can have a detrimental effect to our image.. I know it hurts when people put us down, but there are other ways in which we can slowly convince others of what Tufts really has to offer. It takes patience.
Oh and I think I knew one of the Harvard vs Tufts kids, but it was because he or she was coming here for free.</p>
<p>very good post, snuffles. I personally apologize on the front of my enthusiasm possibly developing into frustration and an overall detrimental image of the school. I think that this whole debate really does extend beyond how many people chose Tufts over school X and Y and relates more to the evolving trends in prestige and what people personally value when determining their interest in a school, which- like you say, is not going to change overnight. Yet, I value the fact that MEC is going into the college quest with the right attitude, and I am sure that his decision will be a great one. Again- good luck and let us know if you have any other particular questions. Also- definitely go up to random students on campus and ask them about their experiences as well. Unless they look like they're sprinting to class late, I'm sure they will be happy to stop and chat :) It's always a great way to meet people and learn more about a school</p>
<p>My daughter was accepted into Tufts, Dartmouth and Harvard. She will be attending Harvard not only because it is more prestigious but it also offered more money than any other "prestigious school". It offers more money because it can!</p>